APD vs. SHW: Air Products and Chemicals vs. Sherwin-Williams Stock Comparison
How do Air Products and Chemicals (APD) 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
Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) both belong to the Chemicals industry, though APD is classified under Industrial Gases while SHW falls under Specialty Chemicals.
| Profile Item | APD | SHW |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Air Products and Chemicals Inc. | The Sherwin-Williams Company |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Chemicals | Chemicals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Industrial Gases | Specialty Chemicals |
| Market Capitalization | 67.88 billion USD | 83.13 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | APD | SHW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 23.26% | 5.74% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 8.49% | 13.18% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 2.43% | 2.84% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | APD | SHW |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 25.21% | 29.59% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.67 | 1.02 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.77% | -42.46% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.06M | 1.72M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | APD | SHW |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.75 | 0.05 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.14 | 0.08 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 63.70% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 3.19%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
APD
Materials industry group
3.19%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- APD
- 3.19%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 4.10% 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.
APD
Materials industry group
4.10%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- APD
- 4.10%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 17.68% and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 17.56% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
APD
Materials industry group
17.68%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- APD
- 17.68%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | APD | SHW |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 3.19% | 63.70% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.80% | 9.48% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 4.10% | 10.74% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 17.68% | 17.56% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 31.58% | 48.60% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 2.06% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at -0.52% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at -2.75% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at -110.30% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | APD | SHW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -0.52% | 2.06% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.77% | 2.10% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -110.30% | -2.75% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 9.95% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 1.07 and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 0.71 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
APD
Materials industry group
1.07
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- APD
- 1.07
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but SHW is more stretched: Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 1.06 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 3.72 is above its industry benchmark range.
APD
Materials industry group
1.06
- Max
- 1.98
- APD
- 1.06
- Q3
- 0.89
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | APD | SHW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.07 | 0.71 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.06 | 3.72 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.61 | 3.04 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 2.33% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 0.91% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, APD the richer one.
APD
Materials industry group
2.33%
- Max
- 4.52%
- APD
- 2.33%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 29.35% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 75.66% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
APD
Materials industry group
75.66%
- Max
- 83.62%
- APD
- 75.66%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- Median
- 9.54%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | APD | SHW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.33% | 0.91% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 75.66% | 29.35% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 31.66 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 127.55 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for APD’s trailing earnings.
APD
Materials industry group
127.55
- APD
- 127.55
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 3.34 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 5.23 sits in the pricier quartile — APD costs more per dollar of sales.
APD
Materials industry group
5.23
- Max
- 9.62
- APD
- 5.23
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Air Products and Chemicals (APD) at 4.76 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 20.78 prices even higher, above its industry range.
APD
Materials industry group
4.76
- Max
- 6.59
- APD
- 4.76
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | APD | SHW |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 127.55 | 31.66 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.23 | 3.34 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.76 | 20.78 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -0.28% | 2.98% |