Compare Stocks

2 / 10
Try these comparisons:

Stock Comparison

BHP vs LIN

Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.

Live fundamentals10-year financials5-year price chart
BHP
BHP Group Limited

Industrial Materials

Basic MaterialsNYSE • AU
Market Cap$214.12B
5Y Perf.+100.8%
LIN
Linde plc

Chemicals - Specialty

Basic MaterialsNASDAQ • GB
Market Cap$232.56B
5Y Perf.+148.0%

BHP vs LIN — Key Financials

Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.

Company Snapshot
BHP logoBHP
LIN logoLIN
IndustryIndustrial MaterialsChemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$214.12B$232.56B
Revenue (TTM)$107.64B$34.66B
Net Income (TTM)$21.64B$7.13B
Gross Margin82.7%46.0%
Operating Margin41.0%28.8%
Forward P/E16.7x28.1x
Total Debt$24.50B$26.99B
Cash & Equiv.$11.89B$5.06B

BHP vs LINLong-Term Stock Performance

Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.

BHP
LIN
StockMay 20May 26Return
BHP Group Limited (BHP)100200.8+100.8%
Linde plc (LIN)100248.0+148.0%

Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.

Quick Verdict: BHP vs LIN

Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.

Bottom line: BHP leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and dividend income and shareholder returns. Linde plc is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
BHP
BHP Group Limited
The Defensive Pick

BHP carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for sleep-well-at-night and defensive.

  • Lower volatility, beta 1.22, Low D/E 46.9%, current ratio 1.46x
  • Beta 1.22, yield 3.0%, current ratio 1.46x
  • Lower P/E (16.7x vs 28.1x)
Best for: sleep-well-at-night and defensive
LIN
Linde plc
The Income Pick

LIN is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.

  • Dividend streak 6 yrs, beta 0.24, yield 1.2%
  • Rev growth 3.0%, EPS growth 7.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 0.6%
  • 376.9% 10Y total return vs BHP's 369.5%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
CategoryWinnerWhy
GrowthLIN logoLIN3.0% revenue growth vs BHP's -7.9%
ValueBHP logoBHPLower P/E (16.7x vs 28.1x)
Quality / MarginsLIN logoLIN20.6% margin vs BHP's 20.1%
Stability / SafetyLIN logoLINBeta 0.24 vs BHP's 1.22
DividendsBHP logoBHP3.0% yield, vs LIN's 1.2%
Momentum (1Y)BHP logoBHP+78.1% vs LIN's +13.6%
Efficiency (ROA)BHP logoBHP18.7% ROA vs LIN's 8.3%, ROIC 24.0% vs 11.3%

BHP vs LIN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment

How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units

BHPBHP Group Limited

Segment breakdown not available.

LINLinde plc
FY 2025
Americas Segment
45.9%$15.2B
EMEA Segment
25.8%$8.5B
APAC Segment
20.1%$6.7B
Engineering Segment
8.2%$2.7B

BHP vs LIN — Financial Metrics

Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.

BEST OVERALLBHPLAGGINGLIN

Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)

BHP leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.

BHP is the larger business by revenue, generating $107.6B annually — 3.1x LIN's $34.7B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 20.6% (LIN) to 20.1% (BHP).

MetricBHP logoBHPBHP Group LimitedLIN logoLINLinde plc
RevenueTrailing 12 months$107.6B$34.7B
EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax$53.9B$12.1B
Net IncomeAfter-tax profit$21.6B$7.1B
Free Cash FlowCash after capex$20.9B$5.1B
Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue+82.7%+46.0%
Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue+41.0%+28.8%
Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue+20.1%+20.6%
FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue+19.4%+14.7%
Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year+11.0%+8.2%
EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year+27.6%+13.4%
BHP leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.

Valuation Metrics

BHP leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.

At 23.7x trailing earnings, BHP trades at a 31% valuation discount to LIN's 34.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), LIN offers better value at 1.36x vs BHP's 8.44x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.

MetricBHP logoBHPBHP Group LimitedLIN logoLINLinde plc
Market CapShares × price$214.1B$232.6B
Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash$226.7B$254.5B
Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS23.69x34.40x
Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est.16.68x28.12x
PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate8.44x1.36x
EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple9.34x20.04x
Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue4.18x6.84x
Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share4.10x5.92x
Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF23.08x45.70x
BHP leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.

Profitability & Efficiency

BHP leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.

BHP delivers a 39.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $39 in annual profit, vs $18 for LIN. BHP carries lower financial leverage with a 0.47x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LIN's 0.68x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LIN scores 6/9 vs BHP's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.

MetricBHP logoBHPBHP Group LimitedLIN logoLINLinde plc
ROE (TTM)Return on equity+39.0%+17.8%
ROA (TTM)Return on assets+18.7%+8.3%
ROICReturn on invested capital+24.0%+11.3%
ROCEReturn on capital employed+21.5%+13.0%
Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–956
Debt / EquityFinancial leverage0.47x0.68x
Net DebtTotal debt minus cash$12.6B$21.9B
Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets$11.9B$5.1B
Total DebtShort + long-term debt$24.5B$27.0B
Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense23.05x34.52x
BHP leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.

Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)

BHP leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.

A $10,000 investment in LIN five years ago would be worth $17,813 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,990 for BHP. Over the past 12 months, BHP leads with a +78.1% total return vs LIN's +13.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BHP at 15.0% vs LIN's 12.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.

MetricBHP logoBHPBHP Group LimitedLIN logoLINLinde plc
YTD ReturnYear-to-date+38.9%+17.3%
1-Year ReturnPast 12 months+78.1%+13.6%
3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends+52.0%+41.9%
5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends+49.9%+78.1%
10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends+369.5%+376.9%
CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return+15.0%+12.4%
BHP leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.

Risk & Volatility

Evenly matched — BHP and LIN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.

LIN is the less volatile stock with a 0.24 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BHP's 1.22 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BHP currently trades 99.9% from its 52-week high vs LIN's 96.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.

MetricBHP logoBHPBHP Group LimitedLIN logoLINLinde plc
Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 5001.22x0.24x
52-Week HighHighest price in past year$84.42$521.28
52-Week LowLowest price in past year$45.74$387.78
% of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak+99.9%+96.3%
RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–10056.750.6
Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded3.2M2.3M
Evenly matched — BHP and LIN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.

Analyst Outlook

Evenly matched — BHP and LIN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.

Wall Street rates BHP as "Hold" and LIN as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 7.5% upside for LIN (target: $540) vs -15.2% for BHP (target: $72). For income investors, BHP offers the higher dividend yield at 2.98% vs LIN's 1.20%.

MetricBHP logoBHPBHP Group LimitedLIN logoLINLinde plc
Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sellHoldBuy
Price TargetConsensus 12-month target$71.50$539.71
# AnalystsCovering analysts3128
Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price+3.0%+1.2%
Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises06
Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS$2.52$6.00
Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap0.0%+2.0%
Evenly matched — BHP and LIN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway

BHP leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 2 categories are tied.

Best OverallBHP Group Limited (BHP)Leads 4 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...

BHP vs LIN: Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily

01

Is BHP or LIN a better buy right now?

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

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 9% for BHP Group Limited (BHP). BHP Group Limited (BHP) offers the better valuation at 23. 7x trailing P/E (16. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Linde plc (LIN) a "Buy" — based on 28 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.

02

Which has the better valuation — BHP or LIN?

On trailing P/E, BHP Group Limited (BHP) is the cheapest at 23.

7x versus Linde plc at 34. 4x. On forward P/E, BHP Group Limited is actually cheaper at 16. 7x. 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 BHP Group Limited's 5. 94x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

03

Which is the better long-term investment — BHP or LIN?

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

1%, compared to +49. 9% for BHP Group Limited (BHP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LIN returned +376. 9% versus BHP's +369. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

04

Which is safer — BHP or LIN?

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

24β versus BHP Group Limited's 1. 22β — meaning BHP is approximately 409% more volatile than LIN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, BHP Group Limited (BHP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 47% versus 68% for Linde plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

05

Which is growing faster — BHP or LIN?

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

0% versus -7. 9% for BHP Group Limited (BHP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: BHP Group Limited grew EPS 14. 1% year-over-year, compared to 7. 1% for Linde plc. 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.

06

Which has better profit margins — BHP or LIN?

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

3% net margin versus 17. 6% for BHP Group Limited — meaning it keeps 20. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BHP leads at 38. 0% versus 26. 3% for LIN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BHP leads at 82. 2%, 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.

07

Is BHP 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, Linde plc (LIN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 11x versus BHP Group Limited's 5. 94x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, BHP Group Limited (BHP) trades at 16. 7x forward P/E versus 28. 1x for Linde plc — 11. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LIN: 7. 5% to $539. 71.

08

Which pays a better dividend — BHP or LIN?

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

BHP Group Limited (BHP) offers the highest yield at 3. 0%, versus 1. 2% for Linde plc (LIN).

09

Is BHP 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, +376. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LIN: +376. 9%, BHP: +369. 5%), 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.

10

What are the main differences between BHP 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.

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.

Find Stocks Like These

Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.

Stocks Like

BHP

Dividend Mega-Cap Quality

  • Sector: Basic Materials
  • Market Cap > $100B
  • Revenue Growth > 5%
  • Net Margin > 12%
Run This Screen
Stocks Like

LIN

Quality Mega-Cap Compounder

  • Sector: Basic Materials
  • Market Cap > $100B
  • Revenue Growth > 5%
  • Net Margin > 12%
Run This Screen
Custom Screen

Beat Both

Find stocks that outperform BHP and LIN on the metrics below

Revenue Growth>
%
(BHP: 11.0% · LIN: 8.2%)
Net Margin>
%
(BHP: 20.1% · LIN: 20.6%)
P/E Ratio<
x
(BHP: 23.7x · LIN: 34.4x)

You Might Also Compare

Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.