Royal London Asset Management Reduces $25M in Linde plc ($LIN)

Royal London Asset Management has trimmed its stake in Linde plc (NasdaqGS: LIN), reducing its holdings by 48,438 shares. This brings its total to 559,373 shares, a decrease of about 8% from the previous count of 607,811 shares. The current value of the position is approximately $292.9 million, as reported in their latest Form 13F filing with the SEC.

What Changed in Royal London Asset Management's Linde plc Position

Royal London Asset Management's recent filing shows a reduction in its Linde plc holdings by 48,438 shares, marking a nearly 8% decrease. The fund now holds 559,373 shares, down from 607,811. The value of these shares is approximately $292.9 million. This adjustment reflects the fund's decision to slightly pare back its investment in Linde.

Other Institutional Activity in Linde plc

Other large institutional investors have also been active in Linde plc. BlackRock, Inc. reduced its holdings by 273,235 shares, ending with about 36.9 million shares valued at $18.28 billion. Meanwhile, State Street Corp increased its position by 268,336 shares, holding a total of 19.6 million shares worth roughly $9.73 billion. Capital Research Global Investors significantly boosted its stake by 5,924,340 shares, now owning 16.1 million shares valued at approximately $7.96 billion. Geode Capital Management, LLC added 479,229 shares, bringing its total to 11.8 million shares worth about $5.87 billion.

Linde plc Stock Snapshot

Shares of Linde plc are trading around $523.57. The company boasts a market capitalization of approximately $242.1 billion and a P/E ratio of 34.7, with a forward P/E of 26.6. Linde has a beta of 0.732, indicating lower volatility compared to the market. The stock's 52-week range spans from $387.78 to $525.82, with a 50-day moving average of $504.49 and a 200-day moving average of $466.73.

Recent Earnings

Linde reported revenues of $34.65 billion with a growth rate of 8.2%. The company achieved a net margin of 20.4% and a return on equity of 18.2%. Earnings per share stood at $15.08. The next earnings report is expected on May 1, 2026.

Dividend

Linde pays an annual dividend of $6.40, yielding 1.22%. The dividend payout ratio is 40.45%, indicating a sustainable dividend policy.

Insider Buying and Selling at Linde plc

Recent insider transactions at Linde plc include sales by Stefan Innocenzi, SVP of Linde Engineering, who sold 2,062 shares at an average price of $507.90 on June 8, 2026. Robert Wood sold 4,335 shares at $506.39 on May 15, 2026, and 880 shares at $508.76 on May 14, 2026.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

On May 5, 2026, RBC Capital maintained its 'buy' rating on Linde with a price target of $570. JP Morgan also maintained a 'buy' rating with a $530 target on May 4, 2026, while Citigroup set a target of $585 on the same day. The consensus among 25 analysts is a 'buy' rating, with an average price target of $545.44.

About Linde plc

Linde plc, headquartered in Woking, United Kingdom, is a global leader in industrial gases and engineering. The company provides a wide range of gases and services to industries like healthcare, chemicals, energy, and electronics. Linde designs and builds process plants for third-party customers and its own gas businesses. With over 65,000 employees, Linde operates in numerous countries, including the United States, Germany, and China.

Bottom Line

Royal London Asset Management's decision to trim its stake in Linde plc highlights ongoing portfolio adjustments among large institutional investors. While Linde's stock shows strong fundamentals and analyst support, it's important to remember that 13F filings reflect past positions and may not indicate current holdings. Investors follow these filings to gauge institutional sentiment and market movements.