3M (NYSE:MMM – Get Rating) and NeuroPace (NASDAQ:NPCE – Get Rating) are both multi-sector conglomerates companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, profitability, earnings, risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and dividends.
Analyst Ratings
This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for 3M and NeuroPace, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
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3M alerts:
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score |
| 3M | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1.85 |
| NeuroPace | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2.25 |
3M presently has a consensus price target of $147.43, indicating a potential upside of 30.48%. NeuroPace has a consensus price target of $9.88, indicating a potential upside of 218.55%. Given NeuroPace's stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe NeuroPace is more favorable than 3M.
Earnings & Valuation
This table compares 3M and NeuroPace's gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio |
| 3M | $35.36 billion | 1.82 | $5.92 billion | $7.16 | 15.78 |
| NeuroPace | $45.18 million | 1.71 | -$36.08 million | ($1.77) | -1.75 |
3M has higher revenue and earnings than NeuroPace. NeuroPace is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than 3M, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Insider and Institutional Ownership
64.9% of 3M shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 74.2% of NeuroPace shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.3% of 3M shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 10.4% of NeuroPace shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.
Volatility and Risk
3M has a beta of 0.99, suggesting that its stock price is 1% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, NeuroPace has a beta of 1.66, suggesting that its stock price is 66% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Profitability
This table compares 3M and NeuroPace's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets |
| 3M | 11.83% | 39.11% | 12.24% |
| NeuroPace | -100.04% | -63.38% | -32.87% |
Summary
3M beats NeuroPace on 8 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About 3M
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3M Company operates as a diversified technology company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Safety and Industrial; Transportation and Electronics; Health Care; and Consumer. The Safety and Industrial segment offers industrial abrasives and finishing for metalworking applications; autobody repair solutions; closure systems for personal hygiene products, masking, and packaging materials; electrical products and materials for construction and maintenance, power distribution, and electrical original equipment manufacturers; structural adhesives and tapes; respiratory, hearing, eye, and fall protection solutions; and natural and color-coated mineral granules for shingles. The Transportation and Electronics segment provides ceramic solutions; attachment tapes, films, sound, and temperature management for transportation vehicles; premium large format graphic films for advertising and fleet signage; light management films and electronics assembly solutions; packaging and interconnection solutions; and reflective signage for highway, and vehicle safety. The Healthcare segment offers food safety indicator solutions; health care procedure coding and reimbursement software; skin, wound care, and infection prevention products and solutions; dentistry and orthodontia solutions; and filtration and purification systems. The Consumer segment provides consumer bandages, braces, supports and consumer respirators; cleaning products for the home; retail abrasives, paint accessories, car care DIY products, picture hanging, and consumer air quality solutions; and stationery products. It offers its products through e-commerce and traditional wholesalers, retailers, jobbers, distributors, and dealers. The company was founded in 1902 and is based in St. Paul, Minnesota.
About NeuroPace
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NeuroPace, Inc. operates as a medical device company in the United States. It develops and sells RNS system, a brain-responsive neuromodulation system for treating medically refractory focal epilepsy by delivering personalized real-time treatment at the seizure source. The company's RNS system also records continuous brain activity data; and enables clinicians to monitor patients in person and remotely. It sells its products to hospital facilities for initial RNS system implant procedures and for replacement procedures. The company was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.
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