The Sherwin-Williams Company SHW has introduced Minwax Performance Series — an extension of the best-in-class Minwax products — to simplify interior wood-staining projects. The new line has been launched along with an interior stain design center and a redesigned color palette.The new Minwax Performance Series includes three innovative staining solutions — Tintable Wood Stain, Fast-Dry Varnish and Fast-Dry Sanding Sealer. The new Minwax line and the updated color palette are part of a new interior stain design center. The new design center makes it easier to plan for any interior wood staining project. Moreover, the new color palette simplifies the selection of the right color for any interior staining project.All the Minwax Performance Series products are exclusively available at Sherwin-Williams stores nationwide. Shares of Sherwin-Williams have gained 32.5% over a year, modestly underperforming the 32.8% rise recorded by its industry.For 2018, Sherwin-Williams projects high teens to low 20% increase in net sales from 2017. It also sees incremental sales from the Valspar buyout to be roughly $1.85 billion for the first five months of the year. At this level, the company expects earnings per share for the year to be in the range of $15.00-$15.20 per share. The guidance includes $3.80-$3.90 per share charge related to the Valspar acquisition. The company also raised its adjusted earnings per share guidance for 2018 to $19.05-$19.35.Sherwin-Williams is well placed to gain from significant synergies of the Valspar acquisition. Its cost-control initiatives, working capital reductions, supply chain optimization and productivity improvement should also continue to yield margin benefits. Working capital management and efforts to cut operating costs are also helping the company generate healthy cash flows. Sherwin-Williams also remains committed to expand its retail operations.The Sherwin-Williams Company Price and Consensus The Sherwin-Williams Company Price and Consensus | The Sherwin-Williams Company QuoteZacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderSherwin-Williams is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock.A few better-ranked companies in the basic materials space are Armstrong Flooring, Inc. AFI, Norbord Inc. OSB and Boise Cascade, L.L.C. BCCArmstrong has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 21.8% and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). The company’s shares have rallied 28.2% in the past year. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Norbord has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 6% and a Zacks Rank #1. Its shares have gained 32.2% in a year’s time.Boise Cascade has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 8.9% and carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The stock has rallied 64.8% in a year.More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone! It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market. Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.Click here for the 6 trades >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Boise Cascade, L.L.C. (BCC): Free Stock Analysis Report Armstrong Flooring, Inc. (AFI): Free Stock Analysis Report Norbord Inc. (OSB): Free Stock Analysis Report The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.