Lowe's Companies (LOW) 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
Sherwin-Williams (SHW) has outperformed Lowe's Companies (LOW) over the past year, losing 6.5% versus a loss of 24.3%. Over five years, SHW leads with a +6.3% price change compared with -17.2% for LOW. Lowe's Companies is the larger company by market cap ($101.85 billion vs $76.47 billion), about 1.3 times the size.
On valuation, Lowe's Companies trades at a lower forward P/E (14.0x vs 23.2x for Sherwin-Williams). Lowe's Companies offers the higher dividend yield (2.67% vs 1.01%). Sherwin-Williams converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 10.9% versus 7.7%.
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 | LOW | SHW |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $181.54 | $315.00 |
| Market cap | $101.85B | $76.47B |
| 1-day change | -1.16% | -1.92% |
| YTD return | -24.72% | -2.79% |
| 1-year return | -24.32% | -6.53% |
| 5-year return | -17.17% | +6.28% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 15.35 | 29.03 |
| Forward P/E | 13.96 | 23.21 |
| EPS (TTM) | $11.83 | $10.85 |
| Dividend yield | 2.67% | 1.01% |
| Annual dividend | $4.85 | $3.18 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $86.29B | $23.57B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +3.12% | +2.06% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $6.65B | $2.57B |
| Gross margin | 33.48% | 48.85% |
| Operating margin | 11.77% | — |
| Net margin | 7.71% | 10.90% |
| 52-week high | $293.06 | $377.77 |
| 52-week low | $178.45 | $289.86 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -38.05% | -16.62% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +37.37% | +22.63% |
| Average volume | 3.14M | 1.79M |
| Shares outstanding | 561.05M | 242.76M |
| Employees | 300,000 | 64,249 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | RETAIL: Building Materials | 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
- SHW has outperformed LOW by 17.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Sherwin-Williams trades at a higher earnings multiple (29.0x vs 15.3x trailing P/E).
- Lowe's Companies offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.67% vs 1.01%).
About Lowe's Companies
LOW stock →Lowe's Companies, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a home improvement retailer in the United States and Canada. It provides a line of products for construction, maintenance, repair, remodeling, and decorating.
Consumer Discretionary · RETAIL: Building Materials · 300,000 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
LOW vs SHW FAQ
Which is bigger, Lowe's Companies or Sherwin-Williams?
Lowe's Companies (LOW) is larger, with a market capitalization of $101.85B compared with $76.47B for Sherwin-Williams (SHW).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, LOW or SHW?
SHW returned -6.53% over the past 12 months, compared with -24.32% for LOW (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, LOW or SHW?
LOW has the lower trailing P/E at 15.3, versus 29.0 for SHW. 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, Lowe's Companies or Sherwin-Williams?
Lowe's Companies has the higher yield at 2.67%, compared with 1.01% for Sherwin-Williams.
Are Lowe's Companies and Sherwin-Williams in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the RETAIL: Building Materials industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.