10:30 AM EDT, 05/02/2025 (MT Newswires) -- CFRA, an independent research provider, has provided MT Newswires with the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:

We decrease our 12-month target price by $20 to $473, or 25.0x our 2026 EPS estimate, a small discount to LIN's three-year average forward P/E of 26.6x, but in line with our assumed valuation of LIN's closest peer, Air Products & Chemicals. We lower our 2025 EPS estimate by $0.47 to $16.49, but increase our 2026 EPS forecast by $0.26 to $18.93. LIN posted Q1 adj. EPS of $3.95 vs. $3.75, $0.03 above consensus, despite a top-line miss of 1.7%. Revenue remained flat at $8.1 billion, with underlying sales growth of 1% comprised of 2% price increases, partially offset by a 1% volume decline. The volume weakness was primarily attributed to softness in the manufacturing and metals & mining sectors. Despite top-line challenges, Linde ( LIN ) expanded its adjusted operating profit margin by 120 basis points to 30.1%, which we think highlights Linde's ( LIN ) pricing power and operational efficiency. Segment performance was mixed, with Americas showing strength, while APAC and EMEA faced headwinds.