Spinoff spotlight: 3M Company

Article Excerpt

3M COMPANY $104 is a buy for long-term gains. The company (New York symbol MMM; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 552.7 million; Market cap: $57.5 billion; Dividend yield: 5.8%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.3m.com) will spin off its Health Care division as a separate firm called Solventum Corp. (New York symbol SOLV) on April 1, 2024. That business makes products to treat and prevent infection in wounds; it also manufactures dental filling materials, and filtration and purification products. Investors will receive one share of Solventum for every four shares of 3M they hold. 3M will retain a 19.9% stake in the new firm, but plans to sell those shares within five years. In 2023, Solventum’s pro-forma revenue totalled $8.24 billion, consisting of product sales (77% of the total) and software/rentals (23%); it earned $692 million. As of December 31, 2023, Solventum’s long-term debt was $8.30 billion and it held cash of $600 million. The new company has not yet announced if it will pay a..