GFI vs. LIN: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated on August 24, 2025

Here’s a clear look at GFI and LIN, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

GFI trades as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR), offering U.S. investors a convenient way to access its foreign-listed shares. In contrast, LIN is a standard domestic listing.

Symbol	GFI	LIN
Company Name	Gold Fields Limited	Linde plc
Country	South Africa	United Kingdom
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Metals & Mining	Chemicals
Market Capitalization	27.36 billion USD	226.18 billion USD
Exchange	NYSE	NasdaqGS
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	June 17, 1992
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of GFI 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.

GFI vs. LIN: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	GFI	LIN
5-Day Price Return	-2.26%	0.99%
13-Week Price Return	37.70%	4.79%
26-Week Price Return	46.91%	4.62%
52-Week Price Return	82.11%	5.19%
Month-to-Date Return	19.54%	4.80%
Year-to-Date Return	113.25%	15.21%
10-Day Avg. Volume	1.90M	1.36M
3-Month Avg. Volume	2.18M	1.77M
3-Month Volatility	45.94%	12.85%
Beta	1.49	0.96

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

GFI

25.25%

Metals & Mining Industry

Max: 31.09%
Q3: 16.14%
Median: 7.01%
Q1: 1.15%
Min: -19.85%

In the upper quartile for the Metals & Mining industry, GFI’s Return on Equity of 25.25% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.

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.

GFI vs. LIN: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Metals & Mining and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

GFI

23.93%

Metals & Mining Industry

Max: 40.97%
Q3: 17.87%
Median: 7.03%
Q1: 1.82%
Min: -20.01%

A Net Profit Margin of 23.93% places GFI in the upper quartile for the Metals & Mining industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

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.

GFI vs. LIN: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Metals & Mining and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

GFI

45.14%

Metals & Mining Industry

Max: 59.48%
Q3: 26.06%
Median: 10.50%
Q1: 2.89%
Min: -21.46%

An Operating Profit Margin of 45.14% places GFI in the upper quartile for the Metals & Mining industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.

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.

GFI vs. LIN: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Metals & Mining and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	GFI	LIN
Return on Equity (TTM)	25.25%	17.46%
Return on Assets (TTM)	13.45%	8.10%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	23.93%	20.20%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	45.14%	26.75%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	51.51%	48.45%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

GFI

1.13

Metals & Mining Industry

Max: 4.81
Q3: 2.86
Median: 1.94
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.13

GFI’s Current Ratio of 1.13 falls into the lower quartile for the Metals & Mining industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.

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.

GFI vs. LIN: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Metals & Mining and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

GFI

0.57

Metals & Mining Industry

Max: 1.11
Q3: 0.52
Median: 0.29
Q1: 0.12
Min: 0.00

GFI’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Metals & Mining industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.57. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.

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.

GFI vs. LIN: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Metals & Mining and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

GFI

32.40

Metals & Mining Industry

Max: 65.47
Q3: 29.91
Median: 5.88
Q1: 0.91
Min: -26.49

GFI’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 32.40 is in the upper quartile for the Metals & Mining industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.

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.

GFI vs. LIN: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Metals & Mining and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	GFI	LIN
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.13	0.93
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.72	0.70
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	0.57	0.67
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	32.40	33.09

Growth

Revenue Growth

GFI vs. LIN: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

GFI vs. LIN: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

GFI

0.00%

Metals & Mining Industry

Max: 9.36%
Q3: 3.78%
Median: 1.41%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

GFI 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.

GFI vs. LIN: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Metals & Mining and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

GFI

58.80%

Metals & Mining Industry

Max: 138.08%
Q3: 63.28%
Median: 38.78%
Q1: 12.84%
Min: 0.00%

GFI’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 58.80% is within the typical range for the Metals & Mining industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

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.

GFI vs. LIN: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Metals & Mining and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	GFI	LIN
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	1.21%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	58.80%	40.71%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

GFI

21.40

Metals & Mining Industry

Max: 57.44
Q3: 32.87
Median: 18.04
Q1: 9.84
Min: 0.00

GFI’s P/E Ratio of 21.40 is within the middle range for the Metals & Mining 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.

GFI vs. LIN: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Metals & Mining and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

GFI

5.12

Metals & Mining Industry

Max: 6.52
Q3: 3.19
Median: 1.97
Q1: 0.59
Min: 0.14

GFI’s P/S Ratio of 5.12 is in the upper echelon for the Metals & Mining industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.

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.

GFI vs. LIN: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Metals & Mining and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

GFI

2.40

Metals & Mining Industry

Max: 3.92
Q3: 2.15
Median: 1.40
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.25

GFI’s P/B Ratio of 2.40 is in the upper tier for the Metals & Mining industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.

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.

GFI vs. LIN: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Metals & Mining and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	GFI	LIN
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	21.40	33.69
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	5.12	6.80
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	2.40	5.73
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	45.25	44.62