ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 3M (NYSE: MMM) today reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 results.

"3M delivered a solid fourth-quarter performance – with notable strength in December – as we maintained our relentless focus on serving customers in a challenging external environment," said 3M chairman and chief executive officer Mike Roman. "Our team effectively managed supply chain disruptions, made good progress on pricing actions and controlled costs."

"Throughout 2021 we performed well, delivering full-year sales growth of 10 percent, robust cash flow and a strong increase in EPS. We also returned significant cash to shareholders, reduced debt and helped the world respond to COVID-19," Roman continued. "As we continue to actively manage our portfolio and improve our operations, we will prioritize investments in fast-growing end markets to drive long-term growth, as well as advance our commitment to sustainability. As we enter 2022, I am confident we will continue to grow our business and find new ways to apply science to improve lives."

Fourth-Quarter Results

Sales grew 0.3 percent year-on-year to $8.6 billion. Organic local-currency sales increased 1.3 percent. Foreign currency translation decreased sales by 1.0 percent year-on-year.

Total sales grew 4.1 percent in Consumer and 0.7 percent in Health Care, and decreased 1.5 percent in Transportation and Electronics, and 2.2 percent in Safety and Industrial. Organic local-currency sales grew 4.9 percent in Consumer and 1.6 percent in Health Care, and decreased 0.4 percent in Transportation and Electronics, and 1.3 percent in Safety and Industrial.

On a geographic basis, total sales grew 2.1 percent in the Americas, and decreased 0.2 percent in Asia Pacific, and 4.5 percent in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa). Organic local-currency sales grew 2.2 percent in the Americas, 1.4 percent in Asia Pacific, and decreased 1.9 percent in EMEA.

Fourth-quarter earnings per share was $2.31 per share, down 4 percent year-on-year. Fourth quarter operating income was $1.6 billion with operating margins of 18.8 percent.

The company's operating cash flow was $2.0 billion with adjusted free cash flow of $1.5 billion contributing to adjusted free cash flow conversion of 110 percent. 3M returned $1.8 billion to shareholders in the fourth quarter of 2021, including $848 million in cash dividends and $938 million of gross share repurchases. See the "Supplemental Financial Information Non-GAAP Measures" section for applicable information.

Fourth-Quarter Business Group Discussion

Safety and Industrial

• Sales of $3.1 billion, down 2.2 percent in U.S. dollars. Organic local-currency sales decreased 1.3 percent, and foreign currency translation decreased sales by 0.9 percent.
• On an organic basis:
• Sales increased in closure and masking systems, abrasives, industrial adhesives and tapes, electrical markets and automotive aftermarket, and decreased in roofing granules and personal safety.
• Segment operating income was $543 million, a decrease of 21.7 percent year-on-year; operating margins of 17.7 percent.

Transportation and Electronics

• Sales of $2.3 billion, down 1.5 percent in U.S. dollars. Organic local-currency sales decreased 0.4 percent, and foreign currency translation decreased sales by 1.1 percent.
• On an organic basis:
• Sales increased in commercial solutions and advanced materials, and decreased in electronics, transportation safety and automotive and aerospace.
• Segment operating income was $406 million, a decrease of 14.7 percent year-on-year; operating margins of 17.6 percent.

Health Care

• Sales of $2.3 billion, up 0.7 percent in U.S. dollars. Organic sales increased 1.6 percent and, foreign currency translation decreased sales by 0.9 percent.
• On an organic basis:
• Sales increased in separation and purification, food safety, health information systems and oral care, and decreased in medical solutions.
• Segment operating income was $536 million, a decrease of 1.6 percent year-on-year; operating margins were 23.6 percent.

Consumer

• Sales of $1.5 billion, up 4.1 percent in U.S. dollars. Organic sales increased 4.9 percent, and foreign currency translation decreased sales by 0.8 percent.
• On an organic basis:
• Sales increased in consumer health and safety, stationery and office, home improvement and home care.
• Segment operating income was $316 million, a decrease 0.4 percent year-on-year; operating margins were 21.4 percent.

Full-Year 2021 Results

Full-year 2021 sales increased 9.9 percent year-on-year to $35.4 billion. Organic local-currency sales increased 8.8 percent while acquisitions, net of divestitures, decreased sales by 0.5 percent. Foreign currency translation increased sales by 1.6 percent year-on-year.

