Sherwin-Williams 10-K 2024-12-31

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024

Commission file number 1-04851

THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(216) 566-2000

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. Yes ☒ No ☐

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant at June 30, 2024 was $75,067,265,612 (computed by reference to the price at which the common stock was last sold on such date).

At January 31, 2025, 251,364,135 shares of common stock were outstanding, net of treasury shares.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of our Proxy Statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (“Proxy Statement”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.

THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY

Table of Contents

PART I

Introduction

The Sherwin-Williams Company, founded in 1866 and incorporated in Ohio in 1884, is engaged in the development, manufacture, distribution and sale of paint, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial and retail customers primarily in North and South America with additional operations in the Caribbean region, Europe, Asia and Australia. Our principal executive offices are located at 101 West Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115-1075, telephone (216) 566-2000. As used in this report, the terms “Sherwin-Williams,” “Company,” “we”, “us” and “our” mean The Sherwin-Williams Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Available Information

We make available free of charge on or through our website our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to these reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish such material to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). You may access these documents on our Investor Relations website, investors.sherwin.com.

We also make available free of charge on our website our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our Director Independence Standards, our Code of Conduct and the charters of our Audit Committee, our Compensation and Management Development Committee and our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. You may access these documents on our Investor Relations website, investors.sherwin.com.

Basis of Reportable Segments

The Company reports its segment information in the same way that management internally organizes its business for assessing performance and making decisions regarding allocation of resources. The Company has three reportable operating segments: Paint Stores Group, Consumer Brands Group and Performance Coatings Group (individually, a Reportable Segment and collectively, the Reportable Segments). The Company reports all other business activities and immaterial operating segments that are not reportable in the Administrative function. For more information about the Reportable Segments, see Note 22 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8.

Paint Stores Group

Paint Stores Group consisted of 4,773 company-operated specialty paint stores in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean region at December 31, 2024. Each store is engaged in servicing the needs of architectural and industrial paint contractors and do-it-yourself homeowners. These stores market and sell Sherwin-Williams® and other controlled brand architectural paint and coatings, protective and marine products, OEM product finishes and related products. The majority of these products are produced by manufacturing facilities in the Consumer Brands Group. In addition, each store sells select purchased associated products. The loss of any single customer would not have a material adverse effect on the business of this segment.

Consumer Brands Group

The Consumer Brands Group manufactures and distributes a broad portfolio of branded and private-label architectural paint, stains, varnishes, industrial products, wood finishes products, wood preservatives, applicators, corrosion inhibitors, aerosols, caulks and adhesives to retailers, including home centers and hardware stores, dedicated dealers and distributors throughout North America, Latin America and Europe. Sales and marketing of certain controlled brand and private-label products are performed by a direct sales staff. The products distributed through third-party customers are intended for resale to the ultimate end-user of the product. The Consumer Brands Group also consisted of 334 company-operated specialty paint stores in Latin America at December 31, 2024. Each store is engaged in servicing the needs of home, commercial and industrial projects to contractors and do-it-yourself customers in Latin America. These stores market and sell Sherwin-Williams® and other controlled brand architectural paint and coatings, protective and marine products, OEM product finishes and related products which are branded for the Latin America market. In addition, each store sells select purchased associated products. The Consumer Brands Group also supports the Company’s other businesses around the world with new product research and development, manufacturing, distribution and logistics. Approximately 63% of the total sales of the Consumer Brands Group in 2024 were intersegment transfers of products primarily sold through the Paint Stores Group. The Consumer Brands Group had sales to certain customers that, individually, may be a significant portion of the sales and related profitability of the segment. This segment incurred most of the Company’s capital expenditures related to ongoing environmental compliance measures, manufacturing capacity expansion, operational efficiencies and maintenance projects at sites currently in operation.

Performance Coatings Group

The Performance Coatings Group develops and sells industrial coatings for wood finishing and general industrial (metal and plastic) applications, automotive refinish, protective and marine coatings, coil coatings, packaging coatings and performance-based resins and colorants worldwide. This segment licenses certain technology and trade names worldwide. Sherwin-Williams® and other controlled brand products are distributed through the Paint Stores Group, this segment’s 324 company-operated branches, a direct sales staff and outside sales representatives to retailers, dealers, jobbers, licensees and other third-party distributors. The Performance Coatings Group had sales to certain customers that, individually, may be a significant portion of the sales of the segment. However, the loss of any single customer would not have a material adverse effect on the overall profitability of the segment.

Administrative Function

The Administrative function includes the administrative expenses and assets of the Company’s new global headquarters and research and development center, both currently under construction. In addition, it includes the operations of a real estate management unit that is responsible for the ownership, management and leasing of non-retail properties held primarily for use by the Company, including the Company’s current global headquarters and research and development center and disposal of idle facilities. The Administrative function’s remaining assets consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, investments and deferred pension assets. Also included in the Administrative function was interest expense, interest and investment income, certain expenses related to closed facilities and environmental-related matters and other expenses that were not directly associated with the Reportable Segments. Sales of this function represented external leasing revenue. The Administrative function did not include any significant foreign operations. Gains and losses from the sale of property were not a significant operating factor in determining the performance of the Administrative function.

Raw Materials and Products Purchased for Resale

Raw materials and products purchased for resale make up the majority of our consolidated Cost of goods sold. Raw materials may vary considerably by the specific paint or coating being manufactured but can generally be divided into the following categories: resins and latex, pigments, additives, solvents and metal or plastic containers. A significant portion of these raw materials are derived from various upstream petrochemical and related commodity feedstocks, notably propylene. Raw materials are sourced from multiple suppliers globally, typically within the geographic region where our products are being manufactured. A portion of specialized resins and other products are manufactured in house. We also purchase a variety of products for resale that are highly complementary to our paint and coating offerings, notably spray equipment and parts, floorcovering and assorted sundries. We attempt, if feasible, to mitigate our potential risk associated with the sourcing of our raw materials and other products through inventory management, strategic relationships with key suppliers, alternative sourcing strategies and long-term investments to expand our manufacturing capabilities.

