LIN vs. VALE: Linde vs. Vale Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Linde (LIN) and Vale (VALE) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Linde (LIN) and Vale (VALE) both fall under the Materials industry group, but LIN is classified in Chemicals while VALE is classified in Metals & Mining.

Linde (LIN) trades as ordinary local shares, while Vale (VALE) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Linde (LIN) and Vale (VALE)
Profile Item	LIN	VALE
Name	Linde plc	Vale S.A. American Depositary Shares
Country/Region	United Kingdom	Brazil
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Chemicals	Metals & Mining
GICS Sub-Industry	Industrial Gases	Steel
Market Capitalization	236.54 billion USD	49.32 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	June 17, 1992	March 21, 2002
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

LIN

VALE

GSPC

Linde (LIN) vs. Vale (VALE), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Linde (LIN) and Vale (VALE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Linde (LIN) and Vale (VALE). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Linde (LIN) and Vale (VALE)
Metric	LIN	VALE
Total Return (1Y)	25.64%	6.20%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	11.48%	3.12%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	10.50%	8.31%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

LIN

VALE

GSPC

Linde (LIN) vs. Vale (VALE), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Linde (LIN) and Vale (VALE). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Linde (LIN) and Vale (VALE)
Metric	LIN	VALE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	19.00%	33.88%
Beta (5Y)	0.67	0.48
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-22.82%	-49.81%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.05M	32.62M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

LIN and VALE are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Linde (LIN) and Vale (VALE)
Metric	LIN	VALE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.12	0.06
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.65	0.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Linde (LIN) at 17.72% and Vale (VALE) at 0.26% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

LIN

Materials industry group

17.72%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
LIN: 17.72%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

VALE

Materials industry group

0.26%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
VALE: 0.26%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

Linde (LIN) vs. Vale (VALE): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Linde (LIN) at 19.34% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Vale (VALE) at 1.01%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

LIN

Materials industry group

19.34%

Max: 38.66%
LIN: 19.34%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

VALE

Materials industry group

1.01%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
VALE: 1.01%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Linde (LIN) vs. Vale (VALE): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Linde (LIN) at 27.97% and Vale (VALE) at 19.31% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

LIN

Materials industry group

27.97%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
LIN: 27.97%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

VALE

Materials industry group

19.31%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
VALE: 19.31%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Linde (LIN) vs. Vale (VALE): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Linde (LIN) and Vale (VALE)
Metric	LIN	VALE
ROE (TTM)	17.72%	0.26%
ROA (TTM)	7.17%	6.97%
Net Margin (TTM)	19.34%	1.01%
Operating Margin (TTM)	27.97%	19.31%
Gross Margin (TTM)	47.86%	32.06%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Linde (LIN) at 2.97% and Vale (VALE) at 0.91% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Linde (LIN) vs. Vale (VALE): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Linde (LIN) at 7.27% and Vale (VALE) at -61.81% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Linde (LIN) vs. Vale (VALE): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Linde (LIN) and Vale (VALE)
Metric	LIN	VALE
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.97%	0.91%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	0.62%	-4.32%
EPS Growth (YoY)	7.27%	-61.81%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	21.08%	-48.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Linde (LIN) at 0.86 and Vale (VALE) at 1.10 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

LIN

Materials industry group

0.86

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
LIN: 0.86
Min: 0.16

VALE

Materials industry group

1.10

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
VALE: 1.10
Min: 0.16

Linde (LIN) vs. Vale (VALE): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Linde (LIN) at 0.65 and Vale (VALE) at 0.55 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

LIN

Materials industry group

0.65

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
LIN: 0.65
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

VALE

Materials industry group

0.55

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
VALE: 0.55
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

Linde (LIN) vs. Vale (VALE): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Linde (LIN) and Vale (VALE)
Metric	LIN	VALE
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.86	1.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.65	0.55
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.65	1.20

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Linde (LIN) at 1.21% pays an industry-typical yield; Vale (VALE) at 49.02% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

LIN

Materials industry group

1.21%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
LIN: 1.21%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

VALE

Materials industry group

49.02%

VALE: 49.02%
Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Linde (LIN) vs. Vale (VALE): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Vale (VALE) reports payout ratio above 100% at 526.96%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Linde (LIN) reports 41.83%, ranking against industry peers normally.

LIN

Materials industry group

41.83%

Max: 83.62%
LIN: 41.83%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

VALE

Materials industry group

526.96%

VALE: 526.96%
Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Linde (LIN) vs. Vale (VALE): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Linde (LIN) and Vale (VALE)
Metric	LIN	VALE
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.21%	49.02%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	41.83%	526.96%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on trailing earnings: Linde (LIN) at 34.21 sits in the richer P/E ratio quartile, and Vale (VALE) at 72.44 is richer still, above its industry range.

LIN

Materials industry group

34.21

Max: 59.00
LIN: 34.21
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

VALE

Materials industry group

72.44

VALE: 72.44
Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

Linde (LIN) vs. Vale (VALE): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Vale (VALE) at 0.23 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Linde (LIN) at 6.53 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

LIN

Materials industry group

6.53

Max: 9.62
LIN: 6.53
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

VALE

Materials industry group

0.23

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
VALE: 0.23
Min: 0.00

Linde (LIN) vs. Vale (VALE): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Vale (VALE) at 1.27 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Linde (LIN) at 6.00 carries an above-peer premium to book — LIN is pricier on assets.

LIN

Materials industry group

6.00

Max: 6.59
LIN: 6.00
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

VALE

Materials industry group

1.27

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
VALE: 1.27
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

Linde (LIN) vs. Vale (VALE): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Linde (LIN) and Vale (VALE)
Metric	LIN	VALE
P/E Ratio (TTM)	34.21	72.44
P/S Ratio (TTM)	6.53	0.23
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	6.00	1.27
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.77%	17.51%