May 2 (Reuters) - Linde, the world's largest industrial gases company, on Thursday reported adjusted earnings per share above its target range, helped by higher pricing.

The U.S.-German company, which supplies gases such as oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen to factories and hospitals, reported adjusted earnings per share up 10% at $3.75, against a $3.67 forecast from analysts polled by LSEG. (Reporting by Tristan Veyet and Chiara Holzhaeuser in Gdansk Editing by David Goodman )