3M Analysts Boost Their Forecasts Following Strong Q3 Earnings
Key takeaways
- 3M’s earnings beat and guidance lift boost analyst sentiment, but a slight sales miss keeps short‑term pricing cautious.
- Adjusted EPS $2.50
- YoY EPS growth 12%
- Adjusted sales $6.6 billion
What happened
3M Co. reported third‑quarter adjusted earnings per share of $2.50, up 12% YoY, beating the $2.39 consensus. Adjusted sales rose 4.2% to $6.6 billion, slightly below the $6.61 billion estimate. The company lifted its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $9.10‑$9.15 from $8.95‑$9.10, and its full‑year sales outlook to $25.37 billion from $25.45 billion.
Why it matters
The higher EPS guidance signals stronger profitability expectations and supports a higher valuation range. The modest sales miss may temper short‑term sentiment but the company’s margin expansion and free‑cash‑flow strength reinforce long‑term confidence. Analyst price‑target upgrades across the board reflect a…
Short-term and longer-term
Short-term. In the next few days, watch for any further analyst commentary or guidance tweaks that could move the stock.
Longer-term. Over the coming months, the revised FY26 EPS guidance and sales outlook will be key to long‑term valuation models.