AU vs. SHW: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at AU and SHW, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
SHW’s market capitalization of 88.71 billion USD is significantly greater than AU’s 23.52 billion USD, highlighting its more substantial market valuation.
SHW carries a higher beta at 1.21, indicating it’s more sensitive to market moves, while AU (beta: 0.49) exhibits greater stability.
| Symbol | AU | SHW |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | AngloGold Ashanti Plc | The Sherwin-Williams Company |
| Country | GB | US |
| Sector | Basic Materials | Basic Materials |
| Industry | Gold | Chemicals - Specialty |
| CEO | Alberto Calderon Zuleta BA Econ, Econ, Law, M Phil Econ, | Heidi G. Petz |
| Price | 46.71 USD | 354 USD |
| Market Cap | 23.52 billion USD | 88.71 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.49 | 1.21 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| IPO Date | August 5, 1998 | March 17, 1980 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of AU and SHW by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Profitability
Return on Equity
AU
25.86%
Gold Industry
- Max
- 25.86%
- Q3
- 12.48%
- Median
- 8.15%
- Q1
- 2.34%
- Min
- -3.82%
In the upper quartile for the Gold industry, AU’s Return on Equity of 25.86% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
SHW
66.63%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 34.45%
- Q3
- 15.78%
- Median
- 7.65%
- Q1
- 2.96%
- Min
- -12.04%
SHW’s Return on Equity of 66.63% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Chemicals - Specialty industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.
Return on Invested Capital
AU
12.23%
Gold Industry
- Max
- 20.84%
- Q3
- 9.90%
- Median
- 5.11%
- Q1
- 1.36%
- Min
- -10.62%
In the upper quartile for the Gold industry, AU’s Return on Invested Capital of 12.23% signifies a highly effective use of its capital to generate profits when compared to its peers.
SHW
14.57%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 20.22%
- Q3
- 10.99%
- Median
- 5.25%
- Q1
- 3.06%
- Min
- -8.62%
In the upper quartile for the Chemicals - Specialty industry, SHW’s Return on Invested Capital of 14.57% signifies a highly effective use of its capital to generate profits when compared to its peers.
Net Profit Margin
AU
17.91%
Gold Industry
- Max
- 26.48%
- Q3
- 21.01%
- Median
- 16.48%
- Q1
- 8.22%
- Min
- -6.63%
AU’s Net Profit Margin of 17.91% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Gold industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
SHW
11.63%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 23.23%
- Q3
- 10.64%
- Median
- 5.14%
- Q1
- 0.64%
- Min
- -8.93%
A Net Profit Margin of 11.63% places SHW in the upper quartile for the Chemicals - Specialty industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin
AU
29.67%
Gold Industry
- Max
- 67.43%
- Q3
- 40.39%
- Median
- 30.64%
- Q1
- 19.83%
- Min
- -9.84%
AU’s Operating Profit Margin of 29.67% is around the midpoint for the Gold industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
SHW
16.50%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 26.42%
- Q3
- 15.81%
- Median
- 10.07%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -7.44%
An Operating Profit Margin of 16.50% places SHW in the upper quartile for the Chemicals - Specialty industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | AU | SHW |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 25.86% | 66.63% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 10.37% | 10.88% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | 12.23% | 14.57% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 17.91% | 11.63% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 29.67% | 16.50% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 35.78% | 48.72% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
AU
2.34
Gold Industry
- Max
- 4.98
- Q3
- 3.76
- Median
- 2.34
- Q1
- 1.51
- Min
- 0.52
AU’s Current Ratio of 2.34 aligns with the median group of the Gold industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
SHW
0.77
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 3.95
- Q3
- 2.60
- Median
- 2.04
- Q1
- 1.60
- Min
- 0.77
SHW’s Current Ratio of 0.77 falls into the lower quartile for the Chemicals - Specialty industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
AU
0.33
Gold Industry
- Max
- 0.67
- Q3
- 0.34
- Median
- 0.17
- Q1
- 0.06
- Min
- 0.00
AU’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.33 is typical for the Gold industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
SHW
3.10
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 1.65
- Q3
- 1.10
- Median
- 0.73
- Q1
- 0.55
- Min
- 0.01
With a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 3.10, SHW operates with exceptionally high leverage compared to the Chemicals - Specialty industry norm. This suggests an aggressive reliance on debt financing, which can magnify returns but also significantly elevates financial risk.
