MMM vs. WTS: 3M vs. Watts Water Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for 3M (MMM) and Watts Water (WTS)
Profile Item	MMM	WTS
Name	3M Company	Watts Water Technologies, Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Industrial Conglomerates	Machinery
GICS Sub-Industry	Industrial Conglomerates	Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization	95.67 billion USD	11.55 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	August 21, 1986
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MMM

WTS

GSPC

3M (MMM) vs. Watts Water (WTS), 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 Watts Water (WTS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for 3M (MMM) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	MMM	WTS
Total Return (1Y)	16.26%	33.85%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	38.64%	25.59%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	8.14%	12.56%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MMM

WTS

GSPC

3M (MMM) vs. Watts Water (WTS), 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 Watts Water (WTS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for 3M (MMM) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	MMM	WTS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	27.61%	27.38%
Beta (5Y)	0.97	1.11
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-48.86%	-44.08%
Avg. Volume (3M)	3.14M	225.08K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

MMM and WTS 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 Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	MMM	WTS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.43	1.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.70	1.78

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but 3M (MMM) at 72.97% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Watts Water (WTS) at 20.91% 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%

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

20.91%

Max: 40.55%
WTS: 20.91%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

3M (MMM) vs. Watts Water (WTS): 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 Watts Water (WTS) at 16.00% 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%

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

16.00%

Max: 27.47%
WTS: 16.00%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

3M (MMM) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both 3M (MMM) at 23.69% and Watts Water (WTS) at 20.85% 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%

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

20.85%

Max: 36.60%
WTS: 20.85%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

3M (MMM) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for 3M (MMM) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	MMM	WTS
ROE (TTM)	72.97%	20.91%
ROA (TTM)	8.22%	12.05%
Net Margin (TTM)	14.01%	16.00%
Operating Margin (TTM)	23.69%	20.85%
Gross Margin (TTM)	39.53%	49.09%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Watts Water (WTS) at 8.27% 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.

3M (MMM) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both 3M (MMM) at -20.53% and Watts Water (WTS) at 17.03% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

3M (MMM) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for 3M (MMM) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	MMM	WTS
Revenue Growth (YoY)	1.52%	8.27%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-1.57%	7.20%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-20.53%	17.03%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-16.16%	10.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Watts Water (WTS) at 2.80 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

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

2.80

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
WTS: 2.80
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

3M (MMM) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Watts Water (WTS) at 0.08 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

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

0.08

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
WTS: 0.08
Min: 0.00

3M (MMM) vs. Watts Water (WTS): 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 Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	MMM	WTS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.41	2.80
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	3.04	0.08
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.26	-0.40

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

3M (MMM) at 1.64% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Watts Water (WTS) at 0.66% 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%

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

0.66%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
WTS: 0.66%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

3M (MMM) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Watts Water (WTS) at 17.24% 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%

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

17.24%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
WTS: 17.24%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

3M (MMM) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for 3M (MMM) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	MMM	WTS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.64%	0.66%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	45.82%	17.24%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both 3M (MMM) at 27.63 and Watts Water (WTS) at 25.95 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

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

25.95

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
WTS: 25.95
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

3M (MMM) vs. Watts Water (WTS): 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 Watts Water (WTS) at 4.14 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

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

4.14

Max: 7.54
WTS: 4.14
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

3M (MMM) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Watts Water (WTS) at 4.98 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

WTS

Capital Goods industry group

4.98

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
WTS: 4.98
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

3M (MMM) vs. Watts Water (WTS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for 3M (MMM) and Watts Water (WTS)
Metric	MMM	WTS
P/E Ratio (TTM)	27.63	25.95
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.79	4.14
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	23.18	4.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	6.66%	2.21%