Seasonality

The majority of the sales for the Reportable Segments traditionally occur during the second and third quarters. Periods of economic downturn, however, can alter these seasonal patterns. There is no significant seasonality in sales for the Administrative function.

Working Capital

In order to meet increased demand during the second and third quarters, the Company usually builds its inventories during the first quarter. Working capital items (inventories and accounts receivable) are generally financed through short-term borrowings, which include the use of lines of credit and the issuance of commercial paper. For a description of the Company’s liquidity and capital resources, see Item 7 Financial Condition, Liquidity and Cash Flow.

Trademarks and Trade Names

Customer recognition of trademarks and trade names owned or licensed by the Company collectively contribute significantly to our sales. The major trademarks and trade names used by each of the Reportable Segments are set forth below.

*•*Paint Stores Group: Sherwin-Williams®, A-100®, Builders Solution®, Captivate®, Cashmere®, Duration®, Emerald®, Gallery Series™, Kem Tone®, Latitude®, Loxon®, Metalatex®, Novacor®, Painters Edge Plus®, ProClassic®, ProCraft®, Pro Industrial™, ProMar®, Scuff Tuff®, SuperDeck®, SuperPaint®, Woodscapes®

*•*Consumer Brands Group: Cabot®, Colorgin®, Condor®, Dupli-Color®, Dutch Boy®, Geocel®, HGTV HOME® by Sherwin-Williams, Krylon®, Minwax®, Purdy®, Ronseal®, Thompson’s® WaterSeal®, Valspar®, White Lightning®

*•*Performance Coatings Group: Sherwin-Williams®, Acrolon®, AcromaPro®, ATX®, DeBeer Refinish®, Duraspar®, EcoDex®, Envirolastic®, Excelo®, EzDex®, Fastline®, Firetex®, Fluropon®, Gross & Perthun™, Heat-Flex®, House of Kolor®, Huarun®, ICA®, Inver®, Kem Aqua®, Klumpp Coatings™, Lazzuril®, Macropoxy®, Martin

Senour®, Matrix Edge®, M.L. Campbell®, Octoral®, Oskar Nolte™, PermaClad®, Polane®, Powdura®, Sayerlack®, Sher-Wood®, Sumaré®, Ultra 9K®, Ultra 7000®, ValPure®, Valspar®

Patents

Although patents and licenses are not of material importance to our business as a whole or any segment, each segment derives a portion of its income from the licensing of technology, trademarks and trade names to foreign companies.

Backlog and Productive Capacity

Backlog orders are not typically significant in the business of any Reportable Segment since there is normally a short period of time between the placing of an order and shipment. We believe that sufficient productive capacity currently exists to fulfill our needs for paint, coatings and related products during 2025.

Competition

We experience competition from many local, regional, national and international competitors of various sizes in the manufacture, distribution and sale of our paint, coatings and related products. We are a leading manufacturer and retailer of paint, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial and retail customers, however, our competitive position varies for our different products and markets.

In the Paint Stores Group, competitors include other paint and wallpaper stores, mass merchandisers, home centers, independent hardware stores, hardware chains and manufacturer-operated direct outlets. Product quality, product innovation, breadth of product line, technical expertise, service and price determine the competitive advantage for this segment.

In the Consumer Brands Group, domestic and foreign competitors include manufacturers and distributors of branded and private-label paint and coatings products as well as other paint and wallpaper stores, mass merchandisers, home centers, independent hardware stores, hardware chains and manufacturer-operated direct outlets. Technology, product quality, product innovation, breadth of product line, technical expertise, distribution, service and price are key competitive factors for this segment.

The Performance Coatings Group has numerous competitors in its domestic and foreign markets with broad product offerings and several others with niche products. Key competitive factors for this segment include technology, product quality, product innovation, breadth of product line, technical expertise, distribution, service and price.

The Administrative function has many competitors consisting of other real estate owners, developers and managers in areas in which this segment owns property. The main competitive factors are the availability of property and price.

Human Capital Resources

Our commitment to our people is embedded in the Company’s corporate purpose and guiding values. Through the development, manufacture, distribution and sale of innovative paint and coatings products, our employees are instrumental in fulfilling our corporate purpose to inspire and improve the world by coloring and protecting what matters. The Company’s seven guiding values — integrity, people, service, quality, performance, innovation and growth — drive how we fulfill our purpose, emphasize the importance of our global workforce and serve as the foundation of our culture of excellence.

At December 31, 2024, we employed 63,890 people worldwide, of which approximately 75% were in the United States. The success of our business and our ability to execute on our strategy depend in large part on our ability to attract, retain, develop and progress qualified employees with a broad range of skills, experiences and perspectives at all levels of our organization. To deliver on these objectives, we have developed key programs, policies and initiatives focused on belonging and culture, talent acquisition and employee engagement, occupational health and safety and total rewards.

Belonging and Culture. We strive to foster a strong workplace culture that drives belonging, employee engagement, performance and above market growth while attracting, retaining, developing and progressing a pipeline of talent ready to serve the communities in which we operate. As reflected in our Code of Conduct and reinforced through our values, fostering a strong culture and a positive employee experience is imperative for long-term sustainable growth. The building blocks of our culture of belonging include:

• Communicating impact: Sharing the Company story, goals and priorities at all levels and supporting our employees in life, career and connections.

• Leading with intention: Creating a culture where we inspire employees to Create Your Possible and leverage the unique contributions of each employee to foster a positive employee experience for all and drive above-market growth.

• Empowering everyone: Investing in our people by providing collaboration, development and learning opportunities to drive retention, progression and engagement.

• Committing to action: Empowering and engaging leaders at all levels to use tools and resources to take meaningful action to foster a culture of belonging for all employees.

