3M Company reported solid first quarter results with adjusted EPS growing in the double digits again. The company spun off its healthcare business into a new company called Solventum. 3M Company cut its dividend in half, but the stock is still undervalued and seems well-supported from a technical point of view.
The industrial giant has been facing years of legal and regulatory headwinds. The company was forced to spin off a large division to raise the cash it needed to deal with the issues.
Zacks.com users have recently been watching 3M (MMM) quite a bit. Thus, it is worth knowing the facts that could determine the stock's prospects.
3M (NYSE: MMM) stock price has lagged behind the market as the company has moved from one crisis to the other. It has crashed by about 35% from its highest point in 2021, making it one of the worst-performing companies in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
In the closing of the recent trading day, 3M (MMM) stood at $97.56, denoting a -1.13% change from the preceding trading day.
CFRA analyst Jonathan Sakraida upgraded 3M stock to Buy from Hold, and lifted the price target to $115 from $100.
The investment thesis for the stock does not rely on its dividend. The recent dividend cut is a net plus for a company that needs restructuring.
Despite improvements in its business, the yield trap has been spring.
3M's turnaround will take time, but it has the cash resources to help it meet legal settlements. The current restructuring program appears to be generating margin expansion, and the new CEO has an opportunity to improve performance.
Solventum's main strategic priority is to repay debt following its separation from 3M. The business has consistently underperformed in its end markets, and a turnaround will take time.