BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of The Sherwin-Williams Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by US GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

Supply Chain Financing

Supply Chain Financing

As part of our strategy to manage working capital, we have entered into agreements with various financial institutions that act as intermediaries between the Company and certain suppliers. Liabilities associated with these arrangements are recorded in Accounts payable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and amounted to $238.7 million, $213.1 million and $251.3 million at March 31, 2024, December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023, respectively.

Non-Traded Investments

Non-Traded Investments

The Company has invested in U.S. affordable housing, historic renovation and other real estate investments (Non-Traded Investments) that have been identified as variable interest entities which qualify for certain tax credits and other tax benefits. Since the Company does not have the power to direct the day-to-day operations of the Non-Traded Investments and the risk of loss is limited to the amount of contributed capital, the Company is not considered the primary beneficiary. Therefore, in accordance with the Consolidation Topic of the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC), the Non-Traded Investments are not consolidated.

Under the Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures Topic of the ASC, the Company uses the proportional amortization method, whereby the initial cost and any subsequent changes in the level of investment of Non-Traded Investments is amortized in proportion to the receipt of related tax credits. The Company reasonably expects amortization based on the receipt of tax credits would produce a measurement substantially similar to amortization based on the receipt of tax credits and other tax benefits. Both the amortization and related tax credits and other tax benefits are recognized in Income tax expense on the Statements of Consolidated Net Income. In the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company received tax credits and other tax benefits of $21.8 million and proportionally recognized $20.1 million in the amortization of Non-Traded Investments. In the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company received tax credits and other tax benefits of $24.3 million and proportionally recognized $19.4 million in the amortization of Non-Traded Investments. The tax credits and other tax benefits received are presented in Deferred income taxes and as a change in Accrued taxes within Operating activities on the Statements of Condensed Consolidated Cash Flows.

The carrying value of Non-Traded Investments is recorded in Other assets. The liabilities for the estimated future capital contributions are recorded in Other accruals and Other long-term liabilities. In addition, the associated impact of related tax credits and other tax benefits are recorded as a reduction of Accrued taxes and a net deferred tax asset within Deferred income taxes.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Adopted

Effective January 1, 2024, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2023-02, “Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for investments in tax credit structures using the proportional amortization method.” This ASU allows entities to apply the proportional amortization method to all tax equity investments if certain conditions are met. In addition, the ASU requires certain disclosures about the nature and financial implications of tax equity investments on an entity’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows, including the impact of transition on the periods presented, if any. The adoption of the ASU did not materially affect the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows since the Company has historically applied the proportional amortization method to its Non-Traded Investments, however, certain disclosures have been added based on the requirements of the ASU. See Note 1 for further details.

Not Yet Adopted

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures.” This ASU enhances reportable segment disclosures on both an annual and interim basis primarily in regards to the disclosure of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (CODM) and included within the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss. In addition, the ASU requires disclosure, by segment, of other items included in the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss, including qualitative information describing the composition, nature and type of each item. The ASU also expands disclosure requirements related to the CODM, including how the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss are used to assess segment performance and allocate resources, the method used to allocate overhead for significant segment expenses and others. Lastly, all current required annual segment reporting disclosures under Topic 280 will be effective for interim periods. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures.” This ASU enhances income tax disclosures by providing information to better assess how an entity’s operations, related tax risks, tax planning and operational opportunities affect its tax rate and prospects for future cash flows. This ASU requires additional disclosures to the annual effective tax rate reconciliation including specific categories and further disaggregated reconciling items that meet the quantitative threshold. Additionally, the ASU requires disclosures relating to income tax expense and payments made to federal, state, local and foreign jurisdictions. This ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU.