MMM vs. NVT: 3M vs. nVent Electric Stock Comparison
How do 3M (MMM) and nVent Electric (NVT) 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
3M (MMM) and nVent Electric (NVT) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but MMM is classified in Industrial Conglomerates while NVT is classified in Electrical Equipment.
| Profile Item | MMM | NVT |
|---|---|---|
| Name | 3M Company | nVent Electric plc |
| Country/Region | United States | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Industrial Conglomerates | Electrical Equipment |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Industrial Conglomerates | Electrical Components & Equipment |
| Market Capitalization | 95.67 billion USD | 17.16 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | April 24, 2018 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MMM | NVT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 16.26% | 2.86% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 38.64% | 32.72% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 8.14% | 26.96% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MMM | NVT |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 27.61% | 53.94% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.97 | 1.41 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -48.86% | -46.67% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.14M | 2.54M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MMM | NVT |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.43 | -0.03 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.70 | -0.03 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
3M (MMM) at 72.97% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than nVent Electric (NVT) at 17.42%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
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%
NVT
Capital Goods industry group
17.42%
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- NVT
- 17.42%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- Min
- -17.12%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both 3M (MMM) at 14.01% and nVent Electric (NVT) at 12.83% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
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%
NVT
Capital Goods industry group
12.83%
- Max
- 27.47%
- NVT
- 12.83%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both 3M (MMM) at 23.69% and nVent Electric (NVT) at 18.75% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
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%
NVT
Capital Goods industry group
18.75%
- Max
- 36.60%
- NVT
- 18.75%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MMM | NVT |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 72.97% | 17.42% |
| ROA (TTM) | 8.22% | 7.88% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 14.01% | 12.83% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 23.69% | 18.75% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 39.53% | 36.17% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
nVent Electric (NVT) at 29.51% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while 3M (MMM) at 1.52% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in revenue momentum.
EPS Growth
nVent Electric (NVT) at 118.78% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than 3M (MMM) at -20.53%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MMM | NVT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 1.52% | 29.51% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.57% | 19.26% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -20.53% | 118.78% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -16.16% | 21.89% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
nVent Electric (NVT) at 2.40 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.
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
NVT
Capital Goods industry group
2.40
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- NVT
- 2.40
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
nVent Electric (NVT) at 0.57 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.
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
NVT
Capital Goods industry group
0.57
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- NVT
- 0.57
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | MMM | NVT |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.41 | 2.40 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 3.04 | 0.57 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.26 | 1.05 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
3M (MMM) at 1.64% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while nVent Electric (NVT) at 0.84% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, MMM the richer one.
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%
NVT
Capital Goods industry group
0.84%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- NVT
- 0.84%
- Median
- 0.24%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
nVent Electric (NVT) at 20.15% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while 3M (MMM) at 45.82% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
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%
NVT
Capital Goods industry group
20.15%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- NVT
- 20.15%
- Median
- 6.86%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MMM | NVT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.64% | 0.84% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 45.82% | 20.15% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both 3M (MMM) at 27.63 and nVent Electric (NVT) at 25.78 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
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
NVT
Capital Goods industry group
25.78
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- NVT
- 25.78
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)
nVent Electric (NVT) at 3.24 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.
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
NVT
Capital Goods industry group
3.24
- Max
- 7.54
- Q3
- 3.76
- NVT
- 3.24
- Median
- 2.15
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
nVent Electric (NVT) at 4.17 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while 3M (MMM) at 23.18 prices above its benchmark range — MMM looks rich relative to book.
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
NVT
Capital Goods industry group
4.17
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.00
- NVT
- 4.17
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MMM | NVT |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 27.63 | 25.78 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.79 | 3.24 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 23.18 | 4.17 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 6.66% | 2.93% |