Linde (Nasdaq: LIN) grows Q2 EPS 11% and builds $11B project backlog
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Linde plc reported second-quarter 2026 sales of $9,289 million, up 9% versus prior year, with underlying sales up 4% from 2% higher pricing and 2% higher volumes. Net income was $1,928 million and diluted EPS $4.15, up 9% and 11%, respectively. Adjusted net income was $2,089 million and adjusted diluted EPS $4.50, 8% and 10% above prior year.
Operating profit was $2,554 million, with adjusted operating profit of $2,744 million and a 29.5% adjusted operating margin as pricing and productivity offset cost inflation. Operating cash flow increased 3% to $2,271 million and free cash flow was $833 million after $1,438 million of capital expenditures. The company returned $1,590 million to shareholders through dividends and net share repurchases and reported a project backlog of $11 billion, including a contractual sale-of-gas backlog of $8.1 billion and a 23.5% return on capital highlighted as industry leading.
Linde expects third-quarter 2026 adjusted diluted EPS of $4.45 to $4.55, 6% to 8% above the prior-year quarter. Full-year 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance is $17.70 to $17.90, representing 8% to 9% growth assuming 1% favorable currency, with planned 2026 capital expenditures of $5.5 billion to $6.0 billion to support growth and maintenance projects.
Positive
- Adjusted diluted EPS grew 10% to $4.50, with diluted EPS up 11% to $4.15 and adjusted net income rising to $2,089 million, indicating solid year-over-year earnings expansion.
- Record sales and backlog included $9.3 billion in quarterly sales and a $11 billion project backlog, with a contractual sale-of-gas backlog of $8.1 billion supporting future growth visibility.
- Robust 2026 outlook calls for adjusted EPS of $17.70–$17.90, implying 8%–9% growth, backed by planned capital expenditures of $5.5–$6.0 billion and a 23.5% return on capital.
Negative
- None.
Insights
Analyzing...
Key Figures
Key Terms
adjusted operating profit financial
free cash flow financial
project backlog financial
sale of gas project backlog financial
return on capital financial
non-GAAP financial measure financial
Earnings Snapshot
Adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $4.45–$4.55 for third quarter 2026 and $17.70–$17.90 for full-year 2026, representing 6%–8% and 8%–9% growth versus prior-year periods, assuming about 1% favorable currency, with planned 2026 capital expenditures of $5.5–$6.0 billion.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
FAQ
How did Linde (LIN) perform in the second quarter of 2026?
What is Linde (LIN) guiding for full-year 2026 adjusted EPS?
What EPS guidance did Linde (LIN) provide for the third quarter of 2026?
What is the size of Linde’s (LIN) current project and sale-of-gas backlog?
How did Linde’s (LIN) regional segments perform in Q2 2026?
EXHIBIT 99.1
Linde Reports Second-Quarter 2026 Results
Second-Quarter Highlights
|
| ➢ | Sales $9.3 billion, up 9% YoY, underlying sales up 4% |
|
| ➢ | Operating profit $2.6 billion, adjusted operating profit $2.7 billion, up 7% |
|
| ➢ | Operating profit margin 27.5%; adjusted operating profit margin 29.5% |
|
| ➢ | EPS $4.15, up 11%; adjusted EPS $4.50, up 10% YoY |
|
| ➢ | Second-quarter operating cash flow of $2.3 billion, up 3% YoY |
|
| ➢ | Full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $17.70 - $17.90 representing 8% to 9% growth |
|
| ➢ | Project backlog $11 billion |
Woking, UK, July 31, 2026 – Linde plc (Nasdaq: LIN) today reported second-quarter 2026 net income of $1,928 million and diluted earnings per share of $4.15, up 9% and up 11%, respectively. Excluding Linde AG purchase accounting impacts, adjusted net income was $2,089 million, up 8% versus prior year. Adjusted diluted earnings per share was $4.50, 10% above prior year.
Linde’s sales for the second quarter were $9,289 million, up 9% versus prior year including 2% favorable currency impact. Compared to prior year, underlying sales increased 4% from 2% price attainment and 2% volumes, primarily in the electronics, manufacturing and chemicals & energy end markets. Acquisitions increased sales by 1%.
Second-quarter operating profit was $2,554 million. Adjusted operating profit of $2,744 million was up 7% versus prior year resulting in an adjusted operating profit margin of 29.5%. Operating margin was 60 basis points lower than the previous year as higher price and productivity initiatives were offset by cost inflation.
Second-quarter operating cash flow of $2,271 million increased 3% versus prior year. After capital expenditures of $1,438 million, free cash flow was $833 million. During the quarter, the company returned $1,590 million to shareholders through dividends and stock repurchases, net of issuances.
Commenting on the financial results and business outlook, Chief Executive Officer Sanjiv Lamba said, “Linde employees delivered another solid quarter, generating record sales and EPS while maintaining industry-leading profitability with 29.5% operating margin and 23.5% return on capital. During the quarter, we also signed another long-term electronics supply contract in the U.S., increasing the sale of gas backlog to a record $8.1 billion.”
Lamba continued, “Customer proposal activity remains robust, primarily across the electronics end market, giving us confidence to further grow the backlog. Regardless of the economic climate, I’m confident the Linde team will continue to secure high-quality future growth projects while delivering long-term shareholder value.”
