CF IndustriesvsLinde

CF and LIN stock compared: price, dividend, valuation and results, from SEC filings.

CF Industries (CF) has a market value of $18.3B and Linde (LIN) $244B. Over the last year, with dividends, CF moved +50.6% and LIN +24.3%. The P/E is 8.4 for CF and 34.8 for LIN. Dividend yield: CF 1.68%, LIN 1.20%.

At a glance

The main figures of both. A bar only shows which number is larger, not which is better.

  • Market value

    CF$18.3B

    LIN$244B

    LIN is 13 times CF

  • Revenue, 12 months

    CF$7.9B

    LIN$36.2B

    LIN is 4.6 times CF

  • Net income, 12 months

    CF$2.2B

    LIN$7.0B

    LIN is 3.2 times CF

  • Operating margin

    CF41.6%

    LIN25.3%

    16.3 points apart

  • ROIC

    CF31.6%

    LIN11.1%

    20.5 points apart

  • P/E

    CF8.4

    LIN34.8

    LIN is 4.1 times CF

  • Dividend yield

    CF1.7%

    LIN1.2%

    0.5 points apart

  • 5-year return

    CF+113.9%

    LIN+67.0%

    46.9 points apart

A fainter bar means a negative number. The 5-year return includes dividends.

The price over time

Both start at 100 at the beginning of the period, so the lines show how much each changed. With dividends means each dividend buys more shares.

CF+113.9%

LIN+67.0%

10015020020222023202420252026
Returns by period
PeriodCFWith dividendsLINWith dividends
1 year since November 12, 2025+50.6%Price +47.6%+24.3%Price +22.6%
3 years since November 13, 2023+67.7%+18.8% a yearPrice +56.7%+36.7%+11.0% a yearPrice +31.6%
5 years since November 12, 2021+113.9%+16.4% a yearPrice +93.7%+67.0%+10.8% a yearPrice +56.1%
10 years since November 15, 2016+479.3%+19.2% a yearPrice +350.0%+430.1%+18.2% a yearPrice +349.3%

Each cell: the total return with dividends, its yearly rate, and the price change alone. Before taxes and costs. Past returns do not predict future ones.

Every figure

As on each company's page. A description, not a recommendation: no one figure says which is better.

CFCF IndustriesLINLinde

Valuation

CFLIN
Valuation
Price$125.09$526.06
Market value$18.3B$244B
Enterprise value (EV)$20.8B$265B
P/E8.434.8
P/E, 5-year median10.132.6
P/B3.26.2
EV/EBIT6.328.9
Free cash flow yield11.4%2.1%

Results and growth

CFLIN
Results and growth
Revenue, 12 months$7.9B$36.2B
Net income, 12 months$2.2B$7.0B
Free cash flow, 12 months$2.1B$5.1B
Earnings per share, 12 months$14.16$15.06
Revenue growth, year on year19.3%3.0%
Revenue growth a year, past+11.4%over 5 years+4.5%over 5 years
EPS growth a year, past+43.6%over 5 years+25.4%over 5 years

Margins and returns on capital

CFLIN
Margins and returns on capital
Gross margin42.5%47.9%
Operating margin41.6%25.3%
Net margin27.5%19.3%
ROIC31.6%11.1%
ROE41.2%18.1%

Balance sheet

CFLIN
Balance sheet
Cash$710M$3.9B
Total debt$3.7B$25.2B
Net debt / EBITDA0.61.7
Interest cover11.1×35.5×

Dividends and buybacks

CFLIN
Dividends and buybacks
Dividend yield1.7%1.2%
Dividend per share, 12 months$2.10$6.30
Dividend growth a year, past+10.8%over 5 years+9.3%over 5 years
Buyback yield7.5%1.9%
Shareholder yield9.1%3.1%

Last 12 months from the latest 10-Q and 10-K. Value, P/E and yields at today's price. A dash means the figure does not exist or did not pass our checks.

Questions: CF or LIN

Didn't find what you were looking for?

Ask us
Which is bigger, CF Industries or Linde?

By market value, Linde ($244B) is about 13.3 times CF Industries ($18.3B), at today's prices.

How did CF and LIN stock do over the last 10 years?

Since November 15, 2016, CF's price moved +350.0% and LIN's +349.3%. With dividends: CF +479.3% (+19.2% a year), LIN +430.1% (+18.2% a year). Past returns do not predict future ones.

Which pays the higher dividend, CF or LIN?

The dividend yield at today's price is 1.68% for CF Industries and 1.20% for Linde. Over the last twelve months they paid $2.10 and $6.30 per share.

What is the P/E of CF and LIN?

At today's price, the P/E is 8.4 for CF and 34.8 for LIN. The median of the last five years was 10.1 and 32.6, which shows where each stands against its own past.

Which has the higher profit margins, CF Industries or Linde?

Over the last twelve months, the net margin was 27.5% for CF Industries and 19.3% for Linde, and the operating margin 41.6% and 25.3%. Revenue was $7.9B and $36.2B.

Which is the better investment, CF Industries or Linde?

The page does not answer that and does not suggest buying or selling. It puts the two companies' numbers side by side, from their SEC filings, for you to read and form your own view. The decision depends on your goals and situation.

Other comparisons

With each of the two, and with the largest in its sector.

Related pages

The other pages on US stocks, free to read. On the company pages, the last three fiscal years are open to everyone, five with a free account, and every year with Ploutos Investor.

Descriptive data from SEC filings and market prices.