What happened
Paint giant Sherwin Williams (SHW +3.66%) lagged the market last month by falling 14% compared to a 7% slump in the S&P 500, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
The decline put shares in modestly negative territory for the year, down about 2% compared to a 2% increase in broader indexes.
So what
October's drop came after the company announced lackluster third-quarter results while projecting more modest growth ahead. Sales improved by 5% to land at the low end of the forecast that CEO John Morikis and his team had issued in late July. Sherwin-Williams was able to pass along modest price increases, but profitability was still hurt by a spike in supply chain costs.
Image source: Getty Images.
Now what
Executives lowered their 2018 earnings outlook to account for the rising expenses. However, investors were a bit more concerned about the growth slowdown that management is projecting due to a slowing housing industry in the United States, plus pockets of weakness in China and Europe.
These challenges could keep a lid on sales gains over the next few quarters even as Sherwin-Williams makes further progress strengthening its global business by better integrating the recent Valspar acquisition.
