Investing.com -- Linde reported second-quarter sales of $9.3 billion, up 9% year-over-year, with underlying sales growth of 4% and ahead of the $9.01 billion analysts had estimated.

Adjusted operating profit rose 7% to $2.7 billion, with an adjusted operating margin of 29.5%. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $4.50, up 10% year-over-year.

For the third quarter, Linde expects adjusted diluted earnings per share of $4.45 to $4.55, representing growth of 6% to 8% versus the prior-year quarter, with no expected impact from currency translation.

The company maintained full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $17.70 to $17.90, implying growth of 8% to 9%.

Full-year capital expenditure is expected in a range of $5.5 billion to $6.0 billion, supporting growth and maintenance needs, including the $8.1 billion contractual sale of gas project backlog.

Separately, Linde announced a new long-term agreement to supply ultra-high-purity industrial gases to one of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturers, supporting the expansion of the customer’s semiconductor manufacturing complex in Phoenix, Arizona.

Linde said it will invest $1 billion to expand its existing on-site industrial gases complex at the Phoenix site, making it one of the company’s largest investments for an electronics customer globally. Under the agreement, Linde will build, own and operate two new SPECTRA air separation units and associated infrastructure, complementing the three existing units already at the site.