AU
AngloGold Ashanti Plc
Gold
Market Cap$45.93B
5Y Perf.+270.4%
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Stock Comparison
AU vs LIN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
LIN
Linde plc
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$231.88B
5Y Perf.+147.3%
AU vs LIN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | AU | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Gold | Chemicals - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $45.93B | $231.88B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $10.38B | $34.66B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.86B | $7.13B |
| Gross Margin | 47.8% | 46.0% |
| Operating Margin | 45.5% | 28.8% |
| Forward P/E | 8.4x | 28.0x |
| Total Debt | $2.44B | $26.99B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $2.93B | $5.06B |
AU vs LIN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
AU
LIN
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| AngloGold Ashanti P… (AU) | 100 | 370.4 | +270.4% |
| Linde plc (LIN) | 100 | 247.3 | +147.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AU vs LIN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: AU leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Linde plc is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
AU
AngloGold Ashanti Plc
The Growth Play
AU carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 70.8%, EPS growth 122.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 30.0%
- 5.2% 10Y total return vs LIN's 379.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.79, Low D/E 24.6%, current ratio 2.87x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
LIN
Linde plc
The Income Pick
LIN is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability.
- Dividend streak 6 yrs, beta 0.24, yield 1.2%
- Beta 0.24 vs AU's 0.79
Best for: income & stability
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AU | 70.8% revenue growth vs LIN's 3.0% |
| Value | AU | Lower P/E (8.4x vs 28.0x), PEG 0.49 vs 1.10 |
| Quality / Margins | AU | 27.6% margin vs LIN's 20.6% |
| Stability / Safety | LIN | Beta 0.24 vs AU's 0.79 |
| Dividends | AU | 4.0% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs LIN's 1.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AU | +124.4% vs LIN's +11.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AU | 20.3% ROA vs LIN's 8.3%, ROIC 35.9% vs 11.3% |
AU vs LIN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
AU vs LIN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLAULAGGINGLIN
LINLinde plc
1leads
AUAngloGold Ashanti Plc
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs LINMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
AU6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
AU7/7
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
AU8/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
AU5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
LIN2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AU leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LIN is the larger business by revenue, generating $34.7B annually — 3.3x AU's $10.4B. AU is the more profitable business, keeping 27.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to LIN's 20.6%. On growth, AU holds the edge at +75.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | AUAngloGold Ashanti… | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $10.4B | $34.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $4.8B | $12.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.9B | $7.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $3.4B | $5.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +47.8% | +46.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +45.5% | +28.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +27.6% | +20.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +32.6% | +14.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +75.3% | +8.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +63.1% | +13.4% |
AU leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
AU leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 17.5x trailing earnings, AU trades at a 49% valuation discount to LIN's 34.3x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), AU offers better value at 1.01x vs LIN's 1.35x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | AUAngloGold Ashanti… | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $45.9B | $231.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $45.4B | $253.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 17.53x | 34.30x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.40x | 28.03x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.01x | 1.35x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.29x | 19.99x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.64x | 6.82x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.66x | 5.90x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 14.79x | 45.56x |
AU leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AU leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AU delivers a 30.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $31 in annual profit, vs $18 for LIN. AU carries lower financial leverage with a 0.25x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LIN's 0.68x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AU scores 8/9 vs LIN's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | AUAngloGold Ashanti… | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +30.8% | +17.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +20.3% | +8.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +35.9% | +11.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +35.5% | +13.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.25x | 0.68x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$492M | $21.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.9B | $5.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.4B | $27.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 21.64x | 34.52x |
AU leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AU leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AU five years ago would be worth $44,755 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $18,055 for LIN. Over the past 12 months, AU leads with a +124.4% total return vs LIN's +11.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AU at 50.0% vs LIN's 12.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AUAngloGold Ashanti… | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +8.3% | +17.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +124.4% | +11.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +237.6% | +41.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +347.5% | +80.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +519.3% | +379.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +50.0% | +12.2% |
AU leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LIN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LIN is the less volatile stock with a 0.24 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AU's 0.79 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LIN currently trades 96.0% from its 52-week high vs AU's 70.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AUAngloGold Ashanti… | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.79x | 0.24x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $129.14 | $521.28 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $38.61 | $387.78 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +70.5% | +96.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 38.7 | 45.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.7M | 2.3M |
LIN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — AU and LIN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AU as "Buy" and LIN as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 46.2% upside for AU (target: $133) vs 7.9% for LIN (target: $540). For income investors, AU offers the higher dividend yield at 4.05% vs LIN's 1.20%.
| Metric | AUAngloGold Ashanti… | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $133.00 | $539.71 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 14 | 28 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.0% | +1.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 6 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.68 | $6.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.0% |
Evenly matched — AU and LIN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
AU leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). LIN leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Best OverallAngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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AU vs LIN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AU or LIN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) is the stronger pick with 70.
8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 0% for Linde plc (LIN). AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) offers the better valuation at 17. 5x trailing P/E (8. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) a "Buy" — based on 14 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.
02Which has the better valuation — AU or LIN?
On trailing P/E, AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) is the cheapest at 17.
5x versus Linde plc at 34. 3x. On forward P/E, AngloGold Ashanti Plc is actually cheaper at 8. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: AngloGold Ashanti Plc wins at 0. 49x versus Linde plc's 1. 10x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AU or LIN?
Over the past 5 years, AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) delivered a total return of +347.
5%, compared to +80. 6% for Linde plc (LIN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AU returned +519. 3% versus LIN's +379. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — AU or LIN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Linde plc (LIN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
24β versus AngloGold Ashanti Plc's 0. 79β — meaning AU is approximately 227% more volatile than LIN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 25% versus 68% for Linde plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — AU or LIN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) is pulling ahead at 70.
8% versus 3. 0% for Linde plc (LIN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AngloGold Ashanti Plc grew EPS 122. 7% year-over-year, compared to 7. 1% for Linde plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, AU leads at 30. 0% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — AU or LIN?
AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) is the more profitable company, earning 26.
6% net margin versus 20. 3% for Linde plc — meaning it keeps 26. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AU leads at 45. 1% versus 26. 3% for LIN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AU leads at 46. 5%, 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.
07Is AU or LIN more undervalued right now?
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, AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 49x versus Linde plc's 1. 10x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) trades at 8. 4x forward P/E versus 28. 0x for Linde plc — 19. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AU: 46. 2% to $133. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — AU or LIN?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) offers the highest yield at 4. 0%, versus 1. 2% for Linde plc (LIN).
09Is AU or LIN better for a retirement portfolio?
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, +379. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LIN: +379. 1%, AU: +519. 3%), 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.
10What are the main differences between AU and LIN?
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: AU 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(AU: 75.3% · LIN: 8.2%)Net Margin>
%
(AU: 27.6% · LIN: 20.6%)P/E Ratio<
x
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