LIN vs SHW

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

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 1% for The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW). The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) offers the better valuation at 31. 2x trailing P/E (27. 3x 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, The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) is the cheapest at 31.

2x versus Linde plc at 33. 8x. On forward P/E, The Sherwin-Williams Company is actually cheaper at 27. 3x. 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 The Sherwin-Williams Company's 3. 94x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Linde plc (LIN) delivered a total return of +73.

9%, compared to +16. 1% for The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LIN returned +375. 2% versus SHW's +250. 0%. 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 The Sherwin-Williams Company's 0. 79β — meaning SHW is approximately 230% 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 3% for The Sherwin-Williams 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. 1% for The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Linde plc grew EPS 7. 1% year-over-year, compared to -2. 7% for The Sherwin-Williams Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, SHW leads at 2. 1% 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 10. 9% for The Sherwin-Williams 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 16. 1% for SHW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SHW leads at 48. 9%, 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 The Sherwin-Williams Company's 3. 94x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) trades at 27. 3x forward P/E versus 27. 7x for Linde plc — 0. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SHW: 21. 6% to $389. 43.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Linde plc (LIN) offers the highest yield at 1. 2%, versus 1. 0% for The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW).

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%, SHW: +250. 0%), 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.

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.