Seek Returns

RPM vs. SHW: RPM vs. Sherwin-Williams Stock Comparison

How do RPM (RPM) 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

RPM (RPM) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) are both classified in the Specialty Chemicals sub-industry within the broader Chemicals industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for RPM (RPM) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Profile ItemRPMSHW
NameRPM International Inc.The Sherwin-Williams Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsChemicals
GICS Sub-IndustrySpecialty ChemicalsSpecialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization13.18 billion USD83.13 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

RPM
SHW
GSPC
Loading price history…
RPM (RPM) 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for RPM (RPM) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for RPM (RPM) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for RPM (RPM) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricRPMSHW
Total Return (1Y)1.43%5.74%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)5.53%13.18%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)5.33%2.84%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

RPM
SHW
GSPC
Loading price history…
RPM (RPM) 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for RPM (RPM) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for RPM (RPM) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricRPMSHW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)31.14%29.59%
Beta (5Y)1.001.02
Max Drawdown (5Y)-31.97%-42.46%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.29M1.72M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
RPM 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 RPM (RPM) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricRPMSHW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.090.05
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.150.08

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; RPM (RPM) at 21.15% also sits in the top quartile.

RPM

Materials industry group

21.15%

Max
52.88%
RPM
21.15%
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%
Loading chart…
RPM (RPM) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both RPM (RPM) at 8.66% 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.

RPM

Materials industry group

8.66%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
RPM
8.66%
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%
Loading chart…
RPM (RPM) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both RPM (RPM) at 16.20% and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 17.56% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

RPM

Materials industry group

16.20%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
RPM
16.20%
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%
Loading chart…
RPM (RPM) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for RPM (RPM) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricRPMSHW
ROE (TTM)21.15%63.70%
ROA (TTM)7.88%9.48%
Net Margin (TTM)8.66%10.74%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.20%17.56%
Gross Margin (TTM)41.17%48.60%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both RPM (RPM) at 6.66% 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.

Loading chart…
RPM (RPM) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both RPM (RPM) at -3.36% 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.

Loading chart…
RPM (RPM) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for RPM (RPM) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricRPMSHW
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.66%2.06%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.71%2.10%
EPS Growth (YoY)-3.36%-2.75%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)11.60%9.95%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

RPM (RPM) 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.

RPM

Materials industry group

1.76

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
RPM
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
Loading chart…
RPM (RPM) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

RPM (RPM) 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.

RPM

Materials industry group

0.79

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
RPM
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
Loading chart…
RPM (RPM) 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 RPM (RPM) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricRPMSHW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.760.71
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.793.72
Net Debt / EBITDA1.973.04

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

RPM (RPM) 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, RPM the richer one.

RPM

Materials industry group

2.05%

Max
4.52%
RPM
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%
Loading chart…
RPM (RPM) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both RPM (RPM) at 39.93% and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 29.35% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

RPM

Materials industry group

39.93%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
RPM
39.93%
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%
Loading chart…
RPM (RPM) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for RPM (RPM) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricRPMSHW
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.05%0.91%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)39.93%29.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both RPM (RPM) at 19.10 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.

RPM

Materials industry group

19.10

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
RPM
19.10
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
Loading chart…
RPM (RPM) 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 RPM (RPM) at 1.65 and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 3.34 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

RPM

Materials industry group

1.65

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
RPM
1.65
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
Loading chart…
RPM (RPM) 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: RPM (RPM) at 3.79 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 20.78 prices even higher, above its industry range.

RPM

Materials industry group

3.79

Max
6.59
RPM
3.79
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
Loading chart…
RPM (RPM) vs. Sherwin-Williams (SHW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for RPM (RPM) and Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
MetricRPMSHW
P/E Ratio (TTM)19.1031.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.653.34
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.7920.78
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.20%2.98%