CLEVELAND, July 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --

• Consolidated net sales increased 2.2% in the quarter to $4.88 billion
• Net sales from stores in U.S. and Canada open more than twelve calendar months increased 4.3% in the quarter
• Diluted net income per share increased to $5.03 per share in the quarter compared to $4.25 per share in the second quarter 2018
• Second quarter 2019 includes charges for acquisition-related costs and a tax credit investment loss of $.75 and $.79 per share, respectively; second quarter 2018 included charges for acquisition-related costs and environmental expense provisions of $1.23 and $.25 per share, respectively
• Excluding acquisition-related costs and other non-operating expenses, diluted net income per share increased to $6.57 per share in the quarter versus $5.73 per share in the second quarter 2018 on a comparable basis
• Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) increased 8.5% in the quarter to $921.5 million, or 18.9% of sales
• Reaffirming FY19 adjusted EPS guidance of $20.40 to $21.40 per share, excluding acquisition-related costs and other non-operating expenses, versus $18.53 per share on a comparable basis in FY18

The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE: SHW) announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019. Compared to the same period in 2018, consolidated net sales increased $104.1 million, or 2.2%, to $4.88 billion in the quarter and increased $179.9 million, or 2.1%, to $8.92 billion in six months. The increase in the quarter was due primarily to higher paint sales volume in North American stores, a new customer program launched in 2018 and selling price increases, partially offset by demand softness in some end markets outside the U.S. and unfavorable currency translation rate changes. Currency translation rate changes decreased consolidated net sales by 1.5% in the second quarter and 1.8% in the first six months, respectively. Diluted net income per share increased to $5.03 per share in the second quarter compared to $4.25 per share in the second quarter 2018. Second quarter 2019 includes charges for acquisition-related costs and a tax credit investment loss of $.75 and $.79 per share, respectively. As previously disclosed, the tax credit investment loss relates to the Company's investments in federal renewable energy tax credit funds through DC Solar Solutions, Inc. and certain of its affiliates. Second quarter 2018 diluted net income per share included charges for acquisition-related costs and environmental expense provisions of $1.23 and $.25 per share, respectively. Diluted net income per share increased to $7.65 per share in the first six months compared to $6.86 per share in the same period in 2018. The first six months of 2019 includes charges for acquisition-related costs of $1.46 per share, a tax credit investment loss of $.79 per share and a pension settlement expense of $.27 per share. The first six months of 2018 included charges of $2.18 and $.25 per share from acquisition-related costs and environmental expense provisions, respectively.

Net sales in The Americas Group increased 5.0% to $2.76 billion in the quarter and increased 4.4% to $4.91 billion in six months due primarily to higher paint sales across all end markets in North American stores and selling price increases, partially offset by unfavorable currency translation rate changes. Currency translation rate changes decreased Group net sales by .8% and 1.2% in the quarter and six months, respectively. Net sales from stores in the U.S. and Canada open for more than twelve calendar months increased 4.3% in the quarter and increased 4.0% in six months over last year's comparable periods. Segment profit increased $42.5 million to $612.4 million in the quarter and increased $36.2 million to $943.5 million in six months due primarily to higher paint sales volume and selling price increases, partially offset by unfavorable currency translation rate changes. Segment profit in the first six months was also negatively impacted by increased raw material costs primarily in the first quarter. Currency translation rate changes decreased segment profit by $2.3 million and $6.8 million in the quarter and six months, respectively. Segment profit as a percent of net sales increased in the quarter to 22.2% from 21.7% in the second quarter last year. In the first six months, segment profit as a percent to net sales was 19.2% - essentially flat compared to the same period last year.

