Compare Linde PLC (LIN) vs Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Linde PLC vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Linde PLC trades at $483.98 (market cap $222.05B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $146.1 (market cap $351.28B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.39%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Linde PLC for 88 Days and Merck & Co., Inc. for 98 Days on average.
| LIN | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $222.05B | $351.28B |
Volume | 2,116,440 | 7,969,665 |
Sector | Basic Materials | Health |
52-Week High | $546.64 | $156.43 |
52-Week Low | $389.38 | $82.49 |
Typical Hold Time | 88 Days | 98 Days |
Enterprise Value | $245.17B | $398.04B |
Dividend Yield | 1.33% | 2.39% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
LIN trades at $483.98, down 1.22% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong support near $482. The company reported record Q2 2026 EPS of $4.50, beating estimates, and maintains robust profitability with a 20.43% net income margin. Revenue growth is steady, projected at $35.4B for 2026, while valuation multiples like the 31.08 P/E reflect premium pricing. Analyst sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with 89.66% buy ratings and a $557.10 consensus price target, citing LIN's role in AI chip supply chains.
The outlook for LIN is favorable, driven by earnings beats, a record $8.1B project backlog, and strategic positioning in high-growth sectors like electronics. Key risks include elevated valuation requiring sustained growth, rising debt-to-asset ratios, and margin pressures from increased capital expenditure. Investors should weigh the company's strong execution against potential sector-wide competition and macroeconomic headwinds affecting industrial demand.
Merck (MRK) trades at $145.6, up 1.97% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamental performance. Recent earnings have consistently beaten estimates, and the company is expanding its oncology pipeline through the acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals. Revenue growth is steady, with 2025 revenue at $65.01B and net income of $18.25B, though 2026 projections show a significant drop in net income to $3.2B. The stock is supported by a high analyst buy consensus of 68.42% and a price target of $158.78.
The outlook for MRK is mixed; strong earnings beats and strategic acquisitions provide upside potential, but high valuation ratios and a projected earnings decline in 2026 pose risks. Investors should weigh the company's robust profitability and analyst support against execution risks and market volatility.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Investor sentiment on Pluang
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Investor sentiment on Pluang
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
About Linde PLC
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 →About Merck & Co., Inc.
Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. Within cancer, the firm's immuno-oncology platform is growing as a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business, with treatments to prevent hepatitis B and pediatric diseases as well as HPV and shingles. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, just under half of the firm's sales are generated in the United States.
Read more on MRK →
