3M reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.40 for the second quarter, beating market expectations, according to an SEC Form 8-K filing released on July 21 (local time).
📊 Price at time of writing (July 21, 2026, 11:08 PM KST)
$175.36 ▲ +10.21%
Q2 Results at a Glance
3M posted second-quarter 2026 revenue of $6.5 billion, up 2.4% from a year earlier. GAAP earnings per share (EPS) came in at $1.78, up 33% year over year. Adjusted EPS — which excludes one-time items such as litigation-related charges and losses from divestitures — rose 11% to $2.40. GAAP operating margin fell to 15.1% from 18.0% a year earlier, but adjusted operating margin, which strips out one-time costs, actually improved to 24.9%.
- Revenue: $6.5 billion, +2.4% year over year
- GAAP EPS: $1.78, +33% year over year
- Adjusted EPS: $2.40, +11% year over year
- GAAP operating margin: 15.1% (vs. 18.0% a year ago); adjusted operating margin: 24.9% (vs. 24.5%)
- Operating cash flow: $1.0 billion; adjusted free cash flow: $1.3 billion
- Shareholder returns: $1.4 billion paid via dividends and share buybacks
Next-Quarter Outlook
Reflecting its first-half results, 3M raised its full-year 2026 guidance. The company lifted its adjusted EPS outlook to $8.80–$8.95, up from its previous range of $8.50–$8.70. It now expects adjusted revenue growth of more than 4.5% year over year and adjusted operating margin expansion of 70–80 basis points (1 bp = 0.01 percentage point). Full-year adjusted operating cash flow is projected at $5.8 billion to $6.0 billion. William Brown, 3M's chairman and CEO, said, "We delivered a strong second quarter that exceeded expectations, with mid-single-digit revenue growth, operating margin of about 25%, and double-digit EPS growth." He added, "Based on our strong first-half performance, we raised our full-year outlook."
Market Reaction
3M shares jumped after the earnings release. As of 11:08 PM KST on July 21, the stock traded at $175.36, up 10.21% from the previous close. The Wall Street Journal reported that strong sales in the safety and electronics segments drove the results. Yahoo Finance, StockStory, and other outlets noted that 3M beat market expectations and raised its full-year outlook.
This article was automatically generated based on the original SEC Form 8-K filing and media reports, with the goal of delivering key data quickly after the announcement. Readers are advised to review the company's official filing before making trading decisions. Prices reflect the time of writing and may differ from current levels.
