3M (MMM) vs West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) has outperformed 3M (MMM) over the past year, gaining 37.8% versus a gain of 4.4%. Over five years, MMM leads with a +6.6% price change compared with -9.5% for WST. 3M is the larger company by market cap ($83.61 billion vs $25.79 billion), about 3.2 times the size, while West Pharmaceutical Services is growing revenue faster (+6.3% vs +1.5%).
On valuation, 3M trades at a lower forward P/E (16.5x vs 36.7x for West Pharmaceutical Services). 3M offers the higher dividend yield (1.86% vs 0.24%). West Pharmaceutical Services converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 16.1% versus 13.0%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | MMM | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $162.12 | $366.48 |
| Market cap | $83.61B | $25.79B |
| 1-day change | -0.93% | -1.65% |
| YTD return | +1.26% | +33.20% |
| 1-year return | +4.37% | +37.79% |
| 5-year return | +6.57% | -9.47% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 28.80 | 46.92 |
| Forward P/E | 16.50 | 36.72 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.63 | $7.81 |
| Dividend yield | 1.86% | 0.24% |
| Annual dividend | $3.02 | $0.87 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $24.95B | $3.07B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +1.52% | +6.25% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $3.25B | $493.70M |
| Gross margin | 39.91% | 35.91% |
| Operating margin | 18.55% | 19.03% |
| Net margin | 13.03% | 16.06% |
| 52-week high | $184.90 | $386.00 |
| 52-week low | $139.34 | $223.83 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -12.32% | -5.06% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +15.51% | +12.15% |
| Average volume | 3.16M | 629.98K |
| Shares outstanding | 515.72M | 70.38M |
| Employees | 60,500 | 10,800 |
| Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| Industry | Medical/Dental Instruments | Medical/Dental Instruments |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- 3M is about 3.2 times larger than West Pharmaceutical Services by market value ($83.61B vs $25.79B).
- WST has outperformed MMM by 33.4 percentage points over the past year.
- West Pharmaceutical Services trades at a higher earnings multiple (46.9x vs 28.8x trailing P/E).
- 3M offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.86% vs 0.24%).
About 3M
MMM stock →3M Company provides diversified technology services in the America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Safety and Industrial, Transportation and Electronics, and Consumer.
Health Care · Medical/Dental Instruments · 60,500 employees
About West Pharmaceutical Services
WST stock →West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells containment and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific.
Health Care · Medical/Dental Instruments · 10,800 employees
MMM vs WST FAQ
Which is bigger, 3M or West Pharmaceutical Services?
3M (MMM) is larger, with a market capitalization of $83.61B compared with $25.79B for West Pharmaceutical Services (WST).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MMM or WST?
WST returned +37.79% over the past 12 months, compared with +4.37% for MMM (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, MMM or WST?
MMM has the lower trailing P/E at 28.8, versus 46.9 for WST. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, 3M or West Pharmaceutical Services?
3M has the higher yield at 1.86%, compared with 0.24% for West Pharmaceutical Services.
Are 3M and West Pharmaceutical Services in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Medical/Dental Instruments industry within the Health Care sector.