Sherwin-Williams

What Sherwin-Williams does

Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE: SHW) is a Cleveland-headquartered, publicly traded paints and coatings manufacturer founded in 1866. The company develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells architectural paints, industrial coatings, and related products across consumer, professional contractor, and industrial end markets in over 120 countries. Its product portfolio spans premium interior and exterior architectural paints (Emerald, Duration Home), stains and sealers (WoodScapes, SuperDeck, Minwax), and a large industrial coatings offering organized into Protective & Marine, Automotive Finishes, General Industrial, Industrial Wood, Coil & Extrusion, Aerospace, Packaging, and High Performance Flooring lines. Proprietary technologies include the OneCure dust-on-dust powder coating system, MIL-Spec defense coatings co-developed with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, AI-enabled color tools (Color Expert App, ColorSnap Precision, SherMatch+), and the Collision Core Pronto XL automated paint dispenser.

Sherwin-Williams generates revenue through a hybrid go-to-market model: nearly 4,900 company-owned retail stores and an e-commerce storefront serve homeowners and DIY consumers directly and through the free PaintPerks loyalty program; the PRO+ program delivers volume discounts, QuickBooks integration, and color tools to professional painters and contractors; and dedicated field sales teams serve specification-driven industrial, infrastructure, oil and gas, marine, aerospace, and U.S. Department of Defense accounts via direct sales. Brand portfolio assets include Valspar, Minwax, Purdy, Krylon, Thompson's WaterSeal, Cabot, Dutch Boy, Dupli-Color, House of Kolor, and the recently acquired Suvinil (Brazil). Customers span general consumers, residential and commercial contractors, automotive OEMs and refinishers (Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS, Mercedes), John Deere (over 35 OEM locations), General Motors, and U.S. defense agencies.

In FY2025, Sherwin-Williams reported revenue of approximately $23.6 billion (up 2% YoY), net income of $2.6 billion at a 10.9% net margin, and $2.7 billion of positive free cash flow, with 47 consecutive years of dividend increases. The company has pursued an active M&A and capacity expansion strategy, completing the Suvinil acquisition (Feb 2025, $1.15B), expanding Bowling Green coil coatings capacity by 60% (April 2026), launching the OneCure powder coating portfolio (June 2026), entering a long-term manufacturing partnership with Do it Best (June 2026), and submitting — before withdrawal — a joint €12.5 billion proposal with Nippon Paint to acquire AkzoNobel in April 2026.

Name

Sherwin-Williams

Legal name

The Sherwin-Williams Company

Website

https://sherwin-williams.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1866

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Sherwin-Williams manufactures and distributes paints, coatings, and related products globally through nearly 4,900 company-owned stores and direct industrial sales channels, serving homeowners, professional contractors, and industrial customers across more than 120 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Paints and Coatings

NAICS

Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510), Paint and Wallpaper Retailers (444120)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial & Protective Coatings (IMAEAGAB)

Keywords

• Architectural paints
• Industrial coatings
• Protective marine coatings
• Wood stains finishes
• Automotive refinish

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architectural Paint Sales: Sale of paints, stains, and coatings through company-owned retail stores and e-commerce channels to homeowners, contractors, and professional painters for residential and commercial applications.
2. Industrial Coatings: High-performance coatings for aerospace, automotive, marine, protective, general industrial, industrial wood, coil and extrusion, packaging, and floor coatings sold directly to manufacturers and applicators.
3. Brand Portfolio: Revenue from owned brands including Valspar, Minwax, Purdy, Krylon, Thompson's WaterSeal, Cabot, Dutch Boy, and Dupli-Color through retail and professional channels.
4. Military/Government Coatings: High-performance, MIL-Spec-approved coatings supplied to U.S. Department of Defense for military platforms including aircraft carriers, submarines, armored vehicles, and aircraft.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Sherwin-Williams develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells paints, stains, coatings, and related products through a network of nearly 4,900 company-owned retail stores, e-commerce, and direct field sales channels. Its portfolio spans architectural paints for homeowners and contractors under brands including Sherwin-Williams, Valspar, Minwax, Krylon, and Dutch Boy, alongside high-performance industrial coatings serving automotive, aerospace, marine, packaging, coil and extrusion, protective, and general industrial end markets.

Product overview

Sherwin-Williams is a global paints and coatings company offering a comprehensive portfolio spanning consumer paints, professional contractor products, and industrial coatings. The consumer offerings include premium interior paints (Emerald, Duration Home), exterior paints, primers, wood stains (WoodScapes, SuperDeck), concrete & masonry products, and aerosols. The company operates well-known sub-brands including Valspar, Minwax, Krylon, Purdy, Thompson's WaterSeal, Cabot, Dutch Boy, Dupli-color, and House of Kolor. Professional offerings are supported by the PRO+ program with QuickBooks integration and PaintPerks loyalty program. Industrial coatings serve diverse sectors including Protective & Marine, Automotive Finishes, General Industrial, Industrial Wood, Coil & Extrusion, Aerospace, Packaging, and High Performance Flooring. Recent innovations include Emerald Symmetry (zero-VOC plant-based paint), Forte Urethanized Acrylic, OneCure powder coating technology, and Collision Core Pronto XL automated paint dispenser. AI-powered tools include the Color Expert App for personalized color recommendations and ColorSnap Precision for professional color matching.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Valspar: Paint and coatings brand for consumer and professional use
• Minwax
• Purdy
• Krylon
• Thompson's WaterSeal
• Cabot
• Dutch Boy
• Dupli-Color
• House of Kolor
• Suvinil
• Emerald
• WoodScapes
• SuperDeck
• PRO+
• ColorSnap

