SafetyMargin.ioSafetyMargin.io
BlogWatchlistCompare
Compare Stocks › AAPL vs MMM

Apple Inc. (AAPL) vs 3M Company (MMM)

AAPL
Apple Inc.
$248.96
VS
MMM
3M Company
$142.71

Rewards

AAPL
  • ★Apple Inc. has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
  • ★Apple Inc. scores 96/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • ★Return on equity has consistently exceeded 20% over 4 years, indicating efficient use of shareholder capital.
MMM
  • ★Altman Z-Score of 4.26 indicates very low bankruptcy risk — the company is firmly in the safe zone.

Risks

AAPL
  • ⚠FCF yield of 2.9% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
  • ⚠12 insider sales with no purchases over the past 12 months — a persistent pattern of insider selling.
MMM
  • ⚠FCF yield of 1.7% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
  • ⚠Trailing P/E of 23.8x is 34% above the historical average of 17.8x — the stock trades at a premium to its own history.
  • ⚠High leverage (2.77x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.

Key Valuation Metrics

Learn more →
AAPL
MMM
Valuation
$106.31B
Free Cash Flow
$1.26B
2.91%
FCF Yield
1.68%
31.55
Trailing P/E
23.82
26.71
Forward P/E
15.18
Quality & Moat
68.12%
ROIC
13.68%
127.01%
ROE
68.46%
47.33%
Gross Margin
39.91%
1.72
PEG Ratio
N/A
Balance Sheet Safety
1.03
Debt / Equity
2.77
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
0.15
Net Debt / EBITDA
0.86
0.42%
Dividend Yield
2.19%
AAPL: 7Ties: 1MMM: 3
AAPLMMM

Historical Fundamentals

Learn more →
AAPL

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

MMM

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

$1 Retained Earnings Test

Learn more →
AAPL
$7.57
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$257.06B
Δ Market Cap
+$1.94T
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
MMM
N/A
Net losses over 3 years — test not applicable
Company had negative cumulative retained earnings
Σ Retained
$-6.43B
Δ Market Cap
+$29.83B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

Learn more →
AAPL
38.3% Overvalued
Price is 38.3% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $248.96
Fair Value: $179.99
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
MMM
10.7% Overvalued
Price is 10.7% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $142.71
Fair Value: $128.87
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

Learn more →
AAPL

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $249?

+14.5%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +15.2%

The market implies +14.5% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +15.2%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

MMM

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $143?

+10.6%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +23.6%

The market implies +10.6% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +23.6%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

Economic Moat Score

Learn more →
AAPL
96/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. ROIC Consistency is the standout factor.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.
MMM
40/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Narrow moat with reinvestment efficiency as the key competitive advantage. Improving margin stability would strengthen the moat.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.

Forensic Accounting

Learn more →
AAPL
-2.29
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
MMM
-2.28
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Ownership Breakdown

Learn more →
AAPL
Insiders 1.6%Institutions 65.3%Retail & Other 33.1%
No. of Institutional Holders7,544
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
MMM
Insiders 0.1%Institutions 76.3%Retail & Other 23.6%
No. of Institutional Holders2,821
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

Insider Buying Activity

Learn more →
AAPL
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
MMM
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

