Fact based stock research
3M (NYSE:MMM)
US88579Y1010
How to read the free ranks
For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
3M stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 29 (worse than 71% compared with investment alternatives), 3M (Industrial Conglomerates, USA) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of 3M are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 63 (better than 63% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 51) but are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 4), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 29, is a hold recommendation based on 3M's financial characteristics. As the company 3M's key financial metrics exhibit excellent performance in two areas, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 63) and above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 51), it could be argued that the risk-taking in financing (Obermatt Safety Rank of only 4) indicates that the company is optimistic about the future and sees debt as an opportunity to boost returns. More debt means more shareholder returns if everything goes well. However, higher debt burdens are risky when interest rates rise or the business deteriorates in a crisis. If you believe the company's future is market-typical or even better, this could be an argument for a share purchase. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
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360° Viewnew| Country | USA |
| Industry | Industrial Conglomerates |
| Index | Dow Jones, Low Emissions, Dividends USA, Energy Efficient, Diversity USA, Human Rights, Low Waste, Recycling, Water Tech, S&P 500 |
| Size class | XX-Large |
This stock has achievements: Top 10 Stock.
24-Apr-2025. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
Analysts rarely agree on a stock’s future. So, who do you believe? Obermatt translates those collective views into a single Sentiment Rank. That plus the financial ranks give you the ultimate 360° View. Sign up to access them.
It’s easier said than done. When your stock drops, it’s easy to want to sell it and find a better performer. Think twice, or even three times, before trading. Those fees (especially the hidden ones) can eat up your gains.
Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: 3M
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 59 |
|
81 |
|
43 |
|
63 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 17 |
|
5 |
|
61 |
|
51 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 20 |
|
13 |
|
6 |
|
4 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 3 |
|
9 |
|
79 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 1 |
|
8 |
|
38 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 29 (worse than 71% compared with investment alternatives), 3M (Industrial Conglomerates, USA) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of 3M are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 63 (better than 63% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 51) but are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 4), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 29, is a hold recommendation based on 3M's financial characteristics. As the company 3M's key financial metrics exhibit excellent performance in two areas, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 63) and above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 51), it could be argued that the risk-taking in financing (Obermatt Safety Rank of only 4) indicates that the company is optimistic about the future and sees debt as an opportunity to boost returns. More debt means more shareholder returns if everything goes well. However, higher debt burdens are risky when interest rates rise or the business deteriorates in a crisis. If you believe the company's future is market-typical or even better, this could be an argument for a share purchase. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 59 |
|
81 |
|
43 |
|
63 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 17 |
|
5 |
|
61 |
|
51 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 20 |
|
13 |
|
6 |
|
4 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 11 |
|
13 |
|
17 |
|
29 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 63 (better than 63% compared with alternatives), 3M shares are more attractively priced than the majority of comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for 3M. Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) is 58 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is lower than for 58% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning 3M's profit levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Book Capital (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 4, which means that the stock price is lower as regards to invested capital than for 4% of comparable investments. On the other hand, Price-to-Sales is less favorable than 66% of alternatives (only 34% of peers have an even less favorable ratio). The same is valid for dividend yield, which is lower than 11% of comparable companies, making the stock more expensive as regards to the company's expected dividend payouts. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 63, is a buy recommendation based on 3M's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. This is a puzzling picture, because it means that profits are high while dividends are low. Since the stock price is low compared with invested capital but high in respect to expected revenues, it means that the company has more invested capital than peers for generating the same amount of revenue. Since profits are higher, it could be a "cash cow" situation (using the classic Boston Consulting BCG matrix naming convention) where the company is on a downward trend, still living from the profits of past products. As the company pays low dividends, it may harbor the opinion that a turnaround is possible, and it rather invests the cash than pay it out to shareholders, thus sealing the company's fate early. Any investment optimism should only be a buy trigger once thorough research is completed. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision, which is especially important in this case, as the financial indicators are inconclusive. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 33 |
|
45 |
|
27 |
|
34 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 62 |
|
91 |
|
56 |
|
58 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 12 |
|
16 |
|
3 |
|
4 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 100 |
|
100 |
|
85 |
|
89 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 59 |
|
81 |
|
43 |
|
63 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 51 (better than 51% compared with alternatives), 3M shows an above-average growth dynamic in its industry. Investors also speak of positive momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all but one indicator above average for 3M. Profit Growth has a rank of 50 which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its profits more than 50% of its competitors. The same is valid for capital growth and stock returns. Capital Growth has a rank of 64, and Stock Returns has a rank of 91 which means that the stock returns have recently been above 91% of alternative investments. Only revenue growth is low with a Sales Growth has a rank of 8 (92% of its competitors are better). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 51, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. The many positive growth indicators indicate a positive growth momentum with only low revenue growth. That can also be attributed to divestments or the sale of unprofitable businesses. If that is the reason, overall growth is well on track to making this stock attractive for growth investors. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 17 |
|
24 |
|
12 |
|
8 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 29 |
|
20 |
|
54 |
|
50 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | 56 |
|
48 |
|
69 |
|
64 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 43 |
|
17 |
|
95 |
|
91 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 17 |
|
5 |
|
61 |
|
51 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 4 (better than 4% compared with alternatives), the company 3M has much riskier financing practices than comparable other companies, which means that their overall debt burden is significantly above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of 3M is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with all three metrics below average for 3M. Liquidity is at 36, meaning that the company generates less profit to service its debt than 64% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is on the riskier side when it comes to debt service. Even worse, Leverage is at a rank of 2, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 98% of its competitors. Finally, Refinancing is at a rank of 30 which means that the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is above average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 70% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 4 (worse than 96% compared with alternatives), 3M has a financing structure that is significantly riskier than that of its competitors. This combination is rather dangerous in most situations. Only very promising companies with bright future outlooks and stellar reputations can operate with such risky financing. Investors should look at Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks to confirm a very positive outlook or be careful with investing in stocks of 3M because it may suffer significantly in case of future difficulties. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 14 |
|
16 |
|
1 |
|
2 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 24 |
|
10 |
|
34 |
|
30 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 71 |
|
67 |
|
37 |
|
36 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 20 |
|
13 |
|
6 |
|
4 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
1 |
|
44 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | 17 |
|
66 |
|
68 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | 55 |
|
27 |
|
99 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | 36 |
|
14 |
|
52 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | 3 |
|
9 |
|
79 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for 3M from April 24, 2025.
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