International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) has outperformed Sherwin-Williams (SHW) over the past year, gaining 37.8% versus a loss of 6.5%. Over five years, SHW leads with a +6.3% price change compared with -43.0% for IFF. Sherwin-Williams is the larger company by market cap ($76.47 billion vs $21.46 billion), about 3.6 times the size.
On valuation, International Flavors & Fragrances trades at a lower forward P/E (21.2x vs 23.2x for Sherwin-Williams). International Flavors & Fragrances offers the higher dividend yield (1.90% 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 | IFF | SHW |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $84.11 | $315.00 |
| Market cap | $21.46B | $76.47B |
| 1-day change | +0.23% | -1.92% |
| YTD return | +24.81% | -2.79% |
| 1-year return | +37.84% | -6.53% |
| 5-year return | -43.01% | +6.28% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 83.28 | 29.61 |
| Forward P/E | 21.21 | 23.21 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.01 | $10.64 |
| Dividend yield | 1.90% | 1.01% |
| Annual dividend | $1.60 | $3.18 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $10.89B | $23.57B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -5.17% | +2.06% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-359.00M | $2.57B |
| Gross margin | 36.16% | 48.85% |
| Operating margin | -3.51% | — |
| Net margin | -3.30% | 10.90% |
| 52-week high | $89.32 | $377.77 |
| 52-week low | $59.14 | $289.86 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -5.83% | -16.62% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +14.48% | +22.63% |
| Average volume | 1.66M | 1.79M |
| Shares outstanding | 255.15M | 242.76M |
| Employees | 21,500 | 64,249 |
| Sector | Industrials | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Major Chemicals | RETAIL: Building Materials |
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
- Sherwin-Williams is about 3.6 times larger than International Flavors & Fragrances by market value ($76.47B vs $21.46B).
- IFF has outperformed SHW by 44.4 percentage points over the past year.
- International Flavors & Fragrances trades at a higher earnings multiple (83.3x vs 29.6x trailing P/E).
- Sherwin-Williams is more profitable, keeping 10.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -3.3 cents for International Flavors & Fragrances.
- Sherwin-Williams grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+2.06% vs -5.17%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: International Flavors & Fragrances in Industrials and Sherwin-Williams in Consumer Discretionary.
About International Flavors & Fragrances
IFF stock →International Flavors & Fragrances Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets food, beverage, health and biosciences, scent, and complementary adjacent products in the United States, and internationally. It operates in through Taste, Food Ingredients, Health & Biosciences, and Scent segments.
Industrials · Major Chemicals · 21,500 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.
Consumer Discretionary · RETAIL: Building Materials · 64,249 employees
IFF vs SHW FAQ
Which is bigger, International Flavors & Fragrances or Sherwin-Williams?
Sherwin-Williams (SHW) is larger, with a market capitalization of $76.47B compared with $21.46B for International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, IFF or SHW?
IFF returned +37.84% over the past 12 months, compared with -6.53% for SHW (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, IFF or SHW?
SHW has the lower trailing P/E at 29.6, versus 83.3 for IFF. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, International Flavors & Fragrances or Sherwin-Williams?
International Flavors & Fragrances has the higher yield at 1.90%, compared with 1.01% for Sherwin-Williams.
Are International Flavors & Fragrances and Sherwin-Williams in the same industry?
No. International Flavors & Fragrances is in the Industrials sector, while Sherwin-Williams is in Consumer Discretionary.