St. Paul, MN, January 14--3M is expected to report a sizable year-over-year increase in quarterly profit when it releases its fourth-quarter report this week.
Consensus estimates for fourth-quarter earnings are for $0. 91 per share for 3M, which earned $0.77 per share in the comparable 2003 period.
The company projected fourth-quarter earnings of $0.90 to $0.91 per share.
Analysts has said they believe a good portion of the year-over-year increase in profit will be generated by the company's increasingly high-profile healthcare group.
According to S&P Equity Research, 3M experienced strong sales in the fourth quarter of its pharmaceutical product Aldara Cream, used to treat external genital warts.
S&P Equity Research also said 3M "likely experienced broad-based strength across many of its end markets during the quarter."
