WPM vs LIN vs APD vs RGLD vs FNV

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 33. 8x trailing P/E (27. 7x 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 33.

8x versus Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. at 40. 0x. On forward P/E, Royal Gold, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 5x — 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: Franco-Nevada Corporation wins at 0. 99x versus Royal Gold, Inc. 's 2. 51x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.

(WPM) delivered a total return of +207. 9%, compared to +13. 2% for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WPM returned +649. 6% versus APD's +166. 4%. 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: FNV leads at 71. 0% versus -7. 3% for APD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FNV leads at 73. 9%, 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, Franco-Nevada Corporation (FNV) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 99x versus Royal Gold, Inc. 's 2. 51x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Royal Gold, Inc. (RGLD) trades at 19. 5x forward P/E versus 27. 7x for Linde plc — 8. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RGLD: 31. 0% 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, +375. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LIN: +375. 2%, RGLD: +337. 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.

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; FNV is a mid-cap high-growth 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.