SHW vs. STLD: Sherwin-Williams vs. Steel Dynamics Stock Comparison
How do Sherwin-Williams (SHW) and Steel Dynamics (STLD) 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
Sherwin-Williams (SHW) and Steel Dynamics (STLD) both fall under the Materials industry group, but SHW is classified in Chemicals while STLD is classified in Metals & Mining.
| Profile Item | SHW | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| Name | The Sherwin-Williams Company | Steel Dynamics, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Chemicals | Metals & Mining |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Specialty Chemicals | Steel |
| Market Capitalization | 83.13 billion USD | 31.70 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | November 22, 1996 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | SHW | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 5.74% | 52.02% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 13.18% | 29.83% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 2.84% | 30.20% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | SHW | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 29.59% | 36.62% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.02 | 1.46 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -42.46% | -32.20% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.72M | 1.06M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | SHW | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.05 | 1.30 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.08 | 1.92 |
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; Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 20.81% also sits in the top quartile.
SHW
Materials industry group
63.70%
- SHW
- 63.70%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
STLD
Materials industry group
20.81%
- Max
- 52.88%
- STLD
- 20.81%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 10.74% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 8.82% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
SHW
Materials industry group
10.74%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- SHW
- 10.74%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
STLD
Materials industry group
8.82%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- STLD
- 8.82%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 17.56% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 15.46% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
SHW
Materials industry group
17.56%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- SHW
- 17.56%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
STLD
Materials industry group
15.46%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- STLD
- 15.46%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | SHW | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 63.70% | 20.81% |
| ROA (TTM) | 9.48% | 9.45% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 10.74% | 8.82% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 17.56% | 15.46% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 48.60% | 15.90% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 2.06% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.63% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at -2.75% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at -18.80% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | SHW | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 2.06% | 3.63% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 2.10% | -6.53% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -2.75% | -18.80% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.95% | -27.45% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.15 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.
SHW
Materials industry group
0.71
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- SHW
- 0.71
- Min
- 0.16
STLD
Materials industry group
3.15
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- STLD
- 3.15
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 0.45 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.
SHW
Materials industry group
3.72
- SHW
- 3.72
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
STLD
Materials industry group
0.45
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.47
- STLD
- 0.45
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | SHW | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.71 | 3.15 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 3.72 | 0.45 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.04 | 1.09 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 0.91% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 0.94% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
SHW
Materials industry group
0.91%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- SHW
- 0.91%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
STLD
Materials industry group
0.94%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- STLD
- 0.94%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 29.35% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 15.44% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
SHW
Materials industry group
29.35%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- SHW
- 29.35%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
STLD
Materials industry group
15.44%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- STLD
- 15.44%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | SHW | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.91% | 0.94% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 29.35% | 15.44% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 31.66 and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 16.46 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
SHW
Materials industry group
31.66
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- SHW
- 31.66
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
STLD
Materials industry group
16.46
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- STLD
- 16.46
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 3.34 and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 1.43 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
SHW
Materials industry group
3.34
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- SHW
- 3.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
STLD
Materials industry group
1.43
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- STLD
- 1.43
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.23 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.
SHW
Materials industry group
20.78
- SHW
- 20.78
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
STLD
Materials industry group
3.23
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- STLD
- 3.23
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | SHW | STLD |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 31.66 | 16.46 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.34 | 1.43 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 20.78 | 3.23 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.98% | 1.36% |