Retained Earnings
3M Retained Earnings decreased by 0.3% to $38.16B in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 2.0%, from $37.43B to $38.16B. Over 5 years (FY 2020 to FY 2025), Retained Earnings shows a downward trend with a -2.7% CAGR. This decline may warrant attention — for this metric, higher values are generally preferred.
Analysis
How to read this metric
Consistent growth in retained earnings signals a profitable business model that can sustain itself without constant external capital raises.
Detailed definition
The cumulative amount of net income that has been reinvested in the business rather than distributed to shareholders as...
Peer comparison
Mature, highly profitable companies like Apple may actually see this decrease if they return more cash to shareholders via buybacks than they earn in net income.
retained_earningsHistorical Data
| Q2 '21 | Q3 '21 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q3 '22 | Q4 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q3 '23 | Q4 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q3 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | Q1 '26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $44.82B | $45.36B | $45.82B | $46.06B | $45.27B | $48.25B | $47.95B | $47.97B | $40.29B | $37.38B | $37.48B | $37.47B | $35.48B | $36.46B | $36.80B | $37.43B | $37.69B | $38.10B | $38.26B | $38.16B |
| QoQ Change | — | +1.2% | +1.0% | +0.5% | -1.7% | +6.6% | -0.6% | +0.0% | -16.0% | -7.2% | +0.3% | -0.0% | -5.3% | +2.8% | +0.9% | +1.7% | +0.7% | +1.1% | +0.4% | -0.3% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | +1.0% | +6.4% | +4.6% | +4.1% | -11.0% | -22.5% | -21.8% | -21.9% | -12.0% | -2.5% | -1.8% | -0.1% | +6.3% | +4.5% | +4.0% | +2.0% |
Retained Earnings at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is 3M's retained earnings?
- 3M (MMM) reported retained earnings of $38.16B in Q1 2026.
- How has 3M's retained earnings changed year-over-year?
- 3M's retained earnings increased by 2.0% year-over-year, from $37.43B to $38.16B.
- What is the long-term trend for 3M's retained earnings?
- Over 5 years (2020 to 2025), 3M's retained earnings has grown at a -2.7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $43.76B to $38.26B.
- What does retained earnings mean?
- The total profits the company has kept and reinvested since it started, after paying out any dividends.