GOOGL vs. LIN: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at GOOGL and LIN, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | GOOGL | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Alphabet Inc. | Linde plc |
| Country | United States | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Communication Services | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Interactive Media & Services | Chemicals |
| Market Capitalization | 2,524.94 billion USD | 224.07 billion USD |
| Exchange | NasdaqGS | NasdaqGS |
| Listing Date | August 19, 2004 | June 17, 1992 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of GOOGL 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 | GOOGL | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 3.43% | -0.43% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 22.02% | 4.11% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 12.53% | 3.42% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 27.28% | 3.50% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 8.65% | 3.82% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 10.14% | 14.14% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 28.32M | 1.47M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 38.70M | 1.73M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 22.67% | 12.80% |
| Beta | 0.99 | 0.96 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
GOOGL
34.31%
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 49.37%
- Q3
- 29.69%
- Median
- 9.73%
- Q1
- 2.47%
- Min
- -26.19%
In the upper quartile for the Interactive Media & Services industry, GOOGL’s Return on Equity of 34.31% 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.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
GOOGL
31.12%
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 50.41%
- Q3
- 29.38%
- Median
- 17.14%
- Q1
- 3.13%
- Min
- -30.88%
A Net Profit Margin of 31.12% places GOOGL in the upper quartile for the Interactive Media & Services 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.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
GOOGL
32.68%
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 65.96%
- Q3
- 36.95%
- Median
- 18.60%
- Q1
- 5.69%
- Min
- -18.13%
GOOGL’s Operating Profit Margin of 32.68% is around the midpoint for the Interactive Media & 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 | GOOGL | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 34.31% | 17.46% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 24.88% | 8.10% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 31.12% | 20.20% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 32.68% | 26.75% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 58.94% | 48.45% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
GOOGL
1.90
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 4.30
- Q3
- 2.68
- Median
- 1.96
- Q1
- 1.21
- Min
- 0.45
GOOGL’s Current Ratio of 1.90 aligns with the median group of the Interactive Media & Services industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
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)
GOOGL
0.07
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 0.90
- Q3
- 0.47
- Median
- 0.16
- Q1
- 0.03
- Min
- 0.00
GOOGL’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.07 is typical for the Interactive Media & Services industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
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)
GOOGL
16.20
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 67.60
- Q3
- 29.41
- Median
- 6.36
- Q1
- -0.87
- Min
- -37.02
GOOGL’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 16.20 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Interactive Media & Services industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
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 | GOOGL | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.90 | 0.93 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 1.90 | 0.70 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.07 | 0.67 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 16.20 | 33.09 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
GOOGL
0.41%
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 1.87%
- Q3
- 1.08%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
GOOGL’s Dividend Yield of 0.41% is consistent with its peers in the Interactive Media & Services industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
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)
GOOGL
8.54%
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 87.35%
- Q3
- 38.67%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
GOOGL’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 8.54% is within the typical range for the Interactive Media & Services 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.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | GOOGL | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.41% | 1.21% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 8.54% | 40.71% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
GOOGL
21.01
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 87.79
- Q3
- 54.33
- Median
- 25.46
- Q1
- 18.76
- Min
- 6.96
GOOGL’s P/E Ratio of 21.01 is within the middle range for the Interactive Media & 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)
GOOGL
6.54
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 19.01
- Q3
- 12.39
- Median
- 6.49
- Q1
- 1.94
- Min
- 0.22
GOOGL’s P/S Ratio of 6.54 aligns with the market consensus for the Interactive Media & Services industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
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)
GOOGL
5.91
Interactive Media & Services Industry
- Max
- 11.66
- Q3
- 7.17
- Median
- 4.17
- Q1
- 2.80
- Min
- 0.12
GOOGL’s P/B Ratio of 5.91 is within the conventional range for the Interactive Media & 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 | GOOGL | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 21.01 | 33.69 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 6.54 | 6.80 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 5.91 | 5.73 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 36.39 | 44.62 |