3M vs Honda: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
3M reported $24.9B of revenue in FY2025 and $3.3B of net income. Honda reported ~$146B of revenue in FY2026 and a net loss of ~$2.8B.
Latest financial snapshot
Financial summary
3M
3M has long been a steady dividend payer. Its revenue is spread across many industries, which makes it resilient in downturns. Its balance sheet has been strained by multi-billion dollar legal settlements over PFAS chemicals and combat earplugs. The underlying business still generates strong cash flow because it has pricing power on its specialized industrial products.
Honda
Honda's revenue rose from ~$97.5 billion (JPY 14.55 trillion) in FY2022 to ~$145 billion (JPY 21.69 trillion) in FY2025 as a weaker yen and strong US hybrid demand lifted results. FY2026 revenue edged up to $146 billion (JPY 21.80 trillion), but EV charges of ~$10.6 billion (JPY 1.58 trillion) produced a ~$2.78 billion (JPY 414.3 billion) operating loss and a ~$2.84 billion (JPY 423.9 billion) net loss. Without those charges, adjusted operating profit was ~$6.97 billion (JPY 1.04 trillion). In Q1 FY2027 (April to June 2026) operating profit hit a record ~$3.56 billion (JPY 530.7 billion) and net profit was ~$3.02 billion (JPY 450.9 billion), and Honda raised its FY2027 net profit forecast to ~$2.68 billion (JPY 400 billion).
Revenue and profit by year
3M
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | $24.9B | $3.3B | 13.0% | +1.5% | Source |
| FY2024 | $24.6B | $4.2B | 17.0% | -0.1% | Source |
| FY2023 | $24.6B | -$7B | -28.4% | -5.9% | Source |
| FY2022 | $26.2B | $5.8B | 22.1% | -26.0% | Source |
| FY2021 | $35.4B | $5.9B | 16.7% | +9.9% | Source |
| FY2020 | $32.2B | $5.4B | 16.9% | +0.1% | Source |
| FY2019 | $32.1B | $4.5B | 14.1% | -1.9% | Source |
| FY2018 | $32.8B | $5.3B | 16.3% | +3.5% | Source |
| FY2017 | $31.7B | $4.9B | 15.3% | +5.1% | Source |
| FY2016 | $30.1B | $5B | 16.8% | — | Source |
Honda
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | ~$146B | ~-$2.8B | -1.9% | +0.5% | Source |
| FY2025 | ~$145.3B | ~$5.6B | 3.9% | +6.2% | Source |
| FY2024 | ~$136.9B | ~$7.4B | 5.4% | +20.8% | Source |
| FY2023 | ~$113.3B | ~$4.4B | 3.9% | +16.2% | Source |
| FY2022 | ~$97.5B | ~$4.7B | 4.9% | +10.5% | Source |
| FY2021 | ~$88.2B | ~$4.4B | 5.0% | -11.8% | Source |
| FY2020 | ~$100B | ~$3.1B | 3.1% | -6.0% | Source |
| FY2019 | ~$106.5B | ~$4.1B | 3.8% | +3.4% | Source |
| FY2018 | ~$102.9B | ~$7.1B | 6.9% | +9.7% | Source |
| FY2017 | ~$93.8B | ~$4.1B | 4.4% | -4.1% | Source |
| FY2016 | ~$97.8B | ~$2.3B | 2.4% | — | Source |
Where the revenue comes from
3M
- Safety and Industrial Segment~46%
The Safety and Industrial segment is 3M's largest revenue contributor, generating $11.4 billion of net sales in fiscal year 2025. This segment manufactures and sells personal protective equipment including N95 respirators, hearing protection, and eye protection; industrial abrasives including Cubitron II ceramic abrasives; adhesive tapes and specialty bonding products for industrial applications; electrical insulation and electrical products; and roofing granules. Customers include construction companies, automotive manufacturers, oil and gas producers, aerospace manufacturers, and general industrial enterprises globally. The segment's competitive strength rests on 3M's proprietary materials science capabilities that allow it to engineer products meeting demanding performance specifications in safety and industrial applications where failure consequences are significant.
- Transportation and Electronics Segment~33%
The Transportation and Electronics segment generated $8.3 billion of net sales in fiscal year 2025, serving automotive original equipment manufacturers, electronics assemblers, semiconductor fabricators, and aerospace manufacturers with advanced specialty materials. Key product categories include light management films for display applications, conductive adhesives and specialty tapes for electronics assembly, automotive structural adhesives that enable vehicle lightweighting, thermal management materials for electric vehicle battery systems, and specialty chemicals for semiconductor processing. This segment is positioned at the intersection of the electrification and digitalization trends that are driving the most significant changes in global manufacturing, making it a strategic growth focus for 3M's leadership.
