3M stock rose 4.99% to $170.09 in intraday trading on October 20, 2026, following higher third-quarter profit and an increase in the industrial company's full-year adjusted earnings guidance. Net income reached $1.37 billion, compared with $834 million a year earlier, while revenue increased 1% to $6.58 billion.
Key Takeaways
- Shares gained $8.08 from the previous close; the quoted price was not a closing result.
- Reported earnings per share rose to $2.63, while adjusted EPS increased 12% to $2.50.
- The revised 2026 adjusted EPS outlook incorporates an acquisition and a change in non-GAAP reporting.
Table of Contents
- 3M stock gains after the quarterly release
- Wider margins support adjusted earnings growth
- Annual forecast reflects performance and reporting changes
- Conclusion
3M stock gains after the quarterly release
The October 20 trading snapshot put shares above their previous close of $162.01 after an opening price of $163.00 on the New York Stock Exchange. The advance followed the earnings announcement, although the price movement alone does not establish which elements of the release drove investors' decisions.
The results showed earnings growing faster than reported revenue. Net income increased by approximately 64%, while reported EPS rose 70% from $1.55 a year earlier. Adjusted net income was $1.31 billion.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| October 20 intraday range | $162.13–$172.45 |
| Trading volume at the snapshot | 3.19 million shares, versus average volume of 3.12 million |
| 52-week share-price range | $139.34–$184.90 |
Wider margins support adjusted earnings growth
3M's third-quarter 2026 results announcement showed adjusted operating margin rising to 26.2% from 25.1% a year earlier. Reported operating margin also widened, reaching 23.7% compared with 22.2%.
Adjusted sales grew 4.2%, including adjusted organic growth of 3.3%. Those sales measures exclude manufactured PFAS products; reported organic sales growth was 0.2%. The distinction matters because the adjusted figures show a different growth rate from the company's reported revenue.
3M also changed its non-GAAP reporting to treat intangible asset amortization as a special item. That change lifted third-quarter adjusted EPS by approximately four cents. Prior-year figures were presented on the same basis, so the company said year-over-year comparisons were not materially affected.
Annual forecast reflects performance and reporting changes
Management raised its full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $9.10–$9.15. It expects adjusted total sales growth of more than 4.5%, including adjusted organic sales growth of more than 3.5%. These are forecasts rather than completed annual results.
The updated outlook incorporates year-to-date performance, the acquisition of Madison Fire & Rescue and the revised treatment of amortization. The guidance increase therefore should not be read solely as a change in expectations for underlying operations.
Conclusion
The share-price advance accompanied stronger quarterly earnings and a higher annual profit forecast. The next performance test is whether 3M delivers its full-year sales and adjusted EPS targets on the revised reporting basis.
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