Net sales of the Consumer Brands Group increased 3.4% to $804.5 million in the quarter and increased 1.7% to $1.46 billion in six months. The increase in the quarter and six months was due primarily to a new customer program launched in 2018 and selling price increases, partially offset by the divestiture of the Guardsman furniture protection business in the third quarter of 2018, unfavorable currency translation rate changes and lower volume sales to some of the Group's retail customers. Currency translation rate changes decreased Group net sales by 1.6% in both the quarter and six months. Segment profit increased to $140.7 million in the quarter from $90.9 million in the second quarter last year due primarily to selling price increases, good cost control and reduced impacts of purchase accounting, partially offset by incremental investments in the new customer program and unfavorable currency translation rate changes. Segment profit as a percent of net external sales increased in the quarter to 17.5% from 11.7% in the second quarter last year. Purchase accounting expense in the quarter was $22.5 million compared to $28.5 million in the second quarter last year. Currency translation rate changes decreased segment profit by $1.9 million in the quarter. In the first six months, segment profit increased to $228.6 million from $165.1 million in the comparable period last year primarily due to selling price increases, good cost control and reduced impacts of purchase accounting, partially offset by increased raw material costs and unfavorable currency translation rate changes. Segment profit as a percent of net external sales increased in the six months to 15.7% from 11.5% in the same period last year. Purchase accounting expense through six months was $45.4 million compared to $60.4 million in the same period last year. Currency translation rate changes decreased segment profit $2.5 million in six months.

The Performance Coatings Group's net sales stated in U.S. dollars decreased 3.8% to $1.32 billion in the quarter and decreased 1.9% to $2.55 billion in six months. The decrease in both the quarter and six months was due primarily to soft sales outside North America and unfavorable currency translation rate changes, partially offset by selling price increases. Currency translation rate changes decreased Group net sales by 2.7% and 3.3% in the quarter and the first six months, respectively. Segment profit increased in the quarter to $150.3 million from $144.2 million in the second quarter last year due primarily to selling price increases and good cost control, partially offset by increased purchase accounting expense. Segment profit as a percent of net external sales increased in the quarter to 11.4% from 10.5% in the second quarter last year. Purchase accounting expense in the quarter was $53.9 million compared to $47.6 million in the second quarter last year. Segment profit increased in the first six months to $249.0 million from $235.0 million in the same period last year due primarily to selling price increases and good cost control, partially offset by increased raw material costs and increased purchase accounting expense. Currency translation rate changes decreased segment profit $3.3 million in six months. Segment profit as a percent of net external sales increased in the first six months to 9.8% from 9.0% in the first six months last year. Purchase accounting expense for the first six months was $108.0 million compared to $105.1 million in the same period last year.

Net operating cash improved $178.9 million to $758.0 million in the six months. This strong cash generation allowed us to return cash to our shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases for treasury of approximately $660.0 million. The Company purchased 1,075,000 shares of its common stock in the first six months, and at June 30, 2019, the Company had remaining authorization to purchase 9.05 million shares of its common stock through open market purchases.

Commenting on the second quarter, John G. Morikis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Sherwin-Williams delivered record results in net sales, EBITDA, profit before taxes and net operating cash in the second quarter, overcoming uneven demand in end markets outside the U.S. and persistently challenging selling conditions in North American architectural paint markets. Gallon growth in our North American paint stores and continued progress on our pricing initiatives in all segments combined to drive consolidated adjusted gross margin to 44.9% and support our continued investments in solutions for our customers. We also continued to effectively manage costs, which combined with the gross margin improvement, drove a 15% year-over-year increase in adjusted earnings per share. We expect gross margins to continue to improve in the second half of the year, driven by continued volume growth and lower projected year-over-year raw material pricing.

"All three of our segments increased profit and margin year-over-year. In The Americas Group, we generated sales growth in all end markets in our North American paint stores, led by high single digit growth in residential repaint. We leveraged the sales growth to expand segment margin by 50 basis points to 22.2%. We've opened 20 net new stores year to date, and our professional painting contractor customers continue to report solid backlogs and project pipelines going forward. In our Consumer Brands Group, our growth initiatives with our largest partners in North America are performing well and more than offset softer demand in some international markets. Adjusted segment margin improved 490 basis points to 20.3%, driven by sales growth and good cost control. Performance Coatings Group sales declined in the quarter mainly related to softer demand in some end markets in Asia and Europe. Despite the sales decline, adjusted segment margin increased 150 basis points to 15.5% - evidence of our good cost control and that our recent pricing actions are gaining traction to offset raw material inflation.

