LIN vs. SHEL: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at LIN and SHEL, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
LIN is a standard domestic listing, while SHEL trades as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR), offering U.S. investors access to its foreign-listed shares.
| Symbol | LIN | SHEL |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Linde plc | Shell plc |
| Country | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Energy |
| GICS Industry | Chemicals | Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels |
| Market Capitalization | 226.18 billion USD | 209.92 billion USD |
| Exchange | NasdaqGS | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 17, 1992 | March 12, 1984 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of LIN and SHEL 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 | LIN | SHEL |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 0.99% | 1.45% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 4.79% | 7.61% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 4.62% | -0.30% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 5.19% | -1.55% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 4.80% | -1.66% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 15.21% | 7.67% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 1.36M | 4.94M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 1.77M | 5.97M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 12.85% | 18.39% |
| Beta | 0.96 | 1.19 |
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.
SHEL
7.40%
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels Industry
- Max
- 35.51%
- Q3
- 17.86%
- Median
- 10.69%
- Q1
- 5.71%
- Min
- -8.98%
SHEL’s Return on Equity of 7.40% is on par with the norm for the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
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.
SHEL
5.00%
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels Industry
- Max
- 44.03%
- Q3
- 20.12%
- Median
- 8.91%
- Q1
- 2.62%
- Min
- -23.39%
SHEL’s Net Profit Margin of 5.00% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
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.
SHEL
9.81%
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels Industry
- Max
- 64.72%
- Q3
- 31.93%
- Median
- 19.14%
- Q1
- 5.67%
- Min
- -27.31%
SHEL’s Operating Profit Margin of 9.81% is around the midpoint for the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | LIN | SHEL |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 17.46% | 7.40% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 8.10% | 3.45% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 20.20% | 5.00% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 26.75% | 9.81% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 48.45% | 24.92% |
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.
SHEL
1.32
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels Industry
- Max
- 2.76
- Q3
- 1.64
- Median
- 1.22
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.22
SHEL’s Current Ratio of 1.32 aligns with the median group of the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
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.
SHEL
0.43
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels Industry
- Max
- 2.24
- Q3
- 1.06
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.24
- Min
- 0.00
SHEL’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.43 is typical for the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 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)
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.
SHEL
-16.99
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels Industry
- Max
- 54.03
- Q3
- 23.32
- Median
- 7.46
- Q1
- 2.57
- Min
- -19.25
SHEL has a negative Interest Coverage Ratio of -16.99. This indicates that its earnings were insufficient to cover even its operational costs, let alone its interest payments, signaling significant financial distress.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | LIN | SHEL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.93 | 1.32 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.70 | 1.08 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.67 | 0.43 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 33.09 | -16.99 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
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.
SHEL
4.11%
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels Industry
- Max
- 13.98%
- Q3
- 7.41%
- Median
- 4.36%
- Q1
- 2.84%
- Min
- 0.00%
SHEL’s Dividend Yield of 4.11% is consistent with its peers in the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
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.
SHEL
63.10%
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels Industry
- Max
- 180.73%
- Q3
- 92.90%
- Median
- 63.90%
- Q1
- 27.41%
- Min
- 0.00%
SHEL’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 63.10% is within the typical range for the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | LIN | SHEL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.21% | 4.11% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 40.71% | 63.10% |
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.
SHEL
15.36
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels Industry
- Max
- 41.71
- Q3
- 21.35
- Median
- 12.26
- Q1
- 7.77
- Min
- 0.00
SHEL’s P/E Ratio of 15.36 is within the middle range for the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
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.
SHEL
0.77
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels Industry
- Max
- 5.87
- Q3
- 2.89
- Median
- 1.29
- Q1
- 0.54
- Min
- 0.00
SHEL’s P/S Ratio of 0.77 aligns with the market consensus for the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
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.
SHEL
1.28
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels Industry
- Max
- 3.83
- Q3
- 2.12
- Median
- 1.34
- Q1
- 0.91
- Min
- 0.34
SHEL’s P/B Ratio of 1.28 is within the conventional range for the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 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.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | LIN | SHEL |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 33.69 | 15.36 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 6.80 | 0.77 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 5.73 | 1.28 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 44.62 | 7.27 |