Linde (NASDAQ:LIN) Stock Sold Off by Rep. Kevin Hern

Representative Kevin Hern (Republican-Oklahoma) recently sold shares of Linde PLC (NASDAQ:LIN). In a filing disclosed on October 13th, the Representative disclosed that they had sold between $15,001 and $50,000 in Linde stock on September 17th. The trade occurred in the Representative’s “HERN FAMILY REVOCABLE TRUST” account.

Representative Kevin Hern also recently made the following trade(s):

• Sold $15,001 – $50,000 in shares of NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) on 10/2/2026.
• Sold $15,001 – $50,000 in shares of Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) on 9/23/2026.
• Sold $50,001 – $100,000 in shares of Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN) on 9/23/2026.
• Sold $15,001 – $50,000 in shares of Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN) on 9/23/2026.
• Sold $15,001 – $50,000 in shares of Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) on 9/23/2026.
• Sold $50,001 – $100,000 in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MRSH) on 9/23/2026.
• Sold $1,001 – $15,000 in shares of Home Depot (NYSE:HD) on 9/23/2026.
• Sold $15,001 – $50,000 in shares of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) on 9/23/2026.
• Sold $15,001 – $50,000 in shares of Chevron (NYSE:CVX) on 9/23/2026.
• Sold $1,001 – $15,000 in shares of Chubb (NYSE:CB) on 9/23/2026.

Linde Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of NASDAQ LIN opened at $493.22 on Friday. Linde PLC has a 52-week low of $387.78 and a 52-week high of $548.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.88. The business has a fifty day moving average of $478.35 and a two-hundred day moving average of $498.15. The stock has a market cap of $227.36 billion, a PE ratio of 28.58, a PEG ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.71.

Linde (NASDAQ:LIN) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 31st. The basic materials company reported $4.50 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.49 by $0.01. Linde had a net margin of 20.43% and a return on equity of 20.09%. The company had revenue of $9.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.02 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $4.09 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. Linde has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.700-17.900 EPS and its Q3 2026 guidance at 4.450-4.550 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Linde PLC will post 17.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Linde Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 3rd were given a dividend of $1.60 per share. This represents a $6.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 3rd. Linde’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 41.34%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on LIN shares. Citigroup decreased their price target on Linde from $580.00 to $560.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 7th. DZ Bank reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Linde in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Linde in a research note on Monday, October 5th. UBS Group reduced their price objective on Linde from $612.00 to $574.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 5th. Finally, Bank of America increased their target price on Linde from $532.00 to $550.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, July 17th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have given a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $547.10.

Institutional Trading of Linde

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Sustainable Growth Advisers LP bought a new position in Linde during the 3rd quarter worth about $72,006,000. Activest Wealth Management raised its holdings in shares of Linde by 29.9% in the third quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 113 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $54,000 after purchasing an additional 26 shares during the last quarter. Guyasuta Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Linde in the third quarter valued at approximately $43,110,000. Whitener Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Linde in the third quarter valued at approximately $1,876,000. Finally, AdvisorNet Financial Inc acquired a new stake in shares of Linde in the third quarter valued at approximately $2,952,000. 82.80% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Linde News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Linde this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Barclays upgraded Linde to “strong buy,” signaling increased confidence in the industrial-gases producer’s earnings outlook and business durability. Barclays upgrade report
• Positive Sentiment: Royal Bank of Canada retained an “outperform” rating and its revised $549 target still implies meaningful upside from the current share price, despite the modest target reduction. RBC analyst action
• Positive Sentiment: A recent article highlighted Linde’s exposure to industrial gases and long-term secular growth trends, reinforcing the company’s positioning in essential industrial markets. Linde adds exposure to industrial gases and secular growth trends
• Positive Sentiment: Linde was featured among dividend companies viewed as capable of raising prices without materially damaging demand, supporting its defensive appeal and potential for continued cash-flow growth. Five boring dividend stocks that could keep growing
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst-rating coverage remains an important focus for investors, but the available report provides no specific new earnings or valuation forecast. What investment firms are saying about Linde
• Negative Sentiment: One valuation-focused analysis argued that Linde appears fully valued on current earnings. With a reported forward-looking valuation near 32 times earnings, this could limit upside and make the stock sensitive to weaker growth or disappointing guidance. Linde stock looks fully valued on current earnings

About Representative Hern

Kevin Hern (Republican Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District. He assumed office on November 13, 2018. His current term ends on January 3, 2027.

Hern (Republican Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.

Kevin Hern went into business as a McDonald’s franchisee in 1999. He acquired 10 McDonald’s franchises by 2012. He served on the McDonald’s National Leadership Team for 13 years, including the tax policy team, the insurance corporation, and as chairman of the economics team. From 2011 to 2015, he was chairman of the finance committee of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.

About Linde

Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) is a global industrial gases and engineering company that supplies gases, related equipment and process technologies to customers in healthcare, manufacturing, chemicals, energy, food and beverage, electronics, and other industries. Its products include oxygen, nitrogen, argon, hydrogen, helium, carbon dioxide and specialty gases.

The company provides gases through on-site production facilities, pipelines, bulk deliveries and packaged cylinders. It also designs and builds industrial gas plants and offers technologies and services for applications such as hydrogen production, carbon capture, clean energy, semiconductor manufacturing, metal fabrication and medical care.

Linde traces its history to 1879, when German engineer Carl von Linde developed refrigeration and gas-related technologies.