Analysis of Profitability Ratios
Quarterly Data
Profitability ratios measure the company ability to generate profitable sales from its resources (assets).
Profitability Ratios (Summary)
3M Co., profitability ratios (quarterly data)
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-03-31).
- Gross profit margin
- The gross profit margin remained relatively stable between the first quarter of 2018 and the second quarter of 2022, with values oscillating mostly in the range of approximately 44% to 49%. Starting near 49.46% in March 2018, there was a gradual declining trend observed after 2019, reaching a lower limit around 44.35% by the third quarter of 2022. This indicates a slight erosion in the gross profitability over the examined period.
- Operating profit margin
- The operating profit margin exhibited more volatility within the same period. Initial figures in early 2018 were around the mid-20% range, peaking at 24.7% in March 2018 followed by a decline to approximately 19.21% by the last quarter of 2019. After fluctuations near 20% to 22% through 2020 and 2021, there was a notable dip to 14.69% in the third quarter of 2022, before partially recovering to 21.64% in the subsequent quarter. This pattern suggests challenges in maintaining consistent operating efficiencies or expense control.
- Net profit margin
- The net profit margin showed moderate variability but generally maintained a positive profitability trend. After starting near 15.35% in early 2018, the margin decreased to a low point around 11.83% in the third quarter of 2022, amid fluctuations. However, there was a significant rebound to 18.91% by the last quarter recorded, signifying recovery in bottom-line profitability despite interim decreases.
- Return on equity (ROE)
- Return on equity demonstrated a high level of performance through most of the analysis period. ROE ranged from a low of about 30.2% in the third quarter of 2022 to an elevated peak of 58.11% in mid-2019. The trend shows some oscillations, including a general downtrend entering 2022, followed by a sharp increase to 46.7% at the end of the recorded timeline. Such dynamics indicate varying effectiveness in generating profit from shareholders’ equity over time.
- Return on assets (ROA)
- Return on assets mirrored the trends seen in profitability ratios, with values ranging from a low of 9.09% in the third quarter of 2022 to a high of approximately 14.65% in early 2019. The metric shows moderate fluctuations indicating changes in asset utilization efficiency. The general trend suggests some vulnerability to declining asset returns towards 2022 but finishing on an improved note with a rise to 14.24% by the latest quarter.
Return on Sales
Return on Investment
Gross Profit Margin
3M Co., gross profit margin calculation (quarterly data)
| Sep 30, 2022 | Jun 30, 2022 | Mar 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Sep 30, 2021 | Jun 30, 2021 | Mar 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Sep 30, 2020 | Jun 30, 2020 | Mar 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | Sep 30, 2019 | Jun 30, 2019 | Mar 31, 2019 | Dec 31, 2018 | Sep 30, 2018 | Jun 30, 2018 | Mar 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Sep 30, 2017 | Jun 30, 2017 | Mar 31, 2017 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 3,891) | 3,609) | 4,003) | 3,914) | 4,089) | 4,231) | 4,326) | 4,195) | 4,047) | 3,371) | 3,966) | 3,786) | 3,803) | 3,858) | 3,553) | 3,885) | 3,993) | 4,163) | 4,042) | 3,910) | 4,127) | 3,803) | 3,816) | |||||||
| Net sales | 8,619) | 8,702) | 8,829) | 8,612) | 8,942) | 8,950) | 8,851) | 8,583) | 8,350) | 7,176) | 8,075) | 8,111) | 7,991) | 8,171) | 7,863) | 7,945) | 8,152) | 8,390) | 8,278) | 7,990) | 8,172) | 7,810) | 7,685) | |||||||
| Profitability Ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit margin1 | 44.35% | 44.51% | 45.95% | 46.84% | 47.67% | 48.36% | 48.36% | 48.41% | 47.84% | 47.61% | 47.65% | 46.68% | 47.23% | 47.58% | 48.20% | 49.09% | 49.09% | 49.47% | 49.25% | 49.46% | — | — | — | |||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Profit Margin, Competitors2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boeing Co. | -1.41% | 2.74% | 3.20% | 4.84% | -0.25% | -1.35% | -7.82% | -9.78% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Caterpillar Inc. | 26.14% | 25.52% | 25.71% | 26.30% | 27.08% | 26.83% | 25.98% | 25.47% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Eaton Corp. plc | 32.83% | 32.55% | 32.36% | 32.28% | 32.14% | 32.23% | 30.80% | 30.52% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| GE Aerospace | 24.52% | 25.22% | 24.26% | 24.19% | 24.97% | 22.43% | 18.80% | 17.26% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Honeywell International Inc. | 35.56% | 34.22% | 32.95% | 31.98% | 32.34% | 32.06% | 31.52% | 32.07% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | 12.99% | 13.39% | 13.36% | 13.52% | 13.34% | 13.00% | 13.26% | 13.23% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| RTX Corp. | 20.49% | 20.17% | 19.94% | 19.40% | 17.59% | 15.79% | 13.98% | 15.08% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-03-31).
