AEM vs LIN

For growth investors, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) is the stronger pick with 43.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 0% for Linde plc (LIN). Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) offers the better valuation at 21. 8x trailing P/E (13. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) a "Buy" — based on 31 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) is the cheapest at 21.

8x versus Linde plc at 33. 8x. On forward P/E, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited is actually cheaper at 13. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Agnico Eagle Mines Limited wins at 0. 42x versus Linde plc's 1. 09x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) delivered a total return of +194.

1%, compared to +72. 5% for Linde plc (LIN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LIN returned +374. 6% versus AEM's +363. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Linde plc (LIN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

23β versus Agnico Eagle Mines Limited's 0. 66β — meaning AEM is approximately 181% more volatile than LIN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 68% for Linde plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) is pulling ahead at 43.

7% versus 3. 0% for Linde plc (LIN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Agnico Eagle Mines Limited grew EPS 134. 4% year-over-year, compared to 7. 1% for Linde plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, AEM leads at 29. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) is the more profitable company, earning 37.

5% net margin versus 20. 3% for Linde plc — meaning it keeps 37. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AEM leads at 53. 1% versus 26. 3% for LIN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AEM leads at 58. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 42x versus Linde plc's 1. 09x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) trades at 13. 9x forward P/E versus 27. 6x for Linde plc — 13. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AEM: 23. 0% to $237. 71.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Linde plc (LIN) offers the highest yield at 1. 2%, versus 0. 7% for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Linde plc (LIN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

23), 1. 2% yield, +374. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LIN: +374. 6%, AEM: +363. 7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Basic Materials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: AEM is a mid-cap high-growth stock; LIN is a large-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.