New York, February 13, 2026, 13:54 EST — Regular session
- Linde shares climbed roughly 2.8% in afternoon action, hitting a new intraday high.
- U.S. stocks are bouncing back, driven by lighter inflation numbers and declining yields.
- Traders are eyeing the upcoming industrial demand numbers, with Linde’s April earnings also on the docket.
Linde plc gained 2.8% to $485.96 Friday afternoon, outpacing most names in the materials sector as U.S. stocks pared earlier declines. The industrial gases stock saw a range from $470.76 up to $488.42.
The move landed with some weight, as markets have been on edge all week—investors are still weighing whether a slowdown in inflation puts the Fed any closer to rate cuts, but without sparking fresh worries over growth. Around midday, the Dow climbed 0.45%, the S&P 500 picked up 0.53%, and the Nasdaq gained 0.32%. The boost came after data showed January consumer prices increased less than expected, Reuters reported. 1
When yields slip, industrials that throw off consistent cash—like Linde—usually find a firmer footing. Linde, a regular stand-in for factory-sector appetite, delivers gases to manufacturers, chemical outfits, even hospitals. With tech stocks bouncing around, traders have pivoted to firms anchored by contracts. 2
Shares of Air Products dropped 2.7%. Dow Inc inched up roughly 0.4%, with DuPont adding around 1.2%.
No fresh company news hit Friday, but shares kept climbing, following up Thursday’s 1.1% gain at the close. 3
Linde’s fourth-quarter numbers last week came in ahead of forecasts, with the company also projecting continued earnings growth into 2026, citing gains from pricing and productivity, Reuters noted then. 4
During the earnings call, Chief Executive Sanjiv Lamba pointed to a divided landscape: “exuberant investment in AI and digital infrastructure” was driving one part of the economy, while “traditional industrial markets… faced continued retrenchment.”
Lamba highlighted the company’s focus on keeping margins tight. On restructuring savings, he said he expects margins in 2026 to come in above the firm’s typical long-term expansion range. “My view is in 2026, we will beat that number,” he added. (A basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point.)
But the picture can shift quickly. Should inflation cool-off prove short-lived in upcoming numbers, or if there’s more weakness in factory gauges, traders might rethink those rate-cut wagers—cyclical industrials are usually the first to take a hit. 1
Linde shareholders are eyeing April 30, when the company is slated to release its next quarterly results. Watch for details on volumes, pricing, and how quickly new projects are ramping up. 5