While our commitment starts at the top, with a Board of Directors with a broad range of skills, backgrounds and experiences, creating a supportive, welcoming environment across our global footprint is the shared responsibility of all of our employees, including our senior leaders. We strive to ensure our senior leaders have the resources they need to foster a positive employee experience for all and ultimately leverage our workforce to deliver customer-focused differentiated products, services and solutions. In 2024, we continued supporting employees in life, career and connection. Our employee-led communities have served as champions of the employee value proposition, Create Your Possible, a framework for initiatives with a shared purpose of driving professional development, employee engagement and business results. We have over 400 employee-led communities that bring together employees from various groups, divisions and functional teams to create greater synergy around business objectives and serve as a hub for innovation, professional development and mentorship opportunities that enable our employees to thrive and find long-term success at Sherwin-Williams.

Talent Acquisition and Employee Engagement. We strive to attract, retain, develop and progress a workforce that embraces our culture through an integrated talent management strategy. This strategy connects major milestones in the employee journey, including talent acquisition, onboarding, performance management, leadership and management development, succession and career progression. The Company’s early talent programs, including our management trainee program and similar programs across our global business, play a critical role in attracting, developing and advancing a pipeline of talent with a broad mix of skills, backgrounds and experiences. During 2024, we hired approximately 1,500 professionals through our management trainee program as part of our long-term growth initiatives.

We invest in our people by providing learning and employee networking opportunities to drive retention, development and engagement and help employees excel in their current and future roles. During 2024, our employees collectively completed thousands of hours of online and instructor-led courses across a broad range of categories, including leadership, professional skills, technical skills and compliance. We measure our progress toward creating a culture of excellence that empowers employees to learn, grow and achieve their aspirations by conducting periodic pulse surveys and a global engagement survey, which we conducted in 2023 and expect to conduct every other year. We are focused on using these survey results to drive continued progress with our efforts.

Occupational Health and Safety. Providing safe and healthy working environments for our employees is a core value. We have a consistent focus on Environmental, Health and Safety excellence that promotes employee health and safety, process safety and occupational health, including evaluation and implementation of preventative measures to reduce workplace injuries and illness. We strive for incident-free workplaces and are continuously seeking to improve the programs that are in place to help keep our employees, customers and communities safe, including by regularly re-evaluating our global management systems, standards and performance measures.

Total Rewards. We prioritize the fair and consistent treatment of our employees in relation to working conditions, wages, benefits, policies and procedures. The Company’s policies and programs are designed to respond to the needs of our employees in a manner that provides a safe, professional, efficient and rewarding workplace. Our total rewards programs are designed to offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits and other programs to support employees’ growth, both personally and professionally, and the needs and well-being of our employees worldwide.

Over the past few years, we have enhanced certain of the Company’s benefits and practices to support the health and well-being of our employees. Our enhanced benefits have included paid sick leave, family leave and voluntary leave of absence policies and programs. In 2024, we introduced a new education benefit that offers bachelors’ degrees, associates’ degrees and certificates for in-demand fields, with tuition fully paid by our Company. More recently, in 2025 we added a new backup child and elder care benefit. We continue to permit remote, alternate and flexible work arrangements where possible to promote increased flexibility and support employee health and well-being, while maintaining our focus on collaboration and engagement.

Regulatory Compliance

For additional information regarding environmental-related matters, see Notes 1, 10 and 19 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements contained in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in this report constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current expectations, predictions, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events and conditions and may discuss, among other things, anticipated future performance (including sales and earnings), expected growth, future business plans and the costs and potential liability for environmental-related matters and lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation. Any statement that is not historical in nature is a forward-looking statement and may be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “anticipate,” “aspire,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “strive,” “target,” “will,” or “would” or the negative thereof or comparable terminology.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements and from our historical results, performance and experience. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include such things as:

• general business and economic conditions in the United States and worldwide;

• inflation rates, interest rates, unemployment rates, labor costs, healthcare costs, recessionary conditions, geopolitical conditions, terrorist activity, armed conflicts and wars, public health crises, pandemics, outbreaks of disease and supply chain disruptions;

• shifts in consumer behavior driven by economic downturns in cyclical segments of the economy;

• shortages and increases in the cost of raw materials and energy;

• catastrophic events, adverse weather conditions and natural disasters (including those that may be related to climate change);

• the loss of any of our largest customers;

• increased competition or failure to keep pace with developments in key competitive areas of our business;

• disruptions to our information technology systems, including due to digitization efforts or cybersecurity incidents;

• our ability to attract, retain, develop and progress a qualified global workforce;

• our ability to successfully integrate past and future acquisitions into our existing operations;

• risks and uncertainties associated with our expansion into and our operations in South America, Asia, Europe and other foreign markets;

• policy changes affecting international trade, including import/export restrictions and tariffs;

• our ability to achieve our strategies or expectations relating to sustainability considerations, including as a result of evolving legal, regulatory and other standards, processes and assumptions, the pace of scientific and technological developments, increased costs, the availability of requisite suppliers, energy sources, or financing and changes in carbon markets;

• damage to our business, reputation, image or brands due to negative publicity;

• the infringement or loss of our intellectual property rights or the theft or unauthorized use of our trade secrets or other confidential business information;

• a weakening of global credit markets or changes to our credit ratings;

• our ability to generate cash to service our indebtedness;

• fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and changing monetary policies;

• our ability to comply with a variety of complex U.S. and non-U.S. laws, rules and regulations;

• increases in tax rates, or changes in tax laws or regulations;

• our ability to comply with numerous, complex and increasingly stringent domestic and foreign health, safety and environmental laws, regulations and requirements;

• our liability related to environmental investigation and remediation activities at some of our currently- and formerly-owned sites;

• the nature, cost, quantity and outcome of pending and future litigation, including lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation; and

• the other risk factors discussed in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other reports filed with the SEC.

