RPM
RPM International Inc.
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$12.73B
5Y Perf.+32.9%
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Stock Comparison
RPM vs LIN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
LIN
Linde plc
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$231.88B
5Y Perf.+147.3%
RPM vs LIN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | RPM | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Chemicals - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $12.73B | $231.88B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $7.58B | $34.66B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $667M | $7.13B |
| Gross Margin | 41.2% | 46.0% |
| Operating Margin | 12.0% | 28.8% |
| Forward P/E | 18.1x | 28.0x |
| Total Debt | $2.96B | $26.99B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $302M | $5.06B |
RPM vs LIN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
RPM
LIN
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| RPM International I… (RPM) | 100 | 132.9 | +32.9% |
| Linde plc (LIN) | 100 | 247.3 | +147.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: RPM vs LIN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: LIN leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. RPM International 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.
RPM
RPM International Inc.
The Income Pick
RPM is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 30 yrs, beta 1.01, yield 2.0%
- Rev growth 0.5%, EPS growth 17.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 3.2%
- PEG 1.01 vs LIN's 1.10
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
LIN
Linde plc
The Long-Run Compounder
LIN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 379.1% 10Y total return vs RPM's 131.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.24, Low D/E 67.9%, current ratio 0.88x
- 3.0% revenue growth vs RPM's 0.5%
Best for: long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | LIN | 3.0% revenue growth vs RPM's 0.5% |
| Value | RPM | Lower P/E (18.1x vs 28.0x), PEG 1.01 vs 1.10 |
| Quality / Margins | LIN | 20.6% margin vs RPM's 8.8% |
| Stability / Safety | LIN | Beta 0.24 vs RPM's 1.01, lower leverage |
| Dividends | RPM | 2.0% yield, 30-year raise streak, vs LIN's 1.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | LIN | +11.9% vs RPM's -7.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | RPM | 8.5% ROA vs LIN's 8.3%, ROIC 13.3% vs 11.3% |
RPM vs LIN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
RPM vs LIN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLRPMLAGGINGLIN
LINLinde plc
3leads
RPMRPM International Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs LINMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
LIN6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
RPM7/7
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
RPM7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
LIN6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
LIN2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
RPM2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LIN leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LIN is the larger business by revenue, generating $34.7B annually — 4.6x RPM's $7.6B. LIN is the more profitable business, keeping 20.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to RPM's 8.8%. On growth, LIN holds the edge at +8.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | RPMRPM International… | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $7.6B | $34.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.1B | $12.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $667M | $7.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $583M | $5.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +41.2% | +46.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +12.0% | +28.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.8% | +20.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +7.7% | +14.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.5% | +8.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -11.3% | +13.4% |
LIN leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
RPM leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 18.6x trailing earnings, RPM trades at a 46% valuation discount to LIN's 34.3x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), RPM offers better value at 1.03x vs LIN's 1.35x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | RPMRPM International… | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $12.7B | $231.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $15.4B | $253.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.58x | 34.30x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.11x | 28.03x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.03x | 1.35x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.99x | 19.99x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.73x | 6.82x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.41x | 5.90x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 23.65x | 45.56x |
RPM leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
RPM leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
RPM delivers a 21.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $21 in annual profit, vs $18 for LIN. LIN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.68x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to RPM's 1.03x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), RPM scores 7/9 vs LIN's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | RPMRPM International… | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +21.3% | +17.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +8.5% | +8.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +13.3% | +11.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +15.9% | +13.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.03x | 0.68x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.7B | $21.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $302M | $5.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.0B | $27.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 8.51x | 34.52x |
RPM leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LIN leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LIN five years ago would be worth $18,055 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,156 for RPM. Over the past 12 months, LIN leads with a +11.9% total return vs RPM's -7.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LIN at 12.2% vs RPM's 9.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | RPMRPM International… | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -3.2% | +17.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -7.7% | +11.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +29.7% | +41.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +11.6% | +80.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +131.6% | +379.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +9.1% | +12.2% |
LIN leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LIN leads this category, winning 2 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 RPM's 1.01 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LIN currently trades 96.0% from its 52-week high vs RPM's 77.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | RPMRPM International… | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.01x | 0.24x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $129.12 | $521.28 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $92.92 | $387.78 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +77.0% | +96.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 36.9 | 45.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 932K | 2.3M |
LIN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
RPM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates RPM as "Buy" and LIN as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 23.4% upside for RPM (target: $123) vs 7.9% for LIN (target: $540). For income investors, RPM offers the higher dividend yield at 2.01% vs LIN's 1.20%.
| Metric | RPMRPM International… | LINLinde plc |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $122.67 | $539.71 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 22 | 28 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.0% | +1.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 30 | 6 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.99 | $6.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.7% | +2.0% |
RPM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
LIN leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). RPM leads in 3 (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency).
Best OverallRPM International Inc. (RPM)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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RPM vs LIN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is RPM 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 0. 5% for RPM International Inc. (RPM). RPM International Inc. (RPM) offers the better valuation at 18. 6x trailing P/E (18. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate RPM International Inc. (RPM) 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.
02Which has the better valuation — RPM or LIN?
On trailing P/E, RPM International Inc.
(RPM) is the cheapest at 18. 6x versus Linde plc at 34. 3x. On forward P/E, RPM International Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: RPM International Inc. wins at 1. 01x versus Linde plc's 1. 10x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — RPM or LIN?
Over the past 5 years, Linde plc (LIN) delivered a total return of +80.
6%, compared to +11. 6% for RPM International Inc. (RPM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LIN returned +379. 1% versus RPM's +131. 6%. 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 — RPM or LIN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Linde plc (LIN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
24β versus RPM International Inc. 's 1. 01β — meaning RPM is approximately 319% 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 103% for RPM International Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — RPM or LIN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Linde plc (LIN) is pulling ahead at 3.
0% versus 0. 5% for RPM International Inc. (RPM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: RPM International Inc. grew EPS 17. 3% year-over-year, compared to 7. 1% for Linde plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, RPM leads at 3. 2% 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 — RPM or LIN?
Linde plc (LIN) is the more profitable company, earning 20.
3% net margin versus 9. 3% for RPM International 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 12. 3% for RPM. 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 RPM 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, RPM International Inc. (RPM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 01x versus Linde plc's 1. 10x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, RPM International Inc. (RPM) trades at 18. 1x forward P/E versus 28. 0x for Linde plc — 9. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RPM: 23. 4% to $122. 67.
08Which pays a better dividend — RPM or LIN?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
RPM International Inc. (RPM) offers the highest yield at 2. 0%, versus 1. 2% for Linde plc (LIN).
09Is RPM 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, +379. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LIN: +379. 1%, RPM: +131. 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.
10What are the main differences between RPM 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>
%
(RPM: 3.5% · LIN: 8.2%)Net Margin>
%
(RPM: 8.8% · LIN: 20.6%)P/E Ratio<
x
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