3M (NYSE:MMM) is scheduled to announce Q3 earnings results on Tuesday, October 21st, before market open.
Wall Street expects the diversified manufacturer to post EPS of $2.07, up 4.5% year over year, on revenue of $6.26B, a 2.6% increase from last year.
Analyst Mike Zaccardi said 3M remains a core industrial blue chip trading near fair value, noting that steady earnings growth and margin improvement support the outlook, though tariff and inflation risks could weigh on performance.
The Minnesota based firm declared a quarterly dividend of $0.73 per share, which was payable September 12 to shareholders of record as of August 25.
However, the stock is down -2.19% over the past month but has gained 17.48% year-to-date.
Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that 3M is considering selling several assets within its industrials unit, which generated about $11B in revenue last year. The move, reportedly under review with Goldman Sachs, would streamline lower-growth businesses such as aftermarket auto products and industrial adhesives. The company is still evaluating options and may choose not to proceed with the restructuring.
BofA Securities said it sees 3M as a self-help story with cost actions expected to lift margins, even as demand in Europe remains weak. The firm kept a Buy rating and a $170 price target, based on 13x EV/EBITDA on 2026 estimates, citing balanced risks between improving execution and potential legal liabilities related to PFAS.
Morgan Stanley said it expects about 2% organic growth from 3M in Q3 but warned that a likely Q4 slowdown could weigh on the 2026 outlook. The brokerage added that while execution remains solid, PFAS litigation, divestment plans, and cost pressures may cap valuation upside.
While estimates point to steady results, 3M has recently delivered modest margin gains and execution ahead of expectations. Over the last 2 years, MMM has beaten EPS estimates 100% of the time and has beaten revenue estimates 63% of the time.
In the last 3 months, EPS estimates have seen 9 upward revisions and 2 downward. Revenue estimates have seen 8 upward revisions and 1 downward.