Stock Analysis on Net
Stock Analysis on Net

3M Co. (NYSE:MMM)

This company has been moved to the archive! The financial data has not been updated since October 25, 2022.

Enterprise Value to FCFF (EV/FCFF)

Microsoft Excel

Free Cash Flow to The Firm (FCFF)

3M Co., FCFF calculation

US$ in millions

Microsoft Excel
12 months ended: Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017
Net income attributable to 3M 5,921 5,384 4,570 5,349 4,858
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 8 4 12 14 11
Net noncash charges 2,276 2,267 1,685 1,348 1,012
Changes in assets and liabilities (751) 458 803 (272) 359
Net cash provided by operating activities 7,454 8,113 7,070 6,439 6,240
Cash interest payments, net of tax1 388 421 297 259 160
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (PP&E) (1,603) (1,501) (1,699) (1,577) (1,373)
Free cash flow to the firm (FCFF) 6,239 7,033 5,668 5,121 5,027

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31).


The financial performance from 2017 to 2021 reflects a period of expansion in cash generation followed by a moderate contraction in the final year. Both net cash provided by operating activities and free cash flow to the firm (FCFF) exhibited a consistent upward trajectory through 2020 before experiencing a decline in 2021.

Operating Cash Flow Trends
Net cash provided by operating activities grew from 6,240 million US$ in 2017 to a peak of 8,113 million US$ in 2020. This represents a cumulative increase of approximately 30% over the first four years of the period, indicating a strengthening of operational cash generation. However, this growth trend reversed in 2021, as cash provided by operating activities decreased to 7,454 million US$.
Free Cash Flow to the Firm (FCFF) Analysis
FCFF mirrored the operational trend, increasing from 5,027 million US$ in 2017 to a high of 7,033 million US$ in 2020. The most significant year-over-year growth occurred between 2019 and 2020, where FCFF increased by approximately 23.9%. This growth was followed by a contraction in 2021, with FCFF falling to 6,239 million US$, a decline of roughly 11.3% from the previous year's peak.
Cash Flow Conversion and Capital Allocation
An analysis of the relationship between operating cash flow and FCFF reveals fluctuations in capital expenditures. From 2017 to 2019, FCFF remained relatively stable as a percentage of operating cash flow, hovering around 80%. In 2020, the conversion rate improved significantly, with FCFF representing approximately 86.7% of operating cash flow, suggesting a reduction in capital outflows relative to cash generation. By 2021, this conversion rate adjusted to approximately 83.7%.

AI Ask an analyst for more

Hi, I’m an AI-powered financial analyst at Stock Analysis on Net.

How can I help you?


Interest Paid, Net of Tax

3M Co., interest paid, net of tax calculation

US$ in millions

Microsoft Excel
12 months ended: Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017
Effective Income Tax Rate (EITR)
EITR1 17.80% 19.60% 19.80% 20.90% 25.40%
Interest Paid, Net of Tax
Cash interest payments, before tax 472 524 370 328 214
Less: Cash interest payments, tax2 84 103 73 69 54
Cash interest payments, net of tax 388 421 297 259 160

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31).

1 See details »

2 2021 Calculation
Cash interest payments, tax = Cash interest payments × EITR
= 472 × 17.80% = 84


An analysis of the financial figures from 2017 to 2021 reveals a general increase in net cash interest payments occurring simultaneously with a steady decline in the effective income tax rate.

Effective Income Tax Rate Trends
The effective income tax rate experienced a consistent downward trajectory over the five-year period. Starting at 25.40% in 2017, the rate decreased annually, reaching 17.80% by December 31, 2021. This represents a total reduction of 760 basis points, indicating a lower tax burden on taxable income over time.
Net Cash Interest Payment Trends
Cash interest payments, net of tax, exhibited a significant upward trend for the majority of the period. Payments rose from 160 million USD in 2017 to a peak of 421 million USD in 2020. A slight reversal was observed in 2021, where the figure declined to 388 million USD, though this remained substantially higher than the 2017 baseline.
Combined Financial Impact
Between 2017 and 2020, net cash interest payments increased by approximately 163%. Because interest payments are typically tax-deductible, the "net of tax" value is influenced by the effective tax rate. The simultaneous decline in the effective income tax rate suggests that the tax shield provided by interest expenses became less valuable per dollar spent. Consequently, the sharp rise in net cash outflows suggests a substantial increase in the underlying gross interest obligations during this timeframe.

