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DOW vs. SHW: Dow vs. Sherwin-Williams Stock Comparison

How do Dow (DOW) 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

Dow (DOW) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) both belong to the Chemicals industry, though DOW is classified under Commodity Chemicals while SHW falls under Specialty Chemicals.

Company profile comparison for Dow (DOW) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Profile ItemDOWSHW
NameDow Inc.The Sherwin-Williams Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsChemicals
GICS Sub-IndustryCommodity ChemicalsSpecialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization22.73 billion USD83.13 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 20, 2019March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DOW
SHW
GSPC
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Dow (DOW) 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 Dow (DOW) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Dow (DOW) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricDOWSHW
Total Return (1Y)46.93%5.74%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-8.46%13.18%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-6.94%2.84%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Dow (DOW) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricDOWSHW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)41.81%29.59%
Beta (5Y)0.441.02
Max Drawdown (5Y)-64.37%-42.46%
Avg. Volume (3M)8.52M1.72M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DOW 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 Dow (DOW) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricDOWSHW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.020.05
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.620.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Dow (DOW) reports a negative ROE of -3.24%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Sherwin-Williams (SHW) reports 63.70%, ranking against industry peers normally.

DOW

Materials industry group

-3.24%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
DOW
-3.24%
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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Dow (DOW) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Dow (DOW) reports a negative net margin of -2.11%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Sherwin-Williams (SHW) reports 10.74%, ranking against industry peers normally.

DOW

Materials industry group

-2.11%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
DOW
-2.11%
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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Dow (DOW) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Dow (DOW) at 6.78% and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 17.56% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

DOW

Materials industry group

6.78%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
DOW
6.78%
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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Dow (DOW) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Dow (DOW) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricDOWSHW
ROE (TTM)-3.24%63.70%
ROA (TTM)1.87%9.48%
Net Margin (TTM)-2.11%10.74%
Operating Margin (TTM)6.78%17.56%
Gross Margin (TTM)11.01%48.60%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 2.06% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Dow (DOW) at -6.97% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at -2.75% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Dow (DOW) at -335.67% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Dow (DOW) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricDOWSHW
Revenue Growth (YoY)-6.97%2.06%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-11.11%2.10%
EPS Growth (YoY)-335.67%-2.75%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--9.95%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Dow (DOW) at 1.76 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.

DOW

Materials industry group

1.76

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
DOW
1.76
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
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Dow (DOW) 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: Dow (DOW) at 1.08 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 3.72 is above its industry benchmark range.

DOW

Materials industry group

1.08

Max
1.98
DOW
1.08
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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Dow (DOW) 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 Dow (DOW) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricDOWSHW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.760.71
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.083.72
Net Debt / EBITDA3.213.04

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Dow (DOW) at 4.38% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 0.91% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, DOW the richer one.

DOW

Materials industry group

4.38%

Max
4.52%
DOW
4.38%
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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Dow (DOW) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Dow (DOW) reports payout ratio above 100% at 700.00%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Sherwin-Williams (SHW) reports 29.35%, ranking against industry peers normally.

DOW

Materials industry group

700.00%

DOW
700.00%
Max
83.62%
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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Dow (DOW) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Dow (DOW) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricDOWSHW
Dividend Yield (TTM)4.38%0.91%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)700.00%29.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Sherwin-Williams (SHW) trades at 31.66 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Dow (DOW) has no P/E ratio this period.

DOW

Materials industry group

--

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
DOW
--

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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Dow (DOW) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): DOW does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; SHW is benchmarked against the Materials industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Dow (DOW) at 0.53 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 3.34 prices around its industry’s middle — DOW costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

DOW

Materials industry group

0.53

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
DOW
0.53
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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Dow (DOW) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Dow (DOW) at 1.41 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.

DOW

Materials industry group

1.41

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
DOW
1.41
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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Dow (DOW) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Dow (DOW) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricDOWSHW
P/E Ratio (TTM)--31.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.533.34
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.4120.78
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.95%2.98%