Despite a year of extreme disruption from war in Europe and hot inflation, shares of leading industrial gases company Linde (NYSE: LIN) are back at record highs. A recent jump in stock price was driven by exceptional quarterly earnings to close out 2022. 

At this juncture, Linde carries a premium stock price -- and for good reason. It's benefiting from a renewed global focus on infrastructure investment, like electronics manufacturing and renewable energy production. The company is growing its earnings, and has a long track record of raising its dividend payout for shareholders. Is Linde stock a buy for 2023?  

The world under-invested in hard assets and infrastructure over the last decade. It took a global pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine to expose these fragile supply chains. Suddenly, there's a renewed interest in investing in energy and manufacturing, which plays into Linde's hand.

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Source Fool.com