Readers are cautioned that it is not possible to predict or identify all of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect future results and that the above list should not be considered a complete list. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

The risks described below and in other documents we file from time to time with the SEC could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flow, liquidity or financial condition. Although the risks are organized by headings, and each risk is discussed separately, many are interrelated. While we believe we have identified and discussed below the key risks affecting our business, there may be additional risks and uncertainties that are not presently known or that are not currently believed to be significant that may adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flow, liquidity or financial condition in the future. Readers should not interpret the disclosure of any risk factor to imply that the risk has not already materialized.

ECONOMIC AND STRATEGIC RISKS

Adverse changes in general business and economic conditions in the United States and worldwide have in the past adversely affected and may in the future adversely affect our results of operations, cash flow, liquidity or financial condition.

We operate all over the world serving customers in more than 120 countries. Our business, operations and business plans and strategies are sensitive to global and regional business and economic conditions. Adverse changes in such conditions in the United States and worldwide have in the past impacted and may in the future reduce the demand for some of our products, adversely impact our ability to predict and meet any future changes in the demand for our products and impair the ability of those with whom we do business to satisfy their obligations to us, each of which could adversely affect our results of operations, cash flow, liquidity or financial condition. Changes in inflation rates, interest rates, tax rates, unemployment rates, labor costs, healthcare costs, recessionary conditions, geopolitical conditions, governmental policies, laws and regulations (including import and export requirements such as new or increased tariffs, sanctions, quotas or trade barriers), business disruptions due to cybersecurity incidents, terrorist activity, armed conflicts and wars (including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas), public health crises, pandemics, outbreaks of disease, catastrophic events, adverse weather conditions or natural disasters (including those that may be related to climate change or otherwise), supply chain disruptions (including those caused by industry capacity constraints, labor shortages, raw material availability and transportation and logistics delays and constraints) and other economic factors have in the past and could in the future adversely affect demand for some of our products, our ability to predict and meet any future changes in the demand for our products, the availability, delivery or cost of raw materials, our ability to adequately staff and maintain operations at affected facilities and our results of operations, cash flow, liquidity or financial condition and that of our customers, vendors and suppliers.

In particular, high levels of ongoing global inflation have impacted consumer and manufacturing behavior in recent years. We expect inflationary pressure to continue to impact consumer and manufacturing customer behavior during 2025, including in the United States housing market as a result of elevated mortgage rates and in global industrial markets as a result of softer demand. Such impacts could adversely affect the demand for some of our products and our results of operations, cash flow, liquidity or financial condition. In addition, market uncertainty and volatility in various geographies have been magnified as a result of potential shifts in U.S. and foreign trade, economic and other policies following the 2024 U.S. presidential and congressional elections, and any such actual shifts, including price increases on certain raw materials, or changes in the availability of, or tariffs on certain imported raw materials, could adversely impact our results of operations, cash flow, liquidity or financial condition.

Protracted duration of economic downturns in cyclical segments of the economy may depress the demand for some of our products and adversely affect our sales, earnings, cash flow or financial condition.

Portions of our business involve the sale of paint, coatings and related products to segments of the economy that are cyclical in nature, particularly segments relating to construction, housing, manufacturing and oil production, refining, storage and transportation. Our sales to these segments are affected by the levels of discretionary consumer and business spending in these segments. During economic downturns in these segments, the levels of consumer and business discretionary spending have in the past decreased. A decrease in consumer and business discretionary spending has in the past and could in the future reduce the demand for some of our products and has in the past and could in the future adversely affect our sales, earnings, cash flow or financial condition.

Interest rates, in particular, drive shifts in consumer behavior with respect to the housing market, and have in the past adversely affected and may in the future adversely affect demand for new residential homes, existing home turnover and new non-residential construction. These shifts in consumer behavior have in the past adversely impacted and may in the future adversely

impact demand for some of our products, and our results of operations, cash flow, liquidity or financial condition. Although the Federal Reserve cut interest rates in 2024, mortgage rates have remained high and we have not experienced meaningful positive impacts on demand for our products that serve these segments of the economy to date. Although changes in inflation, the interest rate environment and the mortgage market are difficult to predict, we expect the recent and continued combination of high interest rates and high inflation to continue to impact consumer and manufacturing customer behavior in 2025. Any worsening in these segments will reduce the demand for some of our products and may adversely impact sales, earnings and cash flow.

In the U.S. construction and housing segments, labor markets are impacted by a number of factors, including high employment levels, unemployment programs and subsidies, immigration laws and volatility in general macroeconomic factors. We continue to see project backlogs in these segments due to contractors experiencing a shortage of skilled workers, resulting in an adverse effect on the growth rate of demand for our products. While we would typically expect to see higher demand for our products as project backlogs are reduced in the future, inflation and other economic conditions may delay a recovery in demand, which may result in the labor shortage and such other conditions adversely impacting our sales, earnings, cash flow or financial condition.

OPERATIONAL RISKS

Unexpected shortages and increases in the cost of raw materials and energy may adversely affect our earnings or cash flow.

We purchase raw materials (including petrochemical-derived resins, latex and solvents, titanium dioxide and various additives) and energy for use in the manufacturing, distribution and sale of our products. Factors such as political instability, higher tariffs, import/export restrictions, supply chain disruptions, adverse weather conditions and natural disasters (including those that may be related to climate change or otherwise), armed conflicts and wars, or public health crises have impacted and may in the future adversely impact the availability and cost of raw materials and fuel supplies, our ability to meet customer demands for some of our products, adequately staff and maintain operations at affected facilities and our costs generally. In addition, environmental and social regulations, including regulations related to climate change or otherwise, have in the past

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None.

We maintain a cybersecurity program that is aligned with our business and focused on managing risks to our Company. As described below, we have established policies, standards, processes and practices for assessing, identifying and managing material risks from cybersecurity threats, which are integrated into our overall risk management program and governance structure.

