SHW vs. VMC: Sherwin-Williams vs. Vulcan Materials Stock Comparison
How do Sherwin-Williams (SHW) and Vulcan Materials (VMC) 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 Vulcan Materials (VMC) both fall under the Materials industry group, but SHW is classified in Chemicals while VMC is classified in Construction Materials.
| Profile Item | SHW | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | The Sherwin-Williams Company | Vulcan Materials Company |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Chemicals | Construction Materials |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Specialty Chemicals | Construction Materials |
| Market Capitalization | 83.13 billion USD | 36.29 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | February 21, 1973 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | SHW | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 5.74% | 2.25% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 13.18% | 12.53% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 2.84% | 8.08% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | SHW | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 29.59% | 30.13% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.02 | 0.98 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -42.46% | -32.50% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.72M | 1.16M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | SHW | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.05 | -0.07 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.08 | -0.09 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 63.70% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 12.88%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
SHW
Materials industry group
63.70%
- SHW
- 63.70%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
VMC
Materials industry group
12.88%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- VMC
- 12.88%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 10.74% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 13.78% 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%
VMC
Materials industry group
13.78%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- VMC
- 13.78%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 17.56% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 23.95% 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%
VMC
Materials industry group
23.95%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- VMC
- 23.95%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | SHW | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 63.70% | 12.88% |
| ROA (TTM) | 9.48% | 5.89% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 10.74% | 13.78% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 17.56% | 23.95% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 48.60% | 27.48% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 2.06% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 7.06% 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 Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 18.39% 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 | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 2.06% | 7.06% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 2.10% | 2.77% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -2.75% | 18.39% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.95% | 23.46% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 0.71 and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 1.43 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
SHW
Materials industry group
0.71
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- SHW
- 0.71
- Min
- 0.16
VMC
Materials industry group
1.43
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- VMC
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 0.63 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
VMC
Materials industry group
0.63
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- VMC
- 0.63
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | SHW | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.71 | 1.43 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 3.72 | 0.63 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.04 | 2.27 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 0.91% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 0.72% 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%
VMC
Materials industry group
0.72%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- VMC
- 0.72%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 29.35% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 24.26% 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%
VMC
Materials industry group
24.26%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- VMC
- 24.26%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | SHW | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.91% | 0.72% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 29.35% | 24.26% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 31.66 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 33.46 sits in the richer quartile — VMC needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
SHW
Materials industry group
31.66
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- SHW
- 31.66
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
VMC
Materials industry group
33.46
- Max
- 59.00
- VMC
- 33.46
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 3.34 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 4.53 sits in the pricier quartile — VMC costs more per dollar of sales.
SHW
Materials industry group
3.34
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- SHW
- 3.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
VMC
Materials industry group
4.53
- Max
- 9.62
- VMC
- 4.53
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 4.31 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) at 20.78 prices even higher, above its industry range.
SHW
Materials industry group
20.78
- SHW
- 20.78
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
VMC
Materials industry group
4.31
- Max
- 6.59
- VMC
- 4.31
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | SHW | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 31.66 | 33.46 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.34 | 4.53 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 20.78 | 4.31 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.98% | 1.96% |