LIN vs SQM

Linde plc and Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A., both Basic Materials

Linde plc is the larger company at $237B against $23B. On trailing earnings LIN is the cheaper of the two at a P/E of 31.7 against 32.7, a gap that is only a bargain if the two are growing at similar rates. Over the past year SQM returned +105% against +5.4% for LIN. Ryufin's sector-relative Smart Score puts SQM ahead, 10/10 against 6/10.

Linde plc and Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A.compared on valuation, return and Ryufin’s Smart Score
FigureLINSQM
Last close$490$78.33
Market cap$237B$23B
Trailing P/Elower is cheaper for the same earnings, not automatically better31.732.7
Dividend yield1.2%n/a
1-year return+5.4%+105%
5-year return+71%+104%
Ryufin Smart Scoresector-relative, 1–106/1010/10

Figures from SEC filings and end-of-day closes. Highlighting marks the higher or lower number, which is not the same as the better investment, a low P/E can be a warning and a high one can be deserved.

Linde plc

Revenue of $9.3B in Q2 2026, net income $1.9B. Its largest reported line is Americas, 46% of the disclosed total.

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A.

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