Even if they go mostly unnoticed, industrial businesses are the backbone of our country. But their prominence also brings high exposure to the ups and downs of economic cycles.
Luckily, the tide is turning in their favor as the industry’s 17.2% return over the past six months has topped the S&P 500 by 8.4 percentage points.
3M's fourth quarter was marked by a challenging market reaction, as shares fell following its report despite exceeding Wall Street’s revenue and adjusted EPS expectations. Management attributed the quarter’s performance to strong execution in industrial, electronics, and safety segments, which offset ongoing weakness in consumer markets and roofing granules. CEO Bill Brown pointed to commercial excellence initiatives and a significant uptick in new product launches as key drivers. However, he also acknowledged persistent softness in consumer demand and noted that promotional activity and discounts pressured margins, describing the environment as “relatively soft” for several end markets.
As the first month of 2026 draws to a close, the U.S. financial landscape is being reshaped by an aggressive, new era of shareholder activism. No longer content with minor board adjustments or modest cost-cutting, major activist funds are successfully pressuring corporate titans to dismantle their portfolios, sparking a
Shares of industrial conglomerate 3M (NYSE:MMM)
jumped 3.7% in the afternoon session after the US president announced a framework for a future deal with Greenland.
Join us as we dissect 3M's potential for growth and innovation. Can the company turn its fortunes around, or is it destined for mediocrity? Tune in to find out!
The stock market faced a jarring reality check on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, as two pillars of the Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered significant sell-offs, signaling a potential sea change in investor sentiment. 3M Company (NYSE: MMM) saw its shares plummet nearly 7%, while International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM)
