greeksoup/ stock research

Linde plc: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 31 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted operating profit rose 3%: Adjusted operating profit was $2,558 million, up 3%, led by higher price and productivity across segments. Reported operating profit was $2,367 million. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS $4.21, up 7%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $4.21, up 7%. Reported diluted EPS was $4.09, up 27%, on net income of $1,929 million, up 24%. Source
  • Americas sales up 6%: Americas sales were $3,846 million, up 6%. Underlying sales rose 4%, from 3% higher pricing and 1% higher volumes, mainly in electronics, manufacturing and metals and mining. Source
  • Engineering orders and backlog lower: Engineering order intake was $269 million, against $311 million in the second quarter. Third-party sale of equipment backlog was $2.9 billion, against $3.2 billion. Source
  • Operating cash flow up 8%: Operating cash flow was $2,948 million, up 8% from prior year, against $2,211 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Fourth-quarter EPS guidance given: Fourth-quarter adjusted diluted EPS is guided to $4.10 to $4.20, up 3% to 6%, or 1% to 4% excluding 2% estimated currency tailwind. Source
  • Full-year EPS range narrowed: Full-year adjusted EPS is guided to $16.35 to $16.45, up 5% to 6%. The second-quarter range was $16.30 to $16.50. Source

“Despite stagnant industrial activity, Linde employees once again demonstrated resilient results by growing operating cash flow 8% and EPS to an all-time high of $4.21, all while maintaining industry leading margins and return on capital.”

Chief Executive Officer Sanjiv Lamba

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted diluted EPS, fourth quarter SourceFourth quarter 2025$4.10 to $4.20New
Adjusted diluted EPS, full year SourceFull year 2025$16.35 to $16.45
Capital expenditures SourceFull year 2025$5.0 billion to $5.5 billionKept
Currency effect on full-year adjusted EPS SourceFull year 2025flat

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted EPS guidance of $4.10 to $4.20 is new in this release. The second-quarter release gave third-quarter guidance over the same dollar range. Source
  • Guidance lowered: The top of the full-year adjusted EPS range moved to $16.45 from $16.50, while the bottom moved up to $16.35 from $16.30. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year capital expenditures guidance of $5.0 billion to $5.5 billion matches the second-quarter release. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales rose 3% to $8,615 million: Sales were $8,615 million, up 3% from prior year. Source
  • Adjusted operating profit rose 3%: Adjusted operating profit was $2,558 million, up 3%, led by higher price and productivity across segments. Reported operating profit was $2,367 million. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS $4.21, up 7%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $4.21, up 7%. Reported diluted EPS was $4.09, up 27%, on net income of $1,929 million, up 24%. Source
  • Exclusions for Linde AG and cost program: Adjusted figures exclude Linde AG purchase accounting impacts and cost reduction program and other charges. Adjusted net income was $1,987 million, up 5%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Americas sales up 6%: Americas sales were $3,846 million, up 6%. Underlying sales rose 4%, from 3% higher pricing and 1% higher volumes, mainly in electronics, manufacturing and metals and mining. Source
  • APAC pricing down on helium: APAC sales were $1,741 million, up 1%. Underlying sales fell 1% on stable volumes and 1% lower pricing, primarily due to helium. Source
  • EMEA volumes down, pricing up: EMEA sales were $2,178 million, up 3%. Underlying sales fell 1%: 2% higher pricing was more than offset by 3% lower volumes in metals & mining and manufacturing. Source
  • Linde Engineering sales down 15%: Linde Engineering sales were $519 million, down 15%. Operating profit was $101 million, or 19.5% of sales. Source

“While we remain guarded on any near-term industrial recovery, our time-tested capital allocation policy and disciplined investment approach will continue to generate long-term shareholder value.”

Chief Executive Officer Sanjiv Lamba

Demand and the order book

  • Engineering orders and backlog lower: Engineering order intake was $269 million, against $311 million in the second quarter. Third-party sale of equipment backlog was $2.9 billion, against $3.2 billion. Source
  • Volumes flat, price drove growth: Overall volumes were flat, and underlying sales rose 2% from price attainment. Acquisitions added 1% to sales. Source
  • Management guarded on near-term recovery: Management said it remains guarded on any near-term industrial recovery. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Adjusted margin up 10 basis points: Adjusted operating profit margin was 29.7%, 10 basis points above prior year. Reported operating profit margin was 27.5%. Source
  • Americas margin down 70 basis points: Americas operating margin was 31.2%, 70 basis points below prior year, or 30 basis points lower excluding cost pass-through effects. Source
  • EMEA margin up 260 basis points: EMEA operating margin was 35.9%, 260 basis points above prior year, or 220 basis points excluding cost pass-through. Source
  • APAC margin down 90 basis points: APAC operating margin was 28.1%, 90 basis points below prior year. Management said year over year cost pass-through was immaterial there. Source

Cash and returns to shareholders

  • Operating cash flow up 8%: Operating cash flow was $2,948 million, up 8% from prior year, against $2,211 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Free cash flow after capital spending: Capital expenditures were $1,276 million, leaving free cash flow of $1,672 million. The second quarter had free cash flow of $954 million. Source
  • Shareholder returns of $1,685 million: The company returned $1,685 million through dividends and stock repurchases, net of issuances, down from $1,811 million in the second quarter. Source

Guidance and capital plans

  • Fourth-quarter EPS guidance given: Fourth-quarter adjusted diluted EPS is guided to $4.10 to $4.20, up 3% to 6%, or 1% to 4% excluding 2% estimated currency tailwind. Source
  • Full-year EPS range narrowed: Full-year adjusted EPS is guided to $16.35 to $16.45, up 5% to 6%. The second-quarter range was $16.30 to $16.50. Source
  • Capex range kept: Full-year capital expenditures are guided to $5.0 billion to $5.5 billion, unchanged, to cover growth and maintenance. Source
  • Currency assumed flat for year: The estimated currency effect for the full year is flat, against a 1% tailwind assumed in the second-quarter release. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Linde Engineering order intake Source$269 million
Linde Engineering third-party sale of equipment backlog Source$2.9 billion
Sale of gas contractual project backlog Source$7.1 billion

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management described industrial activity as stagnant and said it remains guarded on any near-term recovery. Source
  • Demand: Linde Engineering order intake and third-party equipment backlog both declined from the second quarter. Source
  • External: APAC pricing was 1% lower, primarily due to helium, while underlying volumes were stable. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said its time-tested capital allocation policy and disciplined investment approach will continue to generate long-term shareholder value. Source
  • Not stated: Management named higher price and continued productivity initiatives as the drivers of higher adjusted operating profit. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.