SMG vs LIN

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

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 9% for The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG). The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG) offers the better valuation at 25. 4x trailing P/E (14. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG) a "Buy" — based on 17 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 Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG) is the cheapest at 25.

4x versus Linde plc at 34. 4x. On forward P/E, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is actually cheaper at 14. 3x.

Over the past 5 years, Linde plc (LIN) delivered a total return of +78.

1%, compared to -68. 4% for The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LIN returned +376. 9% versus SMG's +34. 9%. 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 Scotts Miracle-Gro Company's 1. 10β — meaning SMG is approximately 357% more volatile than LIN relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Linde plc (LIN) is pulling ahead at 3.

0% versus -3. 9% for The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company grew EPS 504. 9% 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.

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

3% net margin versus 4. 3% for The Scotts Miracle-Gro 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 10. 5% for SMG. 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.

On forward earnings alone, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG) trades at 14.

3x forward P/E versus 28. 1x for Linde plc — 13. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SMG: 14. 6% to $72. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG) offers the highest yield at 4. 2%, 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, +376. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LIN: +376. 9%, SMG: +34. 9%), 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.

In terms of investment character: SMG is a small-cap income-oriented 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.