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IP vs. SHW: International Paper vs. Sherwin-Williams Stock Comparison

How do International Paper (IP) 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

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

Company profile comparison for International Paper (IP) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Profile ItemIPSHW
NameInternational Paper Co.The Sherwin-Williams Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryContainers & PackagingChemicals
GICS Sub-IndustryPaper & Plastic Packaging Products & MaterialsSpecialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization18.29 billion USD83.13 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

IP
SHW
GSPC
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International Paper (IP) 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 International Paper (IP) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for International Paper (IP) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricIPSHW
Total Return (1Y)-2.70%5.74%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)6.64%13.18%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-2.14%2.84%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for International Paper (IP) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricIPSHW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)42.71%29.59%
Beta (5Y)0.961.02
Max Drawdown (5Y)-48.61%-42.46%
Avg. Volume (3M)5.09M1.72M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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IP 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 International Paper (IP) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricIPSHW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.160.05
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.240.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

International Paper (IP) reports a negative ROE of -22.30%; 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.

IP

Materials industry group

-22.30%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
IP
-22.30%
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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International Paper (IP) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

International Paper (IP) reports a negative net margin of -14.32%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Sherwin-Williams (SHW) reports 10.74%, ranking against industry peers normally.

IP

Materials industry group

-14.32%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
IP
-14.32%
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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International Paper (IP) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both International Paper (IP) at 5.89% and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 17.56% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

IP

Materials industry group

5.89%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
IP
5.89%
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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International Paper (IP) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for International Paper (IP) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricIPSHW
ROE (TTM)-22.30%63.70%
ROA (TTM)1.60%9.48%
Net Margin (TTM)-14.32%10.74%
Operating Margin (TTM)5.89%17.56%
Gross Margin (TTM)29.78%48.60%

Growth

Revenue Growth

International Paper (IP) at 49.25% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 2.06% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for IP.

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International Paper (IP) 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 International Paper (IP) at -542.68% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.

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International Paper (IP) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for International Paper (IP) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricIPSHW
Revenue Growth (YoY)49.25%2.06%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.75%2.10%
EPS Growth (YoY)-542.68%-2.75%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--9.95%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both International Paper (IP) at 0.99 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.

IP

Materials industry group

0.99

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
IP
0.99
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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International Paper (IP) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

International Paper (IP) at 0.79 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.

IP

Materials industry group

0.79

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
IP
0.79
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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International Paper (IP) 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 International Paper (IP) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricIPSHW
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.990.71
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.793.72
Net Debt / EBITDA2.403.04

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 0.91% pays an industry-typical yield; International Paper (IP) at 5.40% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

IP

Materials industry group

5.40%

IP
5.40%
Max
4.52%
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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International Paper (IP) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

International Paper (IP) reports payout ratio above 100% at 402.17%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Sherwin-Williams (SHW) reports 29.35%, ranking against industry peers normally.

IP

Materials industry group

402.17%

IP
402.17%
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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International Paper (IP) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for International Paper (IP) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricIPSHW
Dividend Yield (TTM)5.40%0.91%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)402.17%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 International Paper (IP) has no P/E ratio this period.

IP

Materials industry group

--

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

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both International Paper (IP) at 0.76 and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 3.34 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

IP

Materials industry group

0.76

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
IP
0.76
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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International Paper (IP) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

International Paper (IP) at 1.39 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.

IP

Materials industry group

1.39

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
IP
1.39
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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International Paper (IP) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for International Paper (IP) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricIPSHW
P/E Ratio (TTM)--31.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.763.34
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.3920.78
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)12.53%2.98%