Advertisement
MDU vs MMM
Which Stock Would AI Choose? MDU Resources Group (MDU) vs. 3M Company (MMM) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- MDU has outperformed MMM year-to-date with approximately 12% gains versus a roughly 5% decline, driven by strong earnings and guidance.
- MDU's regulated utility operations offer stability, contrasting MMM's exposure to legal settlements and conglomerate volatility.
- Recent capital investment plans position MDU for sustained growth in energy delivery and construction services.
- MMM shows resilience in diversified segments like safety and healthcare but lags in recent momentum amid upcoming earnings.
- Tickeron's AI trading bots highlight industrial sector trends that align more favorably with MDU's profile currently.
- Relative performance favors MDU for traders seeking consistent trends in the current market environment.
Introduction
This comparison examines MDU Resources Group and MMM, two stocks representing distinct approaches within the broader industrials and utilities landscape. MDU focuses on regulated energy delivery and construction, appealing to income-oriented investors seeking stability. MMM, a diversified conglomerate, targets growth through innovation in safety, healthcare, and consumer products. Traders and investors navigating volatile markets may find value in assessing their relative performance, sector exposures, and momentum to inform portfolio positioning.
MDU Overview and Recent Performance
MDU Resources Group operates as a diversified holding company with primary segments in regulated electric and natural gas utilities (about 75-80% of EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization)), alongside construction services and pipeline operations. The company delivers essential energy and infrastructure solutions across the U.S., particularly in the Midwest and West. In recent market activity, MDU shares have traded around $21.90, reflecting gains of over 30% in the past year and about 12% year-to-date. Sentiment has been buoyed by solid 2025 year-end results, an earnings beat exceeding expectations by 4.5%, initiation of 2026 EPS (earnings per share) guidance at $0.93-$1.00, and an expanded five-year capital investment plan through 2030. These developments underscore execution in regulated operations and infrastructure demand, supporting upward price momentum despite broader sector pressures.
MMM Overview and Recent Performance
MMM, formerly Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, is a multinational conglomerate spanning safety and industrial products, transportation and electronics, healthcare, and consumer goods. Its business model leverages material science innovation across thousands of products globally. Recently, MMM shares have hovered near $151, down about 5% year-to-date but up roughly 19% over the past year. Trading has shown volatility, with recent weeks featuring pullbacks amid anticipation for Q1 2026 earnings expected at $2.02 EPS, a 7.5% year-over-year increase. Influences include ongoing navigation of legal settlements related to past product liabilities, alongside resilience in core segments like healthcare and safety. Market positioning reflects mixed sentiment, balancing innovation strengths against resolution of legacy issues.
Trending AI Robots
Tickeron's Trending AI Robots page curates the top 25 AI-powered trading bots from a library of 351, selected for their suitability to prevailing market conditions across stocks, ETFs, and crypto. These bots employ diverse strategies, including technical analysis (TA) and fundamental analysis (FA), with timeframes from 5 minutes to 60 minutes. Performance highlights include annualized returns ranging from 15.50% to 167.82%, win rates of 53.91% to 87.72%, profit factors up to 11.70, and profit-to-drawdown ratios as high as 22.13. Industrial-focused bots, such as the Swing Trader tracking dips in industrial stocks (+34.16% return, 62.01% win rate) and one targeting industrials like APLD and ETN (+71.56% return), exemplify adaptive styles for sectors akin to MDU and MMM. Explore these bots to align automated trading with current trends.
Head-to-Head Comparison
MDU and MMM diverge in business models: MDU's regulated utilities ensure predictable cash flows from energy distribution, while MMM's conglomerate spans cyclical industrials and consumer markets for broader growth potential. Growth drivers contrast MDU's infrastructure capex (expanded for 2026-2030) against MMM's R&D (research and development) innovation amid legal overhangs. Recent momentum favors MDU, with steadier uptrends versus MMM's volatility. Risk factors include MDU's regional exposure to energy regulations and MMM's litigation history. Sector-wise, MDU benefits from utility stability, while MMM draws from diversified industrials. Sentiment tilts toward MDU on guidance positivity.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron's AI currently favors MDU over MMM, based on superior trend consistency, year-to-date gains, and supportive catalysts like earnings guidance and capex expansion. MDU's regulated stability enhances its relative positioning amid market uncertainty, though MMM could rebound post-earnings if legal resolutions progress. This probabilistic edge reflects observable momentum rather than guarantees.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is MDU is a StrongBuy and MMM is a StrongBuy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
MDU’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileMMM’s FA Score has 3 green FA rating(s).
