New York, Feb 16, 2026, 13:52 EST — The market has closed.
- Linde ended the session at $481.00, gaining roughly 1.7% from its previous close.
- U.S. stock markets will remain closed on Monday for Presidents Day.
- Management heads to investor conferences beginning Tuesday.
Linde shares trading in the U.S. finished at $481.00, a gain of roughly 1.7% from the previous close. Earlier in the session, the stock touched an intraday peak at $488.42.
With the week trimmed for the holiday, eyes are back on the stock as investors hunt for any new signals on industrial demand and pricing muscle, following Linde’s update and results from early February.
U.S. markets are shuttered this Monday for Washington’s Birthday—better known as Presidents Day—trading resumes Tuesday.
Linde climbed 1.7% on Friday, standing out among chemical and gas stocks. Air Products dropped 4.0%, MarketWatch data showed.
Linde, in its Feb. 5 earnings report, projected 2026 adjusted EPS between $17.40 and $17.90—a metric that strips out a few items. Fourth-quarter adjusted EPS landed at $4.20, up 6%. Management also pointed to a $10.0 billion project backlog.
Chief Executive Sanjiv Lamba sounded upbeat on execution: “Linde delivered another year of resilient performance, with operating profit, cash flow and backlog each exceeding $10 billion.” sec.gov
Exactly how much of Linde’s growth comes from pricing, and how much from volume? That’s been the key question for investors. In its fourth quarter, the company reported a 3% rise in underlying sales, with 2% attributed to what it calls “price attainment” and 1% to increased volumes—so, higher prices accounted for most of the gain. sec.gov
Some skeptics remain. JPMorgan cut Linde to “neutral” earlier this month, citing sluggish organic volume growth and weaker pricing prospects. The downgrade flagged that, even when stripping out currency and deal effects, volumes just aren’t moving. Seeking Alpha
The risk scenario isn’t new. Softer manufacturing or resistance to higher prices can drag down volumes, making contract renewals less certain. And when the dollar gains, U.S.-listed multinationals may see reported growth shrink, regardless of stable demand underneath.
Looking ahead, management is set to hit the conference trail. Linde’s CFO Matt White and IR chief Juan Pelaez are lined up for Citi’s Global Industrial Tech and Mobility Conference on Feb. 17, then Barclays’ Industrial Select Conference the following day. After that, they’ll appear at a Raymond James event on March 4.
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