The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW) Cash Flow Statement
Where SHW’s cash came from and went, 2025
December 31, 2025 · U.S. dollars- Cash from operations
- $3.45B +9.5% vs 2024
- Capital expenditures
- $797.6M 3.4% of revenue
- Free cash flow
- $2.65B 11.3% margin
- Returned to shareholders
- $2.45B 92% of free cash flow
- Change in cash
- −$3.2M cash at year-end $207.2M
Drawn to scale: where the cash came from and how it was used. Hover for values.
SHW operating cash flow, capex and free cash flow
SHW cash flow trends, 2016–2025
| Metric | Trend | Then | Latest | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating cash flow | $1.31B2016 | $3.45B2025 | +11.4%/yr | |
| Capital expenditures | $239.0M2016 | $797.6M2025 | +14.3%/yr | |
| Free cash flow | $1.07B2016 | $2.65B2025 | +10.6%/yr | |
| Free cash flow margin | 9.0%2016 | 11.3%2025 | +2.2 pts | |
| Operating cash flow / net income | 1.162016 | 1.342025 | +0.19 | |
| Stock-based compensation | $72.1M2016 | $123.5M2025 | +6.2%/yr | |
| Dividends paid | $312.1M2016 | $789.8M2025 | +10.9%/yr | |
| Share buybacks (net) | $02016 | $1.66B2025 | — | |
| Capex / revenue | 2.0%2016 | 3.4%2025 | +1.4 pts |
Change is the average annual growth (CAGR) or the difference between the first and latest year.
SHW cash flow by activity
SHW net income vs operating cash flow
Operating cash flow above net income usually means earnings are backed by cash (depreciation and stock-based pay are non-cash expenses).
SHW cash flow statement
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating activities | ||||||||||
| Net income | $2.57B | $2.68B | $2.39B | $2.02B | $1.86B | $2.03B | $1.54B | $1.11B | $1.77B | $1.13B |
| Depreciation & amortization | $676.9M | $624.0M | $622.5M | $581.1M | $572.6M | $581.4M | $574.9M | $596.3M | $491.8M | $197.5M |
| Stock-based compensation | $123.5M | $138.1M | $115.9M | $99.7M | $97.7M | $95.9M | $101.7M | $82.6M | $90.3M | $72.1M |
| Change in working capital | −$636.3M | −$503.9M | −$192.9M | −$1.15B | −$653.3M | $276.0M | −$548.0M | $176.4M | −$16.2M | −$228.2M |
| Other non-cash items | $719.0M | $213.6M | $587.6M | $369.3M | $363.2M | $424.9M | $651.4M | −$20.3M | −$451.4M | $134.5M |
| Cash from operating activities | $3.45B | $3.15B | $3.52B | $1.92B | $2.24B | $3.41B | $2.32B | $1.94B | $1.88B | $1.31B |
| Investing activities | ||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | −$797.6M | −$1.07B | −$888.4M | −$644.5M | −$372.0M | −$303.8M | −$328.9M | −$251.0M | −$222.8M | −$239.0M |
| Investments (net) | — | −$1.20B | −$1.04B | −$1.61B | −$476.4M | −$322.4M | −$462.6M | −$251.6M | −$9.05B | −$303.8M |
| Acquisitions & other investing | −$1.21B | $1.07B | $888.4M | $644.5M | $372.0M | $303.8M | $328.9M | $251.0M | $222.8M | $239.0M |
| Cash from investing activities | −$2.01B | −$1.20B | −$1.04B | −$1.61B | −$476.4M | −$322.4M | −$462.6M | −$251.6M | −$9.05B | −$303.8M |
| Financing activities | ||||||||||
| Dividends paid | −$789.8M | −$723.4M | −$623.7M | −$618.5M | −$587.1M | −$488.0M | −$420.8M | −$322.9M | −$319.0M | −$312.1M |
