A O Smith Corp vs 3M Company — how do they compare? A O Smith Corp trades at $62.4 (market cap $8.65B), while 3M Company trades at $183.16 (market cap $94.44B). The key difference: 3M Company is far larger — about 10.9× A O Smith Corp's market cap, and A O Smith Corp pays the higher dividend (2.26%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AOS | MMM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.65B | $94.44B |
Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
52-Week High | $80.47 | $183.13 |
52-Week Low | $55.78 | $141.10 |
Enterprise Value | $9.15B | $103.67B |
Dividend Yield | 2.26% | 1.7% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AOS trades at $62.41, down 2.45% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and key support at $60. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $1.03, beating estimates, driven by North America strength. Revenue remains stable at $3.83B for 2025, with strong profitability margins including a 38.59% gross margin and 14.26% net income margin. Recent leadership transition saw Kevin Wheeler retire as Executive Chairman, with Stephen Shafer taking over.
The stock offers a 7.8% upside to the $67.25 consensus price target, supported by solid cash flow and a dividend yield. Risks include exposure to input cost pressures and weaker China demand, as noted in Q2 results. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 33% buy ratings, but institutional selling by Amundi in Q1 2026 warrants monitoring for momentum shifts.
MMM trades at $182.04, showing modest daily weakness but maintaining a bullish technical trend with strong support near $181. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations with EPS of $2.40, driven by 5.4% organic growth and margin expansion, leading to raised full-year guidance. The stock's valuation remains elevated with a P/E of 32.53, while analyst sentiment is mixed with a near-even split between buy and hold ratings.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic, supported by operational improvements and innovation in high-growth verticals like Safety & Industrial. Key risks include litigation liabilities and macroeconomic pressures. Upside potential exists if execution continues to surpass expectations, but current prices may already reflect near-term gains.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
A.O. Smith Corporation manufactures and markets comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, gas tankless, and electric water heaters. Supplementary products include water heating equipment, condensing and noncondensing boilers, and water system tanks. The company's two operating segments are by geographic region: North America (majority of total revenue) and the Rest of the World. A material portion of sales in North America derive from replacing existing products, and the company utilizes a wholesale distribution channel and multiple selling locations. The Rest of the World segment sells primarily to Asian countries and operates sales offices to expand distribution and market its product portfolio.
Read more on AOS →3M Company conducts operations in electronics, telecommunications, industrial, consumer and office, health care, safety, and other markets. The Company businesses share technologies, manufacturing operations, marketing channels, and other resources. 3M serves customers worldwide.
Read more on MMM →