LECO vs LIN

For growth investors, Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.

(LECO) is the stronger pick with 5. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 0% for Linde plc (LIN). Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (LECO) offers the better valuation at 29. 1x trailing P/E (25. 1x 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, Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.

(LECO) is the cheapest at 29. 1x versus Linde plc at 33. 8x. On forward P/E, Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 25. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Linde plc wins at 1. 09x versus Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 13x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.

(LECO) delivered a total return of +112. 4%, compared to +73. 9% for Linde plc (LIN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LECO returned +389. 7% versus LIN's +375. 2%. 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 Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 13β — meaning LECO is approximately 369% 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 88% for Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.

(LECO) is pulling ahead at 5. 5% versus 3. 0% for Linde plc (LIN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 14. 4% year-over-year, compared to 7. 1% for Linde plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, LECO leads at 4. 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.

Linde plc (LIN) is the more profitable company, earning 20.

3% net margin versus 12. 3% for Lincoln Electric Holdings, 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 16. 9% for LECO. 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.

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. 09x versus Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 13x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (LECO) trades at 25. 1x forward P/E versus 27. 7x for Linde plc — 2. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LECO: 11. 3% to $301. 71.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Linde plc (LIN) offers the highest yield at 1. 2%, versus 1. 1% for Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (LECO).

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%, LECO: +389. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (LECO (Industrials) and LIN (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.