| Share repurchases & issuance (net) | −$1.66B | −$1.74B | −$1.43B | −$883.2M | −$2.75B | −$2.45B | −$778.8M | −$613.3M | $143.6M | $86.8M |
| Net borrowing (repayment) | $1.01B | $272.9M | −$433.8M | $946.5M | $1.32B | −$420.3M | −$679.4M | −$933.4M | $6.73B | −$66.6M |
| Shares issued | $0 | $0 | $0 | $22.0M | $11.7M | $182.4M | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other financing | $53.8M | $172.2M | $64.9M | $250.8M | $169.4M | $152.1M | $32.6M | $122.9M | −$39.8M | −$15.5M |
| Cash from financing activities | −$1.38B | −$2.02B | −$2.42B | −$282.4M | −$1.83B | −$3.02B | −$1.85B | −$1.75B | $6.51B | −$307.4M |
| Summary | ||||||||||
| Net change in cash | −$3.2M | −$66.4M | $78.0M | $33.1M | −$60.9M | $64.8M | $6.3M | −$48.7M | −$685.6M | $684.0M |
| Cash at end of period | $207.2M | $210.4M | $276.8M | $198.8M | $165.7M | $226.6M | $161.8M | $155.5M | $204.2M | $889.8M |
| Free cash flow | $2.65B | $2.08B | $2.63B | $1.28B | $1.87B | $3.10B | $1.99B | $1.69B | $1.66B | $1.07B |
| Free cash flow margin | 11.3% | 9.0% | 11.4% | 5.8% | 9.4% | 16.9% | 11.1% | 9.7% | 11.1% | 9.0% |
| Capex / revenue | 3.4% | 4.6% | 3.9% | 2.9% | 1.9% | 1.7% | 1.8% | 1.4% | 1.5% | 2.0% |
| Operating cash flow / net income | 1.34 | 1.18 | 1.47 | 0.95 | 1.20 | 1.68 | 1.51 | 1.75 | 1.06 | 1.16 |
| Jun '26 | Mar '26 | Dec '25 | Sep '25 | Jun '25 | Mar '25 | Dec '24 | Sep '24 | Jun '24 | Mar '24 | Dec '23 | Sep '23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating activities | ||||||||||||
| Net income | $843.6M | $534.7M | $476.8M | $833.1M | $754.7M | $503.9M | $480.1M | $806.2M | $889.9M | $505.2M | $356.2M | $761.5M |
| Depreciation & amortization | $186.4M | $186.8M | $186.4M | $166.9M | $162.7M | $160.9M | $161.9M | $155.6M | $153.3M | $153.2M | $154.3M | $155.4M |
| Stock-based compensation | $27.8M | $29.5M | $32.0M | $30.9M | $34.0M | $26.6M | $55.5M | $27.9M | $30.1M | $24.6M | $43.1M | $26.8M |
| Change in working capital | $799.6M | −$799.6M | $178.8M | $67.5M | $21.9M | −$904.5M | $242.0M | $1.0M | $53.0M | −$799.9M | −$52.3M | $324.9M |
| Other non-cash items | −$509.9M | $187.7M | $218.5M | $209.2M | $139.3M | $152.0M | −$5.0M | $84.0M | $76.6M | $58.0M | $417.3M | $40.1M |
| Cash from operating activities | $1.35B | $139.1M | $1.09B | $1.31B | $1.11B | −$61.1M | $934.5M | $1.07B | $1.20B | −$58.9M | $918.6M | $1.31B |
| Investing activities | ||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | −$108.4M | −$138.3M | −$230.4M | −$196.4M | −$181.5M | −$189.3M | −$300.0M | −$235.3M | −$250.9M | −$283.8M | −$319.5M | −$152.9M |
| Investments (net) | — | — | — | −$1.34B | −$241.1M | −$316.2M | −$285.5M | −$328.7M | −$260.8M | −$321.3M | −$530.3M | −$91.1M |
| Acquisitions & other investing | −$99.3M | −$32.2M | $58.8M | $196.4M | $181.5M | $189.3M | $300.0M | $235.3M | $250.9M | $283.8M | $319.5M | −$265.0M |
| Cash from investing activities | −$207.7M | −$170.5M | −$171.6M | −$1.34B | −$241.1M | −$316.2M | −$285.5M | −$328.7M | −$260.8M | −$321.3M | −$530.3M | −$509.0M |
| Financing activities | ||||||||||||
| Dividends paid | −$197.5M | −$197.1M | −$195.8M | −$195.7M | −$197.9M | −$200.4M | −$179.8M | −$182.5M | −$178.6M | −$182.5M | −$155.3M | −$155.6M |
