Who Owns Minwax?
Minwax is a wood finishing and stain brand owned by The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE: SHW). Founded in Brooklyn in 1904, Minwax became the leading consumer wood stain brand in North America. Sherwin-Williams acquired the company in 1995, and Minwax products are sold through mass retailers and hardware stores.
Parent Company
Acquired
1995
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Minwax Timeline
Who Owns Minwax?
- Parent Company: The Sherwin-Williams Company
- Ownership Type: Subsidiary
- Acquisition Year: 1995
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NYSE: SHW
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Minwax | The Sherwin-Williams Company | Subsidiary |
Where to Buy
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Minwax on AmazonHistory of Minwax
- Founded: 1904
- Founders: Arthur B. Harrison
- Acquired by The Sherwin-Williams Company: 1995
Arthur B. Harrison founded the company in Brooklyn, New York, in 1904, originally producing waterproofing and wood treatment products for industrial and residential use. The Minwax name derived from the company's wax-based formulations.
The company's breakthrough came with Wood Finish penetrating stain, a DIY-friendly wood stain that let homeowners color and finish wood without professional skills. Minwax essentially created the consumer wood finishing category: before it, staining wood was largely a professional or furniture-maker task.
Through the mid-twentieth century, Minwax built a full line of interior wood stains, topcoats (Polycrylic became a category standard), exterior stains, and wood care products. The company remained family-controlled, headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, with manufacturing in Florence, South Carolina.
Sherwin-Williams acquired The Minwax Company in 1995 for approximately $200 million, adding the dominant wood finishing brand to its portfolio. The deal followed the company's pattern of acquiring category-leading consumer brands.
Under Sherwin-Williams, Minwax maintained its category leadership while gaining the parent's distribution reach. Product innovations have included fast-drying stains, oil-modified and water-based polyurethane alternatives, wood putty and repair products, and the Polycyclic name's expansion. The brand's stain color program, with hundreds of colors, remains a consumer reference.
About The Sherwin-Williams Company
Who owns Valspar paint?
Valspar is owned by Sherwin-Williams, which acquired Valspar Corporation in 2017 for approximately $11.3 billion. Valspar is sold through Lowe's stores in the United States under an exclusive retail partnership. The Valspar brand also includes industrial coatings businesses that serve packaging, coil, and wood coating markets globally.
Is Sherwin-Williams publicly traded?
Yes. Sherwin-Williams trades on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker SHW. The company is a component of the S&P 500 and has a market capitalization of approximately $60 billion as of mid-2026. No controlling shareholder exists, with ownership distributed among institutional investors including Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street Global Advisors.
Who owns Dutch Boy paint?
Dutch Boy is owned by Sherwin-Williams. The brand dates to 1907 and is positioned in the value and mid-market segments of architectural paint. Dutch Boy products are sold through mass retail channels including hardware stores and home improvement centers.
Who owns Krylon spray paint?
Krylon is owned by Sherwin-Williams. Krylon is the leading spray paint brand in the United States and competes with RPM International's Rust-Oleum in the protective coatings and spray paint segment. Krylon products are sold through hardware stores, home improvement centers, and mass retailers.
What is Sherwin-Williams' revenue?
Sherwin-Williams reported consolidated net sales of $23.7 billion for FY2025, an increase from $23.1 billion in FY2024. Diluted net income per share was $11.13 for FY2025. The Paint Stores Group generated $15.3 billion in net sales, the Consumer Brands Group generated $5.8 billion, and the Global Performance Group generated $2.7 billion.
How many Sherwin-Williams stores are there?
Sherwin-Williams operates approximately 4,900 company-owned paint stores across the United States, Canada, and other markets. This network is the largest company-owned paint retail operation in the world and is the primary distribution channel for the Sherwin-Williams branded product line. The company continues to open new stores in high-growth markets.
- Founded: 1866
- Headquarters: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NYSE: SHW
- Revenue: $23.7B (FY2025)
- Employees: ~64,000
Where Is Minwax Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States
Minwax Categories & Tags
Minwax Sustainability & Ethics
Minwax operates under The Sherwin-Williams Company's sustainability platform. Oil-based wood finishes carry inherent VOC content, and the brand has introduced water-based alternatives (including water-based Polycrylic) compliant with tightening regulations including California's CARB standards.
The brand holds no independent certification. Sherwin-Williams' corporate sustainability commitments cover its operations.