We use various controls, technologies and other processes designed to identify, protect against, detect, respond to and mitigate cybersecurity risks, in alignment with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework 2.0. These include, but are not limited to, internal reporting, monitoring and detection tools, threat intelligence and general and role-based training. We also maintain third-party management processes to identify and manage the cybersecurity risks associated with third-party service providers. We periodically evaluate and improve the effectiveness of our cybersecurity program internally and by engaging with consultants and other third-party advisors to conduct reviews and assessments of our program. These periodic assessments and reviews may include penetration and vulnerability testing, simulations, table-tops and other exercises.

Overseeing the assessment and management of our exposure to various risks, including cybersecurity, is a key oversight responsibility for the Board of Directors. We have an enterprise risk management (ERM) program that includes the processes used to identify, assess and manage our most significant enterprise risks and uncertainties that could materially impact the long-term health of the Company or prevent the achievement of strategic objectives. These risks are identified, measured, monitored and managed across key risk categories, which include the consideration of cybersecurity risks. Our chief financial officer (CFO) facilitates the Company’s ERM program, which includes a formal assessment of the Company’s risk environment at least once per year. The ERM program also facilitates the incorporation of risk assessment and evaluation into the strategic planning process and the provision of regular reports to senior management, including our CEO. The Audit Committee assists the Board with its oversight of both the ERM program and cybersecurity risk, providing regular reports to the Board. Our CFO reviews the ERM program with the Audit Committee at least once per year, including reviewing existing risks and significant emerging risks across the Company’s key risk categories. In reviewing specific threats and risks with the Board, senior management may incorporate reports from consultants and other third-party advisors.

Our Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) leads our global cybersecurity program and is responsible for management of our cybersecurity risks. Our CISO reports to our CFO. Our CISO has served in that position since 2022 and has relevant

experience in cybersecurity leadership positions, including prior experience as CISO of a public company. The Audit Committee regularly reviews our risk exposures relating to cybersecurity with our CISO and CFO, including review of the state of the Company’s cybersecurity and emerging cybersecurity developments and threats and the steps management has taken to monitor and mitigate such exposures. Our CISO manages a team of cybersecurity professionals with expertise and experience in information security.

Our CISO is informed of cybersecurity incidents by the cybersecurity team’s security operations center, which is generally responsible for monitoring the prevention, detection, mitigation and remediation of cybersecurity incidents. We have an established process governing our assessment, response and notifications internally and externally upon the occurrence of a cybersecurity incident, including for our evaluation of materiality. Depending on the nature and severity of an incident, this process provides for escalating notification to our CEO and Board of Directors.

Despite our efforts to prevent cybersecurity threats and incidents, our systems may be affected by damage or interruption resulting from, among other causes, cyber attacks, security breaches, power outages, system failures or malware (including ransomware and other programs that operate with malicious intent). Disruptions to these systems may impair our ability to conduct business and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Despite the security measures we have in place, our facilities and systems and those of third parties we rely on or do business with, may be vulnerable to cyber attacks, security breaches, malware (including ransomware and other programs that operate with malicious intent), power outages, system failures, acts of vandalism, human or technical errors, or other similar events or disruptions. Any such event involving the misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized disclosure of information, whether impacting us or third parties we rely on or do business with, could result in losses, damage our reputation or relationships with customers and suppliers, expose us to the risks of litigation, regulatory action and liability, disrupt our operations and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

To date, we have not experienced a cybersecurity threat or incident that has had a material adverse affect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. We, and third parties we do business with, have experienced cybersecurity attacks and incidents in the past, some of which have resulted in unauthorized access to our information and systems, and other disruptions to our business operations, and we could in the future experience similar incidents. See Risk Factors in Item 1A for additional information on cybersecurity risks.

The Company’s global headquarters, which includes the global headquarters for the Paint Stores, Consumer Brands and Performance Coatings Groups and the Administrative function, is located in Cleveland, Ohio. During 2023, the Company closed on a transaction to sell and subsequently lease back its current global headquarters and research and development center. Construction of the Company’s new global headquarters and research and development center is expected to be completed in 2025. Refer to Item 7 for further information on the construction of our new global headquarters and research and development center.

Our principal manufacturing and distribution facilities are located as set forth below. We believe our manufacturing and distribution facilities are well-maintained, suitable and adequate, with sufficient productive capacity, to meet our current needs.

(1) Certain locations may contain both manufacturing and distribution facilities.

The operations of the Paint Stores Group included 4,773 company-operated specialty paint stores, of which 206 were owned, in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Maarten, Jamaica, Curaçao, Aruba, St. Lucia and Barbados at December 31, 2024. These paint stores are divided into five separate operating divisions based on their geographical region and are responsible for the sale of predominantly Sherwin-Williams® and other controlled brand architectural paint and coatings, protective and marine products, OEM product finishes and related products. At the end of 2024:

• the Mid Western Division operated 1,204 paint stores primarily located in the mid west and upper west coast states;

• the Eastern Division operated 921 paint stores along the upper east coast and New England states;

• the Canada Division operated 259 paint stores throughout Canada;

• the Southeastern Division operated 1,210 paint stores principally covering the lower east and gulf coast states, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Maarten, Jamaica, Curaçao, Aruba, St. Lucia and Barbados; and

• the Southwestern Division operated 1,179 paint stores in the central plains and lower west coast states.

During 2024, the Paint Stores Group opened 79 net new stores, consisting of 84 new stores opened and 5 stores closed.

The Consumer Brands Group operated 334 specialty paint stores in Latin America at December 31, 2024. These stores market and sell Sherwin-Williams® and other controlled brand architectural paint and coatings, protective and marine products, OEM product finishes and related products which are branded for the Latin America market. These paint stores are located in Mexico (180), Chile (57), Brazil (49), Ecuador (37) and Uruguay (11). During 2024, the Consumer Brands Group opened 16 net new stores, consisting of 18 new stores opened and 2 stores closed.

