3M vs Honeywell: Which Conglomerate Reigns Supreme?

3M and Honeywell are two major industrial conglomerates in the Zacks Diversified Operations industry, competing in multiple sectors including industrial automation, consumer goods, and safety and security markets.

3M has been performing well in its Safety and Industrial segment, driven by growth in industrial specialties, electrical and personal safety markets. The segment's sales in industrial adhesives and tapes climbed 13%, while personal safety sales advanced 9.4% year over year in the second quarter of 2026.

3M also has a strong momentum across semiconductor, data center, aerospace, and commercial branding markets, driving the Transportation & Electronics segment's performance. In the second quarter, the segment's organic revenues increased 5.9% year over year.

Honeywell, on the other hand, has been benefiting from strength in its Building Automation segment, driven by increasing building projects across the Americas, India, and the Middle East. The segment's organic sales increased 9% year over year in the second quarter.