Products and services

• Emerald Interior Acrylic Latex Paint Premium interior paint from the top-tier Emerald line offering excellent coverage and durability for professional and homeowner use across residential interiors.
• Emerald Symmetry Interior Acrylic

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivered fourteenth quarter of year-over-year gross margin expansion in last fifteen quarters
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Do it BestcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 June 2026Long-term manufacturing partnership where Sherwin-Williams will produce EasyCare and Best Look paints while Do it Best retains brand ownership and quality standards. The partnership includes assumption of a paint manufacturing facility lease in Cary, Illinois, allowing Do it Best to expand its paint program while maintaining quality control through Sherwin-Williams' manufacturing capabilities.
• LeBron James Family FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 June 2026Partnership for 'Loneliest Color 2026' campaign featuring Offbeat Green SW 7606. The color will be used on a home education center being built in Akron, Ohio through the PROMISE Project, supporting first-time homebuyers with education, resources, and color-inspired spaces designed to build confidence.
• ITS LogisticscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2026Strategic partnership to improve transport capacity from Sherwin-Williams' Nevada distribution center, aiming to move paint and coatings products more efficiently during peak demand periods in U.S. construction and home-improvement market. The collaboration helped Sherwin-Williams move 11% more outbound freight during last year's peak season, targeting greater supply chain resilience and more consistent service levels for retailers.
• Nippon Paint GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2026Joint proposal submitted to acquire AkzoNobel, with Nippon Paint targeting Decorative Paints and Industrial Coatings businesses and Sherwin-Williams targeting Marine & Protective Coatings, Automotive & Specialty Coatings and Powder Coatings. The proposal was rejected by AkzoNobel's Boards following an earlier offer on April 16, 2026, with AkzoNobel instead pursuing its existing merger agreement with Axalta. Both companies are considering their next steps.
• John DeerecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2026Sherwin-Williams supplies coatings to over 35 John Deere OEM locations globally. Recognized as 'Partner-level supplier' for 2025 (Deere & Company's highest supplier rating) and named 'John Deere Indirect Global Supplier of the Year' in the Achieving Excellence Program. Suppliers are evaluated annually in key categories including quality, delivery, process alignment, value creation, and relationship under a program John Deere Supply Management created in 1991.
• Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew partnership driven by technical innovation and next-level performance. The partnership positions Sherwin-Williams as an innovative coatings partner in the high-performance automotive racing sector.
• U.S. Department of DefensecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSherwin-Williams Protective & Marine has partnered with the U.S. Department of Defense to supply high-performance, MIL-Spec-approved coatings for military platforms including aircraft carriers, submarines, armored vehicles, and aircraft. The company has over two decades of collaboration with Naval Sea Systems Command, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, naval shipyards, and contractors, providing corrosion-resistant technologies, technical service support, and global distribution.
• Naval Research Laboratory / Naval Surface Warfare CenterscoreTechnology or IntegrationInnovations developed with the Naval Research Lab and Naval Surface Warfare Centers, including single-coat rapid-cure ballast tank coatings and copper-free antifoulants, supported by just-in-time delivery to naval shipyards within 24-48 hours.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Masco Corporation: Home improvement products manufacturer owning Behr Paint, Kilz, and KILZ primers, directly competing in architectural paint through The Home Depot channel; also owns plumbing and cabinetry businesses.
• RPM International: Specialty coatings and sealants company owning Rust-Oleum, DAP, and Stonhard. Competes in specialty consumer coatings, sealants, and protective coatings with overlapping distribution through home improvement and hardware channels.
• BASF Coatings: Division of BASF SE providing automotive OEM coatings, refinish, and industrial coatings globally. A major broad incumbent competitor with deep automotive OEM relationships that overlaps with Sherwin-Williams' Automotive Finishes and General Industrial segments.

Direct peers

• Benjamin Moore: Premium architectural paint manufacturer sold through independent retailers; a direct competitor in the North American DIY and professional contractor segments with strong brand equity.
• PPG Industries: Global paints and coatings manufacturer with comparable portfolio across architectural, industrial, automotive, aerospace, and protective coatings. PPG is the most direct competitor to Sherwin-Williams in North America and a direct rival in industrial and decorative segments.
• AkzoNobel: Owner of Dulux, Sikkens, and International Paint brands; competes directly with Sherwin-Williams in architectural decorative paints (especially Europe and Latin America) and industrial/marine coatings globally. Subject of Sherwin-Williams' rejected 2026 acquisition attempt.
• Nippon Paint Holdings: Asia's largest paint manufacturer with growing global decorative paints footprint; partnered with Sherwin-Williams on the rejected AkzoNobel bid and competes in architectural and automotive coatings internationally.
• Axalta Coating Systems: Specializes in automotive refinish and industrial coatings with strong positions in collision repair, light OEM, and powder coatings. Plans to merge with AkzoNobel, creating a more formidable rival to Sherwin-Williams in industrial coatings.

Regional players

• Hempel / Jotun: Norwegian coatings company with strong positions in marine, protective, and powder coatings across Europe, Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. Direct competitor to Sherwin-Williams in marine and offshore protective coatings, especially in EMEA and APAC regions.

Emerging players

• Hempel A/S: Danish coatings company focused on marine, protective, and container coatings globally; competes with Sherwin-Williams' Protective & Marine division and has been expanding into decorative paints in select markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/swdesignpros
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/sherwinwilliams
• Facebookfacebook.com/sherwinwilliamsforyourhome
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sherwin-williams
• Instagraminstagram.com/sherwinwilliams

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A12 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sherwin-Williams