Linde PLC vs McCormick & Company, Incorporated — how do they compare? Linde PLC trades at $490.26 (market cap $227.01B), while McCormick & Company, Incorporated trades at $53.03 (market cap $14.27B). The key difference: Linde PLC is far larger — about 15.9× McCormick & Company, Incorporated's market cap, and McCormick & Company, Incorporated pays the higher dividend (3.61%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LIN | MKC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $227.01B | $14.27B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $546.64 | $72.26 |
52-Week Low | $389.38 | $45.60 |
Enterprise Value | $250.13B | $18.87B |
Dividend Yield | 1.3% | 3.61% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Linde (LIN) trades at $490.53, up 0.11% on the day, with a bearish technical signal despite strong fundamentals. The stock has consistently beaten earnings estimates, with Q2 2026 EPS of $4.50 surpassing expectations. Revenue grew to $34.0B in 2025, with a net income margin of 20.43%. Analysts maintain a strong buy consensus with a $553.60 price target, highlighting robust profitability and dividend growth.
Outlook remains positive due to earnings momentum and sustainability leadership, but risks include elevated valuation multiples and rising debt-to-asset ratio. The stock offers steady income with a $1.60 dividend, yet technical weakness near support at $489 warrants caution for near-term volatility.
MKC trades at $52.96, up 1.3% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $59.67 suggesting 13% upside. The company reported Q2 2026 results that beat expectations, driven by the McCormick de Mexico acquisition and margin expansion, with revenue growth of 16.7% year-over-year. The pending $65 billion merger with Unilever's food business represents a transformative opportunity, though integration risks remain.
The outlook is positive, supported by strong profitability metrics, including a 21.91% net income margin and 25.7% ROE, alongside a reasonable valuation with a P/E of 8.81. Key risks include execution of the Unilever deal, competitive pressures in the consumer segment, and potential macroeconomic headwinds affecting consumer spending.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →In its 130-year history, McCormick has grown to become the leading global manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of spices, herbs, extracts, seasonings, and other flavorings. Beyond end consumers, McCormick's customer base also includes top quick-service restaurants, retail grocery chains, and other packaged food and beverage manufacturers, with about 30% of sales generated beyond its home turf to include 150 other countries and territories. In addition to its namesake brand, the firm's portfolio includes Old Bay, Zatarain's, Thai Kitchen, Frank's RedHot, French's, and the recently acquired Cholula brand.
Read more on MKC →