3M CO

The strength and stability of 3M’s business model and strong free cash flow capability, together with proven capital markets access, provide financial flexibility to deploy capital in accordance with the Company's stated priorities and meet needs associated with contractual commitments and other obligations. Investing in 3M’s business to drive organic growth and deliver strong returns on invested capital remains the first priority for capital deployment. This includes research and development, capital expenditures, and commercialization capability. The Company also continues to actively manage its portfolio through acquisitions and divestitures to maximize value for shareholders. 3M expects to continue returning cash to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. To fund cash needs in the United States, the Company relies on ongoing cash flow from U.S. operations, access to capital markets and repatriation of the earnings of its foreign affiliates that are not considered to be permanently reinvested. For those international earnings considered to be reinvested indefinitely, the Company currently has no plans or intentions to repatriate these funds for U.S. operations.

3M maintains a strong liquidity profile. The Company’s primary short-term liquidity needs can be met through cash on hand and U.S. commercial paper issuances. 3M believes it will have continuous access to the commercial paper market. 3M’s commercial paper program permits the Company to have a maximum of $5 billion outstanding with a maximum maturity of 397 days from date of issuance. The Company had no commercial paper outstanding as of December 31, 2025 and 2024.

Total debt: The strength of 3M’s credit profile and significant ongoing cash flows provide 3M proven access to capital markets. Additionally, the Company’s debt maturity profile is staggered to help ensure refinancing needs in any given year are reasonable in proportion to the total portfolio. As of the date of this report, 3M had the following credit ratings:

The Company’s total debt at December 31, 2025, decreased when compared to December 31, 2024, due to debt maturities with an aggregate principal amount of $1.8 billion, partially offset by the issuance of $1.1 billion in aggregate principal amount of debt, and a $0.2 billion impact from foreign currency remeasurement. For discussion of repayments of and proceeds from debt refer to the following Cash Flows from Financing Activities section.

Information with respect to long-term debt issuances and maturities for the periods presented is included in Note 12.

3M has a principal amount of long-term debt of $1.5 billion which will mature in 2026. The Company's financial condition and liquidity enable it to address these obligations by refinancing, redemption or some combination thereof.

3M has a $4.25 billion five-year revolving credit facility that expires in May 2028. The revolving credit agreement includes a provision under which 3M may request an increase of up to $1.0 billion (at lenders' discretion), bringing the total facility up to $5.25 billion. The credit facility was undrawn at December 31, 2025. Under the $4.25 billion credit facility, the Company is required to maintain its EBITDA to Interest Ratio as of the end of each fiscal quarter at not less than 3.0 to 1. This is calculated (based on amounts defined in the amended agreement) as the ratio of consolidated total EBITDA for the four consecutive quarters then ended to total interest expense on all funded debt for the same period. At December 31, 2025, 3M was in compliance with this requirement. Debt covenants do not restrict the payment of dividends.

The Company also had $0.6 billion in stand-alone letters of credit, bank guarantees, and other similar instruments issued and outstanding at December 31, 2025. These instruments are utilized in connection with normal business activities.

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities are invested in bank instruments and other high quality securities. The table below provides the breakout of the balance between the Company's foreign subsidiaries and the United States as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024.

The decrease from December 31, 2024, was impacted by $3.4 billion in payments associated with PFAS-related environmental liabilities and the CAE legal settlement (as discussed in Note 17), $3.3 billion in purchases of treasury stock, $1.8 billion in debt maturities, and $1.6 billion in dividend payments. The uses of cash were partially offset by proceeds of $1.6 billion from issuances of treasury shares pursuant to option/benefit plans, $1.1 billion from debt issuance proceeds, and $0.6 billion from the sale of a portion of 3M's interest in Solventum.

Current equity investments: Current equity investments consist of 3M's ownership interest in Solventum Corporation. As of December 31, 2025, 3M owned approximately 15% of Solventum's common stock, with a fair value of $2.0 billion. In August 2025, 3M sold a portion of its holdings, for proceeds of $0.6 billion, and classified its remaining interest as current equity investments (part of other current assets). As previously disclosed, 3M expects to sell its ownership in Solventum within five years of its 2024 spin-off. Sales of 3M's retained stake are subject to regulatory and other restrictions.

Balance Sheet:3M’s strong balance sheet and liquidity provide the Company with significant flexibility to fund its numerous opportunities going forward. The Company will continue to invest in its operations to drive growth, including continual review of acquisition opportunities.

The Company uses working capital measures that place emphasis and focus on certain working capital assets, such as accounts receivable and inventory activity.

Working capital (non-GAAP measure):

Various assets and liabilities, including cash and short-term debt, can fluctuate significantly from month to month depending on short-term liquidity needs. Working capital is not defined under U.S. GAAP and may not be computed the same as similarly titled measures used by other companies. The Company defines working capital as current assets minus current liabilities. 3M believes working capital is meaningful to investors as a measure of operational efficiency and short-term financial health.

Working capital increased from December 31, 2024, primarily due to lower balances of current liabilities related to PFAS-related environmental liabilities and the CAE legal settlement, short-term borrowings and current portions of long-term debt and higher current assets driven by the 2025 classification of 3M's remaining interest in Solventum within current equity investments (as discussed above) and increases in accounts receivable. This increase was partially offset by declines in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities.