For the third quarter of 2026, Linde expects adjusted diluted earnings per share in the range of $4.45 to $4.55, up 6% to 8% versus prior-year quarter, with no expected impact from foreign currency translation.
For the full year 2026, the company expects adjusted diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $17.70 to $17.90, up 8% to 9% when assuming favorable currency of 1% versus prior year. Full-year capital expenditures are expected to be in the range of $5.5 billion to $6.0 billion to support growth and maintenance requirements including the $8.1 billion contractual sale of gas project backlog.
| Page 1/10 |
Second-Quarter 2026 Results by Segment
Americas sales of $4,083 million were up 7% versus prior year. Compared with second quarter 2025, underlying sales increased 4%, driven by 2% higher pricing and 2% higher volumes, primarily in the electronics and manufacturing end markets. Operating profit of $1,272 million was 31.2% of sales, 50 basis points below prior year.
APAC (Asia Pacific) sales of $1,870 million were up 13% versus prior year. Compared with second quarter 2025, underlying sales increased 8%, driven by 6% volumes primarily in the electronics and chemicals & energy end markets and project start-ups and 2% higher pricing. Operating profit of $531 million was 28.4% of sales, 120 basis points below prior year or 70 basis points when excluding the effects of cost pass-through.
EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) sales of $2,303 million were up 7% versus prior year. Compared with second quarter 2025, underlying sales increased 1%, driven by 2% higher pricing and lower volumes, primarily in the manufacturing end market. Operating profit of $823 million was 35.7% of sales, 40 basis points below prior year or 10 basis points higher when excluding the effects of cost pass-through.
Linde Engineering sales were $625 million, up 13% versus prior year, and operating profit was $100 million or 16.0% of sales. Order intake for the quarter was $871 million and third-party sale of equipment backlog was $3.0 billion.
Earnings Call
A teleconference on Linde’s second-quarter 2026 results is being held today at 9:00 am EDT.
| Live conference call | US Toll-Free Dial-In Number: 1 888 770 7292 UK Toll-Free Dial-In Number: 0800 358 0970 Access code: 6877110 |
| Live webcast (listen-only) | https://www.linde.com/investors/financial-reports |
Materials to be used in the teleconference are also available on the website.
About Linde
Linde is a leading global industrial gases and engineering company with 2025 sales of $34 billion. We live our mission of making our world more productive every day by providing high-quality solutions, technologies and services which are making our customers more successful and helping to sustain, decarbonize and protect our planet. Linde serves a variety of end markets such as chemicals & energy, food & beverage, electronics, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and mining. Linde’s industrial gases and technologies are used in countless applications, enabling space exploration and launch technologies, delivering ultra-high-purity and specialty gases for semiconductor manufacturing, providing life-saving medical oxygen and enabling clean hydrogen production and carbon capture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Linde also delivers state-of-the-art gas processing solutions to support customer growth, efficiency improvements and emissions reductions.
For more information about the company and its products and services, please visit www.linde.com
Adjusted amounts, free cash flow and return on capital are non-GAAP measures. See the attachments for a summary of non-GAAP reconciliations and calculations for adjusted amounts.
| Page 2/10 |
Attachments: Summary Non-GAAP Reconciliations, Statements of Income, Balance Sheets, Statements of Cash Flows, Segment Information and Appendix: Non-GAAP Measures and Reconciliations.
*Note: We are providing adjusted earnings per share (“EPS”) guidance for 2026. This is a non-GAAP financial measure that represents diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (a GAAP measure) but excludes the impact of certain items that we believe are not representative of our underlying business performance, such as cost reduction and other charges, and the impact of other potentially significant items. Given the uncertainty of timing and magnitude of such items, we cannot provide a reconciliation of the differences between the non-GAAP adjusted EPS guidance and the corresponding GAAP EPS measure without unreasonable effort.
Forward-looking Statements
This document contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are identified by terms and phrases such as: anticipate, believe, intend, estimate, expect, continue, should, could, may, plan, project, predict, will, potential, forecast, and similar expressions. They are based on management’s reasonable expectations and assumptions as of the date the statements are made but involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: the performance of stock markets generally; developments in worldwide and national economies and other international events and circumstances, including trade conflicts and tariffs; changes in foreign currencies and in interest rates; the cost and availability of electric power, natural gas and other raw materials; the ability to achieve price increases to offset cost increases; catastrophic events including natural disasters, epidemics, and acts of war and terrorism; the ability to attract, hire, and retain qualified personnel; the impact of changes in financial accounting standards; the impact of changes in pension plan liabilities; the impact of tax, environmental, healthcare and other legislation and government regulation in jurisdictions in which the company operates; the cost and outcomes of investigations, litigation and regulatory proceedings; the impact of potential unusual or non-recurring items; continued timely development and market acceptance of new products and applications; the impact of competitive products and pricing; future financial and operating performance of major customers and industries served; the impact of information technology system failures, network disruptions and cybersecurity breaches; and the effectiveness and speed of integrating new acquisitions into the business. These risks and uncertainties may cause future results or circumstances to differ materially from adjusted projections, estimates or other forward-looking statements.
Linde plc assumes no obligation to update or provide revisions to any forward-looking statement in response to changing circumstances. The above listed risks and uncertainties are further described in Item 1A. Risk Factors in Linde plc’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 filed with the SEC on February 25, 2026 which should be reviewed carefully. Please consider Linde plc’s forward-looking statements in light of those risks.
| Page 3/10 |
