The Sherwin-Williams Company Reports 2026 Third Quarter Financial Results

• Consolidated Net sales increased 7.9% to $6.86 billion in the quarter
  • Net sales from stores in the Paint Stores Group open more than twelve calendar months increased 3.9% in the quarter
• Diluted net income per share increased 0.9% to $3.38 per share in the quarter compared to $3.35 per share in the third quarter of 2025
  • Adjusted diluted net income per share increased 1.1% to $3.63 per share in the quarter compared to $3.59 per share in the third quarter of 2025
• Net income decreased 1.5% in the quarter to $821.0 million, or 12.0% of Net sales
• Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) in the quarter increased 3.4% to $1.39 billion, or 20.3% of Net sales
  • Adjusted EBITDA in the quarter increased 3.3% to $1.40 billion, or 20.5% of Net sales
• Revising full year 2026 diluted net income per share guidance in the range of $10.92 to $11.22 per share, including Valspar acquisition-related amortization expense of $0.82 per share and severance and other restructuring expenses of $0.11 per share
  • Narrowing full year 2026 adjusted diluted net income per share guidance in the range of $11.85 to $12.15 per share

CEO REMARKS

"Sherwin-Williams third quarter performance demonstrated the resilience of our Company and the strength of our strategy in a challenging demand environment. Despite muted underlying market volumes, we continued to win new customers, increase share-of-wallet and deliver sales growth across all three reportable segments, at or above our guidance, supported by the differentiated value and productivity our solutions deliver to customers. At the same time, we took disciplined pricing and cost actions to address inflationary pressures, thoughtfully timed with our customers in mind," said Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer, Heidi G. Petz. "Gross margin was primarily impacted in the quarter by higher raw material and supply chain related costs and by mix, including dilution from Suvinil and higher growth in lower margin reportable segments. Excluding the dilutive impact of the Suvinil acquisition, our year-to-date gross margin is flat compared to the prior year. SG&A as a percent of sales decreased in the quarter, as we continue to identify and implement efficiencies throughout our Company. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted diluted earnings per share both grew over last year's third quarter levels. We returned $749.0 million to shareholders in the quarter through dividends and share repurchases. Our team remains focused on serving our customers and controlling what we can control to continue top and bottom-line growth."

Consolidated Net sales increased primarily due to higher Net sales in all reportable segments, inclusive of the October 2025 acquisition of Suvinil, and selling price increases, which impacted Net sales by a mid-single digit percentage.

Income before income taxes increased slightly due to an increase in Net sales, partially offset by higher raw material and supply chain related costs, incremental selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses associated with Suvinil and higher costs in the Administrative function related to additional interest expense attributable to an increase in debt.

Diluted net income per share included a charge of $0.21 and $0.20 per share for Valspar acquisition-related amortization expense in the third quarter of 2026 and 2025, respectively. Diluted net income per share also included a charge of $0.04 per share related to severance and other restructuring expenses in both the third quarter of 2026 and 2025.

Net sales in PSG increased primarily due to selling price increases, which impacted Net sales by a mid-single digit percentage, as well as low-single digit percentage sales volume growth. Net sales increased in all professional customer end markets, led by a double digit percentage increase in protective and marine, a high-single digit percentage increase in commercial and a mid-single digit percentage increase in residential repaint. Segment profit increased primarily due to higher Net sales, partially offset by higher raw material and supply chain related costs and increased costs to support higher sales, including investments in additional sales reps and stores.

Net sales in CBG increased primarily as a result of the acquisition of Suvinil, favorable foreign currency translation and a positive shift in mix, partially offset by soft demand in North America. Segment profit decreased primarily due to higher raw material and supply chain costs, incremental SG&A expenses associated with the Suvinil acquisition and unfavorable foreign currency transaction gains and losses, partially offset by higher Net sales. Adjusted segment profit decreased for these same reasons.

Valspar acquisition-related amortization expense reduced Segment profit as a percent of Net sales by 170 and 200 basis points in the third quarter of 2026 and 2025, respectively. Severance and other restructuring expenses reduced Segment profit as a percent of Net sales by 100 and 90 basis points in the third quarter of 2026 and 2025, respectively.

