Compare StocksAAPL vs LIN

Apple Inc. (AAPL) vs Linde plc (LIN)

AAPL
Apple Inc.
$248.96
VS
LIN
Linde plc
$489.80

Rewards

AAPL
  • Apple Inc. has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
  • Apple Inc. scores 96/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • Return on equity has consistently exceeded 20% over 4 years, indicating efficient use of shareholder capital.
LIN
  • Each dollar of retained earnings has created $3.17 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
  • Altman Z-Score of 3.51 indicates very low bankruptcy risk — the company is firmly in the safe zone.

Risks

AAPL
  • FCF yield of 2.9% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
  • 12 insider sales with no purchases over the past 12 months — a persistent pattern of insider selling.
LIN
  • FCF yield of 2.1% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
  • Insiders have sold $10.3M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.

Key Valuation Metrics

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AAPL
LIN
Valuation
$106.31B
Free Cash Flow
$4.79B
2.91%
FCF Yield
2.11%
31.55
Trailing P/E
33.55
26.71
Forward P/E
25.15
Quality & Moat
68.12%
ROIC
11.15%
127.01%
ROE
17.36%
47.33%
Gross Margin
48.84%
1.72
PEG Ratio
N/A
Balance Sheet Safety
1.03
Debt / Equity
0.71
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
0.15
Net Debt / EBITDA
1.72
0.42%
Dividend Yield
1.31%
AAPL: 6Ties: 2LIN: 3
AAPLLIN

Historical Fundamentals

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AAPL

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

LIN

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

$1 Retained Earnings Test

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AAPL
$7.57
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$257.06B
Δ Market Cap
+$1.94T
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
LIN
$3.17
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$11.71B
Δ Market Cap
+$37.08B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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AAPL
38.3% Overvalued
Price is 38.3% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $248.96
Fair Value: $179.99
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
LIN
62.9% Overvalued
Price is 62.9% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $489.80
Fair Value: $300.66
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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AAPL

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $249?

+14.5%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +15.2%

The market implies +14.5% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +15.2%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

LIN

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $490?

+15.8%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +20.8%

The market implies +15.8% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.

Standard FCF implies +20.8%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.

Economic Moat Score

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AAPL
96/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. ROIC Consistency is the standout factor.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.
LIN
63/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Narrow moat with revenue predictability as the key competitive advantage. Improving reinvestment efficiency would strengthen the moat.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.

Forensic Accounting

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AAPL
-2.29
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
LIN
-2.65
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Ownership Breakdown

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AAPL
Insiders 1.6%Institutions 65.3%Retail & Other 33.1%
No. of Institutional Holders7,544
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
LIN
Insiders 0.3%Institutions 87.2%Retail & Other 12.5%
No. of Institutional Holders3,112
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

Insider Buying Activity

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AAPL
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
LIN
0
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $999,634
LAMBA SANJIV
Chief Executive Officer
$999,634
@ $396.68 · 2025-12-08
REYNOLDS PAULA ROSPUT
Director
$44,134
@ $441.34 · 2024-12-12
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

