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

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

Company Profile

SymbolLINWFC
Company NameLinde plcWells Fargo & Company
CountryUnited KingdomUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsFinancials
GICS IndustryChemicalsBanks
Market Capitalization223.03 billion USD249.52 billion USD
ExchangeNasdaqGSNYSE
Listing DateJune 17, 1992June 1, 1972
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

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

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolLINWFC
5-Day Price Return1.32%1.09%
13-Week Price Return4.67%4.02%
26-Week Price Return3.25%-4.34%
52-Week Price Return6.46%49.62%
Month-to-Date Return3.34%-3.40%
Year-to-Date Return13.61%10.89%
10-Day Avg. Volume1.53M14.51M
3-Month Avg. Volume1.91M18.42M
3-Month Volatility13.61%24.32%
Beta0.961.27

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.

WFC

11.36%

Banks Industry

Max
26.37%
Q3
15.92%
Median
12.25%
Q1
8.69%
Min
0.15%

WFC’s Return on Equity of 11.36% is on par with the norm for the Banks industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

LIN vs. WFC: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Chemicals and Banks 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.

WFC

22.19%

Banks Industry

Max
54.20%
Q3
35.70%
Median
28.97%
Q1
22.53%
Min
6.98%

Falling into the lower quartile for the Banks industry, WFC’s Net Profit Margin of 22.19% indicates weaker profitability. This means the company retains a smaller portion of each dollar in sales as profit compared to its competitors.

LIN vs. WFC: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Chemicals and Banks 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.

WFC

25.35%

Banks Industry

Max
63.35%
Q3
44.59%
Median
37.24%
Q1
28.25%
Min
13.37%

WFC’s Operating Profit Margin of 25.35% is in the lower quartile for the Banks industry. This indicates weaker profitability from core operations, which may stem from inefficiencies or competitive pressures on pricing.

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

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolLINWFC
Return on Equity (TTM)17.46%11.36%
Return on Assets (TTM)8.10%1.06%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)20.20%22.19%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)26.75%25.35%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)48.45%--

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.

WFC

--

Banks Industry

Max
--
Q3
--
Median
--
Q1
--
Min
--

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

LIN vs. WFC: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Chemicals and Banks 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.

WFC

2.01

Banks Industry

Max
4.75
Q3
2.62
Median
1.02
Q1
0.39
Min
0.00

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

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

WFC

--

Banks Industry

Max
--
Q3
--
Median
--
Q1
--
Min
--

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

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

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolLINWFC
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.93--
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.70--
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.672.01
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)33.09--

Growth

Revenue Growth

LIN vs. WFC: 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. WFC: 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

1.23%

Chemicals Industry

Max
6.56%
Q3
4.04%
Median
2.47%
Q1
1.45%
Min
0.00%

LIN’s Dividend Yield of 1.23% 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.

WFC

2.53%

Banks Industry

Max
10.27%
Q3
5.83%
Median
3.81%
Q1
2.50%
Min
0.00%

WFC’s Dividend Yield of 2.53% is consistent with its peers in the Banks industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

LIN vs. WFC: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Chemicals and Banks 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.

WFC

31.00%

Banks Industry

Max
147.07%
Q3
80.55%
Median
54.40%
Q1
35.71%
Min
0.00%

WFC’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 31.00% is in the lower quartile for the Banks industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.

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

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolLINWFC
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.23%2.53%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)40.71%31.00%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

LIN

33.22

Chemicals Industry

Max
42.94
Q3
29.77
Median
20.37
Q1
14.27
Min
6.19

A P/E Ratio of 33.22 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.

WFC

12.27

Banks Industry

Max
20.05
Q3
12.65
Median
10.21
Q1
7.54
Min
2.74

WFC’s P/E Ratio of 12.27 is within the middle range for the Banks 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. WFC: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Chemicals and Banks industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

LIN

6.71

Chemicals Industry

Max
4.36
Q3
2.23
Median
1.01
Q1
0.55
Min
0.16

With a P/S Ratio of 6.71, 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.

WFC

1.91

Banks Industry

Max
5.06
Q3
2.98
Median
2.24
Q1
1.59
Min
0.45

The P/S Ratio is often not a primary valuation tool in the Banks industry.

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

WFC

1.42

Banks Industry

Max
2.18
Q3
1.36
Median
1.09
Q1
0.81
Min
0.20

WFC’s P/B Ratio of 1.42 is in the upper tier for the Banks industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.

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

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolLINWFC
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)33.2212.27
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)6.711.91
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)5.731.42
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)44.0016.66