- Consumer Segment~20%
The Consumer segment generated $4.9 billion of net sales in fiscal year 2025, selling branded products including Post-it Notes, Scotch tape, Command adhesive strips, Filtrete home air filters, and other home improvement and office products through mass retail, office supply, home improvement, and e-commerce channels. While the smallest of 3M's post-Solventum segments by revenue, the Consumer business plays a strategic role in maintaining brand awareness with individual consumers and institutional purchasers who interact with 3M products in personal contexts.
Honda
- Automobiles~65%
Passenger vehicles, hybrids, EVs, SUVs, parts, accessories, and related service revenue sold through global dealer networks.
- Motorcycles~17%
Motorcycles, scooters, parts, and related products sold globally, especially in Asia and other high-volume mobility markets.
- Financial Services~16%
Vehicle loans, leases, dealer financing, and related finance products that support automobile and motorcycle demand.
- Power Products and Other~2%
Power equipment, marine engines, aircraft-related activity, and other mobility-adjacent operations.
Business model and strategy
3M
How it makes money
3M's business model is basically acting as a giant, outsourced R&D department for the rest of the world. They pour billions into scientific research to invent proprietary materials. Once they hold the patent, they figure out how to sell that material to as many different industries as possible.
Growth strategy
3M is currently trying to shed its slower-growing legacy businesses to focus entirely on the future. They recently spun off their large healthcare division to streamline their operations. Going forward, they are heavily targeting high-growth megatrends like electric vehicle manufacturing, climate tech, and home improvement.
Competitive advantage
The biggest competitive advantage 3M has is its patent portfolio and its culture of cross-pollination. If a 3M scientist invents a new type of ceramic for an airplane engine, another scientist might realize that same ceramic can be used for dental braces. This ability to reuse foundational R&D across dozens of markets gives them a large economy of scale that pure-play competitors just can't replicate.
Honda
How it makes money
Honda earns money in four reportable segments. Automobiles (Honda and Acura cars and light trucks, led by the CR-V, Civic, Accord and hybrid e:HEV models) generate most revenue, with North America the largest profit market. Motorcycles generate high-volume, high-margin sales, especially in India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Brazil, and posted record profit in FY2026.
Growth strategy
Honda reset its electrification plan in 2026. In March it cancelled the US-built Honda 0 SUV, 0 Saloon and Acura RSX EVs, and in May it scrapped its 2030 and 2040 EV sales targets, including the goal of selling only battery-electric and fuel-cell vehicles by 2040. The new plan leans on hybrids, a next-generation e:HEV system, motorcycles in emerging markets, and more flexible EV timing.
Competitive advantage
Honda's edge comes from three things. It leads the global motorcycle market with roughly 40% unit share, which gives it a profit base most automakers lack. Its two-motor hybrid system is competitive in the markets where hybrid demand is growing fastest, especially the US.
Questions about 3M vs Honda
Which company has higher revenue — 3M Company or Honda Motor Co., Ltd.?
3M Company reported $24.9B (FY2025), while Honda Motor Co., Ltd. reported ~$146B (FY2026). By last reported revenue, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is the larger business, with 3M Company reporting a smaller revenue base. Note: these are from different fiscal years and are not a direct like-for-like comparison.
What is the market cap of 3M Company vs Honda Motor Co., Ltd.?
3M Company's market capitalisation stands at $86.4B, while Honda Motor Co., Ltd.'s is $50.3B. 3M Company carries the higher market valuation, reflecting investors' expectations of its future earnings power relative to Honda Motor Co., Ltd..
Which is more financially efficient — 3M Company or Honda Motor Co., Ltd.?
3M Company generates $412k / employee in revenue per employee, while Honda Motor Co., Ltd. generates $748k / employee. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. shows higher revenue efficiency per headcount, though this reflects business model differences — capital-light software companies routinely outperform labour-intensive manufacturers on this metric.
How do 3M Company and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. make money?
3M Company and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. 3M Company: 3M's business model is basically acting as a giant, outsourced R&D department for the rest of the world. Honda Motor Co., Ltd.: Honda earns money in four reportable segments.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — 3M Company or Honda Motor Co., Ltd.?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, 3M Company trades at 3.5x P/S and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. at 0.3x P/S. 3M Company commands a higher revenue multiple, typically indicating that investors expect faster growth or higher future margins compared to Honda Motor Co., Ltd.. A higher multiple is not inherently better — it may also signal that the stock is priced for perfection.
Is 3M Company bigger than Honda Motor Co., Ltd.?
By last reported revenue, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (~$146B (FY2026)) is the larger company compared to 3M Company ($24.9B (FY2025)). Revenue scale is one dimension of size — market capitalisation, employee count, and geographic reach are also relevant depending on the context.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the 3M vs Honda overview