Stocks Sherwin Williams One of

Stocks Sherwin Williams One of the companies on I find most interesting and exciting is the Sherwin Williams Company, not only (or even largely) because of their recognizable name and logo, but because of the diversity of products they offer, the number of years that the company has been in operation, and the pure science behind many of the products and developments they have made. Founded in 1866, the company still primarily manufactures paint and coatings, and is in fact the largest producer of such commodities in the world (Sherwin Williams 2009).

In addition, the company produces other industrial chemicals, and is constantly conducting research and development both to create more efficient and environmentally sound manufacturing processes and to develop more durable and adaptable paint products (Sherwin Williams 2009). For a company engaged in industrial chemistry to have weathered the changes of the industrial and Technological Revolutions and remained at the pinnacle of its industry has required strong leadership and a commitment to principled production and service.

These are the major reasons I believe that Sherwin Williams will continue to be a successful company in the future, and would make a sound investment in both the short- and long-term. The company takes a great deal of pride in their history and heritage, as is abundantly evidence on their website and in their building of the Center of Excellence which is "a living archive in support of excellence" that commemorates their past and looks to the future developments of the company (Sherwin Williams 2009).

Such dedication to principle and acknowledgement of the work and direction that brought the company to the forefront of its industry, a place it still commands today, promises a continued pattern of excellent performance and service in the future. Though Sherwin Williams has, like most companies, suffered somewhat in the ongoing economic downturn, the current one-year holding period return (HPR) is still a respectable 5.2% (Yahoo 2009).

This is significantly under both the industry average and the Standard & Poor 500 Performance Index, but the company remains financially strong and has paid a cash dividend on shares every quarter for the past four years (Yahoo 2009). These dividends have actually increased every year, including 2008 and so far in 2009, despite the worse performance brought on by the recession (Yahoo 2009).

At $60.20, the stock is near its high-point for the year, but with things picking up again it is likely to continue rising, though the winter months and the attendant reduction in sales might lead to a more opportune moment to buy. Sean P. Hennessy is Sherwin Williams Chief Financial Officer, and has been in that post since 2001. He also served as the company's treasurer for a year during that period, and has been with the company since 1984. Such solidity and consistency in the world of.