Learn more →
AAPL
0
Sells (3M)
12
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $129.96M
KONDO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$1.02M
@ $271.23 · 2025-11-07
PAREKH KEVAN
Chief Financial Officer
$1.04M
@ $247.39 · 2025-10-16
O'BRIEN DEIRDRE
Officer
$11.07M
@ $257.39 · 2025-10-02
COOK TIMOTHY D
Chief Executive Officer
$33.38M
@ $256.81 · 2025-10-02
ADAMS KATHERINE L
General Counsel
$12.10M
@ $256.79 · 2025-10-02
LEVINSON ARTHUR D
Director
$20.89M
@ $232.07 · 2025-08-28
O'BRIEN DEIRDRE
Officer
$7.77M
@ $223.20 · 2025-08-08
KONDO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$933,955
@ $208.19 · 2025-05-12
PAREKH KEVAN
Chief Financial Officer
$941,420
@ $206.00 · 2025-04-23
WILLIAMS JEFFREY E
Chief Operating Officer
$7.95M
@ $224.01 · 2025-04-02
COOK TIMOTHY D
Chief Executive Officer
$24.18M
@ $223.65 · 2025-04-02
ADAMS KATHERINE L
General Counsel
$8.68M
@ $223.67 · 2025-04-02
LEVINSON ARTHUR D
Director
$343,147
@ $226.35 · 2025-02-03
LEVINSON ARTHUR D
Director
$45.46M
@ $227.32 · 2024-11-19
KONDO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$945,233
@ $228.87 · 2024-11-18
MAESTRI LUCA
Chief Financial Officer
$13.43M
@ $226.52 · 2024-10-04
O'BRIEN DEIRDRE
Officer
$13.84M
@ $226.87 · 2024-10-02
WILLIAMS JEFFREY E
Chief Operating Officer
$13.55M
@ $226.86 · 2024-10-02
COOK TIMOTHY D
Chief Executive Officer
$50.28M
@ $224.46 · 2024-10-02
ADAMS KATHERINE L
General Counsel
$13.80M
@ $226.20 · 2024-10-02
KONDO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$1.96M
@ $225.00 · 2024-08-15
KONDO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$1.12M
@ $216.50 · 2024-08-09
ADAMS KATHERINE L
General Counsel
$20.64M
@ $206.44 · 2024-08-05
LEVINSON ARTHUR D
Director
$14.37M
@ $191.58 · 2024-05-30
KONDO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$951,785
@ $190.40 · 2024-05-15
MAESTRI LUCA
Chief Financial Officer
$9.26M
@ $174.12 · 2024-04-11
O'BRIEN DEIRDRE
Officer
$9.24M
@ $168.91 · 2024-04-02
COOK TIMOTHY D
Chief Executive Officer
$33.26M
@ $169.33 · 2024-04-02
ADAMS KATHERINE L
General Counsel
$9.24M
@ $168.90 · 2024-04-02
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
MMM
4
Sells (3M)
12
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $21.69M
REINSETH THERESA E
Officer
$888,796
@ $172.75 · 2026-02-11
DICKSON ZOE L
Officer
$4.27M
@ $170.34 · 2026-02-09
DICKSON ZOE L
Officer
$3.49M
@ $169.97 · 2026-02-09
CHAVEZ RODRIGUEZ BEATRIZ KARINA
Officer
$203,645
@ $171.13 · 2026-02-09
DICKSON ZOE L
Officer
$2.35M
@ $169.78 · 2025-11-13
DICKSON ZOE L
Officer
$2.31M
@ $169.82 · 2025-11-13
MURPHY MARK W
Chief Technology Officer
$3.17M
@ $166.55 · 2025-10-29
GORALSKI CHRISTIAN T JR
President
$925,860
@ $150.18 · 2025-08-07
REINSETH THERESA E
Officer
$523,741
@ $150.63 · 2025-08-05
BANOVETZ JOHN PATRICK
Officer
$1.15M
@ $148.37 · 2025-05-23
RHODES KEVIN H
Officer
$1.23M
@ $154.02 · 2025-05-20
DICKSON ZOE L
Officer
$1.18M
@ $149.02 · 2025-05-15
CLARKE VICTORIA
Officer
$269,878
@ $154.22 · 2025-01-31
ROMAN MICHAEL F
Chairman of the Board
$7.55M
@ $152.30 · 2025-01-29
BANOVETZ JOHN PATRICK
Officer
$726,249
@ $151.36 · 2025-01-27
DICKSON ZOE L
Officer
$542,957
@ $149.41 · 2025-01-27
CHAVEZ RODRIGUEZ BEATRIZ KARINA
President
$247,163
@ $150.25 · 2025-01-27
RHODES KEVIN H
Officer
$1.01M
@ $149.85 · 2025-01-27
REINSETH THERESA E
Officer
$346,241
@ $149.95 · 2025-01-24
GORALSKI CHRISTIAN T JR
Officer
$944,070
@ $149.43 · 2025-01-24
ROMAN MICHAEL F
Chairman of the Board
$6.79M
@ $150.01 · 2025-01-24
REINSETH THERESA E
Officer
$131,925
@ $127.71 · 2024-11-20
ROMAN MICHAEL F
Chairman of the Board
$700,608
@ $123.46 · 2024-08-07
REINSETH THERESA E
Chief Financial Officer
$260,652
@ $124.12 · 2024-08-06
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

Learn more →
AAPL
FearGreed
😐Neutral(52/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
MMM
FearGreed
😐Neutral(41/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

⚖️ Buffett Signal

Learn more →
AAPL
⚪Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (52)
MMM
⚪Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (41)
View AAPL Full AnalysisView MMM Full Analysis
Apple Inc. (AAPL) vs 3M Company (MMM) Stock Comparison | SafetyMargin.io