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MMM vs. ROK: 3M vs. Rockwell Automation Stock Comparison

How do 3M (MMM) and Rockwell Automation (ROK) 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 Rockwell Automation (ROK) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but MMM is classified in Industrial Conglomerates while ROK is classified in Electrical Equipment.

Company profile comparison for 3M (MMM) and Rockwell Automation (ROK)
Profile ItemMMMROK
Name3M CompanyRockwell Automation Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryIndustrial ConglomeratesElectrical Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial ConglomeratesElectrical Components & Equipment
Market Capitalization95.67 billion USD41.82 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962December 31, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MMM
ROK
GSPC
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3M (MMM) vs. Rockwell Automation (ROK), 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 3M (MMM) and Rockwell Automation (ROK). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for 3M (MMM) and Rockwell Automation (ROK)
MetricMMMROK
Total Return (1Y)16.26%6.19%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)38.64%16.94%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)8.14%4.86%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MMM
ROK
GSPC
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3M (MMM) vs. Rockwell Automation (ROK), 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 3M (MMM) and Rockwell Automation (ROK). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for 3M (MMM) and Rockwell Automation (ROK)
MetricMMMROK
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)27.61%34.28%
Beta (5Y)0.971.54
Max Drawdown (5Y)-48.86%-45.09%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.14M799.28K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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MMM and ROK 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 3M (MMM) and Rockwell Automation (ROK)
MetricMMMROK
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.430.06
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.700.07

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but 3M (MMM) at 72.97% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 38.73% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

ROK

Capital Goods industry group

38.73%

Max
40.55%
ROK
38.73%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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3M (MMM) vs. Rockwell Automation (ROK): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both 3M (MMM) at 14.01% and Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 15.68% 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%

ROK

Capital Goods industry group

15.68%

Max
27.47%
ROK
15.68%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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3M (MMM) vs. Rockwell Automation (ROK): 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 Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 14.75%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

ROK

Capital Goods industry group

14.75%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
ROK
14.75%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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3M (MMM) vs. Rockwell Automation (ROK): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for 3M (MMM) and Rockwell Automation (ROK)
MetricMMMROK
ROE (TTM)72.97%38.73%
ROA (TTM)8.22%9.32%
Net Margin (TTM)14.01%15.68%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.69%14.75%
Gross Margin (TTM)39.53%48.95%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Only one side can be read here: 3M (MMM) reports revenue growth of 1.52%, ranked against its industry; Rockwell Automation (ROK) has no revenue growth figure this period.

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3M (MMM) vs. Rockwell Automation (ROK): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 63.49% 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 ROK.

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3M (MMM) vs. Rockwell Automation (ROK): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for 3M (MMM) and Rockwell Automation (ROK)
MetricMMMROK
Revenue Growth (YoY)1.52%--
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.57%--
EPS Growth (YoY)-20.53%63.49%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-16.16%1.62%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 2.11 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

ROK

Capital Goods industry group

2.11

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
ROK
2.11
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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3M (MMM) vs. Rockwell Automation (ROK): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 1.00 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

ROK

Capital Goods industry group

1.00

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
ROK
1.00
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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3M (MMM) vs. Rockwell Automation (ROK): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for 3M (MMM) and Rockwell Automation (ROK)
MetricMMMROK
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.412.11
Debt / Equity (MRQ)3.041.00
Net Debt / EBITDA1.261.58

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Rockwell Automation (ROK) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile 3M (MMM) reports a yield of 1.64%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

ROK

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
ROK
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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3M (MMM) vs. Rockwell Automation (ROK): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both 3M (MMM) at 45.82% and Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 51.03% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

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%

ROK

Capital Goods industry group

51.03%

Max
67.39%
ROK
51.03%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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3M (MMM) vs. Rockwell Automation (ROK): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for 3M (MMM) and Rockwell Automation (ROK)
MetricMMMROK
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.64%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)45.82%51.03%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both 3M (MMM) at 27.63 and Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 29.97 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

ROK

Capital Goods industry group

29.97

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
ROK
29.97
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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3M (MMM) vs. Rockwell Automation (ROK): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both 3M (MMM) at 3.79 and Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 4.65 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

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

ROK

Capital Goods industry group

4.65

Max
7.54
ROK
4.65
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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3M (MMM) vs. Rockwell Automation (ROK): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both 3M (MMM) at 23.18 and Rockwell Automation (ROK) at 11.76 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

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

ROK

Capital Goods industry group

11.76

ROK
11.76
Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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3M (MMM) vs. Rockwell Automation (ROK): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for 3M (MMM) and Rockwell Automation (ROK)
MetricMMMROK
P/E Ratio (TTM)27.6329.97
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.794.65
P/B Ratio (MRQ)23.1811.76
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)6.66%-1.13%