Linde (NASDAQ:LIN) late Tuesday was downgraded to Neutral from a previous investment rating of Buy among analysts at financial-services firm UBS. They said the chemical maker faces slowing profit growth while its “already high” earnings multiple limits gains.
“We believe Linde (LIN) will continue to show best-in-class performance, but with forward multiples back to all-time highs, we see fewer potential catalysts near term to drive further increases,” Joshua Spector, analyst at UBS, said in a March 26 report.”
The estimated price-to-earnings multiple for the next 12 months is currently 30 times, compared with the five-year average of 26 times, according to UBS.
The bank raised its price target on Linde (LIN) to $510 a share from $482 a share previously.