VLTO vs SHW vs PPG vs DHR

For growth investors, Veralto Corporation (VLTO) is the stronger pick with 6.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 2% for PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG). PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG) offers the better valuation at 15. 7x trailing P/E (13. 8x 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, PPG Industries, Inc.

(PPG) is the cheapest at 15. 7x versus Danaher Corporation at 34. 9x. On forward P/E, PPG Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: PPG Industries, Inc. wins at 1. 50x versus Danaher Corporation's 34. 35x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) delivered a total return of +16.

1%, compared to -32. 2% for PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SHW returned +250. 0% versus VLTO's +11. 4%. 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), Veralto Corporation (VLTO) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

66β versus PPG Industries, Inc. 's 1. 07β — meaning PPG is approximately 62% more volatile than VLTO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Danaher Corporation (DHR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 35% versus 3% for The Sherwin-Williams Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Veralto Corporation (VLTO) is pulling ahead at 6.

0% versus 0. 2% for PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: PPG Industries, Inc. grew EPS 45. 7% year-over-year, compared to -4. 7% for Danaher Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, VLTO leads at 4. 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.

Veralto Corporation (VLTO) is the more profitable company, earning 17.

1% net margin versus 9. 9% for PPG Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VLTO leads at 23. 2% versus 13. 7% for PPG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DHR leads at 60. 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, PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 50x versus Danaher Corporation's 34. 35x. 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. 8x forward P/E versus 27. 3x for The Sherwin-Williams Company — 13. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DHR: 40. 6% to $247. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG) offers the highest yield at 2. 5%, versus 0. 5% for Veralto Corporation (VLTO).

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%, VLTO: +11. 4%), 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 (VLTO (Industrials) and SHW (Basic Materials) and PPG (Basic Materials) and DHR (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: VLTO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; SHW is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; PPG is a mid-cap deep-value stock; DHR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. SHW, PPG, DHR pay a dividend while VLTO does 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.