The Performance Coatings Group operated 225 branches in the United States and 99 branches internationally at December 31, 2024. International locations consisted of branches in Europe (47), Canada (22), Chile (11), Mexico (5), Peru (3), Ecuador (2), Brazil (2), Thailand (2), Indonesia (2), Vietnam (1), Singapore (1) and China (1). During 2024, this segment added 2 new branches.

All real property within the Administrative function is owned with the exception of the current global headquarters, current research and development center and new global headquarters currently under construction. For additional information regarding real property within the Administrative function, refer to Item 1 and Item 7 of this report, which are incorporated herein by reference.

For additional information regarding real property leases, see Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8.

SEC regulations require disclosure of certain environmental matters when a governmental authority is a party to the proceedings and such proceedings involve potential monetary sanctions that the Company reasonably believes will exceed a specified threshold. Pursuant to these regulations, the Company uses a threshold of $1 million for purposes of determining whether disclosure of any such proceedings is required.

For information regarding certain environmental matters and other legal proceedings, see the information included under the captions titled “Other Long-Term Liabilities” and “Litigation and Other Contingent Liabilities” of “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Notes 1, 10, 11 and 19 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8. The information contained in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements is incorporated herein by reference.

Not applicable.

INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The following is the name, age and position of each of our executive officers and a brief description of their business experience. Executive officers are generally elected annually by the Board of Directors and hold office until their successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal.

Ms. Petz has served as Chair of the Board of Directors since January 2025, and as President and Chief Executive Officer since January 2024. Prior to her current role, Ms. Petz served as President and Chief Operating Officer from March 2022 to January 2024, and President, The Americas Group (now known as the Paint Stores Group) from March 2021 to March 2022, Senior Vice President, Marketing, The Americas Group from November 2020 to March 2021 and President, Consumer Brands Group from September 2020 to November 2020. Also within the Consumer Brands Group, Ms. Petz served as President & General Manager, Retail North America from March 2019 to September 2020 and Senior Vice President, Marketing from June 2017 to March 2019. Ms. Petz has served as a Director since October 2023 and joined the Company in June 2017 in connection with the Valspar acquisition.

Mr. Mistysyn has served as Senior Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer since January 2017. Mr. Mistysyn has been employed with the Company since June 1990.

Ms. Boyce has served as Senior Vice President – Human Resources since January 2025. Ms. Boyce served within the Performance Coatings Group as Senior Vice President, Human Resources from May 2022 to December 2024, within the Consumer Brands Group as Senior Vice President, Human Resources from January 2021 to May 2022 and as Vice President, Human Resources, Industrial Wood Division, Performance Coatings Group from March 2019 to January 2021. Ms. Boyce has been employed with the Company since October 2008.

Ms. Garceau has served as Senior Vice President – Chief Legal Officer and Secretary since February 2024. Ms. Garceau served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary from August 2017 to February 2024. Ms. Garceau has been employed with the Company since February 2014.

Mr. Jaye has served as Senior Vice President – Investor Relations and Corporate Communications since June 2019. Mr. Jaye served as Vice President – Investor Relations from October 2017 to June 2019. Mr. Jaye has been employed with the Company since October 2017.

Mr. Lang has served as Senior Vice President – Enterprise Finance and Chief Accounting Officer since January 2025. Mr. Lang served as Vice President – Enterprise Finance, Reporting & Controls from May 2022 to January 2025. Mr. Lang served as Vice President – Assistant Corporate Controller from August 2019 to May 2022 and Director – External Financial Reporting from February 2018 until August 2019. Mr. Lang has been employed with the Company since February 2018.

Mr. Young has served as Senior Vice President – Corporate Strategy and Development since March 2021. Mr. Young served as Vice President – Corporate Strategy and Development from June 2017 to March 2021. Mr. Young joined the Company in June 2017 in connection with the Valspar acquisition.

Mr. Binns has served as President, Global Architectural since January 2024. Mr. Binns served as President, Paint Stores Group from January 2023 to January 2024, President, The Americas Group from March 2022 to January 2023, President, Performance Coatings Group from November 2020 to March 2022 and President & General Manager, Automotive Finishes Division,

Performance Coatings Group from July 2018 to November 2020. Mr. Binns has been employed with the Company since August 1997.

Mr. Jorgenrud has served as President, Global Industrial since January 2024. Mr. Jorgenrud served as President, Performance Coatings Group from March 2022 to January 2024, President & General Manager, General Industrial Division, Performance Coatings Group from January 2020 to March 2022 and President & General Manager, Protective & Marine Division, Performance Coatings Group from June 2017 to January 2020. Mr. Jorgenrud joined the Company in June 2017 in connection with the Valspar acquisition.

Mr. Rea has served as President, Consumer Brands Group since November 2021. Mr. Rea served within the Consumer Brands Group as President of North America Sales from November 2020 to November 2021, Senior Vice President of Sales, Retail and National Accounts from November 2019 to November 2020 and Senior Vice President of Sales, Lowe’s Business Unit from March 2018 to November 2019. Mr. Rea has been employed with the Company since April 1993.

Mr. Davie has served as President & General Manager, Global Supply Chain Division, Consumer Brands Group since January 2024. Mr. Davie served as Senior Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer from March 2022 to January 2024, Senior Vice President – Purchasing from October 2021 to March 2022, President & General Manager, Industrial Wood Division, Performance Coatings Group from March 2019 to October 2021 and President & General Manager, Engineered Polymer Solutions, Performance Coatings Group from June 2017 to March 2019. Mr. Davie joined the Company in June 2017 in connection with the Valspar acquisition.

