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

Updated on November 18, 2025

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

Company Profile

Symbol	KO	LIN
Company Name	The Coca-Cola Company	Linde plc
Country	United States	United Kingdom
GICS Sector	Consumer Staples	Materials
GICS Industry	Beverages	Chemicals
Market Capitalization	303.35 billion USD	196.43 billion USD
Exchange	NYSE	NasdaqGS
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	June 17, 1992
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of KO 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.

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

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	KO	LIN
5-Day Price Return	2.71%	0.65%
13-Week Price Return	-0.33%	-10.57%
26-Week Price Return	-2.60%	-6.45%
52-Week Price Return	10.78%	-9.62%
Month-to-Date Return	2.35%	0.57%
Year-to-Date Return	13.27%	0.48%
10-Day Avg. Volume	16.12M	3.40M
3-Month Avg. Volume	15.92M	1.87M
3-Month Volatility	15.96%	15.02%
Beta	0.39	0.87

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

KO

47.01%

Beverages Industry

Max: 45.90%
Q3: 22.74%
Median: 10.10%
Q1: 6.35%
Min: -13.21%

KO’s Return on Equity of 47.01% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Beverages industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.

LIN

18.51%

Chemicals Industry

Max: 29.52%
Q3: 13.18%
Median: 6.53%
Q1: 1.35%
Min: -11.86%

In the upper quartile for the Chemicals industry, LIN’s Return on Equity of 18.51% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.

KO vs. LIN: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Beverages and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

KO

27.34%

Beverages Industry

Max: 21.38%
Q3: 12.24%
Median: 8.43%
Q1: 5.97%
Min: 0.65%

KO’s Net Profit Margin of 27.34% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Beverages industry. This demonstrates outstanding operational efficiency and a strong competitive advantage in converting revenue into profit.

LIN

21.17%

Chemicals Industry

Max: 20.20%
Q3: 9.15%
Median: 3.94%
Q1: 0.60%
Min: -10.43%

LIN’s Net Profit Margin of 21.17% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Chemicals industry. This demonstrates outstanding operational efficiency and a strong competitive advantage in converting revenue into profit.

KO vs. LIN: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Beverages and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

KO

31.42%

Beverages Industry

Max: 29.32%
Q3: 20.15%
Median: 13.14%
Q1: 10.74%
Min: 1.24%

KO’s Operating Profit Margin of 31.42% is exceptionally high, placing it well above the typical range for the Beverages industry. This demonstrates outstanding efficiency in managing its core operations, which can be a result of strong pricing power or superior cost control.

LIN

27.38%

Chemicals Industry

Max: 27.33%
Q3: 13.82%
Median: 7.98%
Q1: 3.60%
Min: -7.61%

LIN’s Operating Profit Margin of 27.38% is exceptionally high, placing it well above the typical range for the Chemicals industry. This demonstrates outstanding efficiency in managing its core operations, which can be a result of strong pricing power or superior cost control.

KO vs. LIN: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Beverages and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	KO	LIN
Return on Equity (TTM)	47.01%	18.51%
Return on Assets (TTM)	12.63%	8.47%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	27.34%	21.17%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	31.42%	27.38%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	61.63%	48.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

KO

1.21

Beverages Industry

Max: 3.52
Q3: 2.00
Median: 1.22
Q1: 0.87
Min: 0.55

KO’s Current Ratio of 1.21 aligns with the median group of the Beverages industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

LIN

0.82

Chemicals Industry

Max: 3.72
Q3: 2.38
Median: 1.69
Q1: 1.42
Min: 0.75

LIN’s Current Ratio of 0.82 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.

KO vs. LIN: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Beverages and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

KO

1.52

Beverages Industry

Max: 2.14
Q3: 1.14
Median: 0.74
Q1: 0.37
Min: 0.00

KO’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Beverages industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.52. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.

LIN

0.67

Chemicals Industry

Max: 1.53
Q3: 1.00
Median: 0.69
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.

KO vs. LIN: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Beverages and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

KO

67.13

Beverages Industry

Max: 78.96
Q3: 42.68
Median: 10.96
Q1: 3.86
Min: 0.81

KO’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 67.13 is in the upper quartile for the Beverages 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: 8.84
Q1: 2.54
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.

KO vs. LIN: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Beverages and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	KO	LIN
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.21	0.82
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.88	0.62
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	1.52	0.67
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	67.13	33.09

Growth

Revenue Growth

KO 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

KO 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)

KO

2.79%

Beverages Industry

Max: 7.92%
Q3: 4.37%
Median: 3.32%
Q1: 1.98%
Min: 0.00%

KO’s Dividend Yield of 2.79% is consistent with its peers in the Beverages industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

LIN

1.41%

Chemicals Industry

Max: 6.59%
Q3: 3.67%
Median: 2.44%
Q1: 1.36%
Min: 0.00%

LIN’s Dividend Yield of 1.41% is consistent with its peers in the Chemicals industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

KO vs. LIN: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Beverages and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

KO

65.04%

Beverages Industry

Max: 188.65%
Q3: 104.55%
Median: 72.60%
Q1: 40.31%
Min: 0.00%

KO’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 65.04% is within the typical range for the Beverages industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

LIN

39.08%

Chemicals Industry

Max: 192.00%
Q3: 108.95%
Median: 57.38%
Q1: 27.28%
Min: 0.00%

LIN’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 39.08% is within the typical range for the Chemicals industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

KO vs. LIN: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Beverages and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	KO	LIN
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.79%	1.41%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	65.04%	39.08%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

KO

23.29

Beverages Industry

Max: 35.25
Q3: 22.66
Median: 17.17
Q1: 13.65
Min: 4.77

A P/E Ratio of 23.29 places KO in the upper quartile for the Beverages industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.

LIN

27.69

Chemicals Industry

Max: 49.43
Q3: 32.03
Median: 21.32
Q1: 14.93
Min: 8.66

LIN’s P/E Ratio of 27.69 is within the middle range for the Chemicals industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

KO vs. LIN: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Beverages and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

KO

6.37

Beverages Industry

Max: 4.06
Q3: 2.24
Median: 1.34
Q1: 0.86
Min: 0.39

With a P/S Ratio of 6.37, KO trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Beverages industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.

LIN

5.86

Chemicals Industry

Max: 3.90
Q3: 2.23
Median: 1.00
Q1: 0.55
Min: 0.15

With a P/S Ratio of 5.86, 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.

KO vs. LIN: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Beverages and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

KO

9.04

Beverages Industry

Max: 6.90
Q3: 4.23
Median: 2.20
Q1: 1.51
Min: 0.69

At 9.04, KO’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Beverages 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.

LIN

5.77

Chemicals Industry

Max: 5.01
Q3: 2.59
Median: 1.50
Q1: 0.95
Min: 0.30

At 5.77, 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.

KO vs. LIN: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Beverages and Chemicals industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	KO	LIN
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	23.29	27.69
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	6.37	5.86
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	9.04	5.77
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	27.39	38.70