3M Company Earnings Preview: Analyts Expect Higher Earnings, Revenue from Prior Quarter

3M Company MMM unveils its next round of earnings this Tuesday, July 26, 2011. Here is Benzinga's everything-that-matters guide for this Tuesday's second quarter earnings announcement.

Earnings and Revenue:

Wall Street expects a positive EPS reading of $1.60 per share and revenues of $7.6 billion. Investors will be watching to see how this quarter's numbers compare against the year-ago quarter, when the company reported EPS of $1.54 per share on revenues of $6.73 billion. We'll know on Tuesday whether 3M Company has managed the estimated 3.9% increase in EPS and 12.9% rise in revenues on a year-over-year basis.

Here's how the company's reported EPS has stacked up against analyst estimates in the past:

Quarter	Q1	Q4	Q3	Q2
EPS Estimate	$1.43	$1.27	$1.51	$1.48
EPS Actual	$1.49	$1.27	$1.53	$1.54

Stock Performance:

At last check, shares of 3M Company were trading at $94.25. Shares are up 10.5% year to date. For a full 12 months, the return has risen by 8.9%. Given that these returns are generally positive, long-term shareholders are probably satisfied going into this earnings release.

• Long-term shareholders are already enjoying 12-month gains prior to the announcement

Average Stock Rating:

The average rating by analysts for 3M Company is a Moderate Buy. The strength of this rating has crept upwards over the past three months.

Competitors:

Wondering how 3M Company compares to rivals in the same sector? Here are a few of the company's peers.

• Carlisle Companies CSL: Moderate Buy with a $0.53 recent quarter EPS
• E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company DD: Moderate Buy with a $1.52 recent quarter EPS
• Danaher DHR: Moderate Buy with a $0.61 recent quarter EPS
• General Electric Company GE: Moderate Buy with a $0.31 recent quarter EPS

The diversified operations company's industry has seen price/earnings growth of 1.2% during the current fiscal year.

Finally, a description of the company's main areas of operation: 3M Co. is a global manufacturer, technology innovator and marketer of a variety of products.

Take Action:

That's your advanced look at 3M Company's upcoming earnings numbers -- be ready to take quick action if the company's report contains any surprises. Also, check back in with us after the announcement for a full recap and what-to-do-next guide.

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