AI Ask an analyst for more

Hi, I’m an AI-powered financial analyst at Stock Analysis on Net.

How can I help you?


Enterprise Value to FCFF Ratio, Current

3M Co., current EV/FCFF calculation, comparison to benchmarks

Microsoft Excel
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Enterprise value (EV) 78,269
Free cash flow to the firm (FCFF) 6,239
Valuation Ratio
EV/FCFF 12.55
Benchmarks
EV/FCFF, Competitors1
Boeing Co. 297.78
Caterpillar Inc. 41.92
Eaton Corp. plc 44.63
GE Aerospace 40.31
Honeywell International Inc. 14.43
Lockheed Martin Corp. 17.50
RTX Corp. 30.06
EV/FCFF, Sector
Capital Goods 56.25
EV/FCFF, Industry
Industrials 41.93

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).

1 Click competitor name to see calculations.

If the company EV/FCFF is lower then the EV/FCFF of benchmark then company is relatively undervalued.
Otherwise, if the company EV/FCFF is higher then the EV/FCFF of benchmark then company is relatively overvalued.


Enterprise Value to FCFF Ratio, Historical

3M Co., historical EV/FCFF calculation, comparison to benchmarks

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Enterprise value (EV)1 106,224 116,495 111,816 126,601 142,683
Free cash flow to the firm (FCFF)2 6,239 7,033 5,668 5,121 5,027
Valuation Ratio
EV/FCFF3 17.03 16.56 19.73 24.72 28.39
Benchmarks
EV/FCFF, Competitors4
Boeing Co. — — — — —
Caterpillar Inc. 20.50 — — — —
Eaton Corp. plc 38.16 — — — —
GE Aerospace 56.53 — — — —
Honeywell International Inc. 25.22 — — — —
Lockheed Martin Corp. 13.92 — — — —
RTX Corp. 27.29 — — — —
EV/FCFF, Sector
Capital Goods 32.16 — — — —
EV/FCFF, Industry
Industrials 28.81 — — — —

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31).

1 See details »

2 See details »

3 2021 Calculation
EV/FCFF = EV ÷ FCFF
= 106,224 ÷ 6,239 = 17.03

4 Click competitor name to see calculations.


Between 2017 and 2021, a consistent downward trajectory in the Enterprise Value to Free Cash Flow to the Firm (EV/FCFF) ratio is observed. This trend is driven by a concurrent decline in the total enterprise value and a general improvement in cash flow generation, suggesting a compression in the valuation multiple applied to the firm's cash flows.

Enterprise Value (EV)
The enterprise value exhibited a general decline over the five-year period, falling from 142,683 million US$ in 2017 to 106,224 million US$ in 2021. Aside from a marginal increase in 2020, the valuation of the entity decreased steadily, representing a total reduction of approximately 25.5% by the end of the period.
Free Cash Flow to the Firm (FCFF)
Cash flow generation showed a positive growth trend for the majority of the period. FCFF rose from 5,027 million US$ in 2017 to a peak of 7,033 million US$ in 2020, before moderating to 6,239 million US$ in 2021. This overall upward movement indicates an improved capacity to generate cash available to all capital providers.
EV/FCFF Ratio
The EV/FCFF ratio experienced a significant contraction, decreasing from 28.39 in 2017 to 17.03 in 2021. The most pronounced decline occurred between 2017 and 2020, during which the ratio fell to 16.56. The convergence of a shrinking enterprise value and expanding cash flows resulted in a lower valuation multiple, which remained relatively stable in the final year of the period.

AI Ask an analyst for more

Hi, I’m an AI-powered financial analyst at Stock Analysis on Net.

How can I help you?