3M settles key lawsuit

Article Excerpt

3M COMPANY $99 remains a buy for long-term gains. The company (New York symbol MMM; Income Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 551.7 million; Market cap: $54.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.7; Dividend yield: 6.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.3m.com) produces more than 60,000 items, including air purifiers, adhesives, bandages and components for medical devices. The company has agreed to settle lawsuits related to the release of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from its operations in several U.S. cities. PFAS chemicals resist heat, oil, stains and water and are used in a number of products. The U.S. Center for Disease Control recognizes that exposure to high levels of PFAS may impact the immune system. 3M plans to stop producing PFAS in 2025. As a result, 3M will pay a total of $10.3 billion over the next 13 years. It will record a pre-tax charge for that amount in the second quarter of 2023. 3M still faces other lawsuits, including allegations of defective earplugs that the company manufactured for…