Dan RohintonLinde PLCLINPAST TOP PICKJan 03, 2025

Will benefit meaningfully from redevelopment in Middle East following the Iran conflict. Not on sale exactly, but share price doesn't fully reflect the upside.

It's a good time to buy materials after a period of softness. They're in the chemicals and space businesses, which are tailwinds.

Largest in their field of industrial gases -- a boring, but growing, area. Hydrogen, for example, will be increasingly used in more intricate applications. Facilities are found beside every major manufacturing plant for petrochemicals, food/beverage, and healthcare. Once it's put in place on the ground, almost impossible to dislodge. Barriers to entry are monumental. Very little competition.

Excellent, strategic small M&A deals. Consistently delivers excellent earnings growth, huge buybacks of stock. Brilliantly managed. Yield is 1.32%.

Specialized industrial gases. Gases can go anywhere, and the end user (steel mill, hospital, etc.) actually anchors the investment. Quality company. A bit forgotten, as it's not AI-related. Reasonably low valuation for a long-term investment. Yield is 1.42%.

Pulled back 20% since July highs. It has pricing power, though, and has consistent earnings growth year after year. There's been insider buying

It has had a great run and trades at 23X earnings. It is a very high quality stock which just keeps going up. It takes long contracts in structural projects with multiple applications. There is growth in the field. Tariffs could possibly be an issue. 

Industrial slowdown of last few years is impacting operations. Valuation has shrunk. Will still grow earnings mid-single digits. Defensive. She'd keep buying here.

Unsung hero when it comes to industrial processes. A proxy for industrial activity. Recent pressure on hydrogen. Tactical opportunity to buy a high-quality company for the long term. Oligopoly structure. Well managed. Best and biggest of the bunch. 

Mid-high single-digit organic earnings growth, irrespective of economic environment. He's adding today. Can hold for the next 10 years. Yield is 1.45%.

It has a track record of discipline for capital allocation and has a good management team. It is an exceptional operator focusing on infrastructure projects around the world.

Provides mission-critical, processed gases to a range of industries. Builds plants next door to client plants with 30-year, take-or-pay contracts. Reliability is key. World's #1, most efficient, highest margins. Long-term secular growth. Also getting involved in carbon capture. Yield is 1.25%.

In last decade, has grown 19% annually on average, and that's without the dividend. Industrial gases from oxygen in hospitals to acetylene for welding. Biggest. Share buybacks and dividend increases. Strong returns for a long time. Tariff noise gave new money a chance to get in. Global scope and good execution. Yield is 1.32%.

With all the current turbulence, he'll take the modest gain as a win. Story hasn't changed. Decent dividend compounder and earnings grower. He'd still make it a pick today.

Classified in the materials sector, but she'd call it a soft cyclical. A lot of their services are recurring, which makes it more defensive. Very well managed. It can always grow earnings by high single digits, regardless of the economic scenario, as they'll adjust their prices to customers via pass-through contracts. Still, it needs economic growth.

Largest industrial gas company in the world, estimated 30% market share. Competitive advantage is density of network and proximity to customers. Long-term, take-or-pay contracts, a guaranteed return. Supplies the healthcare, semiconductor, and green energy industries. 

Should do well in any sort of economic environment. Tends to grow earnings even in a recession. Well managed. She expects earnings to grow in range of 10%. Yield is 1.1%.