Valspar Corp

Lowe’s (LOW) operates in the home improvement industry where most products, especially building materials, are largely standardized and undifferentiated.

On March 21, 2017, Sherwin-Williams (SHW) and Valspar (VAL) extended the closure date of their merger agreement to June 21 from the previously announced March 21, 2017.

As of February 27, 21 brokerage firms were actively tracking Sherwin-Williams stock—57% gave it a “buy,” 38% gave it a “hold,” and 5% gave it a “sell.”

As of December 20, 2016, 13 brokerage firms are actively tracking Valspar (VAL)) stock. About 15.0% of those analysts have recommended a “buy” for the stock.

RPM International (RPM) reported fiscal 1Q17 revenues of $1.25 billion, which missed analysts’ expectation of $1.30 billion.

RPM International reported adjusted EPS (or earnings per share) of $0.83, which beat analysts’ estimate of $0.80.

Valspar (VAL) reports its revenue under two segments, namely: the coatings segment and paints segment.

Sherwin-Williams is buying coatings manufacturer Valspar in a $11.3 billion cash transaction. The companies stress that this is a complementary transaction.

Companies in the specialty chemical industry have fewer intermediaries in their distribution range as they move from coatings to more specialized chemicals.

The proprietary products and processes developed by specialty chemical firms command a premium and have enabled companies to post high returns on capital.

Paint companies benefit significantly when titanium dioxide prices enter recessionary cycles.

The specialty chemicals industry caters to diverse sectors through innovative products that are tailored to the specific requirements of end markets.