We recently compiled a list of 10 Best Basic Materials Stocks To Buy Now. In this article, we will look at where Linde Plc (NASDAQ:LIN) ranks among the best basic materials stocks to buy now.

The specialty chemicals industry holds the highest market weight (41.75%) among the several industries that make up the basic materials sector, despite its modest year-to-date return of 7.20%. Among the top performers in this industry are copper and gold, which had YTD returns of 28.25% and 28.32%, respectively. Additionally, building materials have grown rapidly, yielding a 19.46% YTD return. Nonetheless, several sectors of the economy are struggling. For example, steel and agricultural inputs have negative year-to-date returns of 13.78% and 2.08%, respectively. Coking coal lags with a YTD return of -19.12%, while other top performers include aluminum (33.03%), other precious metals & mining (48.76%), and silver (42.01%). Lastly, the chemicals industry has achieved a 3.17% YTD return. Overall, all industries in the basic materials sector experienced a 10.40% YTD return.

Amidst the basic material sector’s growth, as per Deloitte’s, the future of materials insights: science and technology have advanced to the point where scientists can now design materials with specific purposes, which fosters innovation in the chemical industry. Stakeholders are pressing companies to reassess the life cycle of their products with an emphasis on lowering emissions as sustainability gains prominence. Offering products to companies that make electric vehicles rather than those that make internal combustion engines, for instance, might drastically reduce scope 3 emissions. Involvement in circular ecosystems provides a viable way to reduce waste and provide new value opportunities. Although there are still obstacles to overcome, bio-based feedstocks have the potential to lower emissions and improve supply chain resilience. Furthermore, by solving the shortcomings of conventional mechanical recycling techniques, circular solutions like chemical recycling and carbon capture and utilization (CCU) offer creative end-of-life possibilities for materials.

Meanwhile, according to Fidelty, the financial services corporation, the materials market affected by recession worries, which is strongly tied to the economic cycle, produced solid but slow returns over the previous year. It follows general economic patterns in rising and falling levels as a cyclical industry. Materials stocks have been undervalued as the economy stands on the verge of a recession. A more positive economic picture in 2024, though, would act as a spur to expansion. Early phases of economic recovery have historically seen strong performance from this industry, and favorable supply-demand dynamics, especially among copper miners and American chemical manufacturers, could offer long-term investment opportunities. The industry may perform better as the economic cycle develops, setting it up for a potential comeback. As per Ashley Fernandes, Fidelity Sector Portfolio Manager:

“This cyclical sector could be well positioned if or when the economy improves.”

However, the ING Group, in its 2024 outlook report for the materials sector, pointed out the possible risks for iron ore:

“Looking further ahead, downside risks include China looking to replace older steel capacity with electric arc furnace capacity in order to help the country meet its decarbonisation goals. Growth in electric arc furnace (EAF) capacity at the expense of basic oxygen furnace (BOF) capacity will be a concern for the medium to long-term outlook for Chinese iron ore demand, reflecting increasing secondary production. Currently, 9.5% of China’s steel capacities are electric steel mills. The country plans to increase the share of steel from EAFs to 15% by 2025 amid a drive to reduce carbon emissions, increasing its appetite for ferrous scrap. China aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.”

Methodology:

We sifted through holdings of Basic Materials ETFs and online rankings to form an initial list of 20 Basic Materials stocks. Then we selected the 10 stocks that were the most popular among institutional investors. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the number of hedge funds that have stakes in them, as of Q2 2024. We have used the stocks’ market cap as a tie-breaker in case two or more stocks have the same number of hedge funds invested.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here)

Linde Plc (NASDAQ:LIN)  

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 63

Linde Plc (NASDAQ:LIN) is the global provider of industrial gas, operating in more than 100 nations. In addition to equipment used in the production of industrial gases, the company’s primary products are atmospheric gases (such as oxygen, nitrogen, and argon) and process gases (such as hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and helium). Linde provides services to a broad range of end markets, including steel, chemicals, manufacturing, and healthcare. Around 2023, Linde brought around over $33 billion in sales.

Being the world’s biggest producer of industrial gas, Linde boasts the advantages of a highly beneficial industry structure. Industrial gas firms have demonstrated sustained profitable returns by their economic moats, even though they are in the business of selling commodities, namely industrial gases. Although industrial gases usually represent a small portion of customers’ expenses, they are an essential component to guarantee continuous output. To make sure that their businesses are operating well, consumers are therefore frequently prepared to pay a premium and sign long-term contracts. Industrial gas producers benefit from long-term contracts and high switching costs, which allow them to create a relatively stable cash flow stream and profitable returns.

Mar Vista Global Strategy stated the following regarding Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) in its Q2 2024 investor letter:

“Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) is the world’s largest, global industrial gas producer. The company enjoys the highest profit margins and returns on capital in the industry. Linde’s primary products are atmospheric gases and process gases. Industrial gases have benefitted from secular growth trends in decarbonization and carbon sequestration. Moreover, the opportunity in blue and green ammonia and hydrogen are substantial. Projects in these areas are quickly being added to its backlog for future growth. We see these secular trends as long-term positives for Linde and the entire industrial gas industry.

Linde believes it can grow its volumes with new applications; the buildout of small, on-site plants using its technologies; and focusing on growing geographies such as India, Malaysia, Vietnam, China and Brazil. Despite the long-term growth opportunities, recent demand trends have slowed due to weak global industrial production. Among the regions, the U.S. remains resilient, with volumes flat to slightly negative. Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and China are all sending mixed economic signals. We believe these slower trends are transitory in nature, providing an opportunity to purchase shares in Linde at attractive prices.”

BofA analyst Steve Byrne maintained a Buy rating on the company shares and increased the company’s price target from $495 to $516. Despite a Q2 beat, the analyst believes that guidance “remains conservative in our view” and that, given the company’s recent performance, especially in F&B, Electronics, Chemicals & Energy, and Manufacturing, more sequential volume growth is likely.

Alexander Mitchell’s Scopus Asset Management is the largest stakeholder in the company from among the funds in Insider Monkey’s database. It owns 34,835 shares worth $15.29 million as of Q2.

Overall LIN ranks 4th on our list of the best basic material stocks to buy now. While we acknowledge the potential of the 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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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published on Insider Monkey.