SHERWIN-WILLIAMS CO. $159 (New York symbol SHW; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 103.1 million; Market cap: $16.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.8; Dividend yield: 1.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.sherwin-williams.com) has raised its quarterly dividend by 28.2%, to $0.50 a share from $0.39. The new annual rate of $2.00 yields 1.3%. Sherwin has now raised its dividend for 34 consecutive years.
The company recently agreed to buy privately held Consorcio Comex, Mexico’s largest paint and coating maker. Comex sells its products through 3,300 stores in Mexico, 240 in the U.S. and 78 in Canada.
Sherwin will pay $2.3 billion, including assumed debt, when the sale closes later this year. Expanding by acquisition, particularly in foreign countries, adds risk. The stock is also expensive at 20.7 times Sherwin’s likely 2013 earnings of $7.68 a share.
Sherwin-Williams is still a hold.
