Linde plc (LIN) has announced its financial results for the second quarter, reporting a net income of $1.66 billion and earnings per share (EPS) of $3.44, marking increases of 6% and 8% respectively. The adjusted net income stood at $1.86 billion, also reflecting a 6% rise from the previous year, with adjusted EPS reaching $3.85, up 8% from the prior year. These figures surpass the expectations of 16 analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters, who had projected earnings per share of $3.78 for the quarter. Notably, analysts' estimates typically do not account for special items.
Revenue for the quarter was $8.27 billion, representing a 1% increase from the previous year. This includes a 3% boost in underlying sales driven by price attainment, despite flat volume growth. Analysts had anticipated revenue of $8.31 billion on average.
Looking ahead to the third quarter, Linde forecasts adjusted earnings per share to be within the range of $3.82 to $3.92, while analysts expect $3.96 per share. For the full fiscal year 2024, the company projects adjusted EPS to be between $15.40 and $15.60. Analysts’ consensus estimate for the annual profit per share is $15.49.
