# 3M's Adjusted Operating Margin Climbs to 26.2% in Third Quarter By John Kim Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/business/35872 Published: 2026-10-20T18:56:37.000Z Updated: 2026-10-20T18:56:37.000Z Section: Business > The year-earlier adjusted margin and earnings figures were restated under a new calculation method. Net income rose to $1.373 billion. 3M's adjusted operating margin widened in the third quarter of 2026, while a change in its earnings calculation altered year-earlier comparisons and the basis of its higher annual outlook. Adjusted operating margin reached 26.2% for the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared with a restated 25.1% a year earlier. Under its previous calculation method, 3M had reported a 24.7% adjusted margin for the 2025 quarter. Adjusted earnings were $2.50 per share, up from a restated $2.23 for the same quarter last year. The original 2025 figure was $2.19. The restatements reflect 3M's decision to exclude amortization of acquired intangible assets from adjusted results and apply that treatment to the prior periods shown. The change added about 40 basis points to the year-earlier adjusted margin and about $0.04 to adjusted earnings per share. It did not materially change the year-over-year comparisons. On a GAAP basis, operating margin rose to 23.7% from 22.2%, while earnings per share increased to $2.63 from $1.55. Net income attributable to common shareholders climbed to $1.373 billion from $834 million. 3M's [third-quarter sales totaled $6.6 billion](), a 1% increase on a reported basis. Organic sales grew 0.2%. Excluding sales of manufactured PFAS products, adjusted sales increased 4.2%, including 3.3% organic growth. For 2026, 3M raised its adjusted earnings outlook to $9.10 to $9.15 per share from a July range of $8.80 to $8.95. The July forecast used the former adjusted earnings definition; the new range incorporates the revised treatment of intangible-asset amortization. The updated outlook also reflects results through September and the Madison Fire & Rescue acquisition. 3M expects adjusted total sales growth above 4.5% and adjusted organic growth above 3.5% for the year. It projects adjusted operating cash flow of about $5.9 billion and adjusted free cash flow of about $4.8 billion. ## Links in this article - [third-quarter sales totaled $6.6 billion](https://www.tokenpost.com/news/investing/35779)