3M vs. Honeywell: Which Conglomerate Reigns Supreme?
Two prominent industrial conglomerates, MMM (3M Company) and HON (Honeywell Technologies), are vying for dominance in their respective markets. With a significant overlap in sectors such as industrial automation, consumer goods, and safety and security, both companies invest heavily in research and development to innovate new products, drive growth, and gain market share.
3M has been witnessing solid momentum in the Safety and Industrial segment, driven by strength in industrial specialties, electrical and personal safety markets. Sales in industrial adhesives and tapes climbed 13%, while personal safety sales advanced 9.4% year over year in second-quarter 2026. The company also reported strong growth in semiconductor, data center, aerospace, and commercial branding markets.
Honeywell has been benefiting from strength in its Building Automation segment, driven by increasing building projects across the Americas, India, and the Middle East. In the second quarter of 2026, the segment's organic sales increased 9% year over year. The company also reported a 4% increase in organic revenues in the Industrial Automation segment.
Despite their respective strengths, both companies face challenges. 3M has been witnessing weakness in consumer retail end markets, led by lower consumer discretionary spending. Honeywell's Process Automation and Technology segment experienced a decline in organic sales due to lower refining catalyst shipments.