Seek Returns

MMM vs. URI: 3M vs. United Rentals Stock Comparison

How do 3M (MMM) and United Rentals (URI) 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 United Rentals (URI) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but MMM is classified in Industrial Conglomerates while URI is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.

Company profile comparison for 3M (MMM) and United Rentals (URI)
Profile ItemMMMURI
Name3M CompanyUnited Rentals Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryIndustrial ConglomeratesTrading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial ConglomeratesTrading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization95.67 billion USD65.36 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962December 18, 1997
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MMM
URI
GSPC
Loading price history…
3M (MMM) vs. United Rentals (URI), 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for 3M (MMM) and United Rentals (URI). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for 3M (MMM) and United Rentals (URI). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for 3M (MMM) and United Rentals (URI)
MetricMMMURI
Total Return (1Y)16.26%35.39%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)38.64%38.68%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)8.14%24.76%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MMM
URI
GSPC
Loading price history…
3M (MMM) vs. United Rentals (URI), 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for 3M (MMM) and United Rentals (URI). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for 3M (MMM) and United Rentals (URI)
MetricMMMURI
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)27.61%44.71%
Beta (5Y)0.971.81
Max Drawdown (5Y)-48.86%-39.76%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.14M496.78K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
MMM and URI 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 United Rentals (URI)
MetricMMMURI
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.430.70
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.701.16

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but 3M (MMM) at 72.97% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; United Rentals (URI) at 30.56% 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%

URI

Capital Goods industry group

30.56%

Max
40.55%
URI
30.56%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
Loading chart…
3M (MMM) vs. United Rentals (URI): 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 United Rentals (URI) at 16.33% 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%

URI

Capital Goods industry group

16.33%

Max
27.47%
URI
16.33%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
Loading chart…
3M (MMM) vs. United Rentals (URI): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both 3M (MMM) at 23.69% and United Rentals (URI) at 29.21% 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%

URI

Capital Goods industry group

29.21%

Max
36.60%
URI
29.21%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
Loading chart…
3M (MMM) vs. United Rentals (URI): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for 3M (MMM) and United Rentals (URI)
MetricMMMURI
ROE (TTM)72.97%30.56%
ROA (TTM)8.22%9.14%
Net Margin (TTM)14.01%16.33%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.69%29.21%
Gross Margin (TTM)39.53%39.19%

Growth

Revenue Growth

United Rentals (URI) at 4.91% 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.

Loading chart…
3M (MMM) vs. United Rentals (URI): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both 3M (MMM) at -20.53% and United Rentals (URI) at -0.21% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
3M (MMM) vs. United Rentals (URI): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for 3M (MMM) and United Rentals (URI)
MetricMMMURI
Revenue Growth (YoY)1.52%4.91%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.57%11.41%
EPS Growth (YoY)-20.53%-0.21%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-16.16%9.20%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both 3M (MMM) at 1.41 and United Rentals (URI) at 0.80 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

URI

Capital Goods industry group

0.80

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
URI
0.80
Min
0.36
Loading chart…
3M (MMM) vs. United Rentals (URI): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but MMM is more stretched: United Rentals (URI) at 1.64 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and 3M (MMM) at 3.04 is above its industry benchmark 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

URI

Capital Goods industry group

1.64

Max
2.33
URI
1.64
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
3M (MMM) vs. United Rentals (URI): 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 United Rentals (URI)
MetricMMMURI
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.410.80
Debt / Equity (MRQ)3.041.64
Net Debt / EBITDA1.263.12

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

3M (MMM) at 1.64% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while United Rentals (URI) at 0.74% 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%

URI

Capital Goods industry group

0.74%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
URI
0.74%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
3M (MMM) vs. United Rentals (URI): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

United Rentals (URI) at 16.95% 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%

URI

Capital Goods industry group

16.95%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
URI
16.95%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
3M (MMM) vs. United Rentals (URI): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for 3M (MMM) and United Rentals (URI)
MetricMMMURI
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.64%0.74%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)45.82%16.95%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both 3M (MMM) at 27.63 and United Rentals (URI) at 23.24 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

URI

Capital Goods industry group

23.24

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
URI
23.24
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
Loading chart…
3M (MMM) vs. United Rentals (URI): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

United Rentals (URI) at 3.74 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

URI

Capital Goods industry group

3.74

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
URI
3.74
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
Loading chart…
3M (MMM) vs. United Rentals (URI): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: United Rentals (URI) at 6.75 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

URI

Capital Goods industry group

6.75

Max
9.66
URI
6.75
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
Loading chart…
3M (MMM) vs. United Rentals (URI): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for 3M (MMM) and United Rentals (URI)
MetricMMMURI
P/E Ratio (TTM)27.6323.24
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.793.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)23.186.75
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)6.66%3.24%