Citi analyst P.J. Juvekar said Axalta is under increased pressure "to deliver on M&A now or risk its credibility" after the company announced it is exploring strategic options again after going through the same process in 2017. Previously the company had M&A negotiations with AkzoNobel (AKZOY) and briefly with Nippon Paints, though neither reached a deal, and this time it could approach new players like Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A), which already owns roughly 10% of the company, or Sherwin-Williams (SHW), contends Juvekar. Axalta does not have architectural paint, which trades at high multiples compared to industrial paint, and he thinks a multiple range of 12x-13x, equating to a stock price in the mid-to-high $30 range, is possible in a deal, though "there is no guarantee that a deal would happen," Juvekar stated in a note to investor before the open.

RBC Capital lowered the firm's price target on Sherwin-Williams to $370 from $380 but keeps an Outperform rating on the shares after its Q1 results and below-consensus guide. The company's investments and ramp-up of pricing realization through 2024 should support above-market growth, while volume upside should further fuel its margin expansion, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Recovery in new residential business, strong share gains, growth in protective/marine and greater than expected capital return could also provide upside to current FY24 guidance, the firm added.

KeyBanc analyst Aleksey Yefremov last night upgraded Sherwin-Williams to Overweight from Sector Weight with a $400 price target. The analyst recommends taking advantage of the 13% pullback in shares since the recent peak in late March. The firm acknowledges a "somewhat less confident" Q1 print and more questions about volume outlook for 2024 on higher interest rates, but believes investors should focus on Sherwin-Williams' volume recovery story that it expects to unfold in 2025 and 2026. KeyBanc expects the company to continue taking share in architectural paint.

BMO Capital lowered the firm's price target on Sherwin-Williams to $377 from $385 but keeps an Outperform rating on the shares. The company's Q1 results disappointed, as weather and customer project delays in the seasonally light Q1 more than offset early share gains tied to competitor issues, but its expected market share gains should amplify results in 2025/26 when housing improves with eventual interest rate cuts, the analyst tells investors in a research note.

Baird analyst Ghansham Panjabi raised the firm's price target on Sherwin-Williams to $310 from $300 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares. The firm said in their opinion, current end-market weakness is a function of the lagged impact of previous increases in interest rates, noting that while raw material cost deflation was a partial offset, the recent up-tick in upstream input costs points toward a peak margin backdrop for Sherwin-Williams and peers.