MMM vs. WWD: 3M vs. Woodward Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do 3M (MMM) and Woodward (WWD) 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 Woodward (WWD) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but MMM is classified in Industrial Conglomerates while WWD is classified in Aerospace & Defense.

Company profile comparison for 3M (MMM) and Woodward (WWD)
Profile Item	MMM	WWD
Name	3M Company	Woodward, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Industrial Conglomerates	Aerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-Industry	Industrial Conglomerates	Aerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization	95.67 billion USD	18.74 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	April 4, 1994
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MMM

WWD

GSPC

3M (MMM) vs. Woodward (WWD), 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 Woodward (WWD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for 3M (MMM) and Woodward (WWD)
Metric	MMM	WWD
Total Return (1Y)	16.26%	25.66%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	38.64%	36.83%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	8.14%	23.54%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MMM

WWD

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for 3M (MMM) and Woodward (WWD)
Metric	MMM	WWD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	27.61%	40.29%
Beta (5Y)	0.97	0.87
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-48.86%	-37.25%
Avg. Volume (3M)	3.14M	665.85K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

MMM and WWD 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 Woodward (WWD)
Metric	MMM	WWD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.43	0.53
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.70	0.85

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but 3M (MMM) at 72.97% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Woodward (WWD) at 22.34% 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%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

22.34%

Max: 40.55%
WWD: 22.34%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

3M (MMM) vs. Woodward (WWD): 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 Woodward (WWD) at 13.17% 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%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

13.17%

Max: 27.47%
WWD: 13.17%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

3M (MMM) vs. Woodward (WWD): 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 Woodward (WWD) at 17.76%, 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%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

17.76%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
WWD: 17.76%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for 3M (MMM) and Woodward (WWD)
Metric	MMM	WWD
ROE (TTM)	72.97%	22.34%
ROA (TTM)	8.22%	8.62%
Net Margin (TTM)	14.01%	13.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)	23.69%	17.76%
Gross Margin (TTM)	39.53%	29.63%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Woodward (WWD) at 7.30% 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. Woodward (WWD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both 3M (MMM) at -20.53% and Woodward (WWD) at 19.63% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for 3M (MMM) and Woodward (WWD)
Metric	MMM	WWD
Revenue Growth (YoY)	1.52%	7.30%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-1.57%	14.40%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-20.53%	19.63%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-16.16%	38.44%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Woodward (WWD) at 1.65 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

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

1.65

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
WWD: 1.65
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Woodward (WWD) at 0.56 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

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

0.56

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
WWD: 0.56
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

3M (MMM) vs. Woodward (WWD): 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 Woodward (WWD)
Metric	MMM	WWD
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.41	1.65
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	3.04	0.56
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.26	1.13

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

3M (MMM) at 1.64% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Woodward (WWD) at 0.32% 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%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

0.32%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
WWD: 0.32%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Woodward (WWD) at 13.35% 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%

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

13.35%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
WWD: 13.35%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for 3M (MMM) and Woodward (WWD)
Metric	MMM	WWD
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.64%	0.32%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	45.82%	13.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both 3M (MMM) at 27.63 and Woodward (WWD) at 35.30 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

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

35.30

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
WWD: 35.30
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

3M (MMM) vs. Woodward (WWD): 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 Woodward (WWD) at 4.47 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

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

4.47

Max: 7.54
WWD: 4.47
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Woodward (WWD) at 7.60 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

WWD

Capital Goods industry group

7.60

Max: 9.66
WWD: 7.60
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for 3M (MMM) and Woodward (WWD)
Metric	MMM	WWD
P/E Ratio (TTM)	27.63	35.30
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.79	4.47
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	23.18	7.60
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	6.66%	1.00%