Both GAAP and adjusted earnings were $10.12 per share, an increase of 8 percent on a GAAP basis and an increase of 14 percent on an adjusted basis, as referenced in the "Supplemental Financial Information Non-GAAP Measures" section. Full-year operating income was $7.4 billion with operating margins of 20.8 percent.

The company's operating cash flow was $7.5 billion with adjusted free cash flow of $6.0 billion, contributing to adjusted free cash flow conversion of 101 percent for the year. In addition, 3M generated 19.5 percent return on invested capital. Refer to the "Supplemental Financial Information Non-GAAP Measures" section.

For the full year, 3M paid $3.4 billion in cash dividends to shareholders and repurchased $2.2 billion of its own shares.

3M will conduct an investor teleconference at 9 a.m. EST (8 a.m. CST) today. Investors can access this conference via the following:

• Live webcast at http://investors.3M.com.
• Live telephone:
  Call 800-762-2596 within the U.S. or +1 212-231-2916 outside the U.S. Please join the call at least 10 minutes before the start time.
• Webcast replay:
  Go to 3M's Investor Relations website at http://investors.3M.com and click on "Quarterly Earnings."
• Telephone replay:
  Call 800-633-8284 within the U.S. or +1 402-977-9140 outside the U.S. (for both U.S. and outside the U.S., the access code is 21999288). The telephone replay will be available until 11:30 a.m. EST (10:30 a.m. CST) on Feb. 1, 2022.

Strategic Update and 2022 Outlook Meeting

3M will host a virtual strategic update and 2022 outlook meeting on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022, starting at 9 a.m. EST (8 a.m. CST). The event can be accessed via telephone at (800) 762-2596 within the U.S. or +1 (212) 231-2916 outside the U.S. This event will be webcast live, and a replay will be available on 3M's Investor Relations website at http://investors.3M.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information about 3M's financial results and estimates and business prospects that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by the use of words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "aim," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "will," "should," "could," "target," "forecast" and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance or business plans or prospects. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: (1) worldwide economic, political, regulatory, capital markets and other external conditions and other factors beyond the Company's control, including natural and other disasters or climate change affecting the operations of the Company or its customers and suppliers; (2) risks related to public health crises such as the global pandemic associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19); (3) foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations in those rates; (4) liabilities related to certain fluorochemicals, including lawsuits concerning various PFAS-related products and chemistries, and claims and governmental regulatory proceedings and inquiries related to PFAS in a variety of jurisdictions; (5) legal proceedings, including significant developments that could occur in the legal and regulatory proceedings described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q (the "Reports"); (6) competitive conditions and customer preferences; (7) the timing and market acceptance of new product offerings; (8) the availability and cost of purchased components, compounds, raw materials, labor, and energy (including oil and natural gas and their derivatives) due to shortages, increased demand and wages, logistics, manufacturing site disruptions or supply chain interruptions (including those caused by natural and other disasters and other events); (9) unanticipated problems or delays with the phased implementation of a global enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, or security breaches and other disruptions to the Company's information technology infrastructure; (10) the impact of acquisitions, strategic alliances, divestitures and other unusual events resulting from portfolio management actions and other evolving business strategies, and possible organizational restructuring; (11) operational execution, including scenarios where the Company generates fewer productivity improvements than estimated; (12) financial market risks that may affect the Company's funding obligations under defined benefit pension and postretirement plans; (13) the Company's credit ratings and its cost of capital; and (14) tax-related external conditions, including changes in tax rates, laws or regulations. Changes in such assumptions or factors could produce significantly different results. A further description of these factors is located in the Reports under "Cautionary Note Concerning Factors That May Affect Future Results" and "Risk Factors" in Part I, Items 1 and 1A (Annual Report) and in Part I, Item 2 and Part II, Item 1A (Quarterly Reports), as updated by applicable Current Reports on Form 8-K. The information contained in this news release is as of the date indicated. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this news release as a result of new information or future events or developments.

