IFF
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$21.18B
5Y Perf.-37.7%
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Stock Comparison
IFF vs LIN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
LIN
Linde plc
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$232.56B
5Y Perf.+148.0%
IFF vs LIN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | IFF | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Chemicals - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $21.18B | $232.56B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $10.79B | $34.66B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $839M | $7.13B |
| Gross Margin | 35.1% | 46.0% |
| Operating Margin | 8.0% | 28.8% |
| Forward P/E | 18.9x | 28.1x |
| Total Debt | $6.65B | $26.99B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $590M | $5.06B |
IFF vs LIN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
IFF
LIN
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Flavo… (IFF) | 100 | 62.3 | -37.7% |
| Linde plc (LIN) | 100 | 248.0 | +148.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: IFF vs LIN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: LIN leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
IFF
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
The Defensive Pick
IFF is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night and defensive.
- Lower volatility, beta 0.68, Low D/E 46.9%, current ratio 1.42x
- Beta 0.68, yield 1.9%, current ratio 1.42x
- Lower P/E (18.9x vs 28.1x)
Best for: sleep-well-at-night and defensive
LIN
Linde plc
The Income Pick
LIN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for 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 IFF's -7.7%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | LIN | 3.0% revenue growth vs IFF's -5.2% |
| Value | IFF | Lower P/E (18.9x vs 28.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | LIN | 20.6% margin vs IFF's 7.8% |
| Stability / Safety | LIN | Beta 0.24 vs IFF's 0.68 |
| Dividends | IFF | 1.9% yield, vs LIN's 1.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | LIN | +13.6% vs IFF's +6.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LIN | 8.3% ROA vs IFF's 3.3%, ROIC 11.3% vs 3.5% |
IFF vs LIN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
IFF vs LIN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLLINLAGGINGIFF
IFFInternational Flavors…
1leads
LINLinde plc
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs IFFMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
LIN5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
IFF5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
LIN6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
LIN5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LIN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LIN is the larger business by revenue, generating $34.7B annually — 3.2x IFF's $10.8B. LIN is the more profitable business, keeping 20.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to IFF's 7.8%. On growth, LIN holds the edge at +8.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | IFFInternational Fla… | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $10.8B | $34.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.7B | $12.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $839M | $7.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $400M | $5.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +35.1% | +46.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.0% | +28.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.8% | +20.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.7% | +14.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.6% | +8.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +116.6% | +13.4% |
LIN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
IFF leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, IFF's 13.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LIN's 20.0x.
| Metric | IFFInternational Fla… | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $21.2B | $232.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $27.2B | $254.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -56.80x | 34.40x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.90x | 28.12x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.36x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.89x | 20.04x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.95x | 6.84x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.50x | 5.92x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 82.75x | 45.70x |
IFF leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LIN leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LIN delivers a 17.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $18 in annual profit, vs $6 for IFF. IFF 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 IFF's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | IFFInternational Fla… | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.9% | +17.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.3% | +8.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.5% | +11.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.4% | +13.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.47x | 0.68x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $6.1B | $21.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $590M | $5.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $6.7B | $27.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 5.26x | 34.52x |
LIN leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LIN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LIN five years ago would be worth $17,813 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,506 for IFF. Over the past 12 months, LIN leads with a +13.6% total return vs IFF's +6.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LIN at 12.4% vs IFF's -2.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | IFFInternational Fla… | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +22.5% | +17.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +6.7% | +13.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -8.4% | +41.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -34.9% | +78.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -7.7% | +376.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -2.9% | +12.4% |
LIN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — IFF and LIN each lead in 1 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 IFF's 0.68 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | IFFInternational Fla… | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.68x | 0.24x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $84.19 | $521.28 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $59.14 | $387.78 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.5% | +96.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 47.3 | 50.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.6M | 2.3M |
Evenly matched — IFF and LIN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — IFF and LIN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates IFF as "Buy" and LIN as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 7.5% upside for LIN (target: $540) vs 5.8% for IFF (target: $88). For income investors, IFF offers the higher dividend yield at 1.93% vs LIN's 1.20%.
| Metric | IFFInternational Fla… | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $87.75 | $539.71 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 33 | 28 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.9% | +1.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 6 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.60 | $6.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.2% | +2.0% |
Evenly matched — IFF and LIN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
LIN leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). IFF leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallLinde plc (LIN)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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IFF vs LIN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is IFF 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 -5. 2% for International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF). Linde plc (LIN) offers the better valuation at 34. 4x trailing P/E (28. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) a "Buy" — based on 33 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 — IFF or LIN?
On forward P/E, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
is actually cheaper at 18. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — IFF or LIN?
Over the past 5 years, Linde plc (LIN) delivered a total return of +78.
1%, compared to -34. 9% for International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LIN returned +376. 9% versus IFF's -7. 7%. 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 — IFF or LIN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Linde plc (LIN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
24β versus International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. 's 0. 68β — meaning IFF is approximately 182% more volatile than LIN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 47% versus 68% for Linde plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — IFF or LIN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Linde plc (LIN) is pulling ahead at 3.
0% versus -5. 2% for International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Linde plc grew EPS 7. 1% year-over-year, compared to -253. 7% for International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — IFF or LIN?
Linde plc (LIN) is the more profitable company, earning 20.
3% net margin versus -3. 4% for International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. — 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 9. 2% for IFF. 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 IFF or LIN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
(IFF) trades at 18. 9x forward P/E versus 28. 1x for Linde plc — 9. 2x 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 — IFF or LIN?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) offers the highest yield at 1. 9%, versus 1. 2% for Linde plc (LIN).
09Is IFF 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%, IFF: -7. 7%), 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 IFF 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(IFF: -3.6% · LIN: 8.2%)Net Margin>
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