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Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2020
Significant Accounting Policies |
Basis of Presentation | Basis of Presentation ​ The interim consolidated financial statements are unaudited but, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. These adjustments consist of normal, recurring items. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. The interim consolidated financial statements and notes are presented as permitted by the requirements for Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and notes included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K. ​ As described in Note 16, effective in the second quarter of 2020, the measure of segment operating performance used by 3M’s chief operating decision maker changed and, as a result, the Company’s disclosed measure of segment profit/loss has been updated. Also, effective in the first quarter of 2020, the Company changed its business segment reporting in its continuing effort to improve the alignment of businesses around markets and customers. Additionally, the Company consolidated the way it presents geographic area net sales by providing an aggregate Americas geographic region (combining former United States and Latin America and Canada areas). Information provided herein reflects the impact of these changes for all periods presented.
Use of estimates | Use of estimates ​ The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company considered the coronavirus (COVID-19) related impacts on its estimates, as appropriate, within its consolidated financial statements and there may be changes to those estimates in future periods. 3M believes that the accounting estimates are appropriate after giving consideration to the increased uncertainties surrounding the severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Such estimates and assumptions are subject to inherent uncertainties which may result in actual amounts differing from these estimates.
Changes to Significant Accounting Policies | Changes to Significant Accounting Policies ​ The following significant accounting policies have been added or changed as applicable since the Company’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K as a result of adoption of new accounting pronouncements as described in the “New Accounting Pronouncements” section. ​ Accounts receivable and allowances: Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The Company maintains allowances for bad debts, cash discounts, and various other items. The allowances for bad debts and cash discounts are based on the best estimate of the amount of expected credit losses in existing accounts receivable and anticipated cash discounts. The Company determines the allowances based on historical write-off experience by industry and regional economic data, current expectations of future credit losses, and historical cash discounts. The Company reviews the allowances monthly. The allowances for bad debts as well as the provision for credit losses, write-off activity and recoveries for the periods presented are not material. The Company does not have any significant off-balance-sheet credit exposure related to its customers. The Company has long-term customer receivables that do not have significant credit risk, and the origination dates of which are typically not older than five years. These long-term receivables are subject to an allowance methodology similar to other receivables. ​ Marketable securities: Marketable securities include available-for-sale debt securities and are recorded at fair value. Cost of securities sold use the first in, first out (FIFO) method. The classification of marketable securities as current or non-current is based on the availability for use in current operations. 3M reviews impairments associated with its marketable securities in accordance with the measurement guidance provided by ASC 320, Investments-Debt Securities and ASC 326-30, Available-for-Sale Debt Securities, when determining whether a decline in fair value below the amortized cost basis has resulted from a credit loss or other factors. An impairment relating to credit losses is recorded through an allowance for credit losses. The allowance is limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. A change in the allowance for credit losses is recorded into earnings in the period of the change. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recorded through accumulated other comprehensive income as a component of shareholders’ equity. The factors considered in determining whether a credit loss exists can include the extent to which fair value is less than the amortized cost basis, changes in the credit quality of the underlying loan obligors, credit ratings actions, as well as other factors. When a credit loss exists, the Company compares the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the debt security with the amortized cost basis of the security to determine what allowance amount, if any, should be recorded. Amounts are reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income and into earnings upon sale or a change in the portions of impairment related to credit losses and not related to credit losses. ​ Property, plant and equipment: 3M’s accounting policy with respect to property, plant and equipment, is disclosed in the Company’s notes to consolidated financial statements included in its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition, 3M records capital-related government grants earned as reductions to the cost of property, plant and equipment; and associated unpaid liabilities and grant proceeds receivable are considered non-cash changes in such balances for purposes of preparation of statement of cash flows. ​
Foreign Currency Translation | Foreign Currency Translation ​ Local currencies generally are considered the functional currencies outside the United States with the exception of 3M’s subsidiaries in Argentina, the economy of which was considered highly inflationary beginning in 2018, and accordingly the financial statements of these subsidiaries are remeasured as if their functional currency is that of their parent. Assets and liabilities for operations in local-currency environments are translated at month-end exchange rates of the period reported. Income and expense items are translated at average monthly currency exchange rates in effect during the period. Cumulative translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity. ​ 3M had a consolidated subsidiary in Venezuela, the financial statements of which were remeasured as if its functional currency were that of its parent because Venezuela’s economic environment is considered highly inflationary. The operating income of this subsidiary was immaterial as a percent of 3M’s consolidated operating income for the periods presented. In light of circumstances, including the country’s unstable environment and heightened unrest leading to sustained lack of demand, and expectation that these circumstances will continue for the foreseeable future, during May 2019, 3M concluded it no longer met the criteria of control in order to continue consolidating its Venezuelan operations. As a result, as of May 31, 2019, the Company began reflecting its interest in the Venezuelan subsidiary as an equity investment that does not have a readily determinable fair value. This resulted in a pre-tax charge of $162 million within other expense (income) in the second quarter of 2019. The charge primarily relates to $144 million of foreign currency translation losses associated with foreign currency movements before Venezuela was accounted for as a highly inflationary economy and pension elements previously included in accumulated other comprehensive loss along with write-down of intercompany receivable and investment balances associated with this subsidiary. Beginning May 31, 2019, 3M’s consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations no longer include the Venezuelan entity’s operations other than an immaterial equity investment and associated loss or income thereon largely only to the extent, if any, that 3M provides support or materials and receives funding or dividends.
