NI vs LIN

For growth investors, NiSource Inc.

(NI) is the stronger pick with 21. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 0% for Linde plc (LIN). NiSource Inc. (NI) offers the better valuation at 24. 1x trailing P/E (22. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate NiSource Inc. (NI) a "Buy" — based on 22 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, NiSource Inc.

(NI) is the cheapest at 24. 1x versus Linde plc at 33. 8x. On forward P/E, NiSource Inc. is actually cheaper at 22. 9x.

Over the past 5 years, NiSource Inc.

(NI) delivered a total return of +100. 8%, compared to +73. 9% for Linde plc (LIN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LIN returned +375. 2% versus NI's +137. 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), NiSource Inc.

(NI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 22β versus Linde plc's 0. 24β — meaning LIN is approximately 11% more volatile than NI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Linde plc (LIN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 68% versus 139% for NiSource Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), NiSource Inc.

(NI) is pulling ahead at 21. 8% versus 3. 0% for Linde plc (LIN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: NiSource Inc. grew EPS 20. 4% year-over-year, compared to 7. 1% for Linde plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, NI leads at 4. 3% 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 14. 0% for NiSource Inc. — meaning it keeps 20. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NI leads at 27. 6% versus 26. 3% for LIN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NI leads at 58. 6%, 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, NiSource Inc.

(NI) trades at 22. 9x forward P/E versus 27. 7x for Linde plc — 4. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LIN: 9. 3% to $539. 71.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

NiSource Inc. (NI) offers the highest yield at 2. 4%, versus 1. 2% for Linde plc (LIN).

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%, NI: +137. 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.

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

In terms of investment character: NI is a mid-cap high-growth stock; LIN is a large-cap quality compounder stock. 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.