LIN vs SQM: Linde and Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA ADR B compared
The short version
From the latest prices and each company's SEC filings. Who's ahead on each measure, not which to buy.
- Linde is the larger company, worth $220.8B, about 14.0 times Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA ADR B.
- Linde grew revenue faster over the last year (+9.3% vs -39.4%).
- Linde keeps more of each dollar of revenue as operating profit (26.4% vs 23.5%).
- On earnings, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA ADR B is the cheaper stock (26.6x vs 31.6x).
- Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA ADR B's price assumes faster free cash flow growth: about 18% a year, against 15% for Linde (reverse DCF).
Side by side
The stronger figure is shaded where higher (or, for valuation multiples, lower) reads as better. How the implied growth works.
| Measure | LIN | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $220.8B | $15.8B |
| Share price | $483.73 | $63.91 |
| Revenue (last fiscal year) | $34.0B | $4.5B |
| Free cash flow (last fiscal year) | $5.1B | $303M |
| Revenue growth, last year | +9.3% | -39.4% |
| Revenue growth per year, last 5 fiscal years | +2.5% | +25.6% |
| Operating margin | 26.4% | 23.5% |
| Net margin | 20.4% | 15.1% |
| Return on equity | 18.5% | 13.3% |
| P/E (trailing) | 31.6x | 26.6x |
| Price / free cash flow | 43.4x | 36.2x |
| EV / EBITDA | 18.1x | 12.0x |
| FCF growth the price implies | 15.1% | 17.6% |
| Dividend yield | 1.3% | 1.9% |
| Debt / equity | 1.22x | 1.22x |
| Fundamental grade | C | D |
| Superinvestors holding it | 12 | 2 |
| Insider purchases, last 12 months | 10 | 0 |
Results from SEC filings
Revenue and free cash flow by fiscal year, from each company's 10-K filings.
Linde
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $30.8B | $6.6B | 16.2% |
| 2022 | $33.4B | $5.7B | 16.1% |
| 2023 | $32.9B | $5.5B | 24.4% |
| 2024 | $33.0B | $4.9B | 26.2% |
| 2025 | $34.0B | $5.1B | 26.3% |
Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA ADR B
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $1.8B | -$141M | 16.6% |
| 2021 | $2.9B | $358M | 32.4% |
| 2022 | $10.7B | $3.2B | 51.6% |
| 2023 | $7.5B | -$1.3B | 38.1% |
| 2024 | $4.5B | $303M | 23.5% |
Where the revenue comes from
Linde · by segments, 2025
Americas$15.2B45%
EMEA$8.5B25%
APAC$6.7B20%
Engineering Segment$2.2B7%
Corporate Segment and Other Operating Segment$1.3B4%
Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA ADR B · by products, 2025
Lithium and its derivatives$2.3B50%
Iodine and its derivatives$1.0B23%
Specialty plant nutrients$982M21%
Potassium$156M3%
Industrial chemicals$75M2%
Other products and services$32M1%
Compare them in fullFifteen years of statements, quarterly results, DCF and IRR models, and any number of peers side by side.
Open LIN in InvestinglyQuestions
Which is bigger, Linde or Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA ADR B?
Linde (LIN), at $220.8B against $15.8B.
Is LIN or SQM cheaper?
By trailing P/E, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA ADR B (26.6x) is cheaper than Linde (31.6x). A lower multiple can also mean the market expects less growth.
Which grows faster, LIN or SQM?
Linde: revenue grew +9.3% over the last year, against -39.4%.
Prices and ratios as of the last daily update; statements from SEC filings. Information only, not investment advice.