- MDU’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- MMM’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
MDU’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while MMM’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- MDU’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
- MMM’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
MDU (@Gas Distributors) experienced а -0.51% price change this week, while MMM (@Industrial Conglomerates) price change was +2.97% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Gas Distributors industry was -0.75%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -2.35%, and the average quarterly price growth was +3.01%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Industrial Conglomerates industry was +3.46%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +4.80%, and the average quarterly price growth was +15.53%.
Reported Earning Dates
MDU is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 2026.
MMM is expected to report earnings on Jul 28, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Gas Distributors (-0.75% weekly)Gas distributors are involved in moving and selling gas – from wellheads or over-distribution systems operated by other firms – to residential and non-residential customers. These companies perform tasks such as the gathering and processing of gas, intrastate and interstate transport, and delivery to the customer. Some of the biggest gas distributing companies in the U.S. include Sempra Energy, Avangrid Inc and Atmos Energy Corporation.
@Industrial Conglomerates (+3.46% weekly)Industrial Conglomerates specialize in numerous types of products, most of which comprise industrial goods, while some also go towards meeting household needs. Honeywell (makes engineering services and aerospace systems), United Technologies Corporation(manufactures aircraft engines, aerospace systems, HVAC, elevators and escalators, fire and security, building systems, and industrial products, among others), 3M (over 60,000 products under several world-renowned brands, including adhesives, abrasives, laminates, passive fire protection, personal protective equipment, window films, paint protection films, dental and orthodontic products, electrical & electronic connecting and insulating materials, medical products, car-care products, electronic circuits, healthcare software and optical films).
| MDU | MMM | MDU / MMM | |
| Capitalization | 4.41B | 82.6B | 5% |
| EBITDA | 529M | 5.96B | 9% |
| Gain YTD | 9.598 | -0.154 | -6,217% |
| P/E Ratio | 22.95 | 30.50 | 75% |
| Revenue | 1.81B | 25B | 7% |
| Total Cash | N/A | 4.15B | - |
| Total Debt | 2.6B | 12.6B | 21% |
MDU | MMM | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 53 | 46 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 66 Overvalued | 22 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 14 | 82 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 82 | 16 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 52 | 49 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 30 | 15 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 39 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
MMM's Valuation (22) in the Industrial Conglomerates industry is somewhat better than the same rating for MDU (66) in the Gas Distributors industry. This means that MMM’s stock grew somewhat faster than MDU’s over the last 12 months.
MDU's Profit vs Risk Rating (14) in the Gas Distributors industry is significantly better than the same rating for MMM (82) in the Industrial Conglomerates industry. This means that MDU’s stock grew significantly faster than MMM’s over the last 12 months.
MMM's SMR Rating (16) in the Industrial Conglomerates industry is significantly better than the same rating for MDU (82) in the Gas Distributors industry. This means that MMM’s stock grew significantly faster than MDU’s over the last 12 months.
MMM's Price Growth Rating (49) in the Industrial Conglomerates industry is in the same range as MDU (52) in the Gas Distributors industry. This means that MMM’s stock grew similarly to MDU’s over the last 12 months.
MMM's P/E Growth Rating (15) in the Industrial Conglomerates industry is in the same range as MDU (30) in the Gas Distributors industry. This means that MMM’s stock grew similarly to MDU’s over the last 12 months.
| MDU | MMM | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 65% | 4 days ago 57% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 52% | 4 days ago 54% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 63% | 4 days ago 55% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 48% | 4 days ago 51% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 46% | 4 days ago 53% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 38% | 4 days ago 53% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 11 days ago 58% | 4 days ago 55% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 7 days ago 45% | N/A |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 74% | 4 days ago 57% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 35% | 4 days ago 50% |
Advertisement
| 1 Day | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs / NAME | Price $ | Chg $ | Chg % |
| TPZ | 21.84 | 0.24 | +1.13% |
| Tortoise Electrification Infra ETF | |||
| VEXC | 94.21 | 0.62 | +0.66% |
| Vanguard Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF | |||
| DFAE | 40.07 | 0.19 | +0.48% |
| Dimensional Emerging Core Equity Mkt ETF | |||
| IXP | 119.20 | 0.42 | +0.35% |
| iShares Global Comm Services ETF | |||
| PFUT | 25.85 | N/A | N/A |
| Putnam Sustainable Future ETF | |||
MDU and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, MDU has been loosely correlated with BKH. These tickers have moved in lockstep 54% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if MDU jumps, then BKH could also see price increases.
MMM and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, MMM has been loosely correlated with HON. These tickers have moved in lockstep 61% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if MMM jumps, then HON could also see price increases.