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AAPL
0
Sells (3M)
12
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $129.96M
KONDO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$1.02M
@ $271.23 · 2025-11-07
PAREKH KEVAN
Chief Financial Officer
$1.04M
@ $247.39 · 2025-10-16
O'BRIEN DEIRDRE
Officer
$11.07M
@ $257.39 · 2025-10-02
COOK TIMOTHY D
Chief Executive Officer
$33.38M
@ $256.81 · 2025-10-02
ADAMS KATHERINE L
General Counsel
$12.10M
@ $256.79 · 2025-10-02
LEVINSON ARTHUR D
Director
$20.89M
@ $232.07 · 2025-08-28
O'BRIEN DEIRDRE
Officer
$7.77M
@ $223.20 · 2025-08-08
KONDO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$933,955
@ $208.19 · 2025-05-12
PAREKH KEVAN
Chief Financial Officer
$941,420
@ $206.00 · 2025-04-23
WILLIAMS JEFFREY E
Chief Operating Officer
$7.95M
@ $224.01 · 2025-04-02
COOK TIMOTHY D
Chief Executive Officer
$24.18M
@ $223.65 · 2025-04-02
ADAMS KATHERINE L
General Counsel
$8.68M
@ $223.67 · 2025-04-02
LEVINSON ARTHUR D
Director
$343,147
@ $226.35 · 2025-02-03
LEVINSON ARTHUR D
Director
$45.46M
@ $227.32 · 2024-11-19
KONDO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$945,233
@ $228.87 · 2024-11-18
MAESTRI LUCA
Chief Financial Officer
$13.43M
@ $226.52 · 2024-10-04
O'BRIEN DEIRDRE
Officer
$13.84M
@ $226.87 · 2024-10-02
WILLIAMS JEFFREY E
Chief Operating Officer
$13.55M
@ $226.86 · 2024-10-02
COOK TIMOTHY D
Chief Executive Officer
$50.28M
@ $224.46 · 2024-10-02
ADAMS KATHERINE L
General Counsel
$13.80M
@ $226.20 · 2024-10-02
KONDO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$1.96M
@ $225.00 · 2024-08-15
KONDO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$1.12M
@ $216.50 · 2024-08-09
ADAMS KATHERINE L
General Counsel
$20.64M
@ $206.44 · 2024-08-05
LEVINSON ARTHUR D
Director
$14.37M
@ $191.58 · 2024-05-30
KONDO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$951,785
@ $190.40 · 2024-05-15
MAESTRI LUCA
Chief Financial Officer
$9.26M
@ $174.12 · 2024-04-11
O'BRIEN DEIRDRE
Officer
$9.24M
@ $168.91 · 2024-04-02
COOK TIMOTHY D
Chief Executive Officer
$33.26M
@ $169.33 · 2024-04-02
ADAMS KATHERINE L
General Counsel
$9.24M
@ $168.90 · 2024-04-02
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
LIN
4
Sells (3M)
6
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $37.38M
BICHARA GUILLERMO
Officer
$2.09M
@ $480.79 · 2026-03-10
DURBIN SEAN
Chief Operating Officer
$3.11M
@ $477.27 · 2026-03-10
PATWARI BINOD
Officer
$502,262
@ $502.76 · 2026-02-24
BICHARA GUILLERMO
Officer
$4.54M
@ $480.45 · 2026-02-17
ANGEL STEPHEN F
Director
$23.82M
@ $473.38 · 2025-08-07
DURBIN SEAN
Officer
$3.31M
@ $456.45 · 2025-05-22
BICHARA GUILLERMO
Officer
$2.23M
@ $461.65 · 2025-03-11
STRAUSS DAVID PAUL
Officer
$1.16M
@ $469.74 · 2025-03-03
NOWICKI JUERGEN
Officer
$3.12M
@ $459.62 · 2025-02-20
PATWARI BINOD
Officer
$640,570
@ $457.55 · 2025-02-18
WOOD ROBERT L.
Director
$1.32M
@ $456.26 · 2025-02-10
STRAUSS DAVID PAUL
Officer
$963,388
@ $434.35 · 2024-12-16
BICHARA GUILLERMO
Officer
$2.02M
@ $460.72 · 2024-12-04
PANIKAR JOHN
Officer
$4.64M
@ $462.75 · 2024-09-10
DURBIN SEAN
Officer
$1.90M
@ $456.42 · 2024-08-16
DURBIN SEAN
Officer
$1.90M
@ $456.42 · 2024-08-16
PFANN OLIVER
Officer
$463,681
@ $453.70 · 2024-08-16
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

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AAPL
FearGreed
😐Neutral(52/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
LIN
FearGreed
😐Neutral(60/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

⚖️ Buffett Signal

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AAPL
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (52)
LIN
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (60)
View AAPL Full AnalysisView LIN Full Analysis
Apple Inc. (AAPL) vs Linde plc (LIN) Stock Comparison | SafetyMargin.io