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3M Delivers Strong Second-Quarter Results; Company Updates Full-Year 2024 Earnings Guidance

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Sales of $6.3 billion, down 0.5% YoYAdjusted sales of $6.0 billion with organic growth up 1.2% YoYGAAP EPS from continuing operations of $2.17, up 117% YoYAdjusted EPS from continuing operations of $1.93, up 39% YoYOperating cash flow of $1.0 billion with adjusted free cash flow of $1.2 billionUpdates full-year 2024 adjusted EPS from continuing operations to $7.00 to $7.30 from $6.80 to $7.30

ST. PAUL, Minn., July 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — 3M (NYSE: MMM) today reported second-quarter results.

“We delivered another strong quarter with adjusted earnings growth up double-digits and robust cash generation. I want to thank 3M employees for their exceptional execution, which we expect to continue in the second half of the year,” said William Brown, 3M Chief Executive Officer. “As I look ahead, I am focused on three priorities: driving sustained organic revenue growth, increasing operational performance, and effectively deploying capital. I have long admired 3M’s track record of innovation and am excited to be leading this great company and by the opportunities ahead.”

Second-Quarter Highlights:

Q2 2024

Q2 2023

GAAP EPS from continuing operations (GAAP EPS)

$          2.17

$      (12.94)

Special items:

Net costs for significant litigation

0.44

14.43

(Increase) decrease in value of Solventum ownership

(2.00)

Pension risk transfer charge

1.09

Other special items, net

0.23

(0.10)

Adjusted EPS from continuing operations (Adjusted EPS)

$          1.93

$          1.39

Memo:

GAAP operating income margin

20.3 %

(148.9) %

Adjusted operating income margin

21.6 %

17.2 %

GAAP EPS of $2.17 and operating margin of 20.3%.Adjusted EPS of $1.93, up 39% year-on-year.Adjusted operating income margin of 21.6%, an increase of 4.4 percentage points year-on-year.

GAAP

Adjusted (Non-GAAP)

Net sales (Millions)

$6,255

$6,019

Sales change

Total sales

(0.5) %

1.1 %

Components of sales change:

Organic sales1

(0.3) %

1.2 %

Acquisitions/divestitures

1.2 %

1.3 %

Translation

(1.4) %

(1.4) %

Adjusted sales excludes manufactured PFAS products.

1Above adjusted organic sales increase includes a 120 basis point headwind from product portfolio initiatives and exit
of certain small countries.

Sales of $6.3 billion, down 0.5% year-on-year, with organic sales down 0.3% year-on-year.Adjusted sales of $6.0 billion, up 1.1% year-on-year with adjusted organic sales up 1.2% year-on-year.Operating cash flow of $1.0 billion; adjusted free cash flow of $1.2 billion.3M returned $786 million to shareholders via dividends and share repurchases.

This document includes reference to certain non-GAAP measures. See the “Supplemental Financial Information Non-GAAP Measures” section for applicable information.

Updated Full-Year 2024 Earnings Outlook

3M updated its full-year adjusted earnings expectations given the company’s strong operational execution in the first half of the year. The 2024 earnings outlook below reflects the continuing operations of 3M.

Prior 2024 forecast2

Current 2024 forecast2

Adjusted total sales growth

(0.25%) to +1.75%

(0.25%) to +1.75%

Adjusted organic sales growth

flat to +2%

flat to +2%

Adjusted EPS

$6.80 to $7.30

$7.00 to $7.30

2As further discussed at 6 within the “Supplemental Financial Information Non-GAAP Measures” sections, 3M cannot, without unreasonable

 effort, forecast certain items required to develop meaningful comparable GAAP financial measures and, therefore, does not provide them on a

 forward-looking basis reflecting these items.

Conference Call

3M will conduct an investor teleconference at 9 a.m. EDT (8 a.m. CDT) today. Investors can access this conference via the following:

Live webcast at https://investors.3M.com Webcast replay at https://investors.3m.com/financials/quarterly-earnings 

Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplemental Financial Information Non-GAAP Measures

View the Financial Statement Information on 3M’s website: https://investors.3m.com/financials/quarterly-earnings

