AXTA vs SHW vs PPG vs RPM vs VAL

For growth investors, The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) is the stronger pick with 2.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 0% for Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (AXTA). Valaris Limited (VAL) offers the better valuation at 6. 6x trailing P/E (28. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) a "Buy" — based on 38 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Valaris Limited (VAL) is the cheapest at 6.

6x versus The Sherwin-Williams Company at 31. 2x. On forward P/E, Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. is actually cheaper at 11. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. wins at 0. 41x versus The Sherwin-Williams Company's 3. 94x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Valaris Limited (VAL) delivered a total return of +316.

2%, compared to -32. 2% for PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VAL returned +296. 7% versus AXTA's +0. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

79β versus Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. 's 1. 13β — meaning AXTA is approximately 42% more volatile than SHW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Valaris Limited (VAL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 38% versus 3% for The Sherwin-Williams Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) is pulling ahead at 2.

1% versus -3. 0% for Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (AXTA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Valaris Limited grew EPS 170. 7% year-over-year, compared to -2. 7% for The Sherwin-Williams Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, VAL leads at 13. 9% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Valaris Limited (VAL) is the more profitable company, earning 41.

5% net margin versus 7. 4% for Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. — meaning it keeps 41. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VAL leads at 20. 9% versus 12. 3% for RPM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SHW leads at 48. 9%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (AXTA) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 41x versus The Sherwin-Williams Company's 3. 94x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (AXTA) trades at 11. 2x forward P/E versus 28. 0x for Valaris Limited — 16. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AXTA: 22. 1% to $34. 86.

In this comparison, PPG (2.

5% yield), RPM (2. 0% yield), SHW (1. 0% yield) pay a dividend. AXTA, VAL do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

79), 1. 0% yield, +250. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SHW: +250. 0%, AXTA: +0. 9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (AXTA (Basic Materials) and SHW (Basic Materials) and PPG (Basic Materials) and RPM (Basic Materials) and VAL (Energy)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: AXTA is a small-cap deep-value stock; SHW is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; PPG is a mid-cap deep-value stock; RPM is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; VAL is a small-cap deep-value stock. SHW, PPG, RPM pay a dividend while AXTA, VAL do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.