Sherwin-Williams CoWBO:SHWW -0.30%83 Gross Margin % is 49.07% as of Mar. 2026, which is 7% above its 10-year median of 45.78. GuruFocus rates WBO:SHWW with a GF Score™ of 83/100 and a GF Value™ of €309.54 (Fairly Valued). Among 1,561 Chemicals companies, Sherwin-Williams Co ranks better than 90.84% on this metric.
The historical rank and industry rank for Sherwin-Williams Co's Gross Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
WBO:SHWW'
s Gross Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 42.1 Med: 45.78 Max: 49.94
Current: 49.04
During the past 13 years, the highestGross Margin % of Sherwin-Williams Co was 49.94%. The lowest was 42.10%. And the median was 45.78%.
WBO:SHWW's Gross Margin % is ranked better than 90.84% of 1561
companies
in the Chemicals industry
Industry Median: 23.35
vs WBO:SHWW: 49.04
Sherwin-Williams Co had a gross margin of 49.07% for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 => Durable competitive advantage
The 5-Year average Growth Rate of Gross Margin for Sherwin-Williams Co was 1.80% per year.
Sherwin-Williams Co (WBO:SHWW) Gross Margin % Explanation
Warren Buffett believes that firms with excellent long term economics tend to have consistently higher margins.
Durable competitive advantage creates a high Gross Margin % because of the freedom to price in excess of cost. Companies can be categorized by their Gross Margin %
1. Greater than 40% = Durable competitive advantage
2. Less than 40% = Competition eroding margins
3. Less than 20% = no sustainable competitive advantage
Consistency of Gross Margin is key
Sherwin-Williams Co had a gross margin of 49.07% for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 => Durable competitive advantage
Be Aware
If a company loses its competitive advantages, usually its gross margin declines well before its sales declines. Watching Gross Margin % and Operating Margin % closely helps avoid value trap situations.
Sherwin-Williams Co Gross Margin % Related Terms
Sherwin-Williams Co Gross Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Sherwin-Williams Co's Gross Margin % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
WBO:SHWW vs ECL, APD, PPG: Gross Margin % Comparison
For the Specialty Chemicals subindustry, Sherwin-Williams Co's Gross Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Gross Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Sherwin-Williams Co Gross Margin % vs Chemicals Industry
For the Chemicals industry and Basic Materials sector, Sherwin-Williams Co's Gross Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Sherwin-Williams Co's Gross Margin % falls into.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
A positive Gross Profit is only the first step for a company to make a net profit. The gross profit needs to be big enough to also cover related labor, equipment, rental, marketing/advertising, research and development and a lot of other costs in selling the products.
Sherwin-Williams Co (WBO:SHWW) has a Gross Margin % of 49.07% as of Mar. 2026. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on Sherwin-Williams Co and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 45.78. Over the past decade, Sherwin-Williams Co's Gross Margin % has ranged from 42.10 to 49.94. According to the industry distribution chart, Sherwin-Williams Co ranks #143 out of 1561 companies in the Chemicals industry, placing it in the top 9.2%.
Is Sherwin-Williams Co's Gross Margin % too high?
Sherwin-Williams Co's current Gross Margin % of 49.07% is near median its 10-year median of 45.78. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 42.10 to a high of 49.94. The Chemicals industry median Gross Margin % is 23.35. Sherwin-Williams Co's value of 49.07% is 110.1% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Sherwin-Williams Co ranks #143 out of 1561 companies in the Chemicals industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Sherwin-Williams Co has a GF Score™ of 83/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Sherwin-Williams Co's Gross Margin % compare to ECL and APD?
According to the Chemicals industry distribution chart, Sherwin-Williams Co ranks #143 out of 1561 companies for Gross Margin %. This places Sherwin-Williams Co in the top 9% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Gross Margin % is 23.35. Sherwin-Williams Co's value of 49.07% is 110.1% above this benchmark. Historically, Sherwin-Williams Co's own Gross Margin % has ranged from 42.10 to 49.94 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 45.78 vs. the industry median of 23.35, Sherwin-Williams Co has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Gross Margin % for a Chemicals company?
The median Gross Margin % among Chemicals companies is 23.35, based on 1,561 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Gross Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Gross Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Sherwin-Williams Co's current Gross Margin % of 49.07% is 110.1% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Gross Margin % mean?
A high Gross Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on Sherwin-Williams Co and its competitors. For the Chemicals industry, the median Gross Margin % is 23.35 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Sherwin-Williams Co's current Gross Margin % is 49.07%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 45.78. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Sherwin-Williams Co stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Sherwin-Williams Co (WBO:SHWW) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is €309.54, compared to a current price of €299.30 — trading 3.3% below its estimated fair value. The current Gross Margin % is 49.07%, which is near median its 10-year median of 45.78 and 110.1% above the Chemicals industry median of 23.35. Sherwin-Williams Co's overall GF Score™ is 83/100. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Gross Margin % calculated?
Gross Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Sherwin-Williams Co (WBO:SHWW), the current Gross Margin % is 49.07% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Sherwin-Williams Co (WBO:SHWW) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Sherwin-Williams Co stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of €299.30 is trading 3.3% below its estimated GF Value™ of €309.54.
GuruFocus considers Sherwin-Williams Co to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for WBO:SHWW:
Gross Margin %: 49.07% (near median its 10-year median of 45.78)
GF Value™: €309.54 vs. price of €299.30 (3.3% below fair value)
Industry Position: 110.1% above the Chemicals median (#143 of 1561)
No single metric tells the full story. See the WBO:SHWW stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Sherwin-Williams is the largest global manufacturer of paints and coatings. The company focuses on the development, manufacturing, and distribution of paint, coatings, and related products to customers ranging from professional painters and contractors to industrial manufacturers to do-it-yourself consumers. Sherwin organizes its operations into three primary segments: the paint stores group is the largest segment and includes the company's network of over 4,800 company-owned stores; the consumer brands group sells branded architectural paints through big-box retailers such as Lowe's, and the performance coatings group provides specialized coatings for industrial applications, such as automotive refinishing, packaging, and industrial wood.
83GF Score
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