BRK.B vs. LIN: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at BRK.B and LIN, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | BRK.B | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | Linde plc |
| Country | United States | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Financial Services | Chemicals |
| Market Capitalization | 1,053.85 billion USD | 226.18 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NasdaqGS |
| Listing Date | May 9, 1996 | June 17, 1992 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of BRK.B and LIN by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | BRK.B | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 1.97% | 0.99% |
| 13-Week Price Return | -4.48% | 4.79% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 1.57% | 4.62% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 8.90% | 5.19% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 1.80% | 4.80% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 7.62% | 15.21% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 0.00M | 1.36M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 0.00M | 1.77M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 12.78% | 12.85% |
| Beta | 0.48 | 0.96 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
BRK.B
9.68%
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 40.58%
- Q3
- 20.06%
- Median
- 10.67%
- Q1
- 4.19%
- Min
- -10.31%
BRK.B’s Return on Equity of 9.68% is on par with the norm for the Financial Services industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
LIN
17.46%
Chemicals Industry
- Max
- 26.17%
- Q3
- 13.48%
- Median
- 8.13%
- Q1
- 2.52%
- Min
- -11.86%
In the upper quartile for the Chemicals industry, LIN’s Return on Equity of 17.46% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
BRK.B
17.00%
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 52.86%
- Q3
- 25.58%
- Median
- 12.23%
- Q1
- 6.64%
- Min
- -9.92%
BRK.B’s Net Profit Margin of 17.00% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Financial Services industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
LIN
20.20%
Chemicals Industry
- Max
- 21.80%
- Q3
- 9.57%
- Median
- 4.44%
- Q1
- 1.14%
- Min
- -11.30%
A Net Profit Margin of 20.20% places LIN in the upper quartile for the Chemicals industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
BRK.B
13.29%
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 77.28%
- Q3
- 37.68%
- Median
- 18.17%
- Q1
- 9.27%
- Min
- -8.19%
BRK.B’s Operating Profit Margin of 13.29% is around the midpoint for the Financial Services industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
LIN
26.75%
Chemicals Industry
- Max
- 27.33%
- Q3
- 13.97%
- Median
- 8.08%
- Q1
- 4.46%
- Min
- -8.10%
An Operating Profit Margin of 26.75% places LIN in the upper quartile for the Chemicals industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | BRK.B | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 9.68% | 17.46% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 5.44% | 8.10% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 17.00% | 20.20% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 13.29% | 26.75% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 16.97% | 48.45% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
BRK.B
1.95
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 4.58
- Q3
- 2.59
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.69
- Min
- 0.01
For the Financial Services industry, the Current Ratio is often not the most suitable measure of short-term liquidity.
LIN
0.93
Chemicals Industry
- Max
- 3.38
- Q3
- 2.23
- Median
- 1.73
- Q1
- 1.39
- Min
- 0.55
LIN’s Current Ratio of 0.93 falls into the lower quartile for the Chemicals industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
BRK.B
0.19
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 4.96
- Q3
- 2.10
- Median
- 0.57
- Q1
- 0.12
- Min
- 0.00
The Debt-to-Equity Ratio is often not the primary focus for assessing leverage in the Financial Services industry.
LIN
0.67
Chemicals Industry
- Max
- 1.65
- Q3
- 0.94
- Median
- 0.65
- Q1
- 0.41
- Min
- 0.00
LIN’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.67 is typical for the Chemicals industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
BRK.B
0.57
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 136.23
- Q3
- 56.08
- Median
- 6.55
- Q1
- 2.01
- Min
- -33.27
The Interest Coverage Ratio is often not a primary indicator of debt servicing capacity in the Financial Services industry.
LIN
33.09
Chemicals Industry
- Max
- 56.43
- Q3
- 26.33
- Median
- 9.38
- Q1
- 3.10
- Min
- -9.39
LIN’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 33.09 is in the upper quartile for the Chemicals industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | BRK.B | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.95 | 0.93 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 1.68 | 0.70 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.19 | 0.67 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 0.57 | 33.09 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
BRK.B
0.00%
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 8.18%
- Q3
- 3.60%
- Median
- 1.56%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
BRK.B currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
LIN
1.21%
Chemicals Industry
- Max
- 6.56%
- Q3
- 4.04%
- Median
- 2.47%
- Q1
- 1.45%
- Min
- 0.00%
LIN’s Dividend Yield of 1.21% is in the lower quartile for the Chemicals industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
BRK.B
0.00%
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 155.56%
- Q3
- 63.71%
- Median
- 18.08%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
BRK.B has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
LIN
40.71%
Chemicals Industry
- Max
- 181.25%
- Q3
- 95.01%
- Median
- 53.52%
- Q1
- 26.59%
- Min
- 0.00%
LIN’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 40.71% is within the typical range for the Chemicals industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | BRK.B | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 1.21% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 40.71% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
BRK.B
16.79
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 63.23
- Q3
- 32.10
- Median
- 14.41
- Q1
- 10.81
- Min
- 0.37
BRK.B’s P/E Ratio of 16.79 is within the middle range for the Financial Services industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
LIN
33.69
Chemicals Industry
- Max
- 42.94
- Q3
- 29.77
- Median
- 20.37
- Q1
- 14.27
- Min
- 6.19
A P/E Ratio of 33.69 places LIN in the upper quartile for the Chemicals industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
BRK.B
2.85
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 11.16
- Q3
- 5.45
- Median
- 2.61
- Q1
- 1.25
- Min
- 0.04
The P/S Ratio is often not a primary valuation tool in the Financial Services industry.
LIN
6.80
Chemicals Industry
- Max
- 4.36
- Q3
- 2.23
- Median
- 1.01
- Q1
- 0.55
- Min
- 0.16
With a P/S Ratio of 6.80, LIN trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Chemicals industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
BRK.B
1.57
Financial Services Industry
- Max
- 7.09
- Q3
- 3.79
- Median
- 1.46
- Q1
- 0.83
- Min
- 0.04
BRK.B’s P/B Ratio of 1.57 is within the conventional range for the Financial Services industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
LIN
5.73
Chemicals Industry
- Max
- 4.92
- Q3
- 2.56
- Median
- 1.54
- Q1
- 0.97
- Min
- 0.30
At 5.73, LIN’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Chemicals industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | BRK.B | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 16.79 | 33.69 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 2.85 | 6.80 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 1.57 | 5.73 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 89.18 | 44.62 |