Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW)

In the past six months, The Sherwin-Williams Co. (SHW) stock has experienced several notable events. As of October 28, 2025, the company reported its third-quarter 2025 financial results, beating analyst estimates for both earnings per share (EPS) and revenue. The reported EPS was $3.59, surpassing the estimate of $3.45, and revenue came in at $6.36 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $6.2 billion. Net sales for the quarter rose 3.2% to $6.36 billion, and diluted EPS increased by 5.3% to $3.35, with adjusted diluted EPS up 6.5% to $3.59. The Paint Stores Group saw a 5.1% increase in net sales, while the Consumer Brands Group experienced a 2.6% decrease, and the Performance Coatings Group's net sales rose by 1.7%. Despite the positive Q3 earnings, the stock price has shown some volatility. Over the last three months, SHW stock was up 1.57%, but it was down 7.06% over the last 12 months as of October 28, 2025. Analysts have a "Moderate Buy" consensus rating for Sherwin-Williams, with an average one-year price target indicating a potential upside. The company's beta of 1.4 suggests higher volatility compared to the market.

Demand for Sherwin-Williams products and services exhibits seasonality, particularly in the architectural coatings segment. Sales rates for painting services tend to be lower in January and February. Demand typically picks up in March, April, and May, remains steady through the summer, and then peaks in the fall. This autumn peak is often driven by a natural urgency for customers to complete painting projects before winter. To counteract the slower winter months, painting contractors often implement strategies such as offering discounts on interior and cabinet painting jobs during the summer to fill their January and February schedules. Marketing efforts also shift, with increased advertising for interior and cabinet painting leads starting in August to generate demand for the colder months. Companies may also need to spend more on marketing and potentially lower prices during the slow season due to decreased demand.

The Sherwin-Williams Company, established in 1866, is a global leader in paints, coatings, and related products, operating within the Basic Materials sector, specifically the Chemicals industry. The company employs a vertically integrated business model, managing its value chain from manufacturing to distribution and retail. Its revenue is generated through direct sales to professional contractors, industrial customers, and retail consumers via an extensive network of company-operated stores and partnerships with third-party retailers. Sherwin-Williams offers a comprehensive range of surface coating solutions, including interior and exterior architectural paints and stains, primers, specialty coatings, and painting supplies and equipment. Beyond architectural finishes, the company produces industrial coatings, protective and marine coatings, aerospace coatings, automotive finishes, and various related products such as stains, caulks, and sealants. Notable brands under its portfolio include Sherwin-Williams, Valspar, Dutch Boy, HGTV HOME by Sherwin-Williams, Krylon, Minwax, Cabot, and Thompson's Water Seal.

Sherwin-Williams has a significant global presence, operating in over 120 countries and holding the number one paint board position in the USA. It has over 5,000 company-operated stores and facilities across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Additionally, it operates more than 130 manufacturing and distribution facilities across five geographic regions worldwide. Its products are also sold through mass merchandisers, home centers, independent paint dealers, hardware stores, automotive retailers, and industrial distributors in North America, parts of Europe, China, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sherwin-Williams maintains a strong brand reputation, consistently recognized as the world's most valuable paints and coatings brand. In May 2025, its brand value increased by 12% to USD 8.5 billion, attributed to strategic pricing initiatives and an expanded distribution network. The brand also achieved high levels of familiarity and reputation in its home market. In the past year, Sherwin-Williams received top honors in customer satisfaction, ranking highest in customer satisfaction with interior paint according to the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Paint Satisfaction Study. A Market Force Information study in August 2024 identified Sherwin-Williams as the leading brand for overall customer satisfaction among paint retailers, excelling in areas like available paint chips, color matching, selection, and product information. The company also excels in associate service, with a high rate of customer interaction and recommendations leading to purchases.

Institutional investors hold a significant portion of The Sherwin-Williams Co. stock, with institutional ownership reported to be high, ranging from 77.67% to 82.22%. Major institutional owners include PineStone Asset Management Inc., Parnassus Investments LLC, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc., and DAVENPORT & Co LLC. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake by 1.0% in the second quarter of 2025, and Viking Global Investors LP also significantly raised its holdings by 101.4% in the second quarter. Individual insider ownership is approximately 0.60% of the stock. There have been some insider selling transactions, such as Justin T. Binns selling 609 shares in August 2025.