MMM vs VMI: 3M and Valmont Industries compared
The short version
From the latest prices and each company's SEC filings. Who's ahead on each measure, not which to buy.
- 3M is the larger company, worth $84.7B, about 9.8 times Valmont Industries.
- Valmont Industries grew revenue faster over the last year (+6.5% vs +2.5%).
- 3M keeps more of each dollar of revenue as operating profit (18.4% vs 13.7%).
- On earnings, Valmont Industries is the cheaper stock (24.7x vs 31.4x).
- 3M's price assumes faster free cash flow growth: about 20% a year, against 9% for Valmont Industries (reverse DCF).
Side by side
The stronger figure is shaded where higher (or, for valuation multiples, lower) reads as better. How the implied growth works.
| Measure | MMM | VMI |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $84.7B | $8.6B |
| Share price | $159.96 | $464.59 |
| Revenue (last fiscal year) | $24.9B | $4.1B |
| Free cash flow (last fiscal year) | $1.4B | $311M |
| Revenue growth, last year | +2.5% | +6.5% |
| Revenue growth per year, last 5 fiscal years | -8.3% | +4.0% |
| Operating margin | 18.4% | 13.7% |
| Net margin | 11.9% | 11.7% |
| Return on equity | 101.5% | 28.7% |
| P/E (trailing) | 31.4x | 24.7x |
| Price / free cash flow | 60.7x | 27.7x |
| EV / EBITDA | 14.6x | 14.3x |
| FCF growth the price implies | 19.6% | 9.3% |
| Dividend yield | 1.8% | 0.62% |
| Debt / equity | 10.8x | 1.00x |
| Fundamental grade | C | C |
| Superinvestors holding it | 7 | 0 |
| Insider purchases, last 12 months | 4 | 0 |
Results from SEC filings
Revenue and free cash flow by fiscal year, from each company's 10-K filings.
3M
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $35.4B | $5.9B | 20.8% |
| 2022 | $26.2B | $3.8B | 16.7% |
| 2023 | $24.6B | $5.1B | -43.4% |
| 2024 | $24.6B | $638M | 19.6% |
| 2025 | $24.9B | $1.4B | 18.6% |
Valmont Industries
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $3.5B | -$42M | 8.2% |
| 2022 | $4.3B | $233M | 10.0% |
| 2023 | $4.2B | $210M | 7.0% |
| 2024 | $4.1B | $493M | 12.9% |
| 2025 | $4.1B | $311M | 10.1% |
Where the revenue comes from
3M · by segments, 2025
Safety and Industrial$11.4B46%
Transportation and Electronics$8.3B34%
Consumer$4.9B20%
Valmont Industries · by segments, 2025
Infrastructure$3.1B75%
Agriculture$1.0B25%
Compare them in fullFifteen years of statements, quarterly results, DCF and IRR models, and any number of peers side by side.
Open MMM in InvestinglyQuestions
Which is bigger, 3M or Valmont Industries?
3M (MMM), at $84.7B against $8.6B.
Is MMM or VMI cheaper?
By trailing P/E, Valmont Industries (24.7x) is cheaper than 3M (31.4x). A lower multiple can also mean the market expects less growth.
Which grows faster, MMM or VMI?
Valmont Industries: revenue grew +6.5% over the last year, against +2.5%.
Prices and ratios as of the last daily update; statements from SEC filings. Information only, not investment advice.