$526.06
Value $244B
LindevsProto Labs
LIN and PRLB stock compared: price, dividend, valuation and results, from SEC filings.
+0.68%
$67.55
Value $1.6B
Linde (LIN) has a market value of $244B and Proto Labs (PRLB) $1.6B. Over the last year, with dividends, LIN moved +24.3% and PRLB +35.6%. The P/E is 34.8 for LIN and 45.9 for PRLB. Dividend yield: LIN 1.20%, PRLB none.
At a glance
The main figures of both. A bar only shows which number is larger, not which is better.
Market value
LIN$244B
PRLB$1.6B
LIN is 152 times PRLB
Revenue, 12 months
LIN$36.2B
PRLB$579M
LIN is 63 times PRLB
Net income, 12 months
LIN$7.0B
PRLB$35M
LIN is 200 times PRLB
Operating margin
LIN25.3%
PRLB7.3%
18.0 points apart
ROIC
LIN11.1%
PRLB4.5%
6.6 points apart
P/E
LIN34.8
PRLB45.9
PRLB is 1.3 times LIN
Dividend yield
LIN1.2%
PRLB0.0%
1.2 points apart
5-year return
LIN+67.0%
PRLB+14.0%
53.0 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.
LIN+67.0%
PRLB+14.0%
| Period | LINWith dividends | PRLBWith dividends |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year since November 12, 2025 | +24.3%Price +22.6% | +35.6%Price +35.6% |
| 3 years since November 13, 2023 | +36.7%+11.0% a yearPrice +31.6% | +92.6%+24.4% a yearPrice +92.6% |
| 5 years since November 12, 2021 | +67.0%+10.8% a yearPrice +56.1% | +14.0%+2.7% a yearPrice +14.0% |
| 10 years since November 15, 2016 | +430.1%+18.2% a yearPrice +349.3% | +27.6%+2.5% a yearPrice +27.6% |
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.
LINLindePRLBProto Labs
Valuation
LINPRLB| Price | $526.06 | $67.55 |
|---|---|---|
| Market value | $244B | $1.6B |
| Enterprise value (EV) | $265B | $1.5B |
| P/E | 34.8 | 45.9 |
| P/E, 5-year median | 32.6 | 58.3 |
| P/B | 6.2 | 2.3 |
| EV/EBIT | 28.9 | 34.3 |
| Free cash flow yield | 2.1% | 3.0% |
Results and growth
LINPRLB| Revenue, 12 months | $36.2B | $579M |
|---|---|---|
| Net income, 12 months | $7.0B | $35M |
| Free cash flow, 12 months | $5.1B | $49M |
| Earnings per share, 12 months | $15.06 | $1.43 |
| Revenue growth, year on year | 3.0% | 6.4% |
| Revenue growth a year, past | +4.5%over 5 years | +4.2%over 5 years |
| EPS growth a year, past | +25.4%over 5 years | -14.2%over 5 years |
Margins and returns on capital
LINPRLB| Gross margin | 47.9% | 45.2% |
|---|---|---|
| Operating margin | 25.3% | 7.3% |
| Net margin | 19.3% | 6.0% |
| ROIC | 11.1% | 4.5% |
| ROE | 18.1% | 5.1% |
Balance sheet
LINPRLB| Cash | $3.9B | $151M |
|---|---|---|
| Total debt | $25.2B | $3.9M |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 1.7 | -2.0 |
| Interest cover | 35.5× | – |
Dividends and buybacks
LINPRLB| Dividend yield | 1.2% | – |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend per share, 12 months | $6.30 | – |
| Dividend growth a year, past | +9.3%over 5 years | – |
| Buyback yield | 1.9% | 2.7% |
| Shareholder yield | 3.1% | 2.7% |
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.
Which is bigger, Linde or Proto Labs?
By market value, Linde ($244B) is about 151.8 times Proto Labs ($1.6B), at today's prices.
How did LIN and PRLB stock do over the last 10 years?
Since November 15, 2016, LIN's price moved +349.3% and PRLB's +27.6%. With dividends: LIN +430.1% (+18.2% a year), PRLB +27.6% (+2.5% a year). Past returns do not predict future ones.
Which pays the higher dividend, LIN or PRLB?
The dividend yield at today's price is 1.20% for Linde and none for Proto Labs. Over the last twelve months they paid $6.30 and – per share.
What is the P/E of LIN and PRLB?
At today's price, the P/E is 34.8 for LIN and 45.9 for PRLB. The median of the last five years was 32.6 and 58.3, which shows where each stands against its own past.
Which has the higher profit margins, Linde or Proto Labs?
Over the last twelve months, the net margin was 19.3% for Linde and 6.0% for Proto Labs, and the operating margin 25.3% and 7.3%. Revenue was $36.2B and $579M.
Which is the better investment, Linde or Proto Labs?
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.
US stocksThe market today, the sectors, the largest companies and the week's results.The market's sectorsThe 11 sectors side by side: returns, share of the market, median P/E and dividend.Compare stocksTwo companies side by side: price over up to ten years, with and without dividends, and every figure.US dividend stocksEach dividend's yield next to whether the company's cash covers it and whether it was ever cut.
Descriptive data from SEC filings and market prices.