Net sales in PCG increased primarily due to selling price increases, which impacted Net sales by a mid-single digit percentage, and low-single digit percentage sales volume growth. Net sales increased in all businesses, led by General Industrial, Packaging and Coil, which each increased by a double digit percentage, and Industrial Wood and Automotive Refinish, which each increased by a low-single digit percentage. Segment profit increased primarily due to higher Net sales, partially offset by higher raw material and supply chain related costs and an increase in employee-related costs to support higher sales. Adjusted segment profit increased for these same reasons, including a slight decrease in the expenses associated with targeted restructuring actions in the third quarter of 2026.

Valspar acquisition-related amortization expense reduced Segment profit as a percent of Net sales by 260 and 290 basis points in the third quarter of 2026 and 2025, respectively. Severance and other restructuring expenses reduced Segment profit as a percent of Net sales by 20 and 30 basis points in the third quarter of 2026 and 2025, respectively.

LIQUIDITY AND CASH FLOW

The Company generated $2.59 billion in Net operating cash and returned cash of $2.98 billion to our shareholders in the form of dividends and repurchases of 7.1 million shares of its common stock during the first nine months of 2026. At September 30, 2026, the Company had remaining authorization to purchase 22.5 million shares of its common stock through open market purchases.

2026 GUIDANCE

"Customer sentiment and the leading indicators we track point to muted demand over the remainder of the year and into 2027. As we navigate this environment, our focus remains clear: win in the marketplace, serve our customers, offset inflation, reduce costs and continue to deliver profitable growth and shareholder value," said Ms. Petz.

"Against this backdrop, we expect fourth quarter 2026 consolidated Net sales to increase by a mid-single digit percentage compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, resulting in us maintaining our full year 2026 sales guidance where consolidated Net sales are expected to be up a mid to high-single digit percentage compared to full year 2025. Diluted net income per share is expected to be in the range of $10.92 to $11.22 per share, including acquisition-related amortization expense of $0.82 per share and severance and other restructuring expenses of $0.11 per share, compared to $10.26 per share in 2025. Full year 2026 adjusted diluted net income per share is expected to be in the range of $11.85 to $12.15 per share compared to $11.43 per share in 2025. We remain highly confident in our ability to deliver through current conditions while building an even stronger Sherwin-Williams for the future."

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

The Company will host a conference call to discuss its financial results for the third quarter, and its outlook for the fourth quarter and full year 2026, at 10:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Heidi G. Petz, Sherwin-Williams' Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer, along with other senior executives, will participate on the call.

The conference call will be webcast simultaneously in listen only mode. To listen to the webcast on the Sherwin-Williams website, click on https://investors.sherwin-williams.com/financials/quarterly-results/, then click on the webcast icon following the reference to the Q3 webcast. An archived replay of the webcast will be available at https://investors.sherwin-williams.com/financials/quarterly-results/ beginning approximately two hours after the call ends.

