Conglomerates
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HON vs MMM
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Conglomerates
HON vs MMM — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Conglomerates | Conglomerates |
| Market Cap | $132.47B | $74.49B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $36.76B | $25.02B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $4.10B | $2.79B |
| Gross Margin | 36.9% | 39.5% |
| Operating Margin | 14.9% | 19.6% |
| Forward P/E | 19.9x | 16.4x |
| Total Debt | $34.58B | $12.94B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $12.49B | $5.24B |
HON vs MMM — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honeywell Internati… (HON) | 100 | 143.3 | +43.3% |
| 3M Company (MMM) | 100 | 109.2 | +9.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HON vs MMM
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
HON carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 15 yrs, beta 0.74, yield 2.2%
- Rev growth 7.8%, EPS growth -15.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 1.8%
- 127.7% 10Y total return vs MMM's 32.5%
MMM is the clearest fit if your priority is value and momentum.
- Lower P/E (16.4x vs 19.9x)
- +3.5% vs HON's -0.3%
- 7.5% ROA vs HON's 5.3%, ROIC 28.1% vs 12.6%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 7.8% revenue growth vs MMM's 1.5% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (16.4x vs 19.9x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 11.2% margin vs MMM's 11.1% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.74 vs MMM's 1.06, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 2.2% yield, 15-year raise streak, vs MMM's 1.5% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +3.5% vs HON's -0.3% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 7.5% ROA vs HON's 5.3%, ROIC 28.1% vs 12.6% |
HON vs MMM — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
HON vs MMM — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MMM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HON and MMM operate at a comparable scale, with $36.8B and $25.0B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 11.2% (HON) to 11.1% (MMM). On growth, MMM holds the edge at +1.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $36.8B | $25.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $6.5B | $5.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $4.1B | $2.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $4.2B | $2.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +36.9% | +39.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.9% | +19.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.2% | +11.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +11.4% | +8.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -6.9% | +1.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -41.9% | -39.7% |
Valuation Metrics
MMM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 23.8x trailing earnings, MMM trades at a 16% valuation discount to HON's 28.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, MMM's 15.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than HON's 19.4x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $132.5B | $74.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $154.6B | $82.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 28.40x | 23.80x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 19.86x | 16.44x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 15.47x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 19.43x | 15.11x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.54x | 2.99x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 8.70x | 16.22x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 24.56x | 53.36x |
Profitability & Efficiency
MMM leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MMM delivers a 65.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $65 in annual profit, vs $23 for HON. HON carries lower financial leverage with a 2.24x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MMM's 2.73x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), HON scores 6/9 vs MMM's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +23.1% | +65.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.3% | +7.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.6% | +28.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.6% | +16.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.24x | 2.73x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $22.1B | $7.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $12.5B | $5.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $34.6B | $12.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.92x | 6.52x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — HON and MMM each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in HON five years ago would be worth $10,135 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,714 for MMM. Over the past 12 months, MMM leads with a +3.5% total return vs HON's -0.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MMM at 21.1% vs HON's 3.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +7.3% | -11.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -0.3% | +3.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +11.8% | +77.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1.3% | -2.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +127.7% | +32.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +3.8% | +21.1% |
Risk & Volatility
HON leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HON is the less volatile stock with a 0.74 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MMM's 1.06 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. HON currently trades 84.2% from its 52-week high vs MMM's 80.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.74x | 1.06x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $248.18 | $177.41 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $186.76 | $137.63 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +84.2% | +80.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 32.8 | 37.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.7M | 3.5M |
Analyst Outlook
HON leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates HON as "Buy" and MMM as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 16.8% upside for MMM (target: $167) vs 16.6% for HON (target: $244). For income investors, HON offers the higher dividend yield at 2.21% vs MMM's 1.53%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $243.83 | $166.75 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 28 | 33 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.2% | +1.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 15 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $4.63 | $2.18 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.9% | +6.5% |
MMM leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). HON leads in 2 (Risk & Volatility, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
HON vs MMM: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HON or MMM a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Honeywell International Inc.
(HON) is the stronger pick with 7. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 5% for 3M Company (MMM). 3M Company (MMM) offers the better valuation at 23. 8x trailing P/E (16. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Honeywell International Inc. (HON) a "Buy" — based on 28 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — HON or MMM?
On trailing P/E, 3M Company (MMM) is the cheapest at 23.
8x versus Honeywell International Inc. at 28. 4x. On forward P/E, 3M Company is actually cheaper at 16. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — HON or MMM?
Over the past 5 years, Honeywell International Inc.
(HON) delivered a total return of +1. 3%, compared to -2. 9% for 3M Company (MMM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HON returned +127. 7% versus MMM's +32. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — HON or MMM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Honeywell International Inc.
(HON) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 74β versus 3M Company's 1. 06β — meaning MMM is approximately 43% more volatile than HON relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Honeywell International Inc. (HON) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 3% for 3M Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — HON or MMM?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Honeywell International Inc.
(HON) is pulling ahead at 7. 8% versus 1. 5% for 3M Company (MMM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Honeywell International Inc. grew EPS -15. 5% year-over-year, compared to -20. 5% for 3M Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, HON leads at 1. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — HON or MMM?
3M Company (MMM) is the more profitable company, earning 13.
0% net margin versus 12. 6% for Honeywell International Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MMM leads at 18. 3% versus 17. 5% for HON. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MMM leads at 39. 6%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is HON or MMM more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, 3M Company (MMM) trades at 16.
4x forward P/E versus 19. 9x for Honeywell International Inc. — 3. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MMM: 16. 8% to $166. 75.
08Which pays a better dividend — HON or MMM?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Honeywell International Inc. (HON) offers the highest yield at 2. 2%, versus 1. 5% for 3M Company (MMM).
09Is HON or MMM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Honeywell International Inc.
(HON) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 74), 2. 2% yield, +127. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HON: +127. 7%, MMM: +32. 5%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between HON and MMM?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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