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. You can identify these statements by the use of words such as “plan,” “expect,” “aim,” “believe,” “project,” “target,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “forecast” and other words and terms of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events and trends that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual future results and trends may differ materially from historical results or those reflected in any such forward-looking statements depending on a variety of factors. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: (1) worldwide economic, political, regulatory, international trade, geopolitical, capital markets and other external conditions and other factors beyond the Company’s control, including inflation, recession, military conflicts, and natural and other disasters or climate change affecting the operations of the Company or its customers and suppliers; (2) foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations in those rates; (3) liabilities and the outcome of contingencies related to certain fluorochemicals; known as “PFAS,” including liabilities related to claims, lawsuits, and government regulatory proceedings concerning various PFAS-related products and chemistries, as well as risks related to the Company’s plans to exit PFAS manufacturing and discontinue use of PFAS across its product portfolio; (4) risks related to the class-action settlement to resolve claims by public water suppliers in the United States regarding PFAS; (5) legal proceedings, including significant developments that could occur in the legal and regulatory proceedings described in the Company’s reports on Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K (the “Reports”); (6) competitive conditions and customer preferences; (7) the timing and market acceptance of new product and service offerings; (8) the availability and cost of purchased components, compounds, raw materials and energy due to shortages, increased demand and wages, supply chain interruptions, or natural or other disasters; (9) unanticipated problems or delays with the phased implementation of a global enterprise resource planning system, or security breaches and other disruptions to the Company’s information technology infrastructure; (10) the impact of acquisitions, strategic alliances, divestitures, and other strategic events resulting from portfolio management actions and other evolving business strategies; (11) operational execution, including the extent to which the Company can realize the benefits of planned productivity improvements, as well as the impact of organizational restructuring activities; (12) financial market risks that may affect the Company’s funding obligations under defined benefit pension and postretirement plans; (13) the Company’s credit ratings and its cost of capital; (14) tax-related external conditions, including changes in tax rates, laws or regulations; (15) matters relating to the spin-off of the Company’s Health Care business, including the risk that the expected benefits will not be realized; the risk that the costs or dis-synergies will exceed the anticipated amounts; potential business disruption; the diversion of management time; the impact of the transaction on the Company’s ability to retain talent; potential impacts on the Company’s relationships with its customers, suppliers, employees, regulators and other counterparties; the ability to realize the desired tax treatment; the risk that any consents or approvals required will not be obtained; risks under the agreements and obligations entered into in connection with the spin-off, and (16) matters relating to Combat Arms Earplugs (“CAE”), including those related to, the August 2023 settlement that is intended to resolve, to the fullest extent possible, all litigation and alleged claims involving the CAE sold or manufactured by the Company’s subsidiary Aearo Technologies and certain of its affiliates and/or the Company. A further description of these factors is located in the Reports under “Cautionary Note Concerning Factors That May Affect Future Results” and “Risk Factors” in Part I, Items 1 and 1A (Annual Report) and in Part I, Item 2 and Part II, Item 1A (Quarterly Reports). Changes in such assumptions or factors could produce significantly different results. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements discussed herein as a result of new information or future events or developments.

About 3M

3M (NYSE: MMM) believes science helps create a brighter world for everyone. By unlocking the power of people, ideas and science to reimagine what’s possible, our global team uniquely addresses the opportunities and challenges of our customers, communities, and planet. Learn how we’re working to improve lives and make what’s next at 3M.com/news.

Please note that the company announces material financial, business and operational information using the 3M investor relations website, SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. The company also uses the 3M News Center and social media to communicate with our customers and the public about the company, products and services and other matters. It is possible that the information 3M posts on the News Center and social media could be deemed to be material information. Therefore, the company encourages investors, the media and others interested in 3M to review the information posted on 3M’s news center and the social media channels such as @3M or @3MNews.

Contacts
3M
Investor Contacts:
Bruce Jermeland, 651-733-1807
or
Diane Farrow, 612-202-2449
or
Eric Herron, 651-233-0043
Media Contact:
Sean Lynch, slynch2@mmm.com

 

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SOURCE 3M Company

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China Xplained | The China Squeeze, or the China Opportunity?

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GUANGZHOU, China, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This is a news report from South: 

Is China’s manufacturing rise squeezing out or creating opportunities for other economies?

Ahead of the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in China this November, journalists and experts from around the world gathered in Guangdong for the Asia-Pacific Media Forum (APMF) 2026.

The forum opened in Shenzhen on September 5, bringing together more than 400 representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region, as well as from international organizations.

Before the opening of the forum, participants travelled across Guangdong to see China’s industries and development first-hand.

In this episode of China Xplained, we look at the numbers, supply chains, investment and voices from across the developing world—to ask a bigger question: Is China squeezing out room for other economies?

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SOURCE South

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PUDU D7 Named Honoree in IFA Innovation Awards for Best in IFA Next & Emerging Technologies

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BERLIN, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Pudu Robotics, a global leader in commercial service robotics, today announced that its PUDU D7 Semi-humanoid Intelligent Robot has been named an Honoree in the Best in IFA Next & Emerging Technologies category of the IFA Innovation Awards. The recognition highlights PUDU D7’s ability to combine mobile navigation, dexterous manipulation and intelligent sensing to perform a range of tasks in real-world industrial and commercial environments.

The IFA Innovation Awards recognize outstanding innovations across the global technology landscape. Entries are evaluated by an independent international jury based on criteria including technology and functionality, innovation and originality, and the potential to create tangible value for users and the market. The recognition places PUDU D7 among emerging technologies demonstrating new possibilities for the future of robotics.