ABOUT THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY

Founded in 1866, The Sherwin-Williams Company is a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution, and sale of paint, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial and retail customers. The Company manufactures products under well-known brands such as Sherwin-Williams^®, Valspar^®, HGTV HOME^® by Sherwin-Williams, Dutch Boy^®, Krylon^®, Minwax^®, Thompson's^® WaterSeal^®, Cabot^®, Suvinil^® and many more. With global headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, Sherwin-Williams^® branded products are sold exclusively through a chain of more than 5,400 Company-operated stores and branches, while the Company's other brands are sold through leading mass merchandisers, home centers, independent paint dealers, hardware stores, automotive retailers and industrial distributors. The Sherwin-Williams Performance Coatings Group supplies a broad range of highly-engineered solutions for the construction, industrial, packaging and transportation markets in more than 120 countries around the world. Sherwin-Williams shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: SHW). For more information, visit www.sherwin.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are based upon management's current expectations, predictions, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events and conditions and may relate to, among other things, anticipated future performance (including sales and earnings), expected growth, and future business plans. Any statement that is not historical in nature is a forward-looking statement and may be identified by the use of words and phrases such as "anticipate," "aspire," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "project," "seek," "should," "strive," "target," "will," or "would" or the negative thereof or comparable terminology.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements and from our historical results, performance and experience. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include such things as: general business and economic conditions in the United States and worldwide; inflation rates, interest rates, unemployment rates, labor costs, healthcare costs, recessionary conditions, geopolitical conditions, terrorist activity, armed conflicts and wars, public health crises, pandemics, outbreaks of disease and supply chain disruptions; shifts in consumer behavior driven by economic downturns in cyclical segments of the economy; shortages and increases in the cost of raw materials and energy; catastrophic events, adverse weather conditions and natural disasters (including those that may be related to climate change); disruptions to our information technology systems, including due to digitization efforts or cybersecurity incidents; our ability to attract, retain, develop and progress a qualified global workforce; the loss of any of our largest customers; increased competition or failure to keep pace with developments in key competitive areas of our business; our ability to successfully integrate past and future acquisitions, into our existing operations; risks and uncertainties associated with our expansion into and our operations in South America, Asia, Europe and other foreign markets; policy changes affecting international trade, including import/export restrictions and tariffs; our ability to achieve our strategies or expectations relating to sustainability considerations, including as a result of evolving legal, regulatory and other standards, processes and assumptions, the pace of scientific and technological developments, increased costs, the availability of requisite suppliers, energy sources, or financing and changes in carbon markets and carbon accounting rules; damage to our business, reputation, image or brands due to negative publicity; the infringement or loss of our intellectual property rights or the theft or unauthorized use of our trade secrets or other confidential business information; a weakening of global credit markets or changes to our credit ratings; our ability to generate cash to service our indebtedness; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and changing monetary policies; our ability to comply with a variety of complex U.S. and non-U.S. laws, rules and regulations; increases in tax rates, or changes in tax laws or regulations; our ability to comply with numerous, complex and increasingly stringent domestic and foreign health, safety and environmental laws, regulations and requirements; our liability related to environmental investigation and remediation activities at some of our currently- and formerly-owned sites; the nature, cost, quantity and outcome of pending and future litigation, including lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation; and the other risk factors discussed in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and our other reports filed with the SEC.

Readers are cautioned that it is not possible to predict or identify all of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect future results and that the above list should not be considered a complete list. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:

Jim Jaye                                                                              

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Sherwin-Williams                                
Direct: 216.515.8682
[email protected]

MEDIA CONTACT:

Julie Young

Vice President, Global Corporate Communications
Sherwin-Williams
Direct: 216.515.8849
[email protected]

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management of the Company utilizes certain financial measures that are not in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP) to analyze and manage the performance of the business. Management provides non-GAAP information in reporting its financial results to give investors additional data to evaluate the Company's operations. Management does not, nor does it suggest investors should, consider such non-GAAP measures in isolation from, or in substitution for, financial information prepared in accordance with US GAAP.

Management believes that investors' understanding of the Company's operating performance is enhanced by the disclosure of diluted net income per share excluding Valspar acquisition-related amortization and certain other adjustments. Valspar acquisition-related amortization expense is excluded from diluted net income per share due to its significance as a result of the purchase price assigned to finite-lived intangible assets at the date of acquisition and the related impact on underlying business performance and trends. While these intangible assets contribute to the Company's revenue generation, the related revenue is not excluded. This adjusted diluted earnings per share measurement is not in accordance with US GAAP. It should not be considered a substitute for diluted earnings per share computed in accordance with US GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The following tables reconcile diluted net income per share computed in accordance with US GAAP to adjusted diluted net income per share.

Management believes that investors' understanding of the Company's operating performance is enhanced by the disclosure of EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as Net income before Interest expense, Income taxes, depreciation and amortization, as well as Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes certain adjustments that management further believes enhances investors' understanding of the Company's operating performance. The reader is cautioned that the Company's EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be compared to other entities unknowingly. Further, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered alternatives to Net income as an indicator of operating performance. The following table reconciles Net income computed in accordance with US GAAP to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, as applicable.

SOURCE The Sherwin-Williams Company