Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Significant Accounting Policies

Impact on previously reported values after adoption

Year ended December 31, 2017	Previously		Reflecting ASU
(Millions)	Reported		Adoption		Change
Net Sales	$	31,657	$	31,657	$	—
Operating expenses
Cost of sales		16,001		16,055		54
Selling, general and administrative expenses		6,572		6,626		54
Research, development and related expenses		1,850		1,870		20
Gain on sale of businesses		(586)		(586)		—
Total operating expenses		23,837		23,965		128
Operating income	$	7,820	$	7,692	$	(128)
Other expense (income), net	$	272	$	144	$	(128)
Income before income taxes	$	7,548	$	7,548	$	—

Year ended December 31, 2016	Previously		Reflecting ASU
(Millions)	Reported		Adoption		Change
Net Sales	$	30,109	$	30,109	$	—
Operating expenses
Cost of sales		15,040		15,118		78
Selling, general and administrative expenses		6,222		6,311		89
Research, development and related expenses		1,735		1,764		29
Gain on sale of businesses		(111)		(111)		—
Total operating expenses		22,886		23,082		196
Operating income	$	7,223	$	7,027	$	(196)
Other expense (income), net	$	170	$	(26)	$	(196)
Income before income taxes	$	7,053	$	7,053	$	—

Year ended December 31, 2015	Previously		Reflecting ASU
(Millions)	Reported		Adoption		Change
Net Sales	$	30,274	$	30,274	$	—
Operating expenses
Cost of sales		15,383		15,351		(32)
Selling, general and administrative expenses		6,229		6,233		4
Research, development and related expenses		1,763		1,757		(6)
Gain on sale of businesses		(47)		(47)		—
Total operating expenses		23,328		23,294		(34)
Operating income	$	6,946	$	6,980	$	34
Other expense (income), net	$	123	$	157	$	34
Income before income taxes	$	6,823	$	6,823	$	—

Earnings per share

Earnings Per Share Computations

(Amounts in millions, except per share amounts)	2017		2016		2015
Numerator:
Net income attributable to 3M	$	4,858	$	5,050	$	4,833
Denominator:
Denominator for weighted average 3M common shares outstanding – basic		597.5		604.7		625.6
Dilution associated with the Company’s stock-based compensation plans		15.2		14.0		11.6
Denominator for weighted average 3M common shares outstanding – diluted		612.7		618.7		637.2
Earnings per share attributable to 3M common shareholders – basic	$	8.13	$	8.35	$	7.72
Earnings per share attributable to 3M common shareholders – diluted	$	7.93	$	8.16	$	7.58