October 24, 2017
3M Reports Q3 Sales Jump
3M, parent company of Top 40 supplier 3M/Promotional Markets (asi/91240), reported Tuesday that its third quarter sales increased to $8.2 billion, up 6% from the same quarter the prior year. Additionally, 3M said that Q3 earnings tallied $2.33 per share, a rise of 8.4% over the comparable quarter in 2016. Margins expanded to 25%.
“Coming off a strong first half, our team delivered an even more robust performance in the third quarter,” said Inge G. Thulin, 3M’s chairman, president and chief executive officer.
As a result of the strong showing through the first nine months of 2017, 3M increased its guidance for the full year. The company now forecasts organic local-currency sales growth of 4% to 5%, up from a previous guidance of 3% to 5%. 3M anticipates earnings in the range of $9.00 to $9.10 per share – up 10% to 12% year-on-year – versus a prior expectation of $8.80 to $9.05.
With estimated 2016 North American promotional product revenue of $96 million, 3M/Promotional Markets ranks 18th on Counselor’s 2017 list of the largest suppliers in the advertising specialty industry.