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HBM vs LIN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Chemicals - Specialty
HBM vs LIN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Copper | Chemicals - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $9.52B | $232.56B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.22B | $34.66B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $570M | $7.13B |
| Gross Margin | 32.5% | 46.0% |
| Operating Margin | 41.4% | 28.8% |
| Forward P/E | 15.4x | 28.1x |
| Total Debt | $1.09B | $26.99B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $568M | $5.06B |
HBM vs LIN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hudbay Minerals Inc. (HBM) | 100 | 888.9 | +788.9% |
| Linde plc (LIN) | 100 | 248.0 | +148.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HBM vs LIN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
HBM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 8.9%, EPS growth 6.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 14.6%
- 490.5% 10Y total return vs LIN's 376.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.91, Low D/E 33.9%, current ratio 0.95x
LIN is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and defensive.
- Dividend streak 6 yrs, beta 0.24, yield 1.2%
- Beta 0.24, yield 1.2%, current ratio 0.88x
- Beta 0.24 vs HBM's 1.91
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 8.9% revenue growth vs LIN's 3.0% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (15.4x vs 28.1x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 25.8% margin vs LIN's 20.6% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.24 vs HBM's 1.91 | |
| Dividends | 1.2% yield, 6-year raise streak, vs HBM's 0.1% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +212.7% vs LIN's +13.6% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 9.8% ROA vs LIN's 8.3%, ROIC 12.0% vs 11.3% |
HBM vs LIN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
HBM vs LIN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HBM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LIN is the larger business by revenue, generating $34.7B annually — 15.6x HBM's $2.2B. HBM is the more profitable business, keeping 25.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to LIN's 20.6%. On growth, HBM holds the edge at +26.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.2B | $34.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.4B | $12.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $570M | $7.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $215M | $5.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +32.5% | +46.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +41.4% | +28.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +25.8% | +20.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +9.7% | +14.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +26.0% | +8.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.1% | +13.4% |
Valuation Metrics
HBM leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 16.4x trailing earnings, HBM trades at a 52% valuation discount to LIN's 34.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, HBM's 9.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LIN's 20.0x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $9.5B | $232.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $10.0B | $254.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 16.44x | 34.40x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.41x | 28.12x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.36x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.83x | 20.04x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.33x | 6.84x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.95x | 5.92x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 48.13x | 45.70x |
Profitability & Efficiency
HBM leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
HBM delivers a 19.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $19 in annual profit, vs $18 for LIN. HBM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.34x 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 HBM's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +19.2% | +17.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +9.8% | +8.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.0% | +11.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.3% | +13.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.34x | 0.68x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $524M | $21.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $568M | $5.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.1B | $27.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 13.44x | 34.52x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
HBM leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in HBM five years ago would be worth $27,864 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $17,813 for LIN. Over the past 12 months, HBM leads with a +212.7% total return vs LIN's +13.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors HBM at 65.5% vs LIN's 12.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +19.4% | +17.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +212.7% | +13.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +353.7% | +41.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +178.6% | +78.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +490.5% | +376.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +65.5% | +12.4% |
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 HBM's 1.91 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LIN currently trades 96.3% from its 52-week high vs HBM's 83.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.91x | 0.24x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $28.74 | $521.28 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $7.40 | $387.78 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +83.5% | +96.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 45.5 | 50.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.4M | 2.3M |
Analyst Outlook
LIN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates HBM as "Buy" and LIN as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 7.5% upside for LIN (target: $540) vs -56.9% for HBM (target: $10). LIN is the only dividend payer here at 1.20% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $10.34 | $539.71 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 20 | 28 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.1% | +1.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 6 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.01 | $6.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.0% |
HBM leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). LIN leads in 2 (Risk & Volatility, Analyst Outlook).
HBM vs LIN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HBM or LIN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Hudbay Minerals Inc.
(HBM) is the stronger pick with 8. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 0% for Linde plc (LIN). Hudbay Minerals Inc. (HBM) offers the better valuation at 16. 4x trailing P/E (15. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Hudbay Minerals Inc. (HBM) a "Buy" — based on 20 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 — HBM or LIN?
On trailing P/E, Hudbay Minerals Inc.
(HBM) is the cheapest at 16. 4x versus Linde plc at 34. 4x. On forward P/E, Hudbay Minerals Inc. is actually cheaper at 15. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — HBM or LIN?
Over the past 5 years, Hudbay Minerals Inc.
(HBM) delivered a total return of +178. 6%, compared to +78. 1% for Linde plc (LIN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HBM returned +490. 5% versus LIN's +376. 9%. 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 — HBM or LIN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Linde plc (LIN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
24β versus Hudbay Minerals Inc. 's 1. 91β — meaning HBM is approximately 695% more volatile than LIN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hudbay Minerals Inc. (HBM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 34% versus 68% for Linde plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — HBM or LIN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hudbay Minerals Inc.
(HBM) is pulling ahead at 8. 9% versus 3. 0% for Linde plc (LIN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hudbay Minerals Inc. grew EPS 630. 0% year-over-year, compared to 7. 1% for Linde plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, HBM leads at 14. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — HBM or LIN?
Hudbay Minerals Inc.
(HBM) is the more profitable company, earning 26. 3% net margin versus 20. 3% for Linde plc — meaning it keeps 26. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LIN leads at 26. 3% versus 25. 5% for HBM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LIN leads at 43. 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.
07Is HBM or LIN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Hudbay Minerals Inc.
(HBM) trades at 15. 4x forward P/E versus 28. 1x for Linde plc — 12. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LIN: 7. 5% to $539. 71.
08Which pays a better dividend — HBM or LIN?
In this comparison, LIN (1.
2% yield) pays a dividend. HBM does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is HBM 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). Hudbay Minerals Inc. (HBM) carries a higher beta of 1. 91 — 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: +376. 9%, HBM: +490. 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.
10What are the main differences between HBM 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: HBM is a small-cap deep-value stock; LIN is a large-cap quality compounder stock. LIN pays a dividend while HBM 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.
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