NTR
Nutrien Ltd.
Agricultural Inputs
Market Cap$32.89B
5Y Perf.+101.1%
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Stock Comparison
NTR vs LIN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
LIN
Linde plc
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$228.85B
5Y Perf.+144.1%
NTR vs LIN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | NTR | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Agricultural Inputs | Chemicals - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $32.89B | $228.85B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $26.90B | $34.66B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.27B | $7.13B |
| Gross Margin | 31.1% | 46.0% |
| Operating Margin | 13.4% | 28.8% |
| Forward P/E | 12.0x | 27.7x |
| Total Debt | $12.93B | $26.99B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $700M | $5.06B |
NTR vs LIN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
NTR
LIN
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) | 100 | 201.1 | +101.1% |
| Linde plc (LIN) | 100 | 244.1 | +144.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NTR vs LIN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NTR leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Linde plc is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and operational efficiency and capital deployment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
NTR
Nutrien Ltd.
The Income Pick
NTR carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 8 yrs, beta -0.07, yield 3.2%
- Rev growth 5.3%, EPS growth 248.5%, 3Y rev CAGR -10.3%
- Lower volatility, beta -0.07, Low D/E 51.1%, current ratio 1.34x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
LIN
Linde plc
The Long-Run Compounder
LIN is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 375.2% 10Y total return vs NTR's 54.0%
- 20.6% margin vs NTR's 8.4%
- 8.3% ROA vs NTR's 4.3%, ROIC 11.3% vs 8.0%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NTR | 5.3% revenue growth vs LIN's 3.0% |
| Value | NTR | Lower P/E (12.0x vs 27.7x), PEG 0.29 vs 1.09 |
| Quality / Margins | LIN | 20.6% margin vs NTR's 8.4% |
| Stability / Safety | NTR | Lower D/E ratio (51.1% vs 67.9%) |
| Dividends | NTR | 3.2% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs LIN's 1.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NTR | +24.6% vs LIN's +11.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LIN | 8.3% ROA vs NTR's 4.3%, ROIC 11.3% vs 8.0% |
NTR vs LIN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
NTR vs LIN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLLINLAGGINGNTR
NTRNutrien Ltd.
2leads
LINLinde plc
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs NTRMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
LIN5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NTR7/7
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
LIN5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
LIN5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
NTR2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LIN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LIN and NTR operate at a comparable scale, with $34.7B and $26.9B in trailing revenue. LIN is the more profitable business, keeping 20.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to NTR's 8.4%.
| Metric | NTRNutrien Ltd. | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $26.9B | $34.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $6.0B | $12.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.3B | $7.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.0B | $5.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +31.1% | +46.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +13.4% | +28.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.4% | +20.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +7.4% | +14.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.8% | +8.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.2% | +13.4% |
LIN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
NTR leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 14.4x trailing earnings, NTR trades at a 57% valuation discount to LIN's 33.8x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), NTR offers better value at 0.35x vs LIN's 1.33x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | NTRNutrien Ltd. | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $32.9B | $228.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $45.1B | $250.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 14.42x | 33.85x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.01x | 27.67x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.35x | 1.33x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 7.08x | 19.75x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.20x | 6.73x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.31x | 5.82x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 16.15x | 44.97x |
NTR leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LIN leads this category, winning 5 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 $9 for NTR. NTR carries lower financial leverage with a 0.51x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LIN's 0.68x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NTR scores 8/9 vs LIN's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | NTRNutrien Ltd. | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.1% | +17.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.3% | +8.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.0% | +11.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.8% | +13.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.51x | 0.68x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $12.2B | $21.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $700M | $5.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $12.9B | $27.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 5.44x | 34.52x |
LIN leads this category, winning 5 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 $17,394 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,815 for NTR. Over the past 12 months, NTR leads with a +24.6% total return vs LIN's +11.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LIN at 11.8% vs NTR's 5.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NTRNutrien Ltd. | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +9.1% | +15.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +24.6% | +11.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +16.0% | +39.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +28.1% | +73.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +54.0% | +375.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +5.1% | +11.8% |
LIN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — NTR and LIN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NTR is the less volatile stock with a -0.07 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LIN's 0.24 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LIN currently trades 94.7% from its 52-week high vs NTR's 80.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NTRNutrien Ltd. | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.07x | 0.24x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $85.36 | $521.28 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $53.03 | $387.78 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +80.1% | +94.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.9 | 51.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.8M | 2.3M |
Evenly matched — NTR and LIN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
NTR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NTR as "Buy" and LIN as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 23.2% upside for NTR (target: $84) vs 9.3% for LIN (target: $540). For income investors, NTR offers the higher dividend yield at 3.25% vs LIN's 1.21%.
| Metric | NTRNutrien Ltd. | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $84.25 | $539.71 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 33 | 28 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.2% | +1.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 8 | 6 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.22 | $6.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.7% | +2.0% |
NTR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
LIN leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). NTR leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Best OverallLinde plc (LIN)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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NTR vs LIN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NTR or LIN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Nutrien Ltd.
(NTR) is the stronger pick with 5. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 0% for Linde plc (LIN). Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) offers the better valuation at 14. 4x trailing P/E (12. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) 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 — NTR or LIN?
On trailing P/E, Nutrien Ltd.
(NTR) is the cheapest at 14. 4x versus Linde plc at 33. 8x. On forward P/E, Nutrien Ltd. is actually cheaper at 12. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Nutrien Ltd. wins at 0. 29x versus Linde plc's 1. 09x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NTR or LIN?
Over the past 5 years, Linde plc (LIN) delivered a total return of +73.
9%, compared to +28. 1% for Nutrien Ltd. (NTR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LIN returned +375. 2% versus NTR's +54. 0%. 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 — NTR or LIN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Nutrien Ltd.
(NTR) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 07β versus Linde plc's 0. 24β — meaning LIN is approximately -432% more volatile than NTR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 51% versus 68% for Linde plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — NTR or LIN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Nutrien Ltd.
(NTR) is pulling ahead at 5. 3% versus 3. 0% for Linde plc (LIN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nutrien Ltd. grew EPS 248. 5% year-over-year, compared to 7. 1% for Linde plc. 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 — NTR or LIN?
Linde plc (LIN) is the more profitable company, earning 20.
3% net margin versus 8. 4% for Nutrien Ltd. — 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 14. 5% for NTR. 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 NTR or LIN more undervalued right now?
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, Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 29x versus Linde plc's 1. 09x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) trades at 12. 0x forward P/E versus 27. 7x for Linde plc — 15. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NTR: 23. 2% to $84. 25.
08Which pays a better dividend — NTR or LIN?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Nutrien Ltd. (NTR) offers the highest yield at 3. 2%, versus 1. 2% for Linde plc (LIN).
09Is NTR or LIN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Nutrien Ltd.
(NTR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 07), 3. 2% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NTR: +54. 0%, LIN: +375. 2%), 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 NTR 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.
In terms of investment character: NTR is a mid-cap deep-value 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(NTR: 6.8% · LIN: 8.2%)Net Margin>
%
(NTR: 8.4% · LIN: 20.6%)P/E Ratio<
x
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