ClearBridge International Growth EAFE Strategy Underperforms Against Benchmarks in Q4 2025
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 19 2026
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Sector Performance Analysis: The ClearBridge International Growth EAFE Strategy underperformed the MSCI EAFE Index in Q4 2025, despite positive contributions from five out of nine sectors, indicating the complexity of sector selection.
- Key Contributors and Detractors: The financial and IT sectors were the top contributors, while the consumer discretionary sector was the chief detractor, particularly due to poor stock selection in consumer discretionary, healthcare, industrials, materials, and financials, which negatively impacted overall performance.
- Portfolio Adjustments: In Q4, ClearBridge exited positions in Novo Nordisk, Linde, and UniCredit, and sold stakes in Trane Technologies and Nemetschek, demonstrating a quick response to market dynamics.
- New Investment Dynamics: The fund repurchased Ryanair Holdings and added Heidelberg Materials during the quarter, while also increasing stakes in EssilorLuxottica and Galderma Group, reflecting an aggressive strategy in seeking potential growth opportunities.
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Analyst Views on LIN
Wall Street analysts forecast LIN stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for LIN is 499.07 USD with a low forecast of 455.00 USD and a high forecast of 540.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
17 Analyst Rating
15 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 451.500
Low
455.00
Averages
499.07
High
540.00
Current: 451.500
Low
455.00
Averages
499.07
High
540.00
About LIN
Linde plc is a United Kingdom-based industrial gases and engineering company. The Company serves a variety of end markets, such as chemicals and energy, food and beverage, electronics, healthcare, manufacturing, metals, and mining. The Company’s industrial gases and technologies are used in countless applications, including production of clean hydrogen and carbon capture systems critical to the energy transition, life-saving medical oxygen and high-purity and specialty gases for electronics. It also delivers gas processing solutions to support customer expansion, efficiency improvements and emissions reductions. Its primary products in its industrial gases business are atmospheric gases and process gases. The Company also designs and builds equipment that produces industrial gases and offers customers a range of gas production and processing services, such as olefin plants, natural gas plants, air separation plants, hydrogen and synthesis gas plants and other types of plants.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Linde PLC Dividend and Options Analysis
- Dividend Yield Expectation: Linde PLC's latest annualized dividend yield stands at 1.3%, and while dividend amounts are influenced by profitability fluctuations, the historical dividend chart aids in assessing the sustainability of future dividends, impacting investor expectations.
- Historical Volatility Analysis: The trailing twelve-month volatility for Linde is calculated at 19%, and by combining this with fundamental analysis, investors can evaluate the risk-reward profile of selling November covered calls at the $475 strike price, optimizing their investment strategies.
- Options Trading Activity: As of Tuesday afternoon, the put volume among S&P 500 components reached 802,997 contracts, while call volume hit 1.61 million, resulting in a put-call ratio of 0.50, indicating a significant preference for call options among investors.
- Market Sentiment Indicator: The current put-call ratio is below the long-term median of 0.65, suggesting an increased market expectation for future price increases, as investors are more inclined to select call options to capture potential upside.
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LIN Stock Fluctuations: 52-Week Low at $387.78, High at $486.38
- Stock Price Analysis: LIN's 52-week low is $387.78 and high is $486.38, with the last trade at $451.57, indicating fluctuations that reflect market caution regarding its future performance.
- Technical Analysis Insight: Data from TechnicalAnalysisChannel.com highlights the importance of LIN's stock price in relation to its 200-day moving average, suggesting that investors should monitor this indicator for potential buying opportunities.
- Market Sentiment Assessment: The current price of $451.57 is close to the 52-week high, which may attract short-term traders but could also raise concerns among long-term investors about potential price corrections, impacting overall market sentiment.
- Investor Focus: While the current stock price appears stable, investors should closely watch market dynamics and technical indicators to make informed decisions amid price fluctuations.
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