Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Air Products and Chemicals (APD) has outperformed Sherwin-Williams (SHW) over the past year, gaining 3.5% versus a loss of 6.4%. Over five years, SHW leads with a +6.5% price change compared with -4.2% for APD. Sherwin-Williams is the larger company by market cap ($76.47 billion vs $61.93 billion), about 1.2 times the size.
On valuation, Air Products and Chemicals trades at a lower forward P/E (19.3x vs 23.2x for Sherwin-Williams). Air Products and Chemicals offers the higher dividend yield (2.59% vs 1.01%). Sherwin-Williams converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 10.9% versus -3.3%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | APD | SHW |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $278.12 | $315.00 |
| Market cap | $61.93B | $76.47B |
| 1-day change | -1.02% | -1.92% |
| YTD return | +13.48% | -2.62% |
| 1-year return | +3.48% | -6.37% |
| 5-year return | -4.23% | +6.46% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 29.03 |
| Forward P/E | 19.26 | 23.21 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.21 | $10.85 |
| Dividend yield | 2.59% | 1.01% |
| Annual dividend | $7.20 | $3.18 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $12.04B | $23.57B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -0.52% | +2.06% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-394.50M | $2.57B |
| Gross margin | 31.41% | 48.85% |
| Operating margin | -7.29% | — |
| Net margin | -3.28% | 10.90% |
| 52-week high | $314.87 | $377.77 |
| 52-week low | $229.11 | $289.86 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -11.67% | -16.62% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +23.50% | +22.63% |
| Average volume | 1.09M | 1.80M |
| Shares outstanding | 222.69M | 242.76M |
| Employees | 21,087 | 64,249 |
| Sector | Basic Materials | Basic Materials |
| Industry | Specialty Chemicals | Specialty Chemicals |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Air Products and Chemicals offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.59% vs 1.01%).
- Sherwin-Williams is more profitable, keeping 10.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -3.3 cents for Air Products and Chemicals.
About Air Products and Chemicals
APD stock →Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. provides atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, equipment, and related services in the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, India, and internationally.
Basic Materials · Specialty Chemicals · 21,087 employees
About Sherwin-Williams
SHW stock →The Sherwin-Williams Company engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of paint, coatings, and related products to professional, industrial, commercial and retail customers. The company operates through three segments: Paint Stores Group, Consumer Brands Group, and Performance Coatings Group.
Basic Materials · Specialty Chemicals · 64,249 employees
APD vs SHW FAQ
Which is bigger, Air Products and Chemicals or Sherwin-Williams?
Sherwin-Williams (SHW) is larger, with a market capitalization of $76.47B compared with $61.93B for Air Products and Chemicals (APD).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, APD or SHW?
APD returned +3.48% over the past 12 months, compared with -6.37% for SHW (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Air Products and Chemicals or Sherwin-Williams?
Air Products and Chemicals has the higher yield at 2.59%, compared with 1.01% for Sherwin-Williams.
Are Air Products and Chemicals and Sherwin-Williams in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Specialty Chemicals industry within the Basic Materials sector.