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Sherwin Williams Co.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 7.5%: Consolidated net sales rose to $6.79 billion, with higher sales in all three reportable segments, including the October 2025 Suvinil acquisition. Diluted EPS was $3.43, up 14.3%. Source
  • Paint Stores sales up on pricing: Paint Stores Group sales rose 5.1% to $3.89 billion. Same-store sales rose 4.2%, against 0.8% a year earlier. Segment margin was 24.6%, against 24.8%. Source
  • Gross margin fell on raw materials: Gross profit margin was 49.2%, against 49.4% a year earlier. Management said pricing actions were taken to offset raw material inflation that pressured gross margin. Source
  • Second-half demand softness expected: Management said customer sentiment and the leading indicators it tracks point to continued demand softness in the second half of 2026. Source
  • Free cash flow of $1.24 billion: Net operating cash was $1,347.5 million and capital expenditures $108.4 million, leaving free cash flow of $1,239.1 million, or 86% of EBITDA. Source
  • $1.46 billion returned in quarter: The company returned $1.46 billion through dividends and repurchases in the quarter. In the first half it returned $2.23 billion and repurchased 5.6 million shares. Source

“Sherwin-Williams delivered strong second quarter results and continued to outperform the market despite ongoing global uncertainty and no meaningful improvement in demand”

Heidi G. Petz, Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Diluted net income per share SourceFull year 2026$10.92 - $11.32Raised from $10.70 - $11.10
Adjusted diluted net income per share SourceFull year 2026$11.80 - $12.20Raised from $11.50 - $11.90
Valspar acquisition-related amortization (excluded from adjusted EPS) SourceFull year 2026$0.81 per shareRaised from $0.80 per share
Severance and other restructuring expenses (excluded from adjusted EPS) SourceFull year 2026$0.07 per shareNew
Annual restructuring savings SourceAnnual, from second-quarter actionsApproximately $17 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 net sales, diluted EPS and adjusted diluted EPS guidance were raised from the first-quarter ranges. Source
  • New guidance: Third-quarter 2026 net sales guidance was given for the first time; the first-quarter release gave guidance only for the second quarter. Source
  • New: Restructuring actions were taken during the second quarter, with severance and other restructuring expenses of $23.8 million recorded in the quarter. Source

Second quarter results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose 7.5%: Consolidated net sales rose to $6.79 billion, with higher sales in all three reportable segments, including the October 2025 Suvinil acquisition. Diluted EPS was $3.43, up 14.3%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 9.5%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $3.70 against $3.38 a year earlier. Diluted EPS of $3.43 included $0.20 of Valspar amortization and $0.07 of restructuring charges per share. Source
  • Net income and EBITDA both grew: Net income rose to $843.6 million, 12.4% of net sales. EBITDA rose 13.8% to $1.43 billion, and adjusted EBITDA margin rose 60 basis points to 21.5%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Paint Stores sales up on pricing: Paint Stores Group sales rose 5.1% to $3.89 billion. Same-store sales rose 4.2%, against 0.8% a year earlier. Segment margin was 24.6%, against 24.8%. Source
  • Consumer Brands sales up 21.5%: Consumer Brands Group sales rose 21.5% to $983.5 million, driven by Suvinil and North America, with a 1.6% favorable currency effect. Reported margin was 21.6%, adjusted margin 24.5%. Source
  • Performance Coatings sales up 6.3%: Performance Coatings Group sales rose 6.3% to $1.91 billion. Price and mix added a low-single digit percentage, volume a low-single digit percentage, and currency 2.0%. Source

“Our better than expected second quarter results reflect the power of our differentiated model, our focus on the customer and the decisive actions our teams are taking to grow share, manage costs and respond to this dynamic environment”

Heidi G. Petz, Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer

Products and customers

  • Protective and marine led professional demand: Every professional end market in Paint Stores grew. Protective and marine grew by a double-digit percentage, commercial by high-single digit and residential repaint by mid-single digit. Source
  • Refinish and industrial lines grew: All Performance Coatings businesses grew. General Industrial and Automotive Refinish each rose by a high-single digit percentage, and Packaging, Industrial Wood and Coil each by a mid-single digit percentage. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin fell on raw materials: Gross profit margin was 49.2%, against 49.4% a year earlier. Management said pricing actions were taken to offset raw material inflation that pressured gross margin. Source
  • Broad cost inflation continues: Management said broad-based cost inflation continues across raw materials, energy, logistics and packaging, and that pricing actions are being taken across the businesses. Source
  • SG&A ratio fell despite higher dollars: SG&A rose to $2,103.7 million from $2,011.6 million, but fell to 31.0% of net sales from 31.9%. Source
  • Headquarters costs raised administrative spend: Administrative function costs rose with the new global headquarters and technology center, along with higher employee-related costs across the segments. The Administrative segment loss narrowed to $331.3 million from $340.1 million. Source

“our confidence is grounded in the strength of our team, our customer relationships, our differentiated model and our proven ability to deliver.”

Heidi G. Petz, Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer

Demand and second-half view

  • Second-half demand softness expected: Management said customer sentiment and the leading indicators it tracks point to continued demand softness in the second half of 2026. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow of $1.24 billion: Net operating cash was $1,347.5 million and capital expenditures $108.4 million, leaving free cash flow of $1,239.1 million, or 86% of EBITDA. Source
  • $1.46 billion returned in quarter: The company returned $1.46 billion through dividends and repurchases in the quarter. In the first half it returned $2.23 billion and repurchased 5.6 million shares. Source
  • Buyback authorization remaining: At June 30, 2026, the company had authorization to repurchase 24.0 million shares through open market purchases. Source
  • Interest expense rose on borrowings: Interest expense rose to $135.9 million from $112.4 million, attributed to higher short-term borrowings and long-term debt. Short-term borrowings stood at $2,246.4 million at June 30, 2026. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Investment in sales reps and stores: Paint Stores segment profit absorbed higher costs to support sales, including investments in additional sales reps and stores. Source
  • Further simplification and execution actions: Management said it sees additional ways to use its competitive advantages, simplify the business and improve execution, beyond the restructuring already taken. Source

Store and branch network

  • Paint Stores net closures in quarter: Paint Stores Group recorded a net reduction of six stores in the second quarter, against 20 net openings a year earlier. Total stores reached 4,841, against 4,811. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 July 2026

  • Paint Stores price increase on September 1: Management announced an 8% price increase in Paint Stores Group effective September 1, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales (Paint Stores same-store sales) Source4.2% vs 0.8%
Gross margin Source49.2% vs 49.4%
Inventory Source$2,529.7 million vs $2,484.6 million
Paint Stores total stores (net new stores in quarter: (6)) Source4,841 vs 4,811
Consumer Brands total stores Source308 vs 312
Performance Coatings total branches Source317 vs 324

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited customer sentiment and leading indicators pointing to demand softness in the second half of 2026. Source
  • External: Management said cost inflation continues across raw materials, energy, logistics and packaging, with pricing actions used in response. Source
  • Financial: Interest expense rose with higher short-term borrowings and long-term debt. Source
  • Operational: Administrative costs rose with the new global headquarters and technology center. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The first-quarter release said full-year guidance would be updated with second-quarter results; the second-quarter release raised that guidance.
  • Ahead: Management said second-quarter sales exceeded guidance on a consolidated basis and in all three reportable segments. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.