1 Q3 2022 Calculation
Gross profit margin = 100
× (Gross profitQ3 2022
+ Gross profitQ2 2022
+ Gross profitQ1 2022
+ Gross profitQ4 2021)
÷ (Net salesQ3 2022
+ Net salesQ2 2022
+ Net salesQ1 2022
+ Net salesQ4 2021)
= 100 × (3,891 + 3,609 + 4,003 + 3,914)
÷ (8,619 + 8,702 + 8,829 + 8,612)
= 44.35%
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
The analysis of the quarterly financial data reveals several noteworthy trends in the company's operational performance over the examined periods.
- Gross Profit
- The gross profit demonstrates fluctuations with a general pattern of seasonal variation, typically peaking in the fourth quarter of each year. Beginning at $3,816 million in the first quarter of 2017, gross profit generally increased through 2017 and 2018, reaching a high of approximately $4,195 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. However, gross profit exhibited some volatility starting in 2019, with a notable decline during the first half of 2020, likely influenced by external economic factors. After the dip, gross profit recovered to higher levels by the end of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021 but showed a gradual decline again through 2022, closing at about $3,891 million in the third quarter of 2022.
- Net Sales
- Net sales display a generally increasing trend from early 2017 through 2021, starting at $7,685 million in Q1 2017 and growing to peaks above $8,800 million in late 2021. This upward trajectory indicates consistent revenue growth during this period. However, a contraction is evident in 2020 during the mid-year quarters, where sales dipped from over $8,000 million to approximately $7,176 million in Q2 2020. Following this decline, net sales rebounded strongly, maintaining elevated levels above $8,000 million through much of 2021. The data from 2022 shows a slight downward trend in sales, decreasing gradually from $8,829 million in Q1 2022 to $8,619 million in Q3 2022.
- Gross Profit Margin
- Gross profit margin percentages remain stable within a narrow band around the high 40s through most of 2017 and 2018, generally above 49%. From 2019 onward, the margins exhibit a gradual downward trend. Starting near 48.2% in the first quarter of 2019, margins decrease steadily each quarter throughout 2020 and into 2022, reaching approximately 44.35% by the third quarter of 2022. This decreasing gross profit margin indicates rising costs or pricing pressures relative to sales revenue, affecting profitability on a per-dollar sales basis.
In summary, while net sales showed overall growth with some temporary setbacks in 2020, gross profit followed a similar pattern but with more volatility. The declining gross profit margin over the analyzed periods suggests increasing cost challenges or competitive pricing dynamics impacting operational efficiency. The combination of these factors points toward pressures on profitability despite relatively strong revenue performance in recent years.