Interest Coverage Ratio
AU
14.20
Gold Industry
- Max
- 45.23
- Q3
- 25.79
- Median
- 13.44
- Q1
- 2.91
- Min
- -6.26
AU’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 14.20 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Gold industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
SHW
9.13
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 13.69
- Q3
- 9.06
- Median
- 5.24
- Q1
- 1.68
- Min
- -3.09
SHW’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 9.13 is in the upper quartile for the Chemicals - Specialty industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | AU | SHW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 2.34 | 0.77 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 1.57 | 0.45 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.33 | 3.10 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.17 | 0.52 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | 0.25 | 2.82 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 14.20 | 9.13 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for AU and SHW. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
AU
0.27%
Gold Industry
- Max
- 3.65%
- Q3
- 1.37%
- Median
- 0.47%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
AU’s Dividend Yield of 0.27% is consistent with its peers in the Gold industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
SHW
0.85%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 9.19%
- Q3
- 2.44%
- Median
- 1.46%
- Q1
- 0.25%
- Min
- 0.00%
SHW’s Dividend Yield of 0.85% is consistent with its peers in the Chemicals - Specialty industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio
AU
45.43%
Gold Industry
- Max
- 110.70%
- Q3
- 42.09%
- Median
- 15.45%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
AU’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 45.43% is in the upper quartile for the Gold industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.
SHW
27.66%
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 163.70%
- Q3
- 57.04%
- Median
- 30.02%
- Q1
- 12.51%
- Min
- 0.00%
SHW’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 27.66% is within the typical range for the Chemicals - Specialty industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | AU | SHW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.27% | 0.85% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 45.43% | 27.66% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
AU
16.93
Gold Industry
- Max
- 64.00
- Q3
- 46.06
- Median
- 29.03
- Q1
- 16.74
- Min
- 1.00
AU’s P/E Ratio of 16.93 is within the middle range for the Gold industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
SHW
32.94
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 56.68
- Q3
- 33.75
- Median
- 23.45
- Q1
- 16.09
- Min
- 7.50
SHW’s P/E Ratio of 32.94 is within the middle range for the Chemicals - Specialty industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
AU
-0.86
Gold Industry
- Max
- 14.01
- Q3
- 6.52
- Median
- 3.33
- Q1
- 0.82
- Min
- 0.05
The Forward PEG Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric in the Gold industry.
SHW
2.72
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 6.58
- Q3
- 3.23
- Median
- 1.64
- Q1
- 0.96
- Min
- 0.16
SHW’s Forward PEG Ratio of 2.72 is within the middle range of its peers in the Chemicals - Specialty industry. This suggests a reasonable balance between the stock’s price and its expected growth, aligning with sector valuation norms.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
AU
3.03
Gold Industry
- Max
- 15.12
- Q3
- 7.63
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 2.30
- Min
- 0.79
AU’s P/S Ratio of 3.03 aligns with the market consensus for the Gold industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
SHW
3.85
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 3.76
- Q3
- 2.31
- Median
- 1.38
- Q1
- 0.89
- Min
- 0.16
With a P/S Ratio of 3.85, SHW trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Chemicals - Specialty industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
Price-to-Book Ratio
AU
3.47
Gold Industry
- Max
- 6.10
- Q3
- 3.60
- Median
- 2.02
- Q1
- 1.35
- Min
- 0.26
AU’s P/B Ratio of 3.47 is within the conventional range for the Gold industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
SHW
21.38
Chemicals - Specialty Industry
- Max
- 6.73
- Q3
- 3.78
- Median
- 1.56
- Q1
- 1.27
- Min
- 0.35
At 21.38, SHW’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Chemicals - Specialty industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | AU | SHW |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 16.93 | 32.94 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | -0.86 | 2.72 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 3.03 | 3.85 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 3.47 | 21.38 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 18.13 | 40.78 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 7.94 | 22.68 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 3.13 | 4.40 |