On Jan. 30, 3M (NYSE:MMM) released fourth-quarter earnings for the period ended Dec. 31.

  • Sales increased by 8.6%, primarily driven by growth in all the business segments, especially in the Safety, Security, and Protection Services and the Industrial and Transportation segments.
  • Net profit increased by 57.6%, mainly because of the sale of the company's global branded pharmaceuticals business.
  • CAPS investors have lots of love for 3M, as 1,051 out of 1,098 think it will outperform the S&P 500. If you have an opinion, bring it to CAPS, our community-intelligence database.

(Figures in millions, except per-share data)

Income Statement Highlights

Q4 2006

Q4 2005

Change

Sales

$5,782.0

$5,325.0

8.6%

Net Profit

$1,176.0

$746.0

57.6%

EPS

$1.57

$0.97

61.9%

Diluted Shares

748.6

771.5

(3.0%)



Get back to basics with a look at the income statement.

Margin Checkup

Q4 2006

Q4 2005

Change*

Gross Margin

45.3%

50.8%

(5.5)

Operating Margin**

31.3%

22.4%

9.0

Net Margin

20.3%

14.0%

6.3

*Expressed in percentage points.
**Includes gain on sale of a business.

Margins are the earnings engine. See how they work.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Assets

Q4 2006

Q4 2005

Change

Cash + ST Invest.

$1,918.0

$1,072.0

78.9%

Accounts Rec.

$3,102.0

$2,838.0

9.3%

Inventory

$2,601.0

$2,162.0

20.3%



Liabilities

Q4 2006

Q4 2005

Change

Accounts Payable

$1,402.0

$1,256.0

11.6%

Long-Term Debt

$1,047.0

$1,309.0

(20.0%)



Learn the ways of the balance sheet.

Cash Flow Highlights

YTD 2006

YTD 2005

Change

Cash From Ops.

$3,839.0

$4,204.0

(8.7%)

Capital Expenditures

$1,168.0

$943.0

23.9%

Free Cash Flow

$2,671.0

$3,261.0

(18.1%)



Find out why Fools always follow the money.

Related Companies:

  • Honeywell International (NYSE:HON)
  • Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW)
  • Danaher (NYSE:DHR)
  • Ingersoll-Rand (NYSE:IR)
  • Eaton (NYSE:ETN)

Related Foolishness:

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