APD vs EMN vs LIN vs LYB

For growth investors, Linde plc (LIN) is the stronger pick with 3.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -25. 2% for LyondellBasell Industries N. V. (LYB). Eastman Chemical Company (EMN) offers the better valuation at 18. 5x trailing P/E (12. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD) a "Buy" — based on 42 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, Eastman Chemical Company (EMN) is the cheapest at 18.

5x versus Linde plc at 34. 4x. On forward P/E, LyondellBasell Industries N. V. is actually cheaper at 10. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Linde plc wins at 1. 11x versus Eastman Chemical Company's 4. 00x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Linde plc (LIN) delivered a total return of +78.

1%, compared to -26. 2% for Eastman Chemical Company (EMN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LIN returned +376. 9% versus EMN's +36. 1%. 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.

24β versus Eastman Chemical Company's 1. 36β — meaning EMN is approximately 465% more volatile than LIN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Linde plc (LIN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 68% versus 156% for LyondellBasell Industries N. V. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Linde plc (LIN) is pulling ahead at 3.

0% versus -25. 2% for LyondellBasell Industries N. V. (LYB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Linde plc grew EPS 7. 1% year-over-year, compared to -156. 6% for LyondellBasell Industries N. V.. Over a 3-year CAGR, LIN leads at 0. 6% 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.

Linde plc (LIN) is the more profitable company, earning 20.

3% net margin versus -3. 3% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 20. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LIN leads at 26. 3% versus -7. 3% for APD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LIN leads at 43. 3%, 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, Linde plc (LIN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 11x versus Eastman Chemical Company's 4. 00x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, LyondellBasell Industries N. V. (LYB) trades at 10. 2x forward P/E versus 28. 1x for Linde plc — 17. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LIN: 7. 5% to $539. 71.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

LyondellBasell Industries N. V. (LYB) offers the highest yield at 7. 5%, versus 1. 2% for Linde plc (LIN).

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.

24), 1. 2% yield, +376. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LIN: +376. 9%, EMN: +36. 1%), 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: APD is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; EMN is a small-cap income-oriented stock; LIN is a large-cap quality compounder stock; LYB is a mid-cap income-oriented 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.