3M (MMM): analysis in plain words
Is 3M cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
3M (MMM) is listed on the NYSE and we classify it in industrials. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against 3M according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
3M (MMM) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $193.95 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 28.9x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +1.0% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 14.0% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 1.3x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 1.76% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $100.0 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The 3M figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any MMM figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How 3M makes money
3M reports three segments after spinning off its health care business as Solventum. Safety and Industrial, the largest, sells abrasives, adhesives, tapes and personal protective equipment. Transportation and Electronics supplies materials for cars, aircraft and electronics, and Consumer sells household and office brands such as Post-it, Scotch, Command and Filtrete.
Over the last 12 months, 3M brought in revenue of $25.2 billion. For every 100 it sells, 3M keeps 39.5 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 23.7 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 60,500 full-time employees, that is about $417,000 of revenue per employee.
3M against its sector
To know whether a 3M figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares 3M with the median of the 20 industrials companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | 3M | industrials median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 28.9x | 27.3x (20) |
| Revenue growth | +1.0% | +9.8% (20) |
| Net margin | 14.0% | 13.0% (20) |
| Dividend yield | 1.76% | 1.60% (20) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 1.3x | 2.1x (20) |
In short, against the typical industrials company, 3M grows more slowly and carries less debt. By size, 3M ranks number 7 of 15 industrials companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for 3M
These are the strengths in the 3M figures as of November 4, 2026:
- 3M earns 73.0% a year on its shareholders' money (return on equity).
- Analysts expect 3M earnings to rise: its P/E on the next 12 months of estimated earnings is 19.6x, below the current 28.9x.
- 3M generates real cash: $6.4 billion of free cash flow over 12 months, 6.4% of its stock market value.
The main risk for 3M
The 3M figures as of November 4, 2026 show no clear red flag (no heavy debt, no losses, no falling sales). Its main risk is the one built into its business: the economic cycle: when industry and trade slow, its orders fall.
Frequently asked questions about 3M
Is it a good time to buy 3M stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell 3M, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, 3M stock trades at $193.95, 0% below its 52-week high ($194.77) and 39% above its low ($139.34). Its P/E is 28.9x against a industrials median of 27.3x, and 19.6x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With 3M, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does 3M pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, 3M pays $3.12 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 1.76%. It uses 46% of its profit to pay it, which leaves room to keep paying it if profit dips. Its average dividend yield over the last five years is 3.02%. The industrials median on Fintols is 1.60%.
Is 3M stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, 3M trades at 28.9x its last 12 months of earnings: in line with the industrials median (27.3x). Including its debt, 3M is valued at 15.5x its EBITDA (EV/EBITDA). A high P/E alone does not make 3M expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are 3M's competitors?
On Fintols we compare 3M with FedEx, UPS and Illinois Tool Works, which are also in industrials. As of November 4, 2026, FedEx is worth $77.1 billion and trades on a P/E of 17.8; UPS is worth $97.3 billion and trades on a P/E of 21.2; Illinois Tool Works is worth $83.4 billion and trades on a P/E of 26.2. Each has a side-by-side comparison with 3M below.
3M competitors
- FedEx (FDX) analysis · 3M vs FedEx comparison
- UPS (UPS) analysis · 3M vs UPS comparison
- Illinois Tool Works (ITW) analysis · 3M vs Illinois Tool Works comparison
To understand 3M better
- DCF and WACC Explained: A Practical Valuation Guide
- P/E Ratio and EPS Explained: How to Read Them Without Traps
More companies like 3M: industrials stocks, S&P 500 companies and S&P 100 companies. Open the full MMM analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about 3M, not investment advice.