Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
In the context of Item 7A, 3M is exposed to market risk due to the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices. Changes in those factors could impact the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. Senior management oversees risk management and derivative activities, sets financial risk policies and objectives, and provides guidelines for derivative instrument utilization. Senior management also establishes procedures related to control and valuation, risk analysis, counterparty credit approval, and ongoing monitoring and reporting.
To quantify 3M’s primary market risk exposure, the Company performs a sensitivity analysis based on hypothetical changes in foreign currency spot exchange rates and interest rates as further described in the sections below. These hypothetical changes are not applied to cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable due to their short-term nature, nor to available-for-sale marketable securities as unrealized and realized gains or losses thereon are historically not material.
Refer to Note 1. Significant Accounting Policies, Note 11. Marketable Securities, Note 12. Long-Term Debt and Short-Term Borrowings, Note 15. Derivatives and Note 16. Fair Value Measurements within Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional discussion of foreign currency exchange, interest rates and financial instruments.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rates Risk: Foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations in those rates may affect the Company’s net investment in foreign subsidiaries and may cause fluctuations in cash flows related to foreign denominated transactions. 3M is also exposed to the translation of foreign currency earnings to the U.S. Dollar. The Company may enter into foreign exchange forward and option contracts to hedge against the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash flows denominated in foreign currencies. These transactions are designated as cash flow hedges. 3M may de-designate these cash flow hedge relationships in advance of the occurrence of the forecasted transaction. In addition, 3M enters into foreign currency contracts that are not designated in hedging relationships to offset, in part, the impacts of changes in value of various non-functional currency denominated items including certain intercompany financing balances. As circumstances warrant, the Company also uses foreign exchange contracts and foreign currency denominated debt as hedging instruments to hedge portions of the Company’s net investments in foreign operations. At December 31, 2025 and 2024, an instantaneous 10% change in applicable foreign currency spot exchange rates would have resulted in changes of up to approximately $192 million and $24 million, respectively, in the aggregate fair value carrying amount of foreign exchange forward/option contracts and cross-currency swaps. The similar impact on non-functional currency denominated debt used as hedging instruments would have resulted in changes of up to approximately $206 million and $182 million, respectively, at December 31, 2025 and 2024.
Interest Rates Risk: The Company may be impacted by interest rate volatility with respect to existing debt and future debt issuances. 3M manages interest rate risk and expense using a mix of fixed and floating rate debt. In addition, the Company may enter into interest rate swaps that are designated and qualify as fair value hedges. At December 31, 2025 and 2024, an instantaneous 100-basis-point change in applicable interest rates would have resulted in an insignificant increase or decrease in the Company's pre-tax earnings on an annualized basis, related to 3M's floating-rate notes and interest rate swap agreements.
Commodity Prices Risk: The Company manages commodity price risks through negotiated supply contracts and price protection agreements. 3M does not enter into derivative financial instruments associated with commodities.