Linde PLC vs Ross Stores, Inc. — how do they compare? Linde PLC trades at $512 (market cap $236.74B), while Ross Stores, Inc. trades at $235.82 (market cap $75.63B). The key difference: Linde PLC is far larger — about 3.1× Ross Stores, Inc.'s market cap, and Linde PLC pays the higher dividend (1.25%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LIN | ROST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $236.74B | $75.63B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $546.64 | $240.13 |
52-Week Low | $389.38 | $134.02 |
Enterprise Value | $259.10B | $76.23B |
Dividend Yield | 1.25% | 0.75% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Linde (LIN) trades at $512.05, down 0.2% on the day, with strong fundamentals including 20.44% net income margin and consistent earnings beats. The stock shows bearish technical signals but maintains robust profitability with revenue growth to $34.0B in 2025. Recent Q1 2026 results showed EPS of $4.33 beating estimates, while analyst consensus remains strongly bullish with 89% buy ratings and a $564.80 price target.
LIN presents a compelling long-term investment with premium valuation metrics offset by exceptional profitability and dividend growth. Key risks include elevated debt levels (debt-to-asset ratio rising to 31.63% in 2025) and potential margin pressure from economic cycles. The current technical weakness may offer entry points for investors seeking quality industrial exposure with sustainable growth prospects.
Ross Stores (ROST) trades at $235.36, up 0.87% with strong technical and fundamental momentum. The stock shows bullish moving averages and recent earnings beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $2.02 exceeding expectations by 17%. Revenue growth accelerated to $21.13B in 2025, while net income margin improved to 9.74%. Analyst sentiment remains positive with a $259 consensus target, supported by robust store expansion and customer acquisition trends noted in recent media coverage.
Outlook is favorable given consistent earnings outperformance and high ROE of 38.98%, though valuation multiples like P/E of 32.6 suggest premium pricing. Key risks include consumer spending sensitivity and competitive pressures in off-price retail. Institutional ownership trends and technical support near $232 provide a cushion for near-term stability.
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 →Ross Stores is a leading American off-price apparel and home fashion retailer, operating over 1,920 stores (at the end of fiscal 2021) across the Ross Dress for Less and dd's Discounts banners. Ross offers a variety of name-brand products and targets undercutting conventional retailers' regular prices by 20%-70%. The company uses an opportunistic, flexible merchandising approach
Read more on ROST →