Cash Flow Statement
Quarterly Data

The cash flow statement provides information about a company cash receipts and cash payments during an accounting period, showing how these cash flows link the ending cash balance to the beginning balance shown on the company balance sheet.

The cash flow statement consists of three parts: cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities, and cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities.

Linde plc, consolidated cash flow statement (quarterly data)

US$ in millions

3 months ended:	Mar 31, 2026	Dec 31, 2025	Sep 30, 2025	Jun 30, 2025	Mar 31, 2025	Dec 31, 2024	Sep 30, 2024	Jun 30, 2024	Mar 31, 2024	Dec 31, 2023	Sep 30, 2023	Jun 30, 2023	Mar 31, 2023	Dec 31, 2022	Sep 30, 2022	Jun 30, 2022	Mar 31, 2022	Dec 31, 2021	Sep 30, 2021	Jun 30, 2021	Mar 31, 2021
Net income, Linde plc	1,857)	1,530)	1,929)	1,766)	1,673)	1,725)	1,550)	1,663)	1,627)	1,543)	1,565)	1,575)	1,516)	1,328)	1,273)	372)	1,174)	1,026)	979)	841)	980)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax and noncontrolling interests	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	(2)	(1)	(1)	(1)
Noncontrolling interests from continuing operations	43)	43)	43)	40)	34)	44)	53)	37)	38)	33)	36)	37)	36)	33)	27)	38)	36)	30)	31)	36)	38)
Income from continuing operations, including noncontrolling interests	1,900)	1,573)	1,972)	1,806)	1,707)	1,769)	1,603)	1,700)	1,665)	1,576)	1,601)	1,612)	1,552)	1,361)	1,300)	410)	1,210)	1,054)	1,009)	876)	1,017)
Cost reduction program and other charges	(44)	210)	(57)	(32)	18)	(21)	127)	(20)	(55)	(27)	(30)	—)	(61)	(7)	(13)	956)	(34)	15)	(12)	171)	(76)
Depreciation and amortization	951)	950)	961)	942)	910)	913)	960)	958)	949)	949)	959)	960)	948)	956)	1,045)	1,091)	1,112)	1,135)	1,163)	1,171)	1,166)
Deferred income taxes	8)	(7)	(445)	(22)	9)	166)	(124)	(149)	(35)	88)	(111)	(65)	4)	29)	(191)	(162)	(59)	(70)	(106)	(13)	(65)
Share-based compensation	41)	31)	45)	46)	42)	40)	42)	40)	38)	39)	36)	36)	30)	29)	27)	17)	34)	33)	32)	34)	29)
Accounts receivable	(361)	257)	(70)	(79)	(230)	38)	224)	(61)	(361)	83)	6)	(44)	(131)	149)	(29)	(203)	(340)	(14)	(151)	(210)	(178)
Inventory	(48)	84)	(1)	(45)	9)	24)	55)	4)	(27)	(2)	(40)	(26)	(59)	(47)	(156)	(109)	(35)	(52)	(35)	18)	(60)
Prepaid and other current assets	(52)	59)	77)	(107)	26)	7)	—)	(12)	(50)	35)	70)	(34)	(5)	(46)	12)	(16)	(107)	101)	(5)	44)	(64)
Payables and accruals	35)	(83)	434)	(290)	(209)	101)	15)	(328)	(65)	100)	190)	(394)	(64)	(69)	306)	19)	51)	316)	92)	(30)	69)
Contract assets and liabilities, net	(108)	(96)	46)	43)	(65)	(99)	(121)	(139)	(50)	(164)	(121)	183)	(66)	(59)	126)	51)	192)	777)	479)	(140)	191)
Working capital	(534)	221)	486)	(478)	(469)	71)	173)	(536)	(553)	52)	105)	(315)	(325)	(72)	259)	(258)	(239)	1,128)	380)	(318)	(42)
Pension contributions	(7)	(5)	(5)	(10)	(5)	(6)	(5)	(13)	(11)	(11)	(10)	(15)	(10)	(7)	(25)	(6)	(13)	(10)	(4)	(16)	(12)
Long-term assets, liabilities and other	(75)	57)	(9)	(41)	(51)	(123)	(45)	(51)	(44)	61)	(30)	(63)	(230)	(194)	234)	85)	(11)	(52)	94)	(78)	92)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities	340)	1,457)	976)	405)	454)	1,040)	1,128)	229)	289)	1,151)	919)	538)	356)	734)	1,336)	1,723)	790)	2,179)	1,547)	951)	1,092)
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,240)	3,030)	2,948)	2,211)	2,161)	2,809)	2,731)	1,929)	1,954)	2,727)	2,520)	2,150)	1,908)	2,095)	2,636)	2,133)	2,000)	3,233)	2,556)	1,827)	2,109)
Capital expenditures	(1,342)	(1,458)	(1,276)	(1,257)	(1,270)	(1,250)	(1,066)	(1,133)	(1,048)	(1,151)	(948)	(859)	(829)	(936)	(762)	(826)	(649)	(839)	(741)	(744)	(762)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(153)	(19)	(123)	(158)	(112)	(142)	(23)	(152)	—)	(111)	(8)	(26)	(808)	—)	(61)	(6)	(43)	(57)	—)	(21)	(10)
Divestitures, net of cash divested and asset sales	112)	11)	7)	11)	13)	16)	132)	15)	7)	36)	10)	21)	3)	55)	123)	(10)	27)	20)	70)	56)	21)
Other investing, net	(1)	5)	(42)	(53)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Net cash used for investing activities	(1,384)	(1,461)	(1,434)	(1,457)	(1,369)	(1,376)	(957)	(1,270)	(1,041)	(1,226)	(946)	(864)	(1,634)	(881)	(700)	(842)	(665)	(876)	(671)	(709)	(751)
Short-term debt borrowings (repayments), net	339)	(466)	82)	260)	165)	863)	101)	(705)	(631)	799)	871)	(2,315)	1,199)	821)	57)	756)	1,416)	(1,698)	(712)	377)	704)
Long-term debt borrowings	58)	2,084)	5)	719)	2,340)	8)	8)	2,372)	2,456)	65)	8)	2,055)	60)	919)	—)	(5)	2,296)	23)	2,209)	17)	34)
Long-term debt repayments	(733)	(624)	(9)	(633)	(1,012)	(332)	(16)	(347)	(610)	(31)	(10)	(1,099)	(542)	(60)	(22)	(537)	(1,166)	(647)	(3)	(761)	(57)
Issuances of ordinary shares	3)	3)	5)	4)	11)	3)	7)	5)	16)	8)	4)	8)	13)	12)	2)	12)	10)	11)	7)	15)	17)
Purchases of ordinary shares	(807)	(1,390)	(989)	(1,111)	(1,111)	(1,334)	(667)	(1,440)	(1,041)	(1,033)	(1,158)	(908)	(859)	(690)	(1,149)	(1,610)	(1,719)	(1,361)	(1,169)	(1,214)	(868)
Cash dividends, Linde plc shareholders	(741)	(698)	(701)	(704)	(708)	(659)	(662)	(665)	(669)	(616)	(620)	(623)	(623)	(586)	(581)	(585)	(592)	(541)	(546)	(549)	(553)
Noncontrolling interest transactions and other	(87)	73)	(175)	99)	(73)	(159)	(44)	(28)	(189)	28)	(59)	(10)	(12)	(26)	(27)	(34)	(1)	(4)	(42)	(30)	(247)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(1,968)	(1,018)	(1,782)	(1,366)	(388)	(1,610)	(1,273)	(808)	(668)	(780)	(964)	(2,892)	(764)	390)	(1,720)	(2,003)	244)	(4,217)	(256)	(2,145)	(970)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	15)	(4)	(9)	104)	40)	(160)	60)	(73)	(61)	49)	(73)	1)	16)	76)	(115)	(97)	62)	(17)	(66)	68)	(46)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(1,097)	547)	(277)	(508)	444)	(337)	561)	(222)	184)	770)	537)	(1,605)	(474)	1,680)	101)	(809)	1,641)	(1,877)	1,563)	(959)	342)