Operating Profit Margin
3M Co., operating profit margin calculation (quarterly data)
| Sep 30, 2022 | Jun 30, 2022 | Mar 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Sep 30, 2021 | Jun 30, 2021 | Mar 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Sep 30, 2020 | Jun 30, 2020 | Mar 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | Sep 30, 2019 | Jun 30, 2019 | Mar 31, 2019 | Dec 31, 2018 | Sep 30, 2018 | Jun 30, 2018 | Mar 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Sep 30, 2017 | Jun 30, 2017 | Mar 31, 2017 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 4,156) | 110) | 1,641) | 1,616) | 1,788) | 1,971) | 1,994) | 1,849) | 1,909) | 1,740) | 1,663) | 1,325) | 2,011) | 1,702) | 1,136) | 1,783) | 2,016) | 2,401) | 1,007) | 1,821) | 2,041) | 2,184) | 1,774) | |||||||
| Net sales | 8,619) | 8,702) | 8,829) | 8,612) | 8,942) | 8,950) | 8,851) | 8,583) | 8,350) | 7,176) | 8,075) | 8,111) | 7,991) | 8,171) | 7,863) | 7,945) | 8,152) | 8,390) | 8,278) | 7,990) | 8,172) | 7,810) | 7,685) | |||||||
| Profitability Ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating profit margin1 | 21.64% | 14.69% | 19.86% | 20.84% | 21.52% | 22.23% | 22.73% | 22.25% | 20.93% | 21.49% | 20.72% | 19.21% | 20.74% | 20.66% | 22.68% | 22.00% | 22.08% | 22.14% | 21.87% | 24.70% | — | — | — | |||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Profit Margin, Competitors2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boeing Co. | -11.99% | -6.98% | -6.53% | -4.66% | -10.80% | -12.18% | -20.36% | -21.95% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Caterpillar Inc. | 14.56% | 13.81% | 13.87% | 14.27% | 14.56% | 13.82% | 12.32% | 11.67% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Eaton Corp. plc | 13.90% | 16.33% | 15.97% | 15.69% | 15.50% | 12.54% | 10.81% | 11.45% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| GE Aerospace | 7.05% | 8.12% | 7.31% | 8.58% | 7.86% | 6.82% | 4.72% | 5.49% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Honeywell International Inc. | 17.55% | 17.31% | 17.37% | 18.03% | 18.36% | 17.95% | 16.90% | 17.45% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | 13.15% | 13.47% | 13.50% | 13.61% | 13.50% | 13.19% | 13.19% | 13.22% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| RTX Corp. | 7.93% | 7.81% | 7.75% | 7.70% | 5.93% | 4.61% | -3.59% | -3.34% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-03-31).
1 Q3 2022 Calculation
Operating profit margin = 100
× (Operating incomeQ3 2022
+ Operating incomeQ2 2022
+ Operating incomeQ1 2022
+ Operating incomeQ4 2021)
÷ (Net salesQ3 2022
+ Net salesQ2 2022
+ Net salesQ1 2022
+ Net salesQ4 2021)
= 100 × (4,156 + 110 + 1,641 + 1,616)
÷ (8,619 + 8,702 + 8,829 + 8,612)
= 21.64%
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
The quarterly financial data reveals several discernible trends in the operational and sales performance over the covered periods.
- Operating Income
- The operating income exhibits a generally fluctuating pattern with notable peaks and troughs. Early in the period, operating income rose from 1,774 million USD to 2,184 million USD in the second quarter of 2017 before declining towards the year-end. The subsequent quarters show a cyclical variation with peaks often occurring mid-year and dips near the end of years. The data for 2020 and 2021 indicates some stabilization around 1,800 to 2,000 million USD after a significant drop in early 2020, likely due to external adverse factors. The last two reported quarters show a sharp decrease to 110 million USD and a contrasting sharp increase to 4,156 million USD respectively, suggesting either an exceptional item or an accounting adjustment impacting operating income.
- Net Sales
- Net sales remained relatively stable over the years, fluctuating in a narrow band between approximately 7,600 million USD and 8,900 million USD. Seasonal trends appear with minor peaks generally in the third quarter of each year. There is a noticeable dip in mid-2020, likely due to broader market disruptions, followed by recovery and gradual growth into 2021. Sales figures slightly declined towards the latest reported quarters, suggesting potential challenges in maintaining sales momentum.
