3M Stock Goes Down Because Low Demand and a Strong Dollar Are Expected To Lower Sales

3M Stock

3M Stock (NYSE:MMM)

The share price of 3M (NYSE:MMM) dropped on Tuesday morning, touching a level that hasn’t been seen in three months after the manufacturer said it anticipated a sales reduction this year. At 10:12 a.m. Eastern Time, 3M stock price had decreased by 5.7%, reaching $115.68.

The manufacturer of goods such as Post-it Notes and Scotch tape has also revealed that it intends to eliminate around 2,500 jobs throughout the globe in response to declining demand and the adverse impact that a higher currency has had on sales in international markets.

“The slower-than-expected growth was attributable to quick decreases in consumer-facing markets, a trend that exacerbated in December,” Mike Roman, CEO of 3M, said in a statement. “In addition, the considerable slowdown in China due to Covid-related disruptions.” “As a result of reducing production output and keeping costs under control, we were able to increase our inventory levels in response to the declining demand.”

3M predicted its adjusted revenues would decrease by 2% to 6% in 2023, while its adjusted profits would reduce from $8.50 to $9.00 per share. These projections were made in 2023.

The earnings for the corporation in the fourth quarter dropped by 60%, from $1.34 billion, or $2.31 per share, to $541 million, or 98 cents, in comparison to the same period a year earlier.

According to Roman, organic sales, which do not consider the impacts of currency fluctuations, acquisitions, or divestitures, increased by 0.4% from the previous year. This result fell short of 3M’s projection for a growth of 1% to 3%.

According to what he had to say, “we anticipate macroeconomic headwinds to endure in 2023.”

In the fourth quarter of 2018, revenues for 3M came in at $8.08 billion, which was higher than the expectation that was compiled by the market. According to the report, the higher dollar value compared to other currencies resulted in a 5% decline in the growth of the company’s sales.

Featured Image: Freepik @ wirestock

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