AA vs. SHW: Alcoa vs. Sherwin-Williams Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Alcoa (AA) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Alcoa (AA) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) both fall under the Materials industry group, but AA is classified in Metals & Mining while SHW is classified in Chemicals.

Company profile comparison for Alcoa (AA) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Profile Item	AA	SHW
Name	Alcoa Corporation	The Sherwin-Williams Company
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Metals & Mining	Chemicals
GICS Sub-Industry	Aluminum	Specialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization	10.44 billion USD	83.13 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	March 17, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SHW

GSPC

Alcoa (AA) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Alcoa (AA) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Alcoa (AA) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Metric	AA	SHW
Total Return (1Y)	12.55%	5.74%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	20.53%	13.18%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-1.46%	2.84%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

SHW

GSPC

Alcoa (AA) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Alcoa (AA) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Metric	AA	SHW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	53.37%	29.59%
Beta (5Y)	1.80	1.02
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-75.46%	-42.46%
Avg. Volume (3M)	4.61M	1.72M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AA and SHW are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Metric	AA	SHW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.16	0.05
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.23	0.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 63.70% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Alcoa (AA) at 20.58% also sits in the top quartile.

AA

Materials industry group

20.58%

Max: 52.88%
AA: 20.58%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

SHW

Materials industry group

63.70%

SHW: 63.70%
Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

Alcoa (AA) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 10.68% and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 10.74% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

AA

Materials industry group

10.68%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
AA: 10.68%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

SHW

Materials industry group

10.74%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
SHW: 10.74%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Alcoa (AA) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 16.01% and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 17.56% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

AA

Materials industry group

16.01%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
AA: 16.01%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

SHW

Materials industry group

17.56%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
SHW: 17.56%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Alcoa (AA) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Metric	AA	SHW
ROE (TTM)	20.58%	63.70%
ROA (TTM)	7.52%	9.48%
Net Margin (TTM)	10.68%	10.74%
Operating Margin (TTM)	16.01%	17.56%
Gross Margin (TTM)	22.76%	48.60%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Alcoa (AA) at 7.87% and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 2.06% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Alcoa (AA) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Alcoa (AA) at 1,600.00% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at -2.75%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

Alcoa (AA) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Metric	AA	SHW
Revenue Growth (YoY)	7.87%	2.06%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	1.01%	2.10%
EPS Growth (YoY)	1,600.00%	-2.75%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	9.95%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Alcoa (AA) at 2.31 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 0.71 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for SHW.

AA

Materials industry group

2.31

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
AA: 2.31
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

SHW

Materials industry group

0.71

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
SHW: 0.71
Min: 0.16

Alcoa (AA) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Alcoa (AA) at 0.58 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 3.72 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

AA

Materials industry group

0.58

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
AA: 0.58
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

SHW

Materials industry group

3.72

SHW: 3.72
Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

Alcoa (AA) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Metric	AA	SHW
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.31	0.71
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.58	3.72
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.14	3.04

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 1.04% and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 0.91% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

AA

Materials industry group

1.04%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
AA: 1.04%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

SHW

Materials industry group

0.91%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
SHW: 0.91%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Alcoa (AA) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 6.96% and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 29.35% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

AA

Materials industry group

6.96%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
AA: 6.96%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

SHW

Materials industry group

29.35%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
SHW: 29.35%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Alcoa (AA) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Metric	AA	SHW
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.04%	0.91%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	6.96%	29.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Alcoa (AA) at 6.88 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 31.66 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for AA, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

AA

Materials industry group

6.88

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
AA: 6.88
Min: 3.93

SHW

Materials industry group

31.66

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
SHW: 31.66
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

Alcoa (AA) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Alcoa (AA) at 0.73 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 3.34 prices around its industry’s middle — AA costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

AA

Materials industry group

0.73

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
AA: 0.73
Min: 0.00

SHW

Materials industry group

3.34

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
SHW: 3.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

Alcoa (AA) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Alcoa (AA) at 1.27 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 20.78 prices above its benchmark range — SHW looks rich relative to book.

AA

Materials industry group

1.27

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
AA: 1.27
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

SHW

Materials industry group

20.78

SHW: 20.78
Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

Alcoa (AA) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Metric	AA	SHW
P/E Ratio (TTM)	6.88	31.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.73	3.34
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.27	20.78
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	8.80%	2.98%