PART II

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and traded under the symbol SHW. The number of shareholders of record at January 31, 2025 was 4,864. The information regarding securities authorized for issuance under the Company’s equity compensation plans is set forth in our Proxy Statement under the caption “Equity Compensation Plan Information” and is incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The following table sets forth a summary of the Company’s purchases of common stock during the fourth quarter of 2024.

(1)Shares were purchased through the Company’s publicly announced share repurchase program. The Company had remaining authorization at December 31, 2024 to purchase 34,425,000 shares. There is no expiration date specified for the program.

(2)All shares were delivered to satisfy the exercise price and/or tax withholding obligations by employees who exercised stock options or had restricted stock units vest.

Comparison of Cumulative Total Return

The following graph compares the cumulative total shareholder return on the Company’s common stock (NYSE: SHW) with the cumulative five-year total return of the companies listed on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index and the peer groups of companies selected on a line-of-business basis. The cumulative five-year total return assumes $100 was invested on December 31, 2019 in Sherwin-Williams common stock, the S&P 500 and the peer group. The cumulative five-year total return, including reinvestment of dividends, represents the cumulative value through December 31, 2024.

Peer group of companies is comprised of the following: Akzo Nobel N.V., Axalta Coating Systems Ltd., BASF SE, Genuine Parts Company, H.B. Fuller Company, The Home Depot, Inc., Lowe’s Companies, Inc., Masco Corporation, Newell Brands Inc., PPG Industries, Inc., RPM International Inc. and Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

(dollars in millions, except as noted and per share data)

Company Background

The Sherwin-Williams Company, founded in 1866, is engaged in the development, manufacture, distribution and sale of paint, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial and retail customers primarily in North and South America with additional operations in the Caribbean region and throughout Europe, Asia and Australia.

The Company is structured into three reportable segments – Paint Stores Group, Consumer Brands Group and Performance Coatings Group (collectively, the Reportable Segments) – and an Administrative function in the same way it is internally organized for assessing performance and making decisions regarding the allocation of resources. See Note 22 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 for additional information on the Company’s Reportable Segments.

Summary

• Consolidated Net sales increased in the year to a record $23.099 billion

◦Net sales from stores in the Paint Stores Group open more than twelve calendar months increased 1.7% in the year

• Diluted net income per share increased 14.1% to $10.55 per share in the year compared to $9.25 per share in the full year 2023

◦Adjusted diluted net income per share increased 9.5% to $11.33 per share in the year compared to $10.35 per share in the full year 2023

• Generated Net operating cash of $3.153 billion, or 13.7% of Net sales, in the year

• Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (Adjusted EBITDA) increased 6.0% in the year to $4.492 billion or 19.4% of Net sales

Outlook

Sherwin-Williams delivered strong 2024 results despite continued choppy macroeconomic conditions. Full year Net sales grew to a record level, gross margin expanded and Diluted net income per share increased by a double-digit percentage. We continued to generate strong cash flow from operations which was used for investment, an acquisition and returning cash to shareholders through dividends and repurchases of our common stock. We enter 2025 with confidence in our differentiated strategy, Success by Design, that continues to deliver innovative and productive solutions for our customers. Although we expect demand softness to persist in several end markets, we have significant above-market growth opportunities in each business. We will continue to support our growth strategy by executing initiatives within our enterprise priorities, including talent, simplification, digitization, supply chain responsiveness and sustainability.

Within Paint Stores Group and Consumer Brands Group, we anticipate continued economic pressures to impact consumer behavior in both North America and Europe in 2025. Our recent investments in sales reps, training and digital tools, coupled with home builder relationships are expected to drive above-market growth opportunities. The outlook for the Performance Coatings Group is varied by end market and region with expected growth in Coil driven by significant new account wins and Packaging as we support customer conversions to our ValPure® coating which complies with European regulations. Demand softness is forecasted in General Industrial due to negative manufacturing trends in North America and Europe and choppiness is expected in Automotive Refinish, Protective and Marine and Industrial Wood. As it relates to consolidated expenses, we expect raw material and employee-related costs to be up by a low-single digit percentage, offset by cost saving simplification efforts across our supply chain such as capacity and productivity improvements.

Our capital deployment strategy remains balanced and consistent. We have a strong liquidity position, with $210.4 million in cash and $3.274 billion of unused capacity under our credit facilities at December 31, 2024 and expect to end 2025 within our target debt-to-EBITDA leverage ratio of 2 to 2.5 times. We are, and expect to remain, in compliance with all financing covenants. Long-term debt maturities due in 2025 are $1.050 billion and are expected to be refinanced at higher interest rates. Together with the long-term debt maturities refinanced during 2024, Interest expense is expected to increase by approximately $40 million in 2025. In addition, we expect to incur additional costs associated with the transition into our new global headquarters and research and development (R&D) center in 2025 of approximately $100 million, which includes approximately $80 million of Selling, general and administrative expenses and approximately $20 million of Interest expense. Lastly, we plan to expand our footprint by opening 80 to 100 new stores in the United States and Canada in 2025, continue to evaluate acquisitions that align with our long-term growth strategy and return value to our shareholders through the payment of dividends and the reinvestment of excess cash for share repurchases of Company stock.

See Item 1A Risk Factors for further information regarding the current and potential impact of general business and macroeconomic conditions, including inflation rates and interest rates, supply chain disruptions, raw material availability and fluctuations in foreign currency.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis addresses comparisons of material changes in the consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. For comparisons of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 filed on February 20, 2024.

Net Sales

Consolidated Net sales for 2024 increased 0.2% primarily due to higher sales in the Paint Stores Group. This increase was partially offset by lower sales in the Consumer Brands and Performance Coatings Groups. Net sales of all consolidated foreign subsidiaries decreased to $4.426 billion in 2024 compared to $4.428 billion in 2023 primarily due to unfavorable currency translation impact in Latin America and lower Net sales in Asia as a result of the divestiture of the China architectural business, partially offset by higher Net sales in Europe as a result of acquisitions. Net sales of all operations other than consolidated foreign subsidiaries increased to $18.673 billion for 2024 compared to $18.624 billion for 2023.

