DRD vs LIN vs APD vs AU

For growth investors, AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) is the stronger pick with 70.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 5% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD). DRDGOLD Limited (DRD) offers the better valuation at 18. 1x trailing P/E (0. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate DRDGOLD Limited (DRD) 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, DRDGOLD Limited (DRD) is the cheapest at 18.

1x versus Linde plc at 33. 8x. On forward P/E, DRDGOLD Limited is actually cheaper at 0. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: AngloGold Ashanti Plc wins at 0. 54x versus Linde plc's 1. 09x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) delivered a total return of +357.

0%, compared to +13. 2% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AU returned +653. 9% versus APD's +166. 4%. 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 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, DRDGOLD Limited (DRD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 106% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) is pulling ahead at 70.

8% versus -0. 5% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AngloGold Ashanti Plc grew EPS 122. 7% year-over-year, compared to -110. 3% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.. 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.

DRDGOLD Limited (DRD) is the more profitable company, earning 28.

5% net margin versus -3. 3% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 28. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AU leads at 45. 1% versus -7. 3% for APD. 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.

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. 54x versus Linde plc's 1. 09x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, DRDGOLD Limited (DRD) trades at 0. 6x forward P/E versus 27. 7x for Linde plc — 27. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DRD: 62. 8% to $46. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU) offers the highest yield at 3. 7%, versus 1. 1% for DRDGOLD Limited (DRD).

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). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LIN: +375. 2%, APD: +166. 4%), 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: DRD is a small-cap high-growth stock; LIN is a large-cap quality compounder stock; APD is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; AU is a mid-cap high-growth 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.