IFF vs SHW vs PPG vs RPM

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

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 2% for International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF). PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG) offers the better valuation at 15. 8x trailing P/E (13. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) a "Buy" — based on 33 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, PPG Industries, Inc.

(PPG) is the cheapest at 15. 8x versus The Sherwin-Williams Company at 30. 8x. On forward P/E, PPG Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: RPM International Inc. wins at 1. 02x versus The Sherwin-Williams Company's 3. 90x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) delivered a total return of +14.

4%, compared to -34. 5% for International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SHW returned +246. 5% versus IFF's -10. 3%. 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.

80β versus PPG Industries, Inc. 's 1. 11β — meaning PPG is approximately 38% more volatile than SHW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 47% 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 -5. 2% for International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: PPG Industries, Inc. grew EPS 45. 7% year-over-year, compared to -253. 7% for International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, RPM leads at 3. 2% 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.

The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) is the more profitable company, earning 10.

9% net margin versus -3. 4% for International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SHW leads at 16. 1% versus 9. 2% for IFF. 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, RPM International Inc. (RPM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 02x versus The Sherwin-Williams Company's 3. 90x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG) trades at 13. 9x forward P/E versus 27. 0x for The Sherwin-Williams Company — 13. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SHW: 22. 9% to $389. 43.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG) offers the highest yield at 2. 5%, versus 1. 0% for The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW).

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.

80), 1. 0% yield, +246. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SHW: +246. 5%, PPG: +22. 3%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Basic Materials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: IFF is a mid-cap quality compounder 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. 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.