Cintas Corporation vs Linde PLC — how do they compare? Cintas Corporation trades at $186.26 (market cap $73.76B), while Linde PLC trades at $521.02 (market cap $241.59B). The key difference: Linde PLC is far larger — about 3.3× Cintas Corporation's market cap, and Linde PLC pays the higher dividend (1.22%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CTAS | LIN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $73.76B | $241.59B |
Sector | Industrials | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $226.27 | $546.64 |
52-Week Low | $163.55 | $389.38 |
Enterprise Value | $76.49B | $263.95B |
Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 1.22% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Cintas (CTAS) trades at $183.75, up 2.29% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong support at $182. The company shows robust fundamentals with revenue growing to $10.34B in 2025 and net income reaching $1.81B, though valuation ratios like P/E of 38.77 appear elevated. Recent news highlights upcoming Q4 earnings and continued recognition as a top employer.
The stock offers a compelling growth story with consistent earnings beats and a 43-year dividend growth track record, but faces risks from high valuation and economic sensitivity. Analyst consensus is mixed with a $212.50 price target, suggesting moderate upside potential if execution remains strong amid competitive pressures.
Linde (LIN) trades at $524.06, down 1.08% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong fundamentals. The stock shows consistent earnings beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $4.33 exceeding estimates, and robust profitability margins including a 20.44% net income margin. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with a $560 price target, supported by positive cash flow trends and a recent dividend declaration.
Outlook remains positive due to steady revenue growth, high return on equity of 18.49%, and institutional confidence. Risks include elevated valuation multiples like a P/E of 34.65 and rising debt-to-asset ratio, which could pressure shares if earnings growth slows. The stock presents a quality holding for growth-oriented investors mindful of valuation constraints.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
In its core uniform and facility services unit (78% of sales), Cintas provides uniform rental programs to businesses across the size spectrum, mostly in North America. The firm is by far the largest provider in the industry. Facilities products generally include the rental and sale of entrance mat, mops, shop towels, hand sanitizers, and restroom supplies. Cintas also runs a first aid and safety services business (11% of sales), a fire protection services business (7% of sales), and a uniform direct sales business (4% of sales).
Read more on CTAS →Linde is the largest industrial gas supplier in the world, with operations in over 100 countries. The firm's main products are atmospheric gases (including oxygen, nitrogen, and argon) and process gases (including hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and helium), as well as equipment used in industrial gas production. Linde serves a wide variety of end markets, including chemicals, manufacturing, healthcare, and steelmaking. Linde generated approximately $31 billion in revenue and $5 billion in GAAP operating profit in 2021.
Read more on LIN →