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AVY vs. SHW: Avery Dennison vs. Sherwin-Williams Stock Comparison

How do Avery Dennison (AVY) 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

Avery Dennison (AVY) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) both fall under the Materials industry group, but AVY is classified in Containers & Packaging while SHW is classified in Chemicals.

Company profile comparison for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Profile ItemAVYSHW
NameAvery Dennison CorporationThe Sherwin-Williams Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryContainers & PackagingChemicals
GICS Sub-IndustryPaper & Plastic Packaging Products & MaterialsSpecialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization14.10 billion USD83.13 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AVY
SHW
GSPC
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Avery Dennison (AVY) 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 Avery Dennison (AVY) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricAVYSHW
Total Return (1Y)10.80%5.74%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)3.97%13.18%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-1.88%2.84%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AVY
SHW
GSPC
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Avery Dennison (AVY) 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 Avery Dennison (AVY) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricAVYSHW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.05%29.59%
Beta (5Y)0.751.02
Max Drawdown (5Y)-31.73%-42.46%
Avg. Volume (3M)836.04K1.72M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AVY 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 Avery Dennison (AVY) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricAVYSHW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.270.05
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.430.08

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; Avery Dennison (AVY) at 30.80% also sits in the top quartile.

AVY

Materials industry group

30.80%

Max
52.88%
AVY
30.80%
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%
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 7.56% 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.

AVY

Materials industry group

7.56%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
AVY
7.56%
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%
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 12.10% and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 17.56% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

AVY

Materials industry group

12.10%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
AVY
12.10%
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%
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricAVYSHW
ROE (TTM)30.80%63.70%
ROA (TTM)8.28%9.48%
Net Margin (TTM)7.56%10.74%
Operating Margin (TTM)12.10%17.56%
Gross Margin (TTM)28.83%48.60%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 1.14% 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.

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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 0.69% and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at -2.75% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricAVYSHW
Revenue Growth (YoY)1.14%2.06%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.68%2.10%
EPS Growth (YoY)0.69%-2.75%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.54%9.95%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 1.16 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.

AVY

Materials industry group

1.16

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
AVY
1.16
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
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but SHW is more stretched: Avery Dennison (AVY) at 1.52 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 3.72 is above its industry benchmark range.

AVY

Materials industry group

1.52

Max
1.98
AVY
1.52
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
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Avery Dennison (AVY) 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 Avery Dennison (AVY) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricAVYSHW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.160.71
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.523.72
Net Debt / EBITDA2.203.04

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Avery Dennison (AVY) at 2.05% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 0.91% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, AVY the richer one.

AVY

Materials industry group

2.05%

Max
4.52%
AVY
2.05%
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%
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 29.35% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Avery Dennison (AVY) at 41.99% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

AVY

Materials industry group

41.99%

Max
83.62%
AVY
41.99%
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%
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricAVYSHW
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.05%0.91%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)41.99%29.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 20.21 and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 31.66 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

AVY

Materials industry group

20.21

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
AVY
20.21
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
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 1.51 and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 3.34 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

AVY

Materials industry group

1.51

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
AVY
1.51
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
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Avery Dennison (AVY) at 5.91 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 20.78 prices even higher, above its industry range.

AVY

Materials industry group

5.91

Max
6.59
AVY
5.91
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
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricAVYSHW
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.2131.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.513.34
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.9120.78
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)6.90%2.98%