SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO

Certain statements contained in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Letter to Shareholders” and elsewhere in this report constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current expectations, predictions, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events and conditions and may discuss, among other things, anticipated future performance (including sales and earnings), expected growth, future business plans and the costs and potential liability for environmental-related matters and the lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation. Any statement that is not historical in nature is a forward-looking statement and may be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “goal,” “target,” “potential,” “intend,” “aspire,” “strive,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “seek,” or “anticipate” or the negative thereof or comparable terminology.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements and from our historical results, performance and experience. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include such things as:

•general business conditions, including the strength of retail and manufacturing economies and growth in the coatings industry;

•changes in general domestic and international economic conditions, including due to changes in inflation rates, interest rates, tax rates, unemployment rates, labor costs, healthcare costs, recessionary conditions, geopolitical conditions, government policies, laws and regulations;

•weakening of global credit markets and our ability to generate cash to service our indebtedness;

•fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, including as a result of inflation, central bank monetary policies, currency controls and other exchange restrictions;

•any disruption in the availability of, or increases in the price of, raw material and energy supplies;

•disruptions in the supply chain, including those related to industry capacity constraints, raw material availability, transportation and logistics delays and constraints, political instability or civil unrest;

•catastrophic events, adverse weather conditions and natural disasters, including those that may be related to climate change or otherwise;

•losses of or changes in our relationships with customers and suppliers;

•competitive factors, including pricing pressures and product innovation and quality;

•our ability to successfully integrate past and future acquisitions into our existing operations, as well as the performance of the businesses acquired;

•risks and uncertainties associated with our expansion into and our operations in Asia, Europe, South America and other foreign markets, including general economic conditions, policy changes affecting international trade, political instability, inflation rates, recessions, sanctions, foreign currency exchange rates and controls, foreign investment and repatriation restrictions, legal and regulatory constraints, civil unrest, armed conflicts and wars (including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war) and other economic and political factors;

•cybersecurity incidents and other disruptions to our information technology systems, and our reliance on information technology systems;

•our ability to attract, retain, develop and progress a qualified global workforce;

•our ability to execute on our business strategies related to sustainability matters, and achieve related expectations, including as a result of evolving regulatory and other standards, processes, and assumptions, the pace of scientific and technological developments, increased costs and the availability of requisite financing, and changes in carbon markets;

•damage to our business, reputation, image or brands due to negative publicity;

•our ability to protect or enforce our material trademarks and other intellectual property rights;

•our ability to comply with numerous and evolving U.S. and non-U.S. laws, rules, and regulations and the effectiveness of our compliance efforts;

•adverse changes to our tax positions in U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions, including as a result of new or revised tax laws or interpretations;

•increasingly stringent domestic and foreign governmental regulations, including those affecting health, safety and the environment;

•inherent uncertainties involved in assessing our potential liability for environmental-related activities;

•other changes in governmental policies, laws and regulations, including changes in tariff policies, accounting policies and standards; and

•the nature, cost, quantity and outcome of pending and future litigation and other claims, including the lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation, and the effect of any legislation and administrative regulations relating thereto.

Readers are cautioned that it is not possible to predict or identify all of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect future results and that the above list should not be considered a complete list. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.