- Operating Profit Margin
- The operating profit margin data begins from the second quarter of 2017. Margins consistently hover around the low to mid-20 percent range, indicating a relatively stable operational efficiency. The margins show mild fluctuations but no drastic declines or surges, signifying consistent cost management relative to sales. The lowest margin is observed at 14.69% in the third quarter of 2022, which could reflect increased operating costs or lower pricing power in that period. The highest margins remain near 24.7%, from early observations.
In summary, the analysis points to a company with stable sales volumes subject to seasonal variations, a volatile but generally resilient operating income with potential large irregularities recently, and relatively consistent operating margins that indicate steady operational control but with some pressure emerging in the latest period. The sharp swing in operating income in the most recent quarters should be investigated further to ascertain underlying causes and sustainability.
Net Profit Margin
3M Co., net profit margin calculation (quarterly data)
| Sep 30, 2022 | Jun 30, 2022 | Mar 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Sep 30, 2021 | Jun 30, 2021 | Mar 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Sep 30, 2020 | Jun 30, 2020 | Mar 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | Sep 30, 2019 | Jun 30, 2019 | Mar 31, 2019 | Dec 31, 2018 | Sep 30, 2018 | Jun 30, 2018 | Mar 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Sep 30, 2017 | Jun 30, 2017 | Mar 31, 2017 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to 3M | 3,859) | 78) | 1,299) | 1,339) | 1,434) | 1,524) | 1,624) | 1,389) | 1,413) | 1,290) | 1,292) | 969) | 1,583) | 1,127) | 891) | 1,347) | 1,543) | 1,857) | 602) | 523) | 1,429) | 1,583) | 1,323) | |||||||
| Net sales | 8,619) | 8,702) | 8,829) | 8,612) | 8,942) | 8,950) | 8,851) | 8,583) | 8,350) | 7,176) | 8,075) | 8,111) | 7,991) | 8,171) | 7,863) | 7,945) | 8,152) | 8,390) | 8,278) | 7,990) | 8,172) | 7,810) | 7,685) | |||||||
| Profitability Ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net profit margin1 | 18.91% | 11.83% | 15.84% | 16.75% | 16.90% | 17.13% | 17.34% | 16.73% | 15.65% | 16.37% | 15.37% | 14.22% | 15.48% | 15.27% | 17.43% | 16.33% | 13.79% | 13.44% | 12.83% | 15.35% | — | — | — | |||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Profit Margin, Competitors2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boeing Co. | -13.75% | -8.69% | -8.00% | -6.75% | -13.50% | -14.30% | -20.87% | -20.42% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Caterpillar Inc. | 13.70% | 13.19% | 13.02% | 13.47% | 11.28% | 10.17% | 8.53% | 7.68% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Eaton Corp. plc | 11.36% | 11.70% | 11.21% | 10.92% | 10.60% | 9.86% | 8.05% | 7.90% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| GE Aerospace | -8.10% | -6.18% | -6.70% | -9.17% | -0.06% | -3.39% | -4.68% | 7.81% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Honeywell International Inc. | 15.38% | 14.74% | 15.30% | 16.11% | 15.80% | 14.65% | 14.17% | 14.64% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | 9.07% | 7.33% | 9.45% | 9.42% | 9.13% | 10.69% | 10.53% | 10.45% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| RTX Corp. | 6.76% | 6.84% | 6.47% | 6.00% | 5.20% | 3.51% | -4.44% | -6.22% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-03-31).