Operating cash flow exhibits a sustained upward trajectory over the analyzed period, increasing from 2,109 million USD in March 2021 to a peak of 3,030 million USD by December 2025. This growth is supported by a general rise in net income, which grew from 980 million USD in early 2021 to 1,857 million USD by March 2026, despite periodic fluctuations. The ability to generate cash from operations consistently exceeds net income, primarily driven by significant non-cash charges including depreciation and amortization, which remained substantial throughout the period, typically ranging between 900 million USD and 1,200 million USD per quarter.

Capital Investment and Asset Growth: Capital expenditures show a clear expansionary trend, rising from 762 million USD in March 2021 to 1,342 million USD by March 2026. This indicates a consistent commitment to scaling infrastructure and enhancing production capacity. While investing activities are dominated by these expenditures, periodic acquisitions—most notably an 808 million USD outflow in March 2023—supplement the organic growth strategy.
Shareholder Return Strategy: A prioritized approach to returning capital to shareholders is evident through both dividends and share repurchases. Cash dividends grew steadily from 553 million USD per quarter in early 2021 to 741 million USD by March 2026. Concurrently, the purchase of ordinary shares remained a primary use of cash, with quarterly outflows frequently exceeding 1 billion USD, peaking at 1,719 million USD in March 2022.
Financing and Liquidity Management: Financing activities are characterized by tactical movements in debt to manage liquidity. There is a recurring pattern of large-scale long-term debt borrowings—such as the 2,456 million USD in March 2024—offset by significant repayments and short-term debt adjustments. This suggests a strategic use of leverage to fund capital expenditures and shareholder returns during periods of high cash deployment.
Working Capital Volatility: Working capital exhibits significant quarterly volatility. Large fluctuations in accounts receivable and payables and accruals frequently impact the reconciliation of net income to operating cash flow. For instance, a significant positive impact of 1,128 million USD was noted in December 2021, contrasted by a negative impact of 553 million USD in March 2023, reflecting the timing of operational payments and collections.

Overall, the financial profile is one of strong operational cash generation that comfortably funds an escalating capital expenditure program and an aggressive shareholder return policy. The growth in operating cash flow has effectively offset the rising costs of investment and the consistent outflows associated with dividends and equity buybacks.

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Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN)

Cash Flow StatementQuarterly Data

Cash Flow Statement
Quarterly Data