New York, January 20, 2026, 15:01 EST — Regular session underway
Linde shares dropped roughly 1.6% on Tuesday, caught up in a wider selloff that dragged down industrial and other economically sensitive stocks. The industrial gases company last changed hands at $431.89, fluctuating between $429.34 and $436.02 during the session.
Global stocks took a hit after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to restart trade tensions with Europe over Greenland. That stirred up “Sell America” fears and sent volatility higher. “So it’s all coming together for a pretty significant risk off day,” Wasif Latif, chief investment officer at Sarmaya Partners, told Reuters. (Reuters)
That’s significant for Linde, which supplies oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen to factories and other industrial clients—sectors that usually absorb trade disruptions early. The company has also faced weaker demand in Europe, which it says makes up roughly a quarter of its sales. (Reuters)
Linde’s drop was less severe than that of some competitors. Air Products & Chemicals shares fell by almost 4% in afternoon trading.
Bernstein SocGen Group analyst James Hooper bumped his price target for the stock to $519 from $518, maintaining an “Outperform” rating, reports StreetInsider. Price targets reflect where analysts expect a stock to trade within the next year. (Streetinsider)
Still, traders showed little interest in buying the dip amid the ratings talk. The market’s focus remains squarely on macro risk, not company-specific figures, with industrial stocks moving together whenever tariff and growth concerns spike.
Linde’s upcoming quarterly update is the next major data point. Investors will watch closely for insights on customer activity, pricing trends, and any changes in demand related to Europe and cross-border trade.
Linde plans to announce its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings on Feb. 5 ahead of the U.S. market open, followed by a conference call at 9:00 a.m. EST. (Linde)
A major risk remains that Tuesday’s tariff news vanishes just as fast as it appeared, pushing the stock to rebound alongside the broader market. The alternative scenario is even bleaker: should the conflict escalate into concrete policy, industrial spending might stall, putting Linde’s volumes and project schedules under the microscope.
Ahead of Linde’s earnings, attention turns to the Federal Reserve’s January 27-28 meeting, where any change in the rate outlook could reshape sentiment around cyclical stocks. (Federal Reserve)
Attention then shifts to Feb. 5, when Linde reports earnings and updates guidance, offering a sharper look at just how much the tariff shock is weighing on actual demand.
