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

Updated on August 24, 2025

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

Company Profile

Symbol	LIN	MLM
Company Name	Linde plc	Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.
Country	United Kingdom	United States
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Chemicals	Construction Materials
Market Capitalization	226.18 billion USD	36.22 billion USD
Exchange	NasdaqGS	NYSE
Listing Date	June 17, 1992	February 17, 1994
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of LIN and MLM 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.

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

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	LIN	MLM
5-Day Price Return	0.99%	-1.94%
13-Week Price Return	4.79%	5.70%
26-Week Price Return	4.62%	12.97%
52-Week Price Return	5.19%	12.36%
Month-to-Date Return	4.80%	4.47%
Year-to-Date Return	15.21%	16.28%
10-Day Avg. Volume	1.36M	0.43M
3-Month Avg. Volume	1.77M	0.42M
3-Month Volatility	12.85%	21.04%
Beta	0.96	1.03

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

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.

MLM

11.88%

Construction Materials Industry

Max: 24.78%
Q3: 14.96%
Median: 10.37%
Q1: 4.14%
Min: -2.94%

MLM’s Return on Equity of 11.88% is on par with the norm for the Construction Materials industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

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

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

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.

MLM

16.47%

Construction Materials Industry

Max: 28.01%
Q3: 15.18%
Median: 9.09%
Q1: 3.32%
Min: -4.30%

A Net Profit Margin of 16.47% places MLM in the upper quartile for the Construction Materials industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

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

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

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.

MLM

23.04%

Construction Materials Industry

Max: 31.67%
Q3: 18.49%
Median: 11.57%
Q1: 7.82%
Min: -1.44%

An Operating Profit Margin of 23.04% places MLM in the upper quartile for the Construction Materials industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.

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

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	LIN	MLM
Return on Equity (TTM)	17.46%	11.88%
Return on Assets (TTM)	8.10%	6.25%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	20.20%	16.47%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	26.75%	23.04%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	48.45%	29.44%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

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.

MLM

2.35

Construction Materials Industry

Max: 5.14
Q3: 2.89
Median: 1.92
Q1: 1.25
Min: 0.79

MLM’s Current Ratio of 2.35 aligns with the median group of the Construction Materials industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

LIN vs. MLM: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Chemicals and Construction Materials industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

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.

MLM

0.58

Construction Materials Industry

Max: 0.99
Q3: 0.72
Median: 0.55
Q1: 0.30
Min: 0.00

MLM’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.58 is typical for the Construction Materials industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

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

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

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.

MLM

16.36

Construction Materials Industry

Max: 54.89
Q3: 34.04
Median: 7.92
Q1: 4.28
Min: -6.24

MLM’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 16.36 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Construction Materials industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

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

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	LIN	MLM
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.93	2.35
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.70	1.21
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	0.67	0.58
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	33.09	16.36

Growth

Revenue Growth

LIN vs. MLM: 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

LIN vs. MLM: 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)

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.

MLM

0.53%

Construction Materials Industry

Max: 5.91%
Q3: 4.64%
Median: 2.57%
Q1: 1.11%
Min: 0.00%

MLM’s Dividend Yield of 0.53% is in the lower quartile for the Construction Materials industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.

LIN vs. MLM: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Chemicals and Construction Materials industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

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.

MLM

17.62%

Construction Materials Industry

Max: 174.17%
Q3: 91.80%
Median: 44.42%
Q1: 23.07%
Min: 0.00%

MLM’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 17.62% is in the lower quartile for the Construction Materials industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.

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

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	LIN	MLM
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.21%	0.53%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	40.71%	17.62%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

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.

MLM

33.15

Construction Materials Industry

Max: 49.05
Q3: 24.51
Median: 12.09
Q1: 7.70
Min: 4.06

A P/E Ratio of 33.15 places MLM in the upper quartile for the Construction Materials industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.

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

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

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.

MLM

5.46

Construction Materials Industry

Max: 4.03
Q3: 2.26
Median: 1.31
Q1: 0.66
Min: 0.19

With a P/S Ratio of 5.46, MLM trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Construction Materials industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.

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

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

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.

MLM

3.53

Construction Materials Industry

Max: 3.19
Q3: 1.80
Median: 1.08
Q1: 0.72
Min: 0.11

At 3.53, MLM’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Construction Materials 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 vs. MLM: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Chemicals and Construction Materials industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	LIN	MLM
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	33.69	33.15
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	6.80	5.46
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	5.73	3.53
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	44.62	37.32