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The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) Stock Analysis

By Nova Skye | AltStation.io | Updated October 23, 2026

Price

$338.98

Change

-1.92%

Market Cap

$82.29B

Avg Volume

1.7M

Company Overview

Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, The Sherwin-Williams Company operates in the Basic Materials sector within the Specialty Chemicals industry, developing, manufacturing, and selling paints, coatings, and related supplies. The business operates across three distinct segments: Paint Stores Group, Consumer Brands Group, and Performance Coatings Group. Through these divisions, it supplies architectural paints, stains, caulks, and protective finishes to professional contractors, industrial clients, and retail DIY homeowners. Its Performance Coatings arm extends globally across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia, selling specialized OEM finishes, automotive coatings, and packaging resins directly to commercial manufacturers.

Sherwin-Williams is the undisputed global market leader in paints and coatings by total revenue. Their primary competitive edge is distribution, anchored by a proprietary network of over 4,800 dedicated paint stores that effectively locks in lucrative professional painting contractors. While heavyweight rivals like PPG Industries, AkzoNobel, and RPM International compete for shelf space and industrial contracts, none match Sherwin-Williams’ direct-to-pro store density. The primary threats to their margins remain raw material price volatility, commercial construction cycles, and DIY pressure from big-box home improvement retailers.

The company sits on solid operational footing, posting record consolidated net sales of $23.57 billion in fiscal 2025, representing a 2.1% top-line gain over the prior year. This performance marked their 15th consecutive year of sales increases, demonstrating that their pricing discipline can offset sluggish residential housing turnover. Rather than executing a risky strategic pivot, management is actively scaling its company-operated footprint beyond 5,400 locations worldwide while driving higher-margin industrial coatings. They are doubling down on what works: using high-density direct distribution to take market share from fragmented regional competitors.

Key Financials

Market Cap

$82.29B

Revenue

$24.41B

EBITDA

$4.71B

Gross Margin

49.0%

Profit Margin

11.0%

Revenue Growth

7.5%

Total Cash

$293.50M

Total Debt

$15.03B

Free Cash Flow

$2.51B

52-Week Price Performance Analysis

Price Statistics

P/E Ratio

31.24

Forward P/E

25.11

Beta

1.08

52-Week High

$377.77

52-Week Low

$289.86

EPS

$10.85

50-Day Avg

$332.04

200-Day Avg

$333.30

Price/Book

21.22

Technical Analysis

SHW trades at $338.98, 66% of the way from its $289.19 52-week low to its $375.09 high. The stock is 7.86% below that high and 19.52% above the low. It is 5.66% above its $327.12 20-day moving average. Momentum is positive, with gains of 2.59% over five trading days and 7.87% over 20 trading days. Near-term support is $315.00, while $345.63 is the resistance level bulls need to clear.

Recent News and Developments

Sherwin-Williams cuts about 40 headquarters jobs

Sherwin-Williams eliminated approximately 40 positions at its Cleveland headquarters on October 20. The company said the cuts affected selected areas and reflected a review of its operating and organizational structure. Source: We Are Main Street

Sherwin-Williams holds quarterly dividend at $0.80

The board declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.80 per share on October 21. The payment is scheduled for December 4 for shareholders of record on November 13. Source: Slickcharts

SHW gains 2.48% in one session

Sherwin-Williams closed at $345.63 on October 22, up 2.48% for the day. Volume reached 1,697,901 shares, compared with a $337.27 close on October 21. Source: CloseLook

Market Sentiment and Analyst Recommendations

Bull Case

Revenue is $24.41 billion and growing 7.5%, giving SHW a solid fundamental base. The stock has positive momentum across both the five-day and 20-day periods. Trading above the $327.12 moving average confirms buyers currently control the short-term trend. The 24-analyst consensus recommendation is buy, with an average target of $383.12 versus the current $338.98 price. Even the low target of $340.00 sits above the current price, while the high target reaches $420.00. The bull case is straightforward: sustained revenue growth and a break above $345.63 could push the stock toward its analyst target range.

Bear Case

SHW is not cheap at 31.24 times earnings. That valuation leaves little room for weaker growth or execution problems. The balance sheet adds risk, with $15.03 billion in debt against only $293.50 million in cash. Analysts have also turned more cautious: RBC cut its target from $420 to $392, UBS reduced its target from $390 to $363, and Barclays initiated coverage at Equal-Weight with a $348 target. The elimination of approximately 40 headquarters positions on October 20 points to an operating and organizational review, although the data does not establish the financial impact. A drop below the $327.12 moving average would weaken momentum, while a break under $315.00 would damage the near-term technical setup.

What to Watch

The first test is whether SHW can break above the $345.63 30-day high or gets rejected at resistance. Investors should also track whether the stock holds above its $327.12 20-day moving average and the deeper $315.00 support level. Revenue growth needs to remain near or above the reported 7.5% to support a 31.24 P/E. Watch for evidence that the October 20 headquarters job cuts improve operations rather than signal broader weakness. The next declared dividend is $0.80 per share, payable December 4 to shareholders of record on November 13. Analyst revisions matter because recent targets moved lower even as the stock recovered, and further cuts would weaken the case for the $383.12 consensus target.

Analyst Consensus

BUY

Based on 24 analyst opinions

Low Target

$340.00

Mean Target

$383.12

High Target

$420.00

Earnings and Financial Data

Sector

Basic Materials

Industry

Specialty Chemicals

Employees

64,249

Earnings & Dividends

Next Earnings

Oct 27, 2026

EPS (Trailing)

$10.85

Dividend Yield

93.0%

Payout Ratio

29.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SHW a good stock to buy?

The consensus recommendation is buy from 24 analysts, and SHW has 7.5% revenue growth. The takeaway is that analysts are positive, but the 31.24 P/E demands continued execution.

What is SHW’s price target?

The average analyst target is $383.12, with estimates ranging from $340.00 to $420.00. The takeaway is that the consensus target sits above the current $338.98 price.

Is SHW stock overvalued?

SHW trades at a P/E of 31.24 on revenue of $24.41 billion. The takeaway is that investors are paying a premium valuation for 7.5% revenue growth.

What are SHW’s support and resistance levels?

Near-term support is $315.00, and near-term resistance is $345.63. The takeaway is that those are the key levels defining the current trading range.

How far is SHW from its 52-week high?

SHW is 7.86% below its technical 52-week high of $375.09 and 19.52% above its $289.19 low. The takeaway is that the stock is closer to its high than its low, sitting 66% of the way through the range.

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Disclaimer: This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The analysis and opinions expressed are those of AltStation.io and should not be relied upon as the sole basis for investment decisions. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Updated October 23, 2026.