Company Overview - Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD) has a market capitalization of $56.7 billion and is a global leader in industrial gases and related equipment, headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The company was founded in 1940 and serves various industries including chemicals, refining, metals, electronics, food and beverage, and healthcare [1]. Earnings Expectations - APD is set to release its Q4 earnings on November 6, with analysts expecting an EPS of $3.41 per share, which represents a 4.2% decrease from $3.56 per share in the same quarter last year. The company has met or exceeded earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters, but missed in the most recent quarter [2]. - For fiscal 2025, analysts project an EPS of $12.02, down 3.3% from $12.43 in fiscal 2024. However, in fiscal 2026, adjusted EPS is expected to grow by 7.3% annually to reach $12.90 [3]. Stock Performance - Over the past year, APD shares have declined by 23.4%, underperforming the S&P 500 Index, which gained 14.5%, but outperforming the Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund, which fell by 8% during the same period [4]. Analyst Ratings - Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed a "Buy" rating on APD with a price target of $345, although the stock slipped by 1.6% despite this positive outlook [5]. - The consensus opinion on APD stock is moderately optimistic, with a "Moderate Buy" rating. Among 23 analysts, 13 recommend a "Strong Buy," one suggests a "Moderate Buy," eight advise a "Hold," and one gives a "Moderate Sell." The mean price target of $321.52 indicates a potential upside of 27% from current price levels [6].

Core Insights - Linde plc, with a market cap of $214.1 billion, is a leading global industrial gases and engineering company serving various industries including healthcare, chemical, energy, manufacturing, and electronics [1] Financial Performance - Linde is expected to announce fiscal Q3 2025 results on October 31, with analysts predicting an adjusted EPS of $4.18, reflecting a 6.1% increase from $3.94 in the same quarter last year [2] - For fiscal 2025, analysts forecast an adjusted EPS of $16.46, a 6.1% growth from $15.51 in fiscal 2024, and a further increase to $17.97 in fiscal 2026, representing a 9.2% year-over-year growth [3] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, Linde's shares have declined nearly 5%, underperforming the S&P 500 Index's 14.4% return, but faring better than the Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund's 9.4% decrease [4] - Despite reporting better-than-expected Q2 2025 adjusted EPS of $4.09 and revenues of $8.5 billion, Linde's shares fell slightly due to a disappointing operating profit in the Engineering segment and lower volumes in key markets [5] Analyst Ratings - The consensus among analysts is bullish, with a "Strong Buy" rating for Linde stock; 18 out of 27 analysts recommend a "Strong Buy," 2 suggest a "Moderate Buy," and 7 recommend a "Hold" [6] - The average analyst price target for Linde is $518.30, indicating a potential upside of 13.5% from current levels [6]