Grading 3M's Buckley

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3M(MMM Quote) manufactures a wide variety of products in the adhesive, coatings, electronic and health care areas, totaling more than 55,000 products worldwide. MMM has been noted for its Post-it and Scotch brands but has recently channeled efforts and resources to electronics and health care. (This morning, 3M(MMM Quote) said earnings rose 6% from last year, boosted by strong results in its industrial and electronics-related segments. It earned $761 million, or 99 cents a share, in the quarter, compared with $720 million, or 91 cents a share, a year ago. Excluding an accounting charge, 3M earned $1.04 a share in the most recent quarter, beating the Thomson First Call consensus by a penny.)

In December, MMM hired CEO George Buckley from Brunswick(BC Quote), replacing James McNerney, who left MMM for Boeing(BA Quote). (Mr. McNerney joined MMM in 2001, after he left General Electric(GE Quote).) ...