3M (MMM Quick QuoteMMM - Free Report) reported $6.58 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 4.2%. EPS of $2.50 for the same period compares to $2.19 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.61 billion, representing a surprise of -0.44%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +4.17%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $2.40.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how 3M performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Net Sales- Consumer business- Total: $1.31 billion versus $1.31 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -0.4% change.
• Net Sales- Safety and Industrial business- Total: $3.18 billion compared to the $3.12 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +9.1% year over year.
• Operating Income- Transportation and Electronics: $468 million compared to the $497.42 million average estimate based on two analysts.
• Operating Income- Safety and Industrial: $960 million compared to the $885.03 million average estimate based on two analysts.

View all Key Company Metrics for 3M here>>>

Shares of 3M have returned -1.8% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.7% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.