1 Q3 2022 Calculation
Net profit margin = 100
× (Net income attributable to 3MQ3 2022
+ Net income attributable to 3MQ2 2022
+ Net income attributable to 3MQ1 2022
+ Net income attributable to 3MQ4 2021)
÷ (Net salesQ3 2022
+ Net salesQ2 2022
+ Net salesQ1 2022
+ Net salesQ4 2021)
= 100 × (3,859 + 78 + 1,299 + 1,339)
÷ (8,619 + 8,702 + 8,829 + 8,612)
= 18.91%
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
The financial data exhibits several notable trends over the analyzed periods. Net income attributable to the company shows considerable volatility, with values ranging from a low of 78 million US dollars in June 2022 to a high of 3,859 million US dollars in the same period. Notably, there is a significant dip in net income in March 2017 and December 2017, followed by recoveries and subsequent fluctuations. This volatility might indicate periods of market challenges or extraordinary items impacting profitability.
Net sales demonstrate a relatively stable pattern across the quarters with minor fluctuations. Sales generally hover between approximately 7,600 million and 8,950 million US dollars, peaking around the last quarter of 2021 and early 2022. There is a slight decrease noted in mid-2020, coinciding with global economic slowdowns. The relative stability in net sales despite the fluctuations in net income suggests that operational revenues remain strong, but profitability could be affected by varying cost structures or other financial factors.
The net profit margin, available from March 2017 onward, reveals a consistent positive margin, generally ranging between approximately 12.8% and 18.9%. The margin peaks notably in June 2022 at 18.91%, indicating improved profitability relative to sales during this period. Margins experienced a minor dip in mid-2018 but stayed robust overall, reflecting effective cost management or favorable market conditions in most quarters.
- Net Income Trends
- Exhibits high variability with sharp declines in some quarters and peaks in others, suggesting episodic impacts on profitability beyond regular sales activities.
- Net Sales Patterns
- Remains relatively steady with slight increases over time, indicating stable demand or consistent revenue streams despite some economic disruptions.
- Net Profit Margin Behavior
- Demonstrates sustained profitability with margins mostly above 15%, peaking at the end of the observed periods, indicating improved efficiency or enhanced product mix.
Overall, while sales have remained stable, the company's net income has fluctuated significantly, pointing towards variable operational efficiencies or external factors influencing profitability. The steady or improving net profit margins suggest that despite fluctuations in net income, management has maintained cost control and profitability relative to sales. The sharp increase in net income and margin in the latest quarter could indicate a strong recovery or exceptional gains, warranting further investigation for sustainability.
Return on Equity (ROE)
3M Co., ROE calculation (quarterly data)
| Sep 30, 2022 | Jun 30, 2022 | Mar 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Sep 30, 2021 | Jun 30, 2021 | Mar 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Sep 30, 2020 | Jun 30, 2020 | Mar 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | Sep 30, 2019 | Jun 30, 2019 | Mar 31, 2019 | Dec 31, 2018 | Sep 30, 2018 | Jun 30, 2018 | Mar 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Sep 30, 2017 | Jun 30, 2017 | Mar 31, 2017 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to 3M | 3,859) | 78) | 1,299) | 1,339) | 1,434) | 1,524) | 1,624) | 1,389) | 1,413) | 1,290) | 1,292) | 969) | 1,583) | 1,127) | 891) | 1,347) | 1,543) | 1,857) | 602) | 523) | 1,429) | 1,583) | 1,323) | |||||||
| Total 3M Company shareholders’ equity | 14,080) | 13,742) | 14,930) | 15,046) | 14,460) | 14,448) | 13,760) | 12,867) | 11,880) | 10,857) | 10,147) | 10,063) | 10,702) | 10,083) | 9,703) | 9,796) | 10,248) | 10,365) | 10,977) | 11,563) | 12,146) | 11,591) | 10,989) | |||||||
| Profitability Ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROE1 | 46.70% | 30.20% | 37.48% | 39.35% | 41.29% | 41.18% | 41.54% | 41.84% | 41.78% | 47.29% | 48.99% | 45.41% | 46.23% | 48.68% | 58.11% | 54.60% | 44.15% | 42.56% | 37.69% | 42.01% | — | — | — | |||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROE, Competitors2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boeing Co. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Caterpillar Inc. | 47.28% | 42.96% | 38.07% | 39.37% | 30.90% | 26.09% | 20.73% | 19.56% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Eaton Corp. plc | 14.26% | 14.12% | 13.35% | 13.06% | 12.95% | 12.23% | 9.54% | 9.44% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| GE Aerospace | -18.56% | -12.75% | -12.20% | -16.17% | -0.11% | -7.29% | -9.82% | 16.04% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Honeywell International Inc. | 30.36% | 28.96% | 28.58% | 29.85% | 30.67% | 27.73% | 25.71% | 27.23% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | 49.05% | 41.16% | 62.10% | 57.62% | 62.90% | 109.51% | 110.16% | 113.60% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| RTX Corp. | 6.36% | 6.34% | 5.79% | 5.29% | 4.65% | 3.07% | -3.74% | -4.88% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-03-31).
