HL vs LIN

For growth investors, Hecla Mining Company (HL) is the stronger pick with 53.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 0% for Linde plc (LIN). Linde plc (LIN) offers the better valuation at 33. 8x trailing P/E (27. 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.

On trailing P/E, Linde plc (LIN) is the cheapest at 33.

8x versus Hecla Mining Company at 36. 9x. On forward P/E, Hecla Mining Company is actually cheaper at 19. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Hecla Mining Company (HL) delivered a total return of +150.

3%, compared to +73. 9% for Linde plc (LIN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LIN returned +375. 2% versus HL's +360. 6%. 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 Hecla Mining Company's 1. 26β — meaning HL is approximately 423% more volatile than LIN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hecla Mining Company (HL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 68% for Linde plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hecla Mining Company (HL) is pulling ahead at 53.

0% versus 3. 0% for Linde plc (LIN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hecla Mining Company grew EPS 765. 7% year-over-year, compared to 7. 1% for Linde plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, HL leads at 25. 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.

Hecla Mining Company (HL) is the more profitable company, earning 22.

6% net margin versus 20. 3% for Linde plc — meaning it keeps 22. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HL leads at 37. 5% versus 26. 3% for LIN. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Hecla Mining Company (HL) trades at 19.

1x forward P/E versus 27. 7x for Linde plc — 8. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HL: 31. 7% to $23. 83.

In this comparison, LIN (1.

2% yield) pays a dividend. HL does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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%, HL: +360. 6%), 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: HL is a mid-cap high-growth stock; LIN is a large-cap quality compounder stock. LIN pays a dividend while HL 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.