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HWM vs. MMM: Howmet Aerospace vs. 3M Stock Comparison

How do Howmet Aerospace (HWM) 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

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and 3M (MMM) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but HWM is classified in Aerospace & Defense while MMM is classified in Industrial Conglomerates.

Company profile comparison for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and 3M (MMM)
Profile ItemHWMMMM
NameHowmet Aerospace Inc.3M Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryAerospace & DefenseIndustrial Conglomerates
GICS Sub-IndustryAerospace & DefenseIndustrial Conglomerates
Market Capitalization81.84 billion USD95.67 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateNovember 1, 2016January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

HWM
MMM
GSPC
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Howmet Aerospace (HWM) 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 Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and 3M (MMM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and 3M (MMM)
MetricHWMMMM
Total Return (1Y)5.06%16.26%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)64.83%38.64%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)46.04%8.14%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

HWM
MMM
GSPC
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Howmet Aerospace (HWM) 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 Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and 3M (MMM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and 3M (MMM)
MetricHWMMMM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)37.60%27.61%
Beta (5Y)1.270.97
Max Drawdown (5Y)-36.47%-48.86%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.47M3.14M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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HWM 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 Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and 3M (MMM)
MetricHWMMMM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.020.43
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.030.70

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but 3M (MMM) at 72.97% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 37.65% also sits in the top quartile.

HWM

Capital Goods industry group

37.65%

Max
40.55%
HWM
37.65%
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%
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Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 21.10% and 3M (MMM) at 14.01% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

HWM

Capital Goods industry group

21.10%

Max
27.47%
HWM
21.10%
Q3
12.10%
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%
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Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 28.78% and 3M (MMM) at 23.69% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

HWM

Capital Goods industry group

28.78%

Max
36.60%
HWM
28.78%
Q3
18.33%
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%
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Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and 3M (MMM)
MetricHWMMMM
ROE (TTM)37.65%72.97%
ROA (TTM)13.97%8.22%
Net Margin (TTM)21.10%14.01%
Operating Margin (TTM)28.78%23.69%
Gross Margin (TTM)36.63%39.53%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 11.06% 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.

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Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 32.03% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while 3M (MMM) at -20.53% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for HWM.

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Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and 3M (MMM)
MetricHWMMMM
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.06%1.52%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)13.37%-1.57%
EPS Growth (YoY)32.03%-20.53%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)49.51%-16.16%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 1.86 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.

HWM

Capital Goods industry group

1.86

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
HWM
1.86
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
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Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 0.80 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while 3M (MMM) at 3.04 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

HWM

Capital Goods industry group

0.80

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
HWM
0.80
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
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
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Howmet Aerospace (HWM) 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 Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and 3M (MMM)
MetricHWMMMM
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.861.41
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.803.04
Net Debt / EBITDA1.351.26

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

3M (MMM) at 1.64% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 0.25% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, MMM the richer one.

HWM

Capital Goods industry group

0.25%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
HWM
0.25%
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%
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Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 9.80% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while 3M (MMM) at 45.82% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

HWM

Capital Goods industry group

9.80%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
HWM
9.80%
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%
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Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and 3M (MMM)
MetricHWMMMM
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.25%1.64%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)9.80%45.82%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

3M (MMM) at 27.63 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 40.35 sits in the richer quartile — HWM needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

HWM

Capital Goods industry group

40.35

Max
59.38
HWM
40.35
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
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
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Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: 3M (MMM) at 3.79 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 8.41 prices even higher, above its industry range.

HWM

Capital Goods industry group

8.41

HWM
8.41
Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
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
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Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 14.20 and 3M (MMM) at 23.18 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

HWM

Capital Goods industry group

14.20

HWM
14.20
Max
9.66
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
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Howmet Aerospace (HWM) vs. 3M (MMM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and 3M (MMM)
MetricHWMMMM
P/E Ratio (TTM)40.3527.63
P/S Ratio (TTM)8.413.79
P/B Ratio (MRQ)14.2023.18
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.58%6.66%