Linde sees slower 1st quarter earnings on unfavourable currency effect (updated)

Linde

06/02/2025 11:30

(Recasts throughout with Q1 outlook, CEO quote and context)
       Feb 6 (Reuters) - Linde  LIN.O , the world's largest
industrial gases company, sees slightly slower earnings growth
in the first quarter of 2025, citing unfavourable currency
exchange effects.
    The U.S.-German company, which supplies gases such as
oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen to factories and hospitals,
expects the first quarter adjusted earnings per share to be in a
range of $3.85 to $3.95, a 3% to 5% rise from the same period
last year.
    "As anticipated, global macro conditions have continued to
weaken, especially foreign currency translation," CEO Sanjiv
Lamba said in a statement.
    Linde is seen as a bellwether for industrial production as
it supplies gases for a range of customers in sectors including
chemicals, manufacturing, steel-making, and food and beverages.
    This diversified footprint can help the company cope with
weakness in some end markets, as others can compensate for it.
Linde has regularly beaten earnings estimates or raised its
guidance in recent years.
    The Woking Surrey-based company reported an 11% rise in its
fourth quarter adjusted earnings per share to $3.97, ahead of
analysts' mean estimate of $3.93 per share in an LSEG poll.

 (Reporting by Dimitri Rhodes in Gdansk, editing by Milla Nissi)
 ((Dimitri.Rhodes@thomsonreuters.com;))