1 Q3 2022 Calculation
ROE = 100
× (Net income attributable to 3MQ3 2022
+ Net income attributable to 3MQ2 2022
+ Net income attributable to 3MQ1 2022
+ Net income attributable to 3MQ4 2021)
÷ Total 3M Company shareholders’ equity
= 100 × (3,859 + 78 + 1,299 + 1,339)
÷ 14,080 = 46.70%
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
The analysis of the quarterly financial data reveals notable fluctuations and trends in key metrics over the observed periods.
- Net income attributable to the company
- The net income displays considerable variability across quarters. Initially, net income showed relatively strong values around 1300 to 1600 million US dollars from the first quarter of 2017 through mid-2018, with a sharp decline occurring in December 2017 to 523 million. Subsequently, the figures recovered and fluctuated between approximately 900 and 1600 million through the end of 2019. In 2020, net income generally maintained a positive trend, ranging from around 1290 to nearly 1400 million, except for an anomalous peak of 3859 million recorded in the third quarter of 2022, which stands out as substantially higher than other periods. The first quarter of 2022 recorded a significantly low net income of 78 million, suggesting a considerable dip before this peak.
- Total shareholders’ equity
- The total shareholders’ equity generally exhibited a declining trend from early 2017, starting near 11,000 million US dollars and gradually decreasing to a low around 9,700 million by early 2019. From there, equity showed a recovery phase, steadily increasing and peaking near 15,000 million during the first half of 2022, followed by a mild decrease toward the latter part of 2022. This pattern illustrates a significant shift from contraction to growth in shareholders’ equity over the timeframe.
- Return on equity (ROE)
- The ROE metric, starting from available data in early 2018, exhibited high values predominantly above 40% with occasional spikes such as exceeding 54% in early 2019 and maintaining levels mostly between 40% and 48% through 2020 and 2021. Notably, there is a declining trend in ROE starting in early 2022, dropping from roughly 39% down to 30.2% and then sharply rising again to 46.7% in the third quarter of 2022. This fluctuation mirrors the net income volatility and changes in shareholders' equity, reflecting variable profitability relative to equity.
Overall, the data indicate a period of volatility followed by recovery in profitability and equity position. The cyclical nature of net income and the eventual stabilization and growth in shareholders’ equity suggest resilience despite short-term financial pressures. The fluctuations in ROE align with these patterns, underscoring the dynamic financial environment experienced during the reviewed quarters.