"For the third quarter, we anticipate our consolidated net sales will increase by a low single digit percentage compared to last year's third quarter. For the full year 2019, we expect our consolidated net sales will increase two to four percent compared to the full year 2018. We are updating our full year 2019 diluted net income per share guidance to be in the range of $16.14 to $17.14 per share as a result of the $.79 per share charge related to the tax credit investment loss. Diluted net income per share in 2018 was $11.67 per share, including a charge of $4.15 per share for acquisition-related costs and charges for non-operating expenses of $2.71 per share. We are reaffirming our full year 2019 adjusted diluted net income per share guidance to be in the range of $20.40 to $21.40 per share, excluding acquisition-related costs and charges for non-operating expenses, compared to $18.53 per share for the full year 2018 on a comparable basis."

The Company will conduct a conference call to discuss its financial results for the second quarter, and its outlook for the third quarter and full year 2019, at 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 23, 2019. The conference call will be webcast simultaneously in the listen only mode by Issuer Direct. To listen to the webcast on the Sherwin-Williams website, www.sherwin.com, click on About Us, choose Investor Relations, then select Press Releases and click on the webcast icon following the reference to the July 23rd release. The webcast will also be available at Issuer Direct's Investor Calendar website, www.investorcalendar.com. An archived replay of the live webcast will be available at www.sherwin.com beginning approximately two hours after the call ends and will be available until August 9, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. EDT.

Founded in 1866, The Sherwin-Williams Company is a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution, and sale of paints, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. Sherwin-Williams manufactures products under well-known brands such as Sherwin-Williams®, Valspar®, HGTV HOME® by Sherwin-Williams, Dutch Boy®, Krylon®, Minwax®, Thompson's® Water Seal®, Cabot® and many more. With global headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, Sherwin-Williams® branded products are sold exclusively through a chain of more than 4,900 company-operated stores and facilities, while the company's other brands are sold through leading mass merchandisers, home centers, independent paint dealers, hardware stores, automotive retailers, and industrial distributors. The Sherwin-Williams Performance Coatings Group supplies a broad range of highly-engineered solutions for the construction, industrial, packaging and transportation markets in more than 120 countries around the world. Sherwin-Williams shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: SHW). For more information, visit www.sherwin.com.

Regulation G ReconciliationManagement of the Company believes that investors' understanding of the Company's operating performance is enhanced by the disclosure of diluted net income per share excluding Valspar acquisition-related costs and other non-operating expenses. This adjusted earnings per share measurement is not in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). It should not be considered a substitute for earnings per share computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The following tables reconcile diluted net income per share computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP to adjusted diluted net income per share.

Management of the Company believes that investors' understanding of the Company's operating performance is enhanced by the disclosure of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). This measurement is not in accordance with U.S. GAAP. It should not be considered a substitute for net income or net operating cash. The following table reconciles net income computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP to EBITDA.

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements," as defined under U.S. federal securities laws, with respect to sales, earnings and other matters. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "should," "project," "could," "plan," "goal," "potential," "seek," "intend" or "anticipate" or the negative thereof or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are based upon management's current expectations, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events and conditions. 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 the control of the Company that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements and from the Company's historical results and experience. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include such things as: general business conditions; the Company's ability to successfully integrate past and future acquisitions into its existing operations, including Valspar, as well as the performance of the businesses acquired; risks inherent in the achievement of additional anticipated cost synergies resulting from the acquisition of Valspar and the timing thereof; strengths of retail and manufacturing economies and the growth in the coatings industry; changes in the Company's relationships with customers and suppliers; changes in raw material availability and pricing; unusual weather conditions; and other risks, uncertainties and factors described from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Since it is not possible to predict or identify all of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect future results, 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 the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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