GoalVest Advisory LLC has significantly increased its investment in Linde PLC, acquiring an additional 72 shares during the second quarter of 2023. This brings the institutional investor’s total holdings to 140 shares, representing a remarkable increase of 105.9%. As of the latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), GoalVest Advisory’s total stake in Linde is valued at approximately $66,000.
Other institutional investors have also adjusted their positions in Linde. Brighton Jones LLC established a new position worth around $2,752,000 in the fourth quarter of 2022. Similarly, Revolve Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings by 14.1% during the same period, resulting in a total of 777 shares valued at $325,000. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV increased its stake by 9.3% in the first quarter of 2023, while Sovran Advisors LLC raised its holdings by 46.4% during the same timeframe. Finally, Essex Financial Services Inc. expanded its investment in Linde by 2.8% in the first quarter, owning 3,302 shares worth approximately $1,538,000. Currently, institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 82.80% of Linde’s stock.
In related news, Linde’s Director, Stephen F. Angel, sold 50,309 shares of the company on August 7, 2023, at an average price of $473.38. This transaction amounted to over $23.8 million and reduced his ownership by 9.48%, leaving him with 480,543 shares valued at approximately $227.5 million. The sale details were disclosed in a document filed with the SEC.
Stock Performance and Earnings Report
As of the latest trading session, Linde PLC’s stock opened at $444.82. The company has experienced a 12-month low of $408.65 and a 12-month high of $486.38. Linde has a market capitalization of $208.58 billion and a P/E ratio of 31.64. Its debt-to-equity ratio stands at 0.49, while the current ratio is 0.93 and the quick ratio is 0.78.
Linde recently reported its earnings results for the second quarter on August 1, 2023. The company posted an earnings per share (EPS) of $4.09, surpassing the consensus estimate of $4.03 by $0.06. The firm achieved a net revenue of $8.50 billion, exceeding analyst expectations of $8.35 billion. This reflects a 2.3% increase in revenue compared to the same quarter of the previous year, when the company reported an EPS of $3.85. For fiscal year 2025, Linde has set guidance of $16.30 to $16.50 EPS, with the third quarter guidance ranging from $4.10 to $4.20 EPS. Analysts anticipate Linde PLC will report an EPS of $16.54 for the current year.
Dividend Announcement
In addition to its financial performance, Linde has declared a quarterly dividend of $1.50 per share, scheduled for payment on December 17, 2023. Stockholders of record on December 3, 2023, will be eligible to receive this dividend, which translates to an annualized dividend of $6.00 and a dividend yield of 1.3%. The company’s dividend payout ratio currently stands at 42.67%.
Linde PLC, a leading industrial gas company, operates across multiple regions including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the South Pacific. The firm specializes in atmospheric gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and argon, as well as process gases including carbon dioxide, helium, and hydrogen.
For those interested in tracking hedge fund activities related to Linde, updates on 13F filings and insider trades can be accessed on financial tracking platforms.
