FUL vs LIN vs ECL vs PPG

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

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 7% for H. B. Fuller Company (FUL). PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG) offers the better valuation at 16. 1x trailing P/E (14. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate H. B. Fuller Company (FUL) a "Buy" — based on 15 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, PPG Industries, Inc.

(PPG) is the cheapest at 16. 1x versus Ecolab Inc. at 36. 2x. On forward P/E, H. B. Fuller Company is actually cheaper at 12. 9x — 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 H. B. Fuller Company's 4. 16x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

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

1%, compared to -30. 9% for PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LIN returned +376. 9% versus PPG's +23. 5%. 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 H. B. Fuller Company's 1. 20β — meaning FUL is approximately 401% 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 101% for H. B. Fuller Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

0% versus -2. 7% for H. B. Fuller Company (FUL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: PPG Industries, Inc. grew EPS 45. 7% year-over-year, compared to -1. 2% for Ecolab Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ECL leads at 4. 3% 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 4. 4% for H. B. Fuller Company — 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 11. 5% for FUL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ECL leads at 44. 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, Linde plc (LIN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 11x versus H. B. Fuller Company's 4. 16x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, H. B. Fuller Company (FUL) trades at 12. 9x forward P/E versus 31. 5x for Ecolab Inc. — 18. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ECL: 24. 2% to $327. 11.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG) offers the highest yield at 2. 5%, versus 1. 0% for Ecolab Inc. (ECL).

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%, FUL: +53. 2%), 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: FUL is a small-cap quality compounder stock; LIN is a large-cap quality compounder stock; ECL is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; PPG is a mid-cap deep-value 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.