10 Blue-Chip Stocks to Buy to Anchor Your Portfolio - 1 of 10

#1 - 3M (NYSE:MMM)

3M (NYSE: MMM) Since dropping 28% off its all-time high in January, 3M’s stock may have found a bottom. In a time where many companies are looking to shed extraneous business units to focus on “core competencies”, 3M has embraced a wide range of products and services beyond the office supplies it has become known for. But the real competitive advantage for 3M is research and development (R&D) that allows them to create products that offer value beyond their price, making them more than a commodity, and giving them the ability to have more control over prices. The investment has given the company the ability to make sales regardless of the economy, essentially turning it into a defensive stock, and has given them an ability to grow both their revenue and earnings per share (EPS). Like many blue-chip stocks, 3M is a dividend king, paying and increasing a dividend every year since 1977, and analysts see no sign that the trend will end in 2018.

About 3M

3M Company provides diversified technology services in the United States and internationally. The company's Safety and Industrial segment offers industrial abrasives and finishing for metalworking applications; autobody repair solutions; closure systems for personal hygiene products, masking, and packaging materials; electrical products and materials for construction and maintenance, power distribution, and electrical original equipment manufacturers; structural adhesives and tapes; respiratory, hearing, eye, and fall protection solutions; and natural and color-coated mineral granules for shingles. Read More 

Current Price

$91.48

Consensus Rating

Hold

Ratings Breakdown

1 Buy Ratings, 8 Hold Ratings, 1 Sell Ratings.

Consensus Price Target

$104.00 (13.7% Upside)