New York, Jan 17, 2026, 16:36 (EST) — Market closed
- Linde (LIN) ended Friday’s session at $438.96, slipping 0.25%. 1
- U.S. stock and bond markets will be closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Normal trading is set to pick back up Tuesday. 2
Linde stock slipped a bit on Friday, closing out a quiet week as U.S. markets eased toward the holiday pause.
The pause carries extra weight this time. In a shortened week, price swings often appear tidier than they really are, particularly among big, liquid stocks where investors hold back for new triggers.
For Linde, the next earnings report remains a key trigger after the industrial gases giant signaled weaker volumes in Europe last quarter. In October, it projected fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share—excluding certain one-time items—between $4.10 and $4.20. CEO Sanjiv Lamba also told analysts to expect continued declines in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, which accounts for about a quarter of sales. 3
Wall Street’s major indexes dipped on Friday, ending the week with slight losses, according to market data. Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial, pointed to the market’s “flat-lining” as investors awaited the next wave of earnings reports. 4
Linde usually moves like a steady chemical stock—until guidance changes. Investors pay less attention to daily price moves and more to the company’s comments on pricing versus volume trends.
Linde relies heavily on long-term supply contracts that help stabilize cash flow. Still, the stock can swing sharply if management lowers guidance or signals weaker demand in key markets.
But the downside is clear: if Europe remains weak and pricing momentum fades, operating leverage could turn against the company, pushing earnings estimates lower. Currency fluctuations add another layer of uncertainty for this global supplier.
In a separate SEC filing from September, board chair Stephen F. Angel announced he will retire effective Jan. 31. Lamba is slated to take over as chairman once Angel steps down. 5
Linde plans to release its fourth-quarter results by 6 a.m. EST on Feb. 5, followed by a webcast conference call at 9 a.m. EST. Investors will be watching closely for any updated guidance on 2026 earnings, which could move the stock. 6