3M Company and Subsidiaries
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
NON-GAAP MEASURES – (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited)

Description of Special Items:

In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company also provides various non-GAAP measures that incorporate adjustments for the impacts of special items. Special items incorporated in the preparation of these non-GAAP measures for the periods presented include the items described below:

Significant litigation-related charges/benefits:

• In the first quarter of 2020, 3M recorded a net pre-tax charge of $17 million ($13 million after tax) related to PFAS (certain perfluorinated compounds) matters. The charge was more than offset by a reduction in tax expense of $52 million related to resolution of tax treatment with authorities regarding the previously disclosed 2018 agreement reached with the State of Minnesota that resolved the Natural Resources Damages lawsuit. These items, in aggregate, resulted in a $39 million after-tax benefit. In the fourth quarter of 2021 and 2020, 3M made payments of approximately $35 million and $6 million, respectively, related to significant litigation-related matters. In the full year of 2021 and 2020, 3M made payments of approximately $49 million and $100 million, respectively, related to significant litigation-related matters.

Gain/loss on sale of businesses:

• In the first quarter of 2020, 3M recorded a pre-tax gain of $2 million ($1 million loss after tax) related to the sale of its advanced ballistic-protection business and recognition of certain contingent consideration. In the second quarter of 2020, 3M recorded a pre-tax gain of $387 million ($304 million after tax) related to the sale of its drug delivery business.

Divestiture-related restructuring actions:

• In the fourth quarter and full year of 2021, 3M made payments of approximately $1 million and $8 million, respectively, associated with divestiture-related restructuring actions.
• In the second quarter of 2020, following the divestiture of substantially all of the drug delivery business, management approved and committed to undertake certain restructuring actions addressing corporate functional costs and manufacturing footprint across 3M in relation to the magnitude of amounts previously allocated/burdened to the divested business. As a result, 3M recorded a pre-tax charge of $55 million ($46 million after tax). In the fourth quarter and full year of 2020, 3M made payments of approximately $7 million and $14 million, respectively, associated with these restructuring actions.

Enactment/measurement period adjustments related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA)

• In the full year of 2021 and 2020, 3M made payments of approximately $77 million and $33 million, respectively, related to the transition tax expense incurred as a result of the 2017 enactment of the TCJA.

3M Company and Subsidiaries
BUSINESS SEGMENTS
(Unaudited)

3M discloses business segment operating income as its measure of segment profit/loss, reconciled to both total 3M operating income and income before taxes. Note 19 to 3M's consolidated financial statements in its 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K describes 3M's business segments and measure of segment operating performance used by 3M's chief operating decision maker (CODM). As discussed therein, the measure of segment operating performance includes dual credit for certain related operating income and excludes certain expenses and income that are not allocated to business segments and instead reflected in Corporate and Unallocated. Additionally, the following special items are excluded from business segment operating income and, instead, are included within Corporate and Unallocated: significant litigation-related charges/benefits, gain/loss on sale of businesses, and divestiture-related restructuring actions.

Effective in the first quarter of 2021, the measure of segment operating performance used by 3M's CODM changed and, as a result, 3M's disclosed measure of segment profit/loss (business segment operating income) was updated. The change to business segment operating income aligns with the update to how the CODM assesses performance and allocates resources for the Company's business segments. The change included the following:

Changes in cost attribution

The extent of allocation and method of attribution of certain net costs were updated to result in fewer items remaining in Corporate and Unallocated and, instead, including them in 3M's business segments' operating performance. Previously, a larger portion of ongoing corporate staff costs and costs associated with centrally managed material resource centers was retained in Corporate and Unallocated. In addition, portions of pension costs and costs associated with certain centrally managed but ongoing business-related legal matters, along with certain insurance-related costs, were retained in Corporate and Unallocated.

Continued alignment of customer account activity

As part of 3M's regular customer-focus initiatives, the Company realigned certain customer account activity ("sales district") to correlate with the primary divisional product offerings in various countries and reduce complexity for customers when interacting with multiple 3M businesses. This impacted the amount of dual credit certain business segments receive as a result of sales district attribution.

Also effective in the first quarter of 2021, within 3M's Consumer business segment, certain safety products formerly within the Construction and Home Improvement Division and the Stationery and Office Division were moved to the newly named Consumer Health and Safety Division (formerly the Consumer Health Care Division).

The financial information presented herein reflects the impact of the preceding changes for all periods presented.