Is 3M Stock Underperforming the Dow?

Is 3M Stock Underperforming the Dow?

Mon, September 7, 2026 at 6:34 PM GMT+3 2 min read

• MMM -0.62%

With a market cap of $86.9 billion, 3M Company (MMM) is a diversified global technology company, serving customers across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and beyond. It operates through three segments: Safety and Industrial; Transportation and Electronics; and Consumer, delivering solutions that range from industrial abrasives, adhesives, and personal protective equipment to electronics materials, transportation systems, and data center technologies.

Companies valued at $10 billion or more are generally considered "large-cap" stocks, and 3M fits this criterion perfectly. The company also offers a wide portfolio of consumer products, including home cleaning supplies, office stationery, automotive care items, and health-related bandages and supports, distributed through e-commerce, retail, and direct channels.

More News from Barchart

Shares of the Saint Paul, Minnesota-based company have fallen 8.8% from its 52-week high of $184.90. Over the past three months, its shares have increased 10.3%, outpacing the broader Dow Jones Industrials Average's ($DOWI) 3.6% rise during the same period.

MMM stock is up 5.3% on a YTD basis, lagging behind DOWI's 11.1% gain. Longer term, shares of 3M have risen 8.4% over the past 52 weeks, compared to DOWI's 17.1% return over the same time frame.

Yet, the stock has been trading above its 200-day moving average since early June.

3M shares climbed 7.3% on Jul. 21 after the company raised its 2026 adjusted EPS forecast to $8.80 - $8.95, helped by resilient Safety & Industrial demand and pricing actions. Q2 2026 adjusted EPS of $2.40 beat the estimate and revenue rose 2.4% to $6.50 billion, with Safety & Industrial sales up over 8% and Transportation & Electronics sales up nearly 6% as data-center and semiconductor strength offset weak autos.

Investors were also encouraged that pricing is expected to fully offset the $150 million - $175 million oil-inflation hit, and AI data-center Expanded Beam Optics revenue could grow four to five times from its current $40 million - $50 million annual level.

In comparison, MMM stock has outpaced its rival, Honeywell International Inc. (HON). HON stock has risen 2.1% YTD and declined 1.9% over the past 52 weeks.

Despite the stock's underperformance relative to the Dow over the past year, analysts remain moderately optimistic on 3M. The stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from 16 analysts in coverage, and the mean price target of $188.75 is a premium of nearly 12% to current levels.

On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com