Brands Owned by The Sherwin-Williams Company
Household Consumer GoodsCabot
Owned by The Sherwin-Williams Company
Premium exterior wood stain brand founded in 1877, acquired by Sherwin-Williams through the 2017 Valspar merger.
wood-stainexterior-staindeck-stain
Household Consumer GoodsDutch Boy
Owned by The Sherwin-Williams Company
Consumer paint brand founded in 1907, owned by Sherwin-Williams and sold primarily through Walmart, Menards, and independent retailers.
painthome-improvementconsumer-goods
Household Consumer GoodsKrylon
Owned by The Sherwin-Williams Company
Aerosol spray paint brand founded in 1947, owned by Sherwin-Williams and the market leader in consumer spray paint.
spray-paintaerosoldiy
Household Consumer GoodsSherwin-Williams
Owned by The Sherwin-Williams Company
Flagship paint and coatings brand of The Sherwin-Williams Company, founded in 1866 and sold through approximately 4,900 company-operated stores.
paintcoatingshome-improvement
Household Consumer GoodsValspar
Owned by The Sherwin-Williams Company
Premium paint brand founded in 1806, acquired by Sherwin-Williams in 2017 and sold primarily through Lowe's and independent retailers.
paintcoatingshome-improvement
Minwax Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Category creator and leader for over a century
- +Broadest consumer wood finishing line in the industry
- +Authoritative brand trust among DIYers and professionals
- +Retail distribution across all major home improvement channels
- +Sherwin-Williams manufacturing and R&D support
Considerations
- -Narrow category focus limits growth beyond wood finishing
- -Oil-based formulations face ongoing VOC regulatory pressure
- -Varathane and sister brand Cabot create price and segment competition
- -Brand awareness skews older; younger DIYers less attached
- -Stable but mature niche with limited expansion runways
Frequently Asked Questions About Minwax
Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to Minwax
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Depot | USA | 1978 | Market leader | United states | All-consumers | |
| Sherwin Williams | USA | 1877 | Premium | United states | All Genders | |
| Sherwin Williams | USA | 1907 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Sherwin Williams | USA | 1947 | Mass market | United states | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
Retail EcommerceThe Home Depot
Owned by The Home Depot Inc.
The flagship big-box home improvement retail brand of The Home Depot Inc., founded in 1978 and operating about 2,350 orange-box warehouse stores across North America.
home-improvementretailbig-box
Household Consumer GoodsCabot
Owned by The Sherwin-Williams Company
Premium exterior wood stain brand founded in 1877, acquired by Sherwin-Williams through the 2017 Valspar merger.
wood-stainexterior-staindeck-stain
Household Consumer GoodsDutch Boy
Owned by The Sherwin-Williams Company
Consumer paint brand founded in 1907, owned by Sherwin-Williams and sold primarily through Walmart, Menards, and independent retailers.
painthome-improvementconsumer-goods
Household Consumer GoodsKrylon
Owned by The Sherwin-Williams Company
Aerosol spray paint brand founded in 1947, owned by Sherwin-Williams and the market leader in consumer spray paint.
spray-paintaerosoldiy
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Minwax competes with 4 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Independent Alternatives to Minwax
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by The Sherwin-Williams Company, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Household Consumer GoodsBetter Homes & Gardens
Owned by Dotdash Meredith (IAC)
Licensed home goods brand available exclusively at Walmart, offering stylish furniture, decor, kitchenware, and garden products inspired by the iconic lifestyle magazine.
home-decorfurniturekitchenware
Privately Owned
Better Homes & Gardens is privately owned, unlike Minwax which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Household Consumer GoodsKraftMaid
Owned by Cabinetworks Group
American semi-custom cabinetry brand owned by Cabinetworks Group, offering kitchen and bathroom cabinets through dealers and home centers.
cabinetrykitchen-cabinetsbathroom-cabinets
Privately Owned
KraftMaid is privately owned, unlike Minwax which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Household Consumer GoodsThe Pioneer Woman
Owned by Ree Drummond
Licensed kitchenware and home decor brand created by Ree Drummond, featuring rustic-inspired products available exclusively at Walmart.
kitchenwarehome-decorlicensed-brand
Privately Owned
The Pioneer Woman is privately owned, unlike Minwax which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Household Consumer GoodsTupperware
Owned by Party Products LLC
American brand of plastic food storage containers founded in 1946 by Earl Tupper, known for the airtight "burping" seal and the Tupperware party direct selling model. Now owned by Party Products LLC after the 2024 bankruptcy of Tupperware Brands Corporation.
food-storageplastic-containersdirect-selling
Privately Owned
Tupperware is privately owned, unlike Minwax which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Household Consumer GoodsWindex
Owned by S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
American brand of glass and surface cleaning products, known for its distinctive blue color and streak-free cleaning performance. Owned by S.C. Johnson & Son.
glass-cleanercleaninghousehold
Privately Owned
Windex is privately owned, unlike Minwax which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Household Consumer GoodsZiploc
Owned by S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
American brand of resealable zipper storage bags and containers developed by Dow Chemical in 1968, now owned by S.C. Johnson and Son, Inc. since 1998. Dominates the US zipper food storage bag market by sales volume and share.
storage-bagsfood-storagezipper-bags
Privately Owned
Ziploc is privately owned, unlike Minwax which is under a publicly traded parent company.
The Sherwin-Williams Company Stock Information
Jobs at The Sherwin-Williams Company
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