Growth is picking up at 3M and investors look pleased.

The industrial conglomerate reported second-quarter earnings per share of $2.40 from sales of $6.5 billion on Tuesday. Wall Street was looking for earnings per share of $2.25 from sales of $6.4 billion.

A year ago, 3M reported earnings per share of $2.16 from sales of $6.2 billion.

Comparable sales grew 5.4% year over year, up from 1.2% growth in the first quarter.

"We delivered a strong second quarter, exceeding expectations with mid-single-digit sales growth, robust operating margins of about 25%, and double-digit EPS growth, reflecting the progress we're making on our strategic priorities and building a higher-performing company," said CEO William Brown in a news release.

For the full year, 3M expects earnings per share of between $8.80 and $8.95 from sales of about $25.4 billion. That's up from prior guidance given in April of adjusted earnings per share of $8.50 to $8.70 from sales of about $25.3 billion.

Wall Street currently projects $8.74 and $25.1 billion, respectively.

3M stock was up 6% in premarket trading at $168.57, while S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up 0.5% and 0.4%, respectively.

Coming into Tuesday trading, 3M stock was down about 1% year-to-date. Investors reacted to initial 2026 guidance, provided in January, with caution. Back then, the midpoint of the guidance was $8.60 a share, the same as in April, which was just shy of the Wall Street consensus. Shares fell 7% on Jan. 20 and haven't regained significant momentum since then.

A beat-and-raise quarter can certainly help, and investors seem happier early on Tuesday.

Write to Al Root at allen.root@dowjones.com

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 21, 2026 07:10 ET (11:10 GMT)

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