| Share repurchases & issuance (net) | −$1.26B | −$575.6M | −$118.0M | −$668.2M | −$518.5M | −$351.7M | −$310.2M | −$448.7M | −$434.4M | −$545.5M | −$486.0M | −$410.1M |
| Net borrowing (repayment) | $373.1M | $830.9M | −$646.6M | $825.9M | −$92.0M | $926.5M | −$220.5M | −$152.8M | — | — | — | −$468.2M |
| Shares issued | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other financing | $21.8M | −$10.6M | $18.1M | $44.5M | −$1.6M | −$7.2M | $39.7M | $65.5M | −$304.4M | $1.02B | $1.8M | $118.4M |
| Cash from financing activities | −$1.06B | $47.6M | −$942.3M | $6.5M | −$810.0M | $367.2M | −$670.8M | −$718.5M | −$917.4M | $289.6M | −$639.5M | −$915.5M |
| Summary | ||||||||||||
| Net change in cash | $76.6M | $9.7M | −$34.3M | −$28.3M | $70.0M | −$10.6M | −$27.8M | $38.2M | $20.1M | −$96.9M | −$226.6M | $294.0M |
| Cash at end of period | $293.5M | $216.9M | $207.2M | $241.5M | $269.8M | $199.8M | $210.4M | $238.2M | $200.0M | $179.9M | $276.8M | $503.4M |
| Free cash flow | $1.24B | $800,000 | $862.1M | $1.11B | $931.1M | −$250.4M | $634.5M | $839.4M | $952.0M | −$342.7M | $599.1M | $1.16B |
| Free cash flow margin | 18.3% | 0.0% | 15.4% | 17.5% | 14.7% | −4.7% | 12.0% | 13.6% | 15.2% | −6.4% | 11.4% | 18.9% |
| Capex / revenue | 1.6% | 2.4% | 4.1% | 3.1% | 2.9% | 3.6% | 5.7% | 3.8% | 4.0% | 5.3% | 6.1% | 2.5% |
| Operating cash flow / net income | 1.60 | 0.26 | 2.29 | 1.57 | 1.47 | −0.12 | 1.95 | 1.33 | 1.35 | −0.12 | 2.58 | 1.72 |
Negative numbers are cash paid out. Quarterly columns are labeled by the month the quarter ended. Figures in U.S. dollars as reported; data from EODHD.
SHW cash generation
In fiscal 2025 (ended December 31, 2025), Sherwin-Williams generated $3.5 billion of cash from operations (up 9.5%) and spent $797.6 million on capital expenditures, leaving free cash flow of $2.7 billion, 11.3% of revenue. It returned $2.4 billion to shareholders through dividends ($789.8 million) and net share buybacks ($1.7 billion). Cash and equivalents fell by $3.2 million over the year.
Related: SHW income statement, SHW balance sheet, SHW dividend history. See the SHW stock overview for the latest quote and news.
SHW cash flow FAQ
What is Sherwin-Williams's free cash flow?
Sherwin-Williams's free cash flow was $2.7 billion in fiscal 2025: $3.5 billion of operating cash flow minus $797.6 million of capital expenditures It was $2.1 billion a year earlier..
How much cash does Sherwin-Williams generate from operations?
Sherwin-Williams generated $3.5 billion of cash from operating activities in fiscal 2025, 1.34 times its net income of $2.6 billion.
How much does Sherwin-Williams spend on capital expenditures?
Sherwin-Williams spent $797.6 million on capital expenditures in fiscal 2025, 3.4% of revenue, compared with $1.1 billion the year before.
How much stock does Sherwin-Williams buy back?
Sherwin-Williams spent $1.7 billion on net share repurchases in fiscal 2025.
How much does Sherwin-Williams pay in dividends?
Sherwin-Williams paid $789.8 million in dividends in fiscal 2025, 29.8% of free cash flow.