CLEVELAND - The Sherwin-Williams Co., Cleveland, announced its financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2012. Compared to the same periods in 2011, consolidated net sales increased $118.3 million, or 4.8 percent, to $2.60 billion in the quarter and increased $617.3 million, or 9.2 percent, to $7.31 billion in nine months. The increase was due primarily to higher paint sales volume in the company’s Paint Stores Group and selling price increases.

Diluted net income per common share in the quarter increased to $2.24 per share from $1.71 per share in 2011 and increased in nine months to $5.37 per share from $3.98 per share last year. The third-quarter and nine-month increases in diluted net income per common share were due primarily to strong sales volumes and operating results driven primarily by Paint Stores Group.