ASM vs LIN

For growth investors, Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.

(ASM) is the stronger pick with 30. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 0% for Linde plc (LIN). Linde plc (LIN) offers the better valuation at 33. 8x trailing P/E (27. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (ASM) a "Buy" — based on 5 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, Linde plc (LIN) is the cheapest at 33.

8x versus Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. at 40. 4x. On forward P/E, Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. is actually cheaper at 19. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.

(ASM) delivered a total return of +390. 0%, compared to +73. 9% for Linde plc (LIN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ASM returned +435. 9% versus LIN's +375. 2%. 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 Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. 's 2. 05β — meaning ASM is approximately 752% more volatile than LIN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (ASM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 68% for Linde plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.

(ASM) is pulling ahead at 30. 9% versus 3. 0% for Linde plc (LIN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. grew EPS 183. 3% year-over-year, compared to 7. 1% for Linde plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, ASM leads at 25. 2% 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.

Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.

(ASM) is the more profitable company, earning 31. 3% net margin versus 20. 3% for Linde plc — meaning it keeps 31. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ASM leads at 33. 9% versus 26. 3% for LIN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ASM leads at 48. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.

(ASM) trades at 19. 2x forward P/E versus 27. 7x for Linde plc — 8. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ASM: 57. 9% to $10. 83.

In this comparison, LIN (1.

2% yield) pays a dividend. ASM does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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, +375. 2% 10Y return). Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (ASM) carries a higher beta of 2. 05 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LIN: +375. 2%, ASM: +435. 9%), 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: ASM is a small-cap high-growth stock; LIN is a large-cap quality compounder stock. LIN pays a dividend while ASM does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.