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MMM vs. SYM: 3M vs. Symbotic Stock Comparison

How do 3M (MMM) and Symbotic (SYM) 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 Symbotic (SYM) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but MMM is classified in Industrial Conglomerates while SYM is classified in Machinery.

3M (MMM) has more than two decades of public-market history since January 2, 1962, whereas Symbotic (SYM) listed on March 9, 2021 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for 3M (MMM) and Symbotic (SYM)
Profile ItemMMMSYM
Name3M CompanySymbotic Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryIndustrial ConglomeratesMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial ConglomeratesIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization95.67 billion USD22.29 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962March 9, 2021
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MMM
SYM
GSPC
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3M (MMM) vs. Symbotic (SYM), 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 Symbotic (SYM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for 3M (MMM) and Symbotic (SYM)
MetricMMMSYM
Total Return (1Y)16.26%-44.66%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)38.64%6.78%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)8.14%30.90%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Symbotic (SYM) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.05, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas 3M (MMM) is closer to market-like at 0.97 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.

Risk profile metrics for 3M (MMM) and Symbotic (SYM)
MetricMMMSYM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)27.61%78.15%
Beta (5Y)0.972.05
Max Drawdown (5Y)-48.86%-72.46%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.14M1.61M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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MMM and SYM 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 Symbotic (SYM)
MetricMMMSYM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.43-0.63
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.70-0.93

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

3M (MMM) at 72.97% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Symbotic (SYM) at 4.39%, 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%

SYM

Capital Goods industry group

4.39%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
SYM
4.39%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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3M (MMM) vs. Symbotic (SYM): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

3M (MMM) at 14.01% keeps a top-quartile share of each sales dollar as profit, while Symbotic (SYM) at 0.31% keeps a bottom-quartile share.

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%

SYM

Capital Goods industry group

0.31%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
SYM
0.31%
Min
-12.89%
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3M (MMM) vs. Symbotic (SYM): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

3M (MMM) at 23.69% carries a top-quartile operating margin, while Symbotic (SYM) at 4.59% operates in the bottom quartile.

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%

SYM

Capital Goods industry group

4.59%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
SYM
4.59%
Min
-12.63%
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3M (MMM) vs. Symbotic (SYM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for 3M (MMM) and Symbotic (SYM)
MetricMMMSYM
ROE (TTM)72.97%4.39%
ROA (TTM)8.22%0.32%
Net Margin (TTM)14.01%0.31%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.69%4.59%
Gross Margin (TTM)39.53%21.27%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Symbotic (SYM) at 25.65% 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.

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3M (MMM) vs. Symbotic (SYM): 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; Symbotic (SYM) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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3M (MMM) vs. Symbotic (SYM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for 3M (MMM) and Symbotic (SYM)
MetricMMMSYM
Revenue Growth (YoY)1.52%25.65%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.57%55.87%
EPS Growth (YoY)-20.53%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-16.16%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both 3M (MMM) at 1.41 and Symbotic (SYM) at 1.33 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

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

SYM

Capital Goods industry group

1.33

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
SYM
1.33
Min
0.36
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3M (MMM) vs. Symbotic (SYM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Symbotic (SYM) at 0.02 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while 3M (MMM) at 3.04 is above its industry debt-to-equity ratio range.

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

SYM

Capital Goods industry group

0.02

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
SYM
0.02
Min
0.00
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3M (MMM) vs. Symbotic (SYM): 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 Symbotic (SYM)
MetricMMMSYM
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.411.33
Debt / Equity (MRQ)3.040.02
Net Debt / EBITDA1.26-30.44

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Symbotic (SYM) 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%

SYM

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Symbotic (SYM) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile 3M (MMM) reports a payout of 45.82%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

SYM

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for 3M (MMM) and Symbotic (SYM)
MetricMMMSYM
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.64%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)45.82%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

3M (MMM) at 27.63 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Symbotic (SYM) at 460.25 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for SYM’s trailing earnings.

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

SYM

Capital Goods industry group

460.25

SYM
460.25
Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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3M (MMM) vs. Symbotic (SYM): 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 Symbotic (SYM) at 8.42 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

SYM

Capital Goods industry group

8.42

SYM
8.42
Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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3M (MMM) vs. Symbotic (SYM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Symbotic (SYM) at 6.70 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and 3M (MMM) at 23.18 prices even higher, above its industry 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

SYM

Capital Goods industry group

6.70

Max
9.66
SYM
6.70
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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3M (MMM) vs. Symbotic (SYM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for 3M (MMM) and Symbotic (SYM)
MetricMMMSYM
P/E Ratio (TTM)27.63460.25
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.798.42
P/B Ratio (MRQ)23.186.70
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)6.66%2.46%