Linde plc Ordinary Shares (LIN)vsWestern Digital Corporation (WDC)
LIN
Linde plc Ordinary Shares
$488.15
-0.34%
BASIC MATERIALS · Cap: $226.21B
WDC
Western Digital Corporation
$293.10
-7.52%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $100.21B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Linde plc Ordinary Shares generates 217% more annual revenue ($33.99B vs $10.73B). WDC leads profitability with a 35.6% profit margin vs 20.3%. WDC appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.69. LIN earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 56/100 (C).
LIN
Buy56
out of 100
Grade: C
WDC
Buy55
out of 100
Grade: C
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-391.7%
Fair Value
$99.28
Current Price
$488.15
$388.87 premium
Margin of Safety
-311.2%
Fair Value
$66.57
Current Price
$293.10
$226.53 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Keeps 20 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 28.2%
Generating 1.6B in free cash flow
Every $100 of equity generates 41 in profit
Keeps 36 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Large-cap with strong market position
Growing faster than its price suggests
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Weak financial health signals
Earnings declined 9.4%
Moderate valuation
Trading at 14.0x book value
Revenue declined 41.0%
Earnings declined 95.9%
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : LIN
The strongest argument for LIN centers on Market Cap, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 20.3% and operating margin at 28.2%.
Bull Case : WDC
The strongest argument for WDC centers on Return on Equity, Profit Margin, Market Cap. Profitability is solid with margins at 35.6% and operating margin at 15.4%. PEG of 0.69 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bear Case : LIN
The primary concerns for LIN are PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio, Piotroski F-Score.
Bear Case : WDC
The primary concerns for WDC are P/E Ratio, Price/Book, Revenue Growth.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
LIN profiles as a mature stock while WDC is a declining play — different risk/reward profiles.
WDC carries more volatility with a beta of 1.85 — expect wider price swings.
LIN is growing revenue faster at 5.8% — sustainability is the question.
LIN generates stronger free cash flow (1.6B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
LIN scores higher overall (56/100 vs 55/100), backed by strong 20.3% margins. Both earn "Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Linde plc Ordinary Shares
BASIC MATERIALS · SPECIALTY CHEMICALS · USA
Linde plc is a multinational chemical company. It is the largest industrial gas company by market share and revenue. It serves customers in the healthcare, petroleum refining, manufacturing, food, beverage carbonation, fiber-optics, steel making, aerospace, chemicals, electronics and water treatment industries. The company's primary business is the manufacturing and distribution of atmospheric gases, including oxygen, nitrogen, argon, rare gases, and process gases, including carbon dioxide, helium, hydrogen, electronic gases, specialty gases, and acetylene.
Visit Website →Western Digital Corporation
TECHNOLOGY · COMPUTER HARDWARE · USA
Western Digital Corporation (WDC, commonly known as Western Digital or WD) is an American computer hard disk drive manufacturer and data storage company, headquartered in San Jose, California. It designs, manufactures and sells data technology products, including storage devices, data center systems and cloud storage services.
Compare with Other SPECIALTY CHEMICALS Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?