AIT vs. MMM: Applied Industrial vs. 3M Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Applied Industrial (AIT) and 3M (MMM) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Applied Industrial (AIT) and 3M (MMM) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but AIT is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors while MMM is classified in Industrial Conglomerates.

Company profile comparison for Applied Industrial (AIT) and 3M (MMM)
Profile Item	AIT	MMM
Name	Applied Industrial Technologies Inc.	3M Company
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Industrial Conglomerates
GICS Sub-Industry	Trading Companies & Distributors	Industrial Conglomerates
Market Capitalization	10.35 billion USD	95.67 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	January 2, 1962
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AIT

MMM

GSPC

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. 3M (MMM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Applied Industrial (AIT) and 3M (MMM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Applied Industrial (AIT) and 3M (MMM). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and 3M (MMM)
Metric	AIT	MMM
Total Return (1Y)	15.62%	16.26%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	24.49%	38.64%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	24.56%	8.14%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AIT

MMM

GSPC

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. 3M (MMM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Applied Industrial (AIT) and 3M (MMM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and 3M (MMM)
Metric	AIT	MMM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	28.72%	27.61%
Beta (5Y)	0.86	0.97
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-26.42%	-48.86%
Avg. Volume (3M)	295.41K	3.14M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AIT and MMM are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and 3M (MMM)
Metric	AIT	MMM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.39	0.43
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.53	0.70

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but 3M (MMM) at 72.97% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Applied Industrial (AIT) at 22.51% also sits in the top quartile.

AIT

Capital Goods industry group

22.51%

Max: 40.55%
AIT: 22.51%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

MMM

Capital Goods industry group

72.97%

MMM: 72.97%
Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

3M (MMM) at 14.01% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Applied Industrial (AIT) at 8.39%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

AIT

Capital Goods industry group

8.39%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
AIT: 8.39%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

MMM

Capital Goods industry group

14.01%

Max: 27.47%
MMM: 14.01%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

3M (MMM) at 23.69% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Applied Industrial (AIT) at 11.12%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

AIT

Capital Goods industry group

11.12%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
AIT: 11.12%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

MMM

Capital Goods industry group

23.69%

Max: 36.60%
MMM: 23.69%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and 3M (MMM)
Metric	AIT	MMM
ROE (TTM)	22.51%	72.97%
ROA (TTM)	11.43%	8.22%
Net Margin (TTM)	8.39%	14.01%
Operating Margin (TTM)	11.12%	23.69%
Gross Margin (TTM)	30.40%	39.53%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Applied Industrial (AIT) at 8.84% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while 3M (MMM) at 1.52% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: 3M (MMM) reports EPS growth of -20.53%, ranked against its industry; Applied Industrial (AIT) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and 3M (MMM)
Metric	AIT	MMM
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.84%	1.52%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.02%	-1.57%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	-20.53%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	7.40%	-16.16%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Applied Industrial (AIT) at 2.89 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while 3M (MMM) at 1.41 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for MMM.

AIT

Capital Goods industry group

2.89

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
AIT: 2.89
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

MMM

Capital Goods industry group

1.41

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
MMM: 1.41
Min: 0.36

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Applied Industrial (AIT) at 0.15 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while 3M (MMM) at 3.04 is above its industry debt-to-equity ratio range.

AIT

Capital Goods industry group

0.15

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
AIT: 0.15
Min: 0.00

MMM

Capital Goods industry group

3.04

MMM: 3.04
Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and 3M (MMM)
Metric	AIT	MMM
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.89	1.41
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.15	3.04
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.27	1.26

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

3M (MMM) at 1.64% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Applied Industrial (AIT) at 0.71% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, MMM the richer one.

AIT

Capital Goods industry group

0.71%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
AIT: 0.71%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MMM

Capital Goods industry group

1.64%

Max: 2.66%
MMM: 1.64%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Applied Industrial (AIT) at 17.63% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while 3M (MMM) at 45.82% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

AIT

Capital Goods industry group

17.63%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
AIT: 17.63%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MMM

Capital Goods industry group

45.82%

Max: 67.39%
MMM: 45.82%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and 3M (MMM)
Metric	AIT	MMM
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.71%	1.64%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	17.63%	45.82%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Applied Industrial (AIT) at 25.10 and 3M (MMM) at 27.63 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

AIT

Capital Goods industry group

25.10

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
AIT: 25.10
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

MMM

Capital Goods industry group

27.63

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
MMM: 27.63
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Applied Industrial (AIT) at 2.05 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while 3M (MMM) at 3.79 sits in the pricier quartile — MMM costs more per dollar of sales.

AIT

Capital Goods industry group

2.05

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
AIT: 2.05
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

MMM

Capital Goods industry group

3.79

Max: 7.54
MMM: 3.79
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Applied Industrial (AIT) at 5.50 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and 3M (MMM) at 23.18 prices even higher, above its industry range.

AIT

Capital Goods industry group

5.50

Max: 9.66
AIT: 5.50
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

MMM

Capital Goods industry group

23.18

MMM: 23.18
Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

Applied Industrial (AIT) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Applied Industrial (AIT) and 3M (MMM)
Metric	AIT	MMM
P/E Ratio (TTM)	25.10	27.63
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.05	3.79
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	5.50	23.18
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.24%	6.66%