Net sales in the Paint Stores Group increased 2.7% primarily due to sales volume growth and selling price

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We are exposed to market risk associated with interest rates, foreign currency and commodity fluctuations. We occasionally utilize derivative instruments as part of our overall financial risk management policy, but do not use derivative instruments for speculative or trading purposes. In 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company utilized U.S. dollar to euro cross currency swap contracts to hedge the Company’s net investment in its European operations. The contracts have been designated as net investment hedges and have various maturity dates. See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8. The Company entered into forward foreign currency exchange contracts during 2024, 2023 and 2022 primarily to hedge against value changes in foreign currency. There were no material contracts outstanding at December 31, 2024. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are described in Note 19 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8. We believe we may experience continuing losses from foreign currency fluctuations. However, we do not expect currency translation, transaction or hedging contract losses to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Report of Management

On Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Shareholders of The Sherwin-Williams Company

We are responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We recognize that internal control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance of achieving financial reporting objectives because of its inherent limitations. Internal control over financial reporting is a process that involves human diligence and is subject to the possibility of human error or the circumvention or the overriding of internal control. Therefore, there is a risk that material misstatements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal control over financial reporting. However, we believe we have designed into the process safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, this risk. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In order to ensure that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2024, we conducted an assessment of its effectiveness under the supervision and with the participation of our management group, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer. This assessment was based on the criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

Based on our assessment of internal control over financial reporting under the criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework, we have concluded that, as of December 31, 2024, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, and their report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting is included on page 43 of this report.

Heidi G. Petz

Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer

Allen J. Mistysyn

Senior Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer

J. Paul Lang

Senior Vice President - Enterprise Finance and Chief Accounting Officer

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of The Sherwin-Williams Company

Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We have audited The Sherwin-Williams Company and subsidiaries internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, The Sherwin-Williams Company and subsidiaries (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the related statements of consolidated income, comprehensive income, cash flows and shareholders’ equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the index at Item 15(a) and our report dated February 20, 2025 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Report of Management On Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispos

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None.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer and our Senior Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act). Based upon that evaluation, our Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer and our Senior Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, and accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer and our Senior Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The “Report of Management on Internal Control over Financial Reporting” and the “Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control over Financial Reporting” are set forth in Item 8.

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Trading Arrangements

During the quarter ended December 31, 2024, none of the Company’s directors or “officers,” as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Exchange Act, adopted, modified, or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or a “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K.

Not applicable.

PART III

Directors

The information regarding our directors and director nominees is set forth in our Proxy Statement under the caption “Proposal 1 – Election of 9 Directors” and is incorporated herein by reference.

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to our Board of Directors. Please refer to the information set forth in our Proxy Statement under the caption “Board Committees,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

Executive Officers

The information regarding our executive officers is set forth under the caption “Information About Our Executive Officers” in Part I of this report, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

To the extent disclosure of any delinquent form under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is made by the Company, such disclosure will be set forth in our Proxy Statement under the caption “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” and is incorporated herein by reference.

Audit Committee

The information regarding the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors and audit committee financial experts is set forth in our Proxy Statement under the caption “Board Committees” and is incorporated herein by reference.

Code of Ethics

We have adopted a Code of Conduct, which applies to all directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller and persons performing similar functions, of Sherwin-Williams and our subsidiaries wherever located. Our Code of Conduct contains the general guidelines and principles for conducting Sherwin-Williams’ business consistent with the highest standards of business ethics.

We have also adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Management, pursuant to which our chief executive officer, chief financial officer and senior financial management are responsible for creating and maintaining a culture of high ethical standards and of commitment to compliance throughout our Company to ensure the fair and timely reporting of Sherwin-Williams’ financial results and condition. Senior financial management includes the controller, the treasurer, the principal financial/accounting personnel in our operating groups and divisions and all other financial/accounting personnel within our corporate departments and operating groups and divisions with staff supervision responsibilities.

Our Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Management are available on our Investor Relations website, investors.sherwin.com.

We intend to disclose on our Investor Relations website, investors.sherwin.com, any amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of our Code of Conduct or Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Management that applies to our directors and executive officers, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or any persons performing similar functions, and that is required to be publicly disclosed pursuant to the rules of the SEC.

Insider Trading Policy

The information regarding our Insider Trading Policy is set forth in our Proxy Statement under the caption “Insider Trading Policy” and is incorporated herein by reference. A copy of our Insider Trading Policy is filed with this Annual Report on Form 10-K as Exhibit 19.

The information required by this item is set forth in our Proxy Statement under the captions “2024 Director Compensation Table,” “Director Compensation Program,” “Executive Compensation,” “Executive Compensation Tables” and “2024 CEO Pay Ratio” and is incorporated herein by reference (other than the Compensation Committee Report, which will be deemed furnished).

The information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is set forth in our Proxy Statement under the captions “Security Ownership of Management, Directors and Director Nominees” and “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners” and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information regarding securities authorized for issuance under the Company’s equity compensation plans is set forth in our Proxy Statement under the caption “Equity Compensation Plan Information” and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information required by this item is set forth in our Proxy Statement under the captions “Certain Relationships and Transactions with Related Persons” and “Director Independence” and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information required by this item is set forth in our Proxy Statement under the caption “Matters Relating to the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” and is incorporated herein by reference.

PART IV

(a)(1)Financial Statements

(2) Financial Statement Schedule

Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 is set forth below. All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable SEC accounting regulations are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable and therefore have been omitted.

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves

(Schedule II)

Changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowances were as follows:

(1) Additions (deductions) did not have a material impact on the Income Statement in 2024, 2023 or 2022.

(3) Exhibits

None.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on February 20, 2025.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on February 20, 2025.