3M Company

What does 3M own?
3M owns a portfolio of approximately 60,000 products across four business segments: Safety and Industrial, Transportation and Electronics, Health Care, and Consumer. Its most recognized consumer brands include Post-it Notes, Scotch Tape, Command adhesive strips, and Nexcare first aid products. The company also owns industrial brands in abrasives, adhesives, safety equipment, and specialty films.

Is 3M publicly traded?
Yes, 3M is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MMM. The company has been publicly traded since 1946 and is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, making it one of the most widely tracked industrial stocks in the United States.

Who founded 3M?
3M was founded in 1902 by five investors: John Dwan, Hermon Cable, Henry Bryan, William McGonagle, and Dr. J. Danley Budd. The company was originally established to mine corundum in Two Harbors, Minnesota, but pivoted to manufacturing abrasives and adhesive products after the mineral deposits proved commercially unviable.

Where is 3M headquartered?
3M is headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. The company has operated from Saint Paul since the early 1900s and maintains its global corporate headquarters, major research facilities, and significant manufacturing operations in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

How many brands does 3M own?
3M manufactures approximately 60,000 products across its four business segments. The company operates primarily under the 3M master brand, with notable sub-brands including Post-it, Scotch, Command, Nexcare, Scotch-Brite, Filtrete, Peltor, and Littmann.

Who owns 3M?
3M is publicly owned with no controlling shareholder. Institutional investors collectively hold the majority of outstanding shares, with Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street Global Advisors among the largest holders. No individual, family, or private equity firm holds a controlling interest in the company.

What is 3M's revenue?
3M reported full-year 2025 adjusted sales of $24.3 billion, with GAAP sales of $24.9 billion. Adjusted earnings per share were $8.06 for FY2025, up 10% year over year. The company has guided for adjusted EPS of $8.50 to $8.90 for full-year 2026.

What is the PFAS litigation against 3M?
3M has faced extensive litigation related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used in its products. In 2023, the company settled with U.S. public water systems for approximately $10.3 billion and separately settled with the U.S. Department of Defense for approximately $6 billion over defective military earplugs. Ongoing PFAS-related claims in various jurisdictions continue to represent a material legal liability for the company.

3M was founded on June 13, 1902, in Two Harbors, Minnesota, by five investors: John Dwan, Hermon Cable, Henry Bryan, William McGonagle, and Dr. J. Danley Budd. The original business plan was to mine corundum, a hard mineral used in abrasive products, from a deposit near Two Harbors. The mineral proved to be of low commercial quality, and the company was forced to pivot before it had generated meaningful revenue.

The founders relocated operations first to Duluth and then to Saint Paul, Minnesota, where the company began manufacturing sandpaper using imported abrasive materials. Early years were financially precarious; the company nearly failed multiple times before finding stable footing in the sandpaper business. A critical early investor, Lucius Ordway, provided capital that allowed the company to survive its first decade.

The 1920s marked 3M's transformation into an innovation-driven manufacturer. In 1921, researcher Francis Okie developed a waterproof sandpaper that could be used wet, solving a major problem in automotive body refinishing. The product, sold as Wetordry sandpaper, became 3M's first major commercial success. In 1925, 3M engineer Richard Drew invented masking tape after observing the difficulties automotive painters had with clean paint lines. This invention launched 3M's adhesive tape business, which would become one of the company's most durable revenue streams.

In 1930, Drew developed Scotch Brand transparent tape, which became one of the most widely recognized consumer products in the world. The timing was significant: the product launched during the Great Depression, when consumers were repairing rather than replacing household items. Scotch tape became a household staple and established 3M's presence in the consumer market alongside its industrial operations.

The post-World War II decades saw 3M expand aggressively into new product categories. The company developed magnetic recording tape in the 1940s, which became critical to the audio and data storage industries. In 1950, 3M introduced Scotchlite reflective sheeting, adopted for highway signs and safety equipment. The company went public in 1946, providing capital for further expansion.

In 1980, 3M launched Post-it Notes, one of the most commercially successful products in the company's history. The product originated from a 1968 discovery by researcher Spencer Silver, who developed a low-tack adhesive that could be repositioned without leaving residue. The commercial application was identified by Art Fry, who used the adhesive to create removable bookmarks for his hymnal. Post-it Notes became a global office staple and demonstrated the value of 3M's internal research culture.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, 3M expanded internationally and diversified into healthcare, electronics, and specialty materials. The company made numerous acquisitions to enter adjacent markets, including Riker Laboratories in pharmaceuticals and various specialty chemical businesses. By 2000, 3M operated in more than 60 countries and generated roughly half its revenue outside the United States.

A major structural change came in 2024, when 3M completed the spin-off of its healthcare business into a separate publicly traded company called Solventum. The separation, announced in 2023, was intended to allow both entities to focus on their respective markets with greater operational clarity. Following the spin-off, 3M reorganized around its remaining industrial, transportation, and consumer businesses.

William Brown became CEO in May 2024, succeeding Mike Roman. Brown, who previously led L3Harris Technologies, initiated a comprehensive operational review and accelerated cost reduction program. Under his leadership, 3M added 284 new products in 2025, a 68% increase from the prior year, while improving adjusted operating margins by 200 basis points for the full year. For full-year 2025, 3M reported GAAP sales of $24.9 billion and adjusted sales of $24.3 billion, with adjusted EPS of $8.06, up 10% year over year. The company initiated 2026 guidance of adjusted EPS in the range of $8.50 to $8.90.