10 Safest Dividend Stocks in the UK

1. Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 63

Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) is an international chemical company that supplies various gases to industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, energy, food and beverage, chemicals, and electronics. The company delivered solid results in 2024, securing more than 59 small on-site contracts for clean energy supply and committing $2 billion to the DOW (Canada) project for low-carbon (blue) hydrogen production. The company invested a total of $4.8 billion in its operations. Annual sales reached $33 million, slightly up from $32 million in 2023, while the operating margin improved to 29.5%, marking a 190-basis-point increase from the previous year.

In 2024, Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) reported a robust operating cash flow of $9.4 billion. The company allocated $4.5 billion toward capital expenditures and distributed $7.1 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, after accounting for new issuances. The company currently pays a quarterly dividend of $1.39 per share for a dividend yield of 1.21%, as of February 10. It is one of the best FTSE dividend stocks on our list as the company has been rewarding shareholders with growing dividends for the past 31 consecutive years.

Driven by the growing demand for clean energy, particularly from the expanding electronics and EV battery markets, Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) expects a promising future as a key player in the environmental and clean energy sectors. The company remains dedicated to sustainability, investing heavily in clean energy and decarbonization initiatives. With strong financial results and an optimistic market outlook, Linde continues to solidify its position as a leader in the industrial gas industry.

Overall Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) ranks first on our list of the best FTSE dividend stocks. While we acknowledge the potential for LIN as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than LIN but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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