There are no safe havens in the stock market. Every stock carries risk. But some less than others. This column features stocks that have shown one or more of the following characteristics: less volatility, better earnings, larger market caps, safe and increasing dividends. In these times of turmoil, our goal is to show readers better opportunities for investing with fewer risks.

March 3, 2012 - General Description: 3M Company, (MMM-NYSE), together with subsidiaries, operates as a global diversified technology company.

The Health Care division provides medical and surgical supplies, skin health and infection prevention products, inhalation and transdermal drug delivery systems, dental and orthodontic products, health information systems, and food safety products.

The company's Display and Graphics group offers optical film solutions for LCD electronic displays; computer screen filters; reflective sheeting for transportation safety; commercial graphics sheeting and systems; and mobile interactive solutions, including mobile display technology, visual systems products, and computer privacy filters.

The Consumer and Office segment provides office supply products, stationery products, construction and home improvement products, home care products, protective material products, certain consumer retail personal safety products, and consumer health care products.

Its Safety, Security and Protection Services division offers personal protection products, safety and security products, cleaning and protection products for commercial establishments, track and trace solutions, and roofing granules for asphalt shingles.

The company's Electro and Communications segment provides packaging and interconnection devices; fluids that are used in the manufacture of computer chips, and for cooling electronics and lubricating computer hard disk drives; high-temperature and display tapes; insulating materials, including tapes and resins; and related items.

The company was founded in 1902 and is based in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Latest News: 3M introduces a new liquid cleaner/degreaser made from environmentally friendly, bio-based raw materials: 3M Adhesive Remover-Renew. Made with 60 percent renewable materials, 3M^TM Adhesive Remover- Renew provides a new option for effective adhesive removal.

3M^TM Adhesive Remover- Renew is made with citrus, soy and corn based materials, and can be used to dissolve and remove dirt, grease, tar and many non-curing type adhesives. It can also be used in place of many chlorinated or petroleum-based solvents to degrease substrates prior to adhesive bonding. The product is FDA compliant for indirect food contact, and is packaged in an aerosol can for easy use.

3M^TM Adhesive Remover- Renew complements 3M's existing line of adhesive removers, which includes 3M^TM Adhesive Remover an FDA compliant citrus-based adhesive remover; and 3M^TM Adhesive Remover- Low VOC <20%, a petroleum-based solvent with less than 20 percent Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

Expectations: Annual earnings: $6.29 for 2012; $6.92 for 2013
Quarterly earnings: $1.48 (vs $1.49 in 2011) for first quarter; $1.63 for the secon (vs $1.60 in last year's second).
Annual Sales: $30.61 billion in 2012; $32.24 billion in 2013.

Important Numbers:
P/E: 14.6
Price to Book: 3.94
Price to Sales: 2.05
Profit Margin: 14.46%
Total Cash: $3.68 billion
Debt/ Equity: 33%
Current ratio: 2.25
Dividend Yield: 2.70%

- Ted Allrich