AU vs. LIN: AngloGold Ashanti vs. Linde Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and Linde (LIN) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and Linde (LIN) both fall under the Materials industry group, but AU is classified in Metals & Mining while LIN is classified in Chemicals.

Company profile comparison for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and Linde (LIN)
Profile Item	AU	LIN
Name	AngloGold Ashanti plc	Linde plc
Country/Region	United States	United Kingdom
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Metals & Mining	Chemicals
GICS Sub-Industry	Gold	Industrial Gases
Market Capitalization	47.04 billion USD	236.54 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	August 5, 1998	June 17, 1992
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

LIN

GSPC

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. Linde (LIN), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and Linde (LIN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and Linde (LIN). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and Linde (LIN)
Metric	AU	LIN
Total Return (1Y)	47.97%	25.64%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	87.34%	11.48%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	42.76%	10.50%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

LIN

GSPC

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. Linde (LIN), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and Linde (LIN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and Linde (LIN)
Metric	AU	LIN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	60.11%	19.00%
Beta (5Y)	0.67	0.67
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-51.75%	-22.82%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.54M	2.05M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AU and LIN are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and Linde (LIN)
Metric	AU	LIN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.73	1.12
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.07	1.65

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 44.33% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Linde (LIN) at 17.72% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for AU.

AU

Materials industry group

44.33%

Max: 52.88%
AU: 44.33%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

LIN

Materials industry group

17.72%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
LIN: 17.72%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 32.64% and Linde (LIN) at 19.34% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

AU

Materials industry group

32.64%

Max: 38.66%
AU: 32.64%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

LIN

Materials industry group

19.34%

Max: 38.66%
LIN: 19.34%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 45.36% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Linde (LIN) at 27.97%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

AU

Materials industry group

45.36%

Max: 66.70%
AU: 45.36%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

LIN

Materials industry group

27.97%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
LIN: 27.97%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and Linde (LIN)
Metric	AU	LIN
ROE (TTM)	44.33%	17.72%
ROA (TTM)	24.39%	7.17%
Net Margin (TTM)	32.64%	19.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)	45.36%	27.97%
Gross Margin (TTM)	54.84%	47.86%

Growth

Revenue Growth

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 70.78% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Linde (LIN) at 2.97% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for AU.

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 122.32% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Linde (LIN) at 7.27% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for AU.

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and Linde (LIN)
Metric	AU	LIN
Revenue Growth (YoY)	70.78%	2.97%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	30.02%	0.62%
EPS Growth (YoY)	122.32%	7.27%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	93.95%	21.08%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 2.55 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Linde (LIN) at 0.86 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for LIN.

AU

Materials industry group

2.55

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
AU: 2.55
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

LIN

Materials industry group

0.86

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
LIN: 0.86
Min: 0.16

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 0.16 and Linde (LIN) at 0.65 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

AU

Materials industry group

0.16

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
AU: 0.16
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

LIN

Materials industry group

0.65

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
LIN: 0.65
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and Linde (LIN)
Metric	AU	LIN
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.55	0.86
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.16	0.65
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.17	1.65

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Linde (LIN) at 1.21% pays an industry-typical yield; AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 4.88% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

AU

Materials industry group

4.88%

AU: 4.88%
Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

LIN

Materials industry group

1.21%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
LIN: 1.21%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 58.78% and Linde (LIN) at 41.83% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

AU

Materials industry group

58.78%

Max: 83.62%
AU: 58.78%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

LIN

Materials industry group

41.83%

Max: 83.62%
LIN: 41.83%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and Linde (LIN)
Metric	AU	LIN
Dividend Yield (TTM)	4.88%	1.21%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	58.78%	41.83%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 12.09 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Linde (LIN) at 34.21 sits in the richer quartile — LIN needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

AU

Materials industry group

12.09

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
AU: 12.09
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

LIN

Materials industry group

34.21

Max: 59.00
LIN: 34.21
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 3.91 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Linde (LIN) at 6.53 sits in the pricier quartile — LIN costs more per dollar of sales.

AU

Materials industry group

3.91

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
AU: 3.91
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

LIN

Materials industry group

6.53

Max: 9.62
LIN: 6.53
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both AngloGold Ashanti (AU) at 5.01 and Linde (LIN) at 6.00 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

AU

Materials industry group

5.01

Max: 6.59
AU: 5.01
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

LIN

Materials industry group

6.00

Max: 6.59
LIN: 6.00
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

AngloGold Ashanti (AU) vs. Linde (LIN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AngloGold Ashanti (AU) and Linde (LIN)
Metric	AU	LIN
P/E Ratio (TTM)	12.09	34.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.91	6.53
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	5.01	6.00
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	7.61%	1.77%