PPE boom drives 3M profits

3M Co. said this week its Q1 net sales increased by 9.6 percent to $8.85 billion, coming out on top of analyst estimates of $8.47 billion.

Earnings of $1.62 billion, or $2.77 per share, were up from $1.31 billion ($2.25) a year ago. Analysts had projected profits of $2.29 per share. 3M is a major manufacturer of N95 masks, which have seen strong demand throughout the pandemic.