Strong EPS Growth to Drive Linde plc (LIN) in 2026, Supports UBS Bullish Stance

Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) is one of the 12 best commodity stocks to buy right now.

Strong EPS Growth to Drive Linde plc (LIN) in 2026, Supports UBS Bullish Stance

On November 11, 2025, UBS analyst Joshua Spector revisited Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) and upgraded the stock from “Neutral” to “Buy,” with a $500 price target, down from $507. The analyst’s upgrade reflects the stock’s attractive risk/reward as a defensive growth stock. Furthermore, adjusted EPS growth is expected to accelerate from 6% to roughly 9%-10% in 2026, the analyst noted.

New project startups, a strong $7 billion backlog, and margin improvements from price increases and productivity gains are key growth drivers. Moreover, the analyst believes Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) is at an “attractive 2.5x up/downside skew.” Additionally, helium and rare gas pricing, which is expected to recover, alongside the lapping of weaker European volumes, is expected to fuel the future growth.

Meanwhile, Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) reported its Q3 2025 results on October 31. The company reported adjusted EPS of $4.21, up 7% YoY. Thanks to 2% price increases and efficient capital deployment, $1.7 billion in free cash flow was generated. Resilience shown in base volumes despite European softness helped the company increase operating cash flow by 8%. Having invested $4.2 billion in the business, the company returned $5.3 billion to shareholders. The quarter marked 3% YoY revenue growth, bringing it to $8.6 billion.

Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN), a global industrial gases company, serves healthcare, chemicals, electronics, and energy markets.

While we acknowledge the potential of LIN to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than LIN and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

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