Sherwin-Williams (SHW): analysis in plain words
Is Sherwin-Williams cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
Sherwin-Williams (SHW) is listed on the NYSE and we classify it in materials and chemicals. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against Sherwin-Williams according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
Sherwin-Williams (SHW) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $363.50 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 33.4x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +7.9% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 10.7% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 3.0x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 0.94% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $87.8 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The Sherwin-Williams figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any SHW figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How Sherwin-Williams makes money
Sherwin-Williams makes and sells paints and coatings. Paint Stores Group, its largest segment, runs company-owned stores serving mostly professional painters, Consumer Brands Group sells brands like Valspar and Krylon through big-box retailers, and Performance Coatings Group supplies industrial and automotive customers.
Over the last 12 months, Sherwin-Williams brought in revenue of $24.9 billion. For every 100 it sells, Sherwin-Williams keeps 48.6 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 17.6 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 64,249 full-time employees, that is about $388,000 of revenue per employee.
Sherwin-Williams against its sector
To know whether a Sherwin-Williams figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares Sherwin-Williams with the median of the 10 materials and chemicals companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | Sherwin-Williams | materials and chemicals median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 33.4x | 28.5x (10) |
| Revenue growth | +7.9% | +9.2% (11) |
| Net margin | 10.7% | 10.7% (11) |
| Dividend yield | 0.94% | 0.99% (11) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 3.0x | 2.0x (11) |
In short, against the typical materials and chemicals company, Sherwin-Williams trades on a higher P/E and carries more debt. By size, Sherwin-Williams ranks number 5 of 7 materials and chemicals companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for Sherwin-Williams
What works in favour of Sherwin-Williams, according to its figures as of November 4, 2026:
- Sherwin-Williams earns 63.7% a year on its shareholders' money (return on equity).
- Analysts expect Sherwin-Williams earnings to rise: its P/E on the next 12 months of estimated earnings is 27.5x, below the current 33.4x.
The main risk for Sherwin-Williams
Debt is heavy: Sherwin-Williams carries net debt equal to 3.0x its annual EBITDA. With high interest rates or a weak year, interest payments eat into what it can invest or pay out.
And, like the rest of materials and chemicals, Sherwin-Williams is exposed to the price of what it sells (metals, chemicals), which depends on the world economy and is out of its control.
Frequently asked questions about Sherwin-Williams
Is it a good time to buy Sherwin-Williams stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell Sherwin-Williams, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, Sherwin-Williams stock trades at $363.50, 4% below its 52-week high ($377.77) and 25% above its low ($289.86). Its P/E is 33.4x against a materials and chemicals median of 28.5x, and 27.5x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With Sherwin-Williams, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does Sherwin-Williams pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, Sherwin-Williams pays $3.20 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 0.94%. It uses 29% of its profit to pay it, which leaves room to keep paying it if profit dips. Its average dividend yield over the last five years is 0.88%. The materials and chemicals median on Fintols is 0.99%.
Is Sherwin-Williams stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, Sherwin-Williams trades at 33.4x its last 12 months of earnings: more expensive than the materials and chemicals median (28.5x). Including its debt, Sherwin-Williams is valued at 20.2x its EBITDA (EV/EBITDA). A high P/E alone does not make Sherwin-Williams expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are Sherwin-Williams's competitors?
On Fintols we compare Sherwin-Williams with Ecolab, Air Products and BASF, which are also in materials and chemicals. As of November 4, 2026, Ecolab is worth $88.4 billion and trades on a P/E of 42.9; Air Products is worth $71.0 billion; BASF is worth €46.7 billion and trades on a P/E of 24.1. Each has a side-by-side comparison with Sherwin-Williams below.
Sherwin-Williams competitors
- Ecolab (ECL) analysis · Sherwin-Williams vs Ecolab comparison
- Air Products (APD) analysis · Sherwin-Williams vs Air Products comparison
- BASF (BAS.DE) analysis · Sherwin-Williams vs BASF comparison
To understand Sherwin-Williams better
- How to Read a Balance Sheet: A Beginner's Guide
- P/E Ratio and EPS Explained: How to Read Them Without Traps
More companies like Sherwin-Williams: materials and chemicals stocks and S&P 500 companies. Open the full SHW analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about Sherwin-Williams, not investment advice.