Cash Flows: Discussions of cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities are provided in the sections that follow. The Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows include the results of continuing and discontinued operations and, therefore, also include cash and cash equivalents associated with Solventum through its April 2024 separation from 3M that were presented in current assets of discontinued operations in the 3M Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

Cash flows from operating activities can fluctuate significantly from period to period, as working capital movements, tax timing differences and other items such as litigation payments can significantly impact cash flows.

In 2025, cash flows provided by operating activities increased by $0.5 billion compared to the same period last year, primarily driven by lower payments associated with PFAS-related environmental liabilities and the CAE legal settlement.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

Investments in PP&E enable growth across many diverse markets, helping to meet product demand and increasing manufacturing efficiency. 3M invested $0.9 billion on PP&E in 2025. The Company expects 2026 capital spending to be approximately $1.1 billion as 3M continues to invest in growth, productivity and sustainability.

Purchases of marketable securities and investments and proceeds from maturities and sale of marketable securities and investments are primarily attributable to certificates of deposit/time deposits, commercial paper, and other securities, which are classified as available-for-sale. Proceeds also include those from sale of portions of 3M's remaining interest in Solventum Corporation. Refer to Note 11 for more details about 3M’s diversified marketable securities portfolio.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

2025 Debt Activity: Debt cash flow activity includes $1.8 billion aggregate principal amount of debt maturities partially offset by proceeds from issuance of $1.1 billion in aggregate principal amount of debt in 2025. Gross commercial paper issuances and repayments, in addition to repayments of the fixed-rate notes, are largely reflected in “Proceeds from debt (maturities greater than 90 days)” and "Repayment of debt (maturities greater than 90 days)". 3M’s primary short-term liquidity needs are met through cash on hand and U.S. commercial paper issuances. Refer to Note 12 for more detail regarding debt.

2024 Debt Activity: Debt cash flow activity includes proceeds from Solventum's issuance of $8.4 billion in aggregate principal amount of debt in the first quarter of 2024 partially offset by $2.9 billion in debt maturities, consisting of $1.1 billion of fixed- and floating-rate notes and $1.8 billion repayment of commercial paper borrowings. Gross commercial paper issuances and repayments, in addition to repayments of the fixed-rate notes, are largely reflected in “Proceeds from debt (maturities greater than 90 days)” and "Repayment of debt (maturities greater than 90 days)".

Repurchases of Common Stock: In February 2025, 3M’s Board of Directors replaced the Company’s 2018 repurchase program with a new repurchase program. This new program authorizes the repurchase of up to $7.5 billion of 3M’s outstanding common stock, with no pre-established end date. Repurchases of common stock are made to support the Company’s stock-based employee compensation plans and for other corporate purposes. In 2025, the Company purchased $3.3 billion of its own stock, compared to $1.8 billion of stock purchases in 2024. As of December 31, 2025, approximately $4.6 billion remained available under the authorization. For more information, refer to the table titled “Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities” in Part II, Item 5. The Company also had $1.6 billion in proceeds from issuance of treasury stock pursuant to stock option and benefit plans in 2025.

Dividends Paid to Shareholders: 3M has paid dividend continuously since 1916. Cash dividends declared and paid totaled $0.73 per share for each quarter of 2025; $1.51 per share for the first quarter of 2024; and $0.70 per share for each of the second, third and fourth quarters of 2024. In February 2026, 3M's Board of Directors declared a first-quarter 2026 dividend of $0.78 per share, an increase of 7 percent.

Cash flows from financing activity in 2024 also include $0.6 billion of net cash transferred to Solventum associated with the close of the Separation (discussed in Note 2).

Other cash flows from financing activities may include various other items, such as cash paid associated with certain derivative instruments, distributions to or sales of noncontrolling interests, changes in overdraft balances, and principal payments for finance leases.

Material Cash Requirements from Known Contractual and Other Obligations:3M’s material cash requirements from known contractual and other obligations primarily relate to the following, for which information on both a short-term and long-term basis is provided in the indicated notes to the consolidated financial statements:

•Tax obligations—Refer to Note 9.

•Debt—Refer to Note 12. Future cash payments for interest on long-term debt is approximately $5 billion.

•Commitments and contingencies—Refer to Note 17. In addition to other matters discussed therein, Note 17 references that the Company expects to pay up to $12.5 billion in the aggregate from 2023 through 2036 pursuant to the terms of the PWS Settlement and expects to pay up to $6.0 billion in the aggregate from 2023 to 2029 pursuant to the terms of the CAE Settlement. Through December 31, 2025, 3M has paid $8.2 billion in aggregate relating to these settlements. See the settlement agreements that are included in the exhibit list to this filing for additional information.

•Operating and finance leases—Refer to Note 18.

3M purchases the majority of its materials and services as needed, with no unconditional commitments. In limited circumstances, in the normal course of business, 3M enters into unconditional purchase obligations with various vendors that may take the form of, for example, take or pay contracts in which 3M guarantees payment to ensure availability to 3M of certain materials or services or to ensure ongoing efforts on capital projects. The Company expects to receive underlying materials or services for these purchase obligations. To the extent the limited amount of these purchase obligations fluctuates, it largely trends with normal-course changes in regular operating activities. Additionally, contractual capital commitments represent a small part of the Company’s expected capital spending.