New York City, Feb 1, 2026, 15:42 EST — Market closed
- On Friday, Linde shares closed roughly 0.5% higher, at $456.97
- Shares of Air Products and Chemicals jumped following their earnings report and updated guidance
- Coming up: Linde reports earnings Feb. 5, followed by U.S. payrolls data on Feb. 6
Linde plc shares closed Friday up 0.5% at $456.97, wrapping up the week on a positive note despite the broader market’s dip.
The S&P 500 dropped roughly 0.4%, while the Nasdaq slid about 1.2% in the previous session, casting a wary shadow over Monday’s reopening.
This week’s packed slate of corporate earnings and the February 6 U.S. jobs report could shake up rate and earnings forecasts fast. “For those companies where expectations have become very, very lofty, the onus is going to be on them to deliver,” said Jim Baird, chief investment officer at Plante Moran Financial Advisors. Reuters
Air Products rallied roughly 6.5% on Friday following its quarterly earnings report, holding firm on its full-year adjusted earnings forecast—figures that exclude specific one-time items. “We had strong results from the base business,” CEO Eduardo Menezes said. PR Newswire
Linde announced it will publish its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings by 6 a.m. EST on Feb. 5, followed by a conference call at 9 a.m. EST.
February kicks off with a governance shift hitting the tape. A September filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission noted that Chairman Stephen F. Angel would step down from the board as of Jan. 31. CEO Sanjiv Lamba is slated to add the chairman title to his duties.
Next week, investors eyeing Linde will zero in on pricing and volume trends, looking to see if demand remains solid in manufacturing and chemicals. Updates on spending and share buybacks could also move the needle, particularly for a stock valued on consistent execution.
Air Products’ peer read-through will focus on pricing power and cost recovery, especially how energy expenses flow through contracts. “Pass-through” pricing helps curb the impact of rising power costs, though the timing usually doesn’t align neatly from quarter to quarter.
That said, the situation works both ways. Should Linde’s earnings fall short or its guidance grow cautious, a stock usually seen as a steady compounder could still open sharply lower—especially with key macro data looming.
Upcoming catalysts include Linde’s earnings release on Thursday, Feb. 5, followed by the Labor Department’s employment report at 8:30 a.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 6.
