Linde Gears Up to Report Q4 Earnings: What's in the Offing?

Core Viewpoint - Linde plc is expected to report its fourth-quarter 2024 results on February 6, with various factors influencing its performance, including previous earnings results and market conditions. Group 1: Previous Performance - In the last reported quarter, Linde's earnings were $3.94 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.89, primarily due to higher pricing in the Americas segment [2] - Linde has consistently beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 1.84% [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter earnings per share is $3.93, reflecting a 9.47% improvement from the same quarter last year [2] Group 2: Revenue Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter revenues is $8.36 billion, indicating a year-over-year increase of 0.65% [3] Group 3: Influencing Factors - Long-term contracts with major on-site clients are expected to positively impact Linde's performance in the fourth quarter, particularly from its Americas business unit, which is estimated to generate an operating profit of $1.15 billion, up from $1.07 billion in the previous year [4] - Economic slowdowns in Europe and China may have negatively affected industrial output and demand for industrial gases, potentially impacting Linde's revenues [5] - Rising energy prices due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are likely to have further pressured margins [5] Group 4: Engineering Segment Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the operating profit of the Engineering business unit is $106 million, down from $119 million a year ago, indicating challenges in this segment [6] Group 5: Earnings Predictions - The current model does not predict an earnings beat for Linde, with an Earnings ESP of -0.68% and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [7]