04.30.20
3M reported first-quarter 2020 results. Sales were up 2.7% year-on-year to $8.1 billion. Organic local-currency sales grew 0.3% while acquisitions, net of divestitures, increased sales by 4.2%. Foreign currency translation reduced sales by 1.8% year-on-year.
The company’s operating cash flow was $1.2 billion with adjusted free cash flow of $0.9 billion contributing to adjusted free cash flow conversion of 74%.
“In this unprecedented time, I could not be more proud of how our 96,000 people have stepped up to help fight COVID-19, and I thank all 3Mers for their incredible efforts,” said Mike Roman, 3M chairman and CEO. “We are attacking the pandemic from all angles, which includes mobilizing all of our resources and rapidly increasing output of critical supplies to healthcare workers and first responders.
“Given the breadth and diversity of our businesses, the financial impact of COVID-19 is varying across 3M,” Roman continued. “In the first quarter we saw strong growth in personal safety, as well as in other areas of our portfolio experiencing high demand due to the pandemic. At the same time, we experienced weak demand in several end markets that were more severely impacted by actions taken around the world to slow the pandemic. Looking ahead, 3M is taking action that will help us navigate near-term uncertainty, generate strong cash flow, and lead out of the slowdown by delivering for employees, customers and shareholders.”
COVID-19 Response and Business Impact
3M has been aggressively responding to the COVID-19 pandemic given its critical role as a provider of personal protective equipment in the U.S. and across the world. Since the beginning of the year, 3M has accelerated global respirator output to 100 million/month (U.S. ~35 million/month), increasing capital investment to double respirator output again and uniting with governments and distribution partners to expedite products to healthcare workers. 3M has not increased respirator prices as a result of the pandemic.
Due to the evolving and uncertain impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, 3M currently is not able to estimate the full duration, magnitude and pace of recovery across its diverse end markets with reasonable accuracy. Therefore, 3M believes it is prudent to withdraw its previously communicated full-year 2020 outlook, which was provided on Jan. 28, 2020. The company will begin reporting monthly sales information starting in May to provide transparency on 3M’s ongoing business performance.
The company’s operating cash flow was $1.2 billion with adjusted free cash flow of $0.9 billion contributing to adjusted free cash flow conversion of 74%.
“In this unprecedented time, I could not be more proud of how our 96,000 people have stepped up to help fight COVID-19, and I thank all 3Mers for their incredible efforts,” said Mike Roman, 3M chairman and CEO. “We are attacking the pandemic from all angles, which includes mobilizing all of our resources and rapidly increasing output of critical supplies to healthcare workers and first responders.
“Given the breadth and diversity of our businesses, the financial impact of COVID-19 is varying across 3M,” Roman continued. “In the first quarter we saw strong growth in personal safety, as well as in other areas of our portfolio experiencing high demand due to the pandemic. At the same time, we experienced weak demand in several end markets that were more severely impacted by actions taken around the world to slow the pandemic. Looking ahead, 3M is taking action that will help us navigate near-term uncertainty, generate strong cash flow, and lead out of the slowdown by delivering for employees, customers and shareholders.”
COVID-19 Response and Business Impact
3M has been aggressively responding to the COVID-19 pandemic given its critical role as a provider of personal protective equipment in the U.S. and across the world. Since the beginning of the year, 3M has accelerated global respirator output to 100 million/month (U.S. ~35 million/month), increasing capital investment to double respirator output again and uniting with governments and distribution partners to expedite products to healthcare workers. 3M has not increased respirator prices as a result of the pandemic.
Due to the evolving and uncertain impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, 3M currently is not able to estimate the full duration, magnitude and pace of recovery across its diverse end markets with reasonable accuracy. Therefore, 3M believes it is prudent to withdraw its previously communicated full-year 2020 outlook, which was provided on Jan. 28, 2020. The company will begin reporting monthly sales information starting in May to provide transparency on 3M’s ongoing business performance.