Earnings Per Share | Earnings Per Share ​ The difference in the weighted average 3M shares outstanding for calculating basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to 3M common shareholders is a result of the dilution associated with the Company’s stock-based compensation plans. Certain options outstanding under these stock-based compensation plans were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share attributable to 3M common shareholders because they would have had an anti-dilutive effect (18.8 million average options for the three months ended September 30, 2020; 19.6 million average options for the nine months ended September 30, 2020; 11.9 million average options for the three months ended September 30, 2019; 8.0 million average options for the nine months ended September 30, 2019). The computations for basic and diluted earnings per share follow: ​ Earnings Per Share Computations ​
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​ |  | Three months ended |  | Nine months ended |
​ | ​ | September 30, | ​ | September 30, | ​
(Amounts in millions, except per share amounts) |  | 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2020 |  | 2019 |
Numerator: | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Net income attributable to 3M | ​ | $ | 1,413 | ​ | $ | 1,583 | ​ | $ | 3,995 | ​ | $ | 3,601 | ​
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Denominator: | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Denominator for weighted average 3M common shares outstanding – basic | ​ |  | 577.8 | ​ |  | 576.5 | ​ |  | 577.2 | ​ |  | 577.2 | ​
Dilution associated with the Company’s stock-based compensation plans | ​ |  | 4.6 | ​ |  | 6.5 | ​ |  | 4.4 | ​ |  | 8.7 | ​
Denominator for weighted average 3M common shares outstanding – diluted | ​ |  | 582.4 | ​ |  | 583.0 | ​ |  | 581.6 | ​ |  | 585.9 | ​
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Earnings per share attributable to 3M common shareholders – basic | ​ | $ | 2.45 | ​ | $ | 2.75 | ​ | $ | 6.92 | ​ | $ | 6.24 | ​
Earnings per share attributable to 3M common shareholders – diluted | ​ | $ | 2.43 | ​ | $ | 2.72 | ​ | $ | 6.87 | ​ | $ | 6.15 | ​
New Accounting Pronouncements | New Accounting Pronouncements ​ See the Company’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more detailed discussion of the standards in the tables that follow, except for those pronouncements issued subsequent to the most recent Form 10-K filing date for which separate, more detailed discussion is provided below as applicable. ​
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Standards Adopted During the Current Fiscal Year
Standard | Relevant Description | Effective Date for 3M | Impact and Other Matters
ASU No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (in conjunction with ASU Nos. 2018-19, 2019-04, 2019-05, 2019-11, and 2020-03) | Introduces an approach, based on expected losses, to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments and modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities. ​ Amends the current other-than-temporary impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities. For such securities with unrealized losses, entities will still consider if a portion of any impairment is related only to credit losses and therefore recognized as a reduction in income. | January 1, 2020 | Adopted using the modified retrospective approach. Adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact due to the nature and extent of 3M’s financial instruments in scope for this ASU (primarily accounts receivable) and the historical, current and expected credit quality of its customers as of the date of adoption. ​ See Note 1 Significant Accounting Policies for updated applicable accounting policies.
ASU No. 2018-13, Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement | Eliminates, amends, and adds disclosure requirements for fair value measurements, primarily related to Level 3 fair value measurements. | January 1, 2020 | This ASU relates to disclosure only. The nature and extent of 3M’s financial instruments in scope for this ASU (primarily Level 3 fair value measurements) are immaterial to 3M’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
ASU No. 2018-15, Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract | Aligns the accounting for implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service arrangement (i.e. hosting arrangement) with the guidance on capitalizing costs in ASC 350-40, Internal-Use Software | January 1, 2020 | Adopted on a prospective basis. Relevant capitalizable costs are included in prepaid expenses or other non-current asset, as applicable, prospectively beginning in 2020.
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Standards Issued and Not Yet Adopted
Standard | Relevant Description | Effective Date for 3M | Impact and Other Matters
ASU No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740) | Eliminates certain existing exceptions related to the general approach in ASC 740 relating to franchise taxes, reducing complexity in the interim-period accounting for year-to-date loss limitations and changes in tax laws, and clarifying the accounting for transactions outside of business combination that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill. | January 1, 2021 | 3M previously disclosed it does not expect this ASU to have a material impact on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
ASU No. 2020-01, Clarifying the Interactions between Topic 321, Investments—Equity Securities, Topic 323, Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures, and Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging | Clarifies when accounting for certain equity securities, a Company should consider observable transactions before applying or upon discontinuing the equity method of accounting for the purposes of applying the measurement alternative. ​ Indicates when determining the accounting for certain derivatives, a Company should not consider if the underlying securities would be accounted for under the equity method or fair value option. | January 1, 2021 | 3M previously disclosed it does not expect this ASU to have a material impact on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition, but will apply such guidance, where applicable, to future circumstances.
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​ Relevant New Standards Issued Subsequent to Most Recent Annual Report ​ In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. This ASU provides temporary optional expedients and exceptions to existing guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting to facilitate the market transition from existing reference rates, such as LIBOR which is being phased out in 2021, to alternate reference rates, such as SOFR. The standard was effective upon issuance and allowed application to contract changes as early as January 1, 2020. The provisions have impact as contract modifications and other changes occur while LIBOR is phased out. The Company is in the process of evaluating the optional relief guidance provided within this ASU and is also reviewing its debt securities, bank facilities, derivative instruments and commercial contracts that utilize LIBOR as the reference rate. 3M will continue its assessment and monitor regulatory developments during the LIBOR transition period.
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