WPM vs LIN vs APD vs RGLD

For growth investors, Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.

(WPM) is the stronger pick with 83. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 5% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD). Linde plc (LIN) offers the better valuation at 34. 4x trailing P/E (28. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (WPM) a "Buy" — based on 20 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, Linde plc (LIN) is the cheapest at 34.

4x versus Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. at 40. 9x. On forward P/E, Royal Gold, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. wins at 1. 10x versus Royal Gold, Inc. 's 2. 55x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.

(WPM) delivered a total return of +216. 4%, compared to +13. 8% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WPM returned +615. 1% versus APD's +166. 7%. 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 Royal Gold, Inc. 's 0. 63β — meaning RGLD is approximately 161% more volatile than LIN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (WPM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 106% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.

(WPM) is pulling ahead at 83. 3% versus -0. 5% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. grew EPS 181. 2% year-over-year, compared to -110. 3% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WPM leads at 30. 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.

Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.

(WPM) is the more profitable company, earning 63. 6% net margin versus -3. 3% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 63. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WPM leads at 68. 8% versus -7. 3% for APD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WPM leads at 72. 2%, 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, Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (WPM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 10x versus Royal Gold, Inc. 's 2. 55x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Royal Gold, Inc. (RGLD) trades at 19. 9x forward P/E versus 28. 1x for Linde plc — 8. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RGLD: 28. 7% to $304. 80.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD) offers the highest yield at 2. 4%, versus 0. 5% for Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (WPM).

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%, WPM: +615. 1%), 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: WPM is a mid-cap high-growth stock; LIN is a large-cap quality compounder stock; APD is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; RGLD is a mid-cap high-growth stock. LIN, APD, RGLD pay a dividend while WPM does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.