From Industrial Operations to Guest Interaction

PUDU D7 is designed for industrial, warehouse, retail and hospitality environments, where it can move through human-oriented spaces and perform tasks that require both mobility and dexterous manipulation.

In industrial and warehouse settings, D7 can handle materials, pick items from shelves, replenish inventory, transport goods between work areas and push carts. With a payload capacity of up to 20 kg (44.1 pounds) and an operating height of up to 2 meters (6.6 feet), it can work with a range of storage systems and materials.

In retail, D7 can support shelf replenishment, item handling and store organization, moving products between storage areas and shelves and helping maintain product displays.

In hotels and hospitality, PUDU D7 can take on the role of an intelligent front-desk host, welcoming guests, preparing and serving coffee, interacting with visitors and providing engaging experiences. Its semi-humanoid form and dual-arm capabilities allow it to combine practical service tasks with natural human-robot interaction, bringing a more personable and engaging presence to the guest experience.

Designed for Adaptable Performance

PUDU D7 combines a dual-arm manipulation system, tactile sensing and a 360-degree perception system to support these applications. Front- and rear-facing LiDAR and other sensors enable navigation around people and obstacles, while tactile sensing provides precise control when handling objects.

The robot also features autonomous battery swapping, allowing it to independently replace its battery and reduce downtime during extended operation.

Together, these capabilities enable D7 to support different tasks across a range of environments without being limited to a single application.

PUDU D7 Makes Its European Debut at IFA

IFA 2026 marks the first time PUDU D7 is being showcased in Europe. At the Pudu Robotics booth, visitors can experience live demonstrations highlighting the robot’s capabilities and its potential for human-robot interaction.

D7 interacts directly with visitors through demonstrations including waving, making heart gestures and picking up objects. These demonstrations showcase the robot’s ability to combine movement, manipulation and interaction in a human-oriented environment.

Advancing the Next Generation of Intelligent Robotics

The IFA Innovation Awards recognition marks another step in Pudu Robotics’ expansion from service delivery, commercial cleaning and industrial delivery into embodied intelligent robotics.

PUDU D7 is part of Pudu Robotics’ broader strategy to develop a portfolio of specialized, semi-humanoid and humanoid robots, building on its capabilities in embodied navigation, manipulation and interaction. This approach enables the company to address a broader range of applications across commercial and industrial environments.

Pudu Robotics will continue working with customers and partners worldwide to explore new applications for embodied intelligence and bring increasingly capable robots into real-world environments.

About Pudu Robotics

Pudu Robotics is a global leader in commercial service robotics and the industry’s first company to offer a full portfolio spanning specialized, semi-humanoid, and humanoid robots. According to Frost & Sullivan’s latest market report, Pudu Robotics ranks No. 1 globally in commercial service robotics by both revenue and shipment volume. Built on its One Brain, Multiple Embodiments architecture, Pudu offers robots for service delivery, commercial cleaning, industrial delivery, and general embodied AI applications across hospitality, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, education, public services, and more. To date, Pudu Robotics has shipped over 130,000 robots to customers across 85+ countries and regions.

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SOURCE Pudu Robotics

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Asia-Pacific Media Forum held in China’s Guangdong

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SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from Xinhuanet: 

The Asia-Pacific Media Forum opened on Saturday in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, with the theme of “Building a Path to Shared Prosperity for the Asia-Pacific Community: Media Consensus and Action.”

Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the forum and delivered a keynote speech. Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, attended the forum and delivered a speech.

Participating guests noted that this year marks 2026 APEC “China Year,” during which China will host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. They expressed their belief that with support from all sides, the summit will yield fruitful outcomes and elevate Asia-Pacific cooperation to new heights.

Participating guests emphasized that development and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region depend on the active participation of media. The media are expected to share stories of openness and integration, provide comprehensive coverage of the region’s progress and achievements across various fields, and help foster a favorable public opinion environment for the region’s open development.

Participating guests noted that the media should actively promote outcomes of the series of APEC activities, interpret policies and measures of various economies to support scientific and technological innovation, and build regional consensus for innovative development.

They also called for deepening results-oriented cooperation in joint reporting, technological innovation and personnel training, and leveraging media exchanges to carry forward civilizations, spread culture and convey goodwill, so as to enhance mutual understanding and closer bonds among the peoples of the Asia-Pacific.

The forum was co-hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, Xinhua News Agency and the Guangdong provincial government, and organized by the Shenzhen municipal government.

More than 400 representatives from over 40 countries and regions, as well as UN agencies and international organizations, attended the event. At the opening ceremony, 16 founding organizations from China and abroad jointly formed the Organizing Committee of the Asia-Pacific Media Partnership Program.

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