Return on Assets (ROA)
3M Co., ROA calculation (quarterly data)
| Sep 30, 2022 | Jun 30, 2022 | Mar 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Sep 30, 2021 | Jun 30, 2021 | Mar 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Sep 30, 2020 | Jun 30, 2020 | Mar 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | Sep 30, 2019 | Jun 30, 2019 | Mar 31, 2019 | Dec 31, 2018 | Sep 30, 2018 | Jun 30, 2018 | Mar 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Sep 30, 2017 | Jun 30, 2017 | Mar 31, 2017 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to 3M | 3,859) | 78) | 1,299) | 1,339) | 1,434) | 1,524) | 1,624) | 1,389) | 1,413) | 1,290) | 1,292) | 969) | 1,583) | 1,127) | 891) | 1,347) | 1,543) | 1,857) | 602) | 523) | 1,429) | 1,583) | 1,323) | |||||||
| Total assets | 46,176) | 45,634) | 45,855) | 47,072) | 48,278) | 48,307) | 47,180) | 47,344) | 45,390) | 45,079) | 46,212) | 44,659) | 42,550) | 38,969) | 39,140) | 36,500) | 37,275) | 36,778) | 38,575) | 37,987) | 35,237) | 33,957) | 33,292) | |||||||
| Profitability Ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROA1 | 14.24% | 9.09% | 12.20% | 12.58% | 12.37% | 12.32% | 12.12% | 11.37% | 10.94% | 11.39% | 10.76% | 10.23% | 11.63% | 12.59% | 14.40% | 14.65% | 12.14% | 11.99% | 10.72% | 12.79% | — | — | — | |||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROA, Competitors2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boeing Co. | -6.14% | -3.90% | -3.60% | -3.03% | -5.77% | -5.92% | -7.85% | -7.80% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Caterpillar Inc. | 9.11% | 8.33% | 7.90% | 7.84% | 6.37% | 5.37% | 4.26% | 3.83% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Eaton Corp. plc | 6.67% | 6.58% | 6.30% | 6.30% | 6.06% | 5.12% | 4.20% | 4.43% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| GE Aerospace | -3.23% | -2.38% | -2.48% | -3.28% | -0.02% | -1.03% | -1.34% | 2.25% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Honeywell International Inc. | 8.92% | 8.16% | 8.29% | 8.60% | 8.53% | 7.78% | 7.28% | 7.40% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Lockheed Martin Corp. | 11.28% | 9.09% | 12.06% | 12.41% | 11.69% | 13.71% | 13.52% | 13.47% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| RTX Corp. | 2.82% | 2.81% | 2.63% | 2.39% | 2.09% | 1.37% | -1.67% | -2.17% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-03-31).
1 Q3 2022 Calculation
ROA = 100
× (Net income attributable to 3MQ3 2022
+ Net income attributable to 3MQ2 2022
+ Net income attributable to 3MQ1 2022
+ Net income attributable to 3MQ4 2021)
÷ Total assets
= 100 × (3,859 + 78 + 1,299 + 1,339)
÷ 46,176 = 14.24%
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
The net income attributable to the entity exhibited significant fluctuations over the analyzed periods. Initially, net income showed a rise from 1,323 million US dollars in March 2017 to a peak of 1,857 million in June 2018, followed by a general decline reaching a low point of 78 million in June 2022. Notably, there were intermittent recoveries, such as in September 2020 and December 2020, with values exceeding 1,400 million. The sharp decrease in mid-2022 marks a critical point, indicating potential challenges faced in that timeframe.
Total assets demonstrated a steady upward trajectory over the period. Starting at 33,292 million US dollars in March 2017, assets increased consistently, peaking at 48,307 million in September 2021. After this peak, a mild contraction was observed, with assets decreasing to 45,634 million by September 2022. Despite this recent decline, the overall trend indicates asset growth and possibly expansion or capital investments over time.
The Return on Assets (ROA) percentage was first reported in December 2017 at 12.79%. From there, ROA exhibited moderate variability, ranging generally between 10.23% and 14.65% throughout the periods. The highest ROA of 14.65% appeared in March 2019, reflecting efficient use of assets for income generation during that quarter. The lowest observed ROA was 9.09% in June 2022, consistent with the pronounced drop in net income and the slight reduction in assets, suggesting diminished operational efficiency or profitability at that time. The ROA recovered somewhat by September 2022 to 14.24%, indicating a rebound in asset utilization effectiveness.
In summary, while total assets followed a generally increasing trend suggestive of growth or accumulation of resources, net income showed volatility with a substantial downturn in mid-2022. ROA performance mirrored the net income trend, displaying fluctuations in profitability and indicating periods of both strong and weak asset utilization. The combination of these financial metrics points to phases of operational strength interspersed with challenges, particularly around 2022, that impacted overall financial performance.