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

Updated on August 26, 2025

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

Company Profile

Symbol	LIN	MS
Company Name	Linde plc	Morgan Stanley
Country	United Kingdom	United States
GICS Sector	Materials	Financials
GICS Industry	Chemicals	Capital Markets
Market Capitalization	225.86 billion USD	230.06 billion USD
Exchange	NasdaqGS	NYSE
Listing Date	June 17, 1992	February 23, 1993
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of LIN and MS 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. MS: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	LIN	MS
5-Day Price Return	0.66%	-2.96%
13-Week Price Return	5.75%	10.15%
26-Week Price Return	3.40%	5.32%
52-Week Price Return	4.31%	41.64%
Month-to-Date Return	4.65%	1.17%
Year-to-Date Return	15.05%	14.64%
10-Day Avg. Volume	1.46M	4.60M
3-Month Avg. Volume	1.74M	5.68M
3-Month Volatility	12.84%	18.37%
Beta	0.96	1.34

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.

MS

13.95%

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 38.97%
Q3: 21.61%
Median: 13.77%
Q1: 8.31%
Min: -4.25%

MS’s Return on Equity of 13.95% is on par with the norm for the Capital Markets industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

LIN vs. MS: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Chemicals and Capital Markets 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.

MS

13.06%

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 66.67%
Q3: 35.11%
Median: 23.49%
Q1: 13.63%
Min: -15.18%

Falling into the lower quartile for the Capital Markets industry, MS’s Net Profit Margin of 13.06% indicates weaker profitability. This means the company retains a smaller portion of each dollar in sales as profit compared to its competitors.

LIN vs. MS: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Chemicals and Capital Markets 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.

MS

17.07%

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 86.40%
Q3: 46.46%
Median: 32.80%
Q1: 18.32%
Min: -21.87%

MS’s Operating Profit Margin of 17.07% is in the lower quartile for the Capital Markets industry. This indicates weaker profitability from core operations, which may stem from inefficiencies or competitive pressures on pricing.

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

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	LIN	MS
Return on Equity (TTM)	17.46%	13.95%
Return on Assets (TTM)	8.10%	1.15%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	20.20%	13.06%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	26.75%	17.07%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	48.45%	54.42%

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.

MS

0.29

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 3.76
Q3: 1.89
Median: 1.01
Q1: 0.54
Min: -0.41

For the Capital Markets industry, the Current Ratio is often not the most suitable measure of short-term liquidity.

LIN vs. MS: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Chemicals and Capital Markets 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.

MS

7.68

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 6.62
Q3: 2.84
Median: 1.02
Q1: 0.32
Min: 0.00

The Debt-to-Equity Ratio is often not the primary focus for assessing leverage in the Capital Markets industry.

LIN vs. MS: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Chemicals and Capital Markets 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.

MS

1.25

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 126.03
Q3: 60.98
Median: 11.77
Q1: 4.95
Min: -36.26

The Interest Coverage Ratio is often not a primary indicator of debt servicing capacity in the Capital Markets industry.

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

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	LIN	MS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.93	0.29
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.70	0.29
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	0.67	7.68
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	33.09	1.25

Growth

Revenue Growth

LIN vs. MS: 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. MS: 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.

MS

2.78%

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 10.26%
Q3: 4.86%
Median: 2.78%
Q1: 1.22%
Min: 0.00%

MS’s Dividend Yield of 2.78% is consistent with its peers in the Capital Markets industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

LIN vs. MS: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Chemicals and Capital Markets 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.

MS

43.20%

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 200.72%
Q3: 101.92%
Median: 57.97%
Q1: 32.36%
Min: 0.00%

MS’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 43.20% is within the typical range for the Capital Markets industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

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

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	LIN	MS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.21%	2.78%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	40.71%	43.20%

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.

MS

15.56

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 58.89
Q3: 31.00
Median: 18.54
Q1: 12.09
Min: 5.24

MS’s P/E Ratio of 15.56 is within the middle range for the Capital Markets 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 vs. MS: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Chemicals and Capital Markets 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.

MS

2.03

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 14.49
Q3: 7.41
Median: 4.68
Q1: 2.25
Min: 0.04

In the lower quartile for the Capital Markets industry, MS’s P/S Ratio of 2.03 indicates its revenue is valued more conservatively than most of its peers. This could present a compelling opportunity if the market has overlooked its sales-generating capabilities.

LIN vs. MS: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Chemicals and Capital Markets 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.

MS

2.08

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 9.48
Q3: 4.94
Median: 2.42
Q1: 1.21
Min: 0.38

MS’s P/B Ratio of 2.08 is within the conventional range for the Capital Markets 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 vs. MS: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Chemicals and Capital Markets industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	LIN	MS
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	33.69	15.56
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	6.80	2.03
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	5.73	2.08
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	44.62	10.44