Is 3M Healthy Enough to Invest In?

The company isn't going anywhere, that's for sure. But there's one yellow flag you need to know about before you buy in.

The best linebacker on earth can still find himself sidelined by a microscopic flu virus. The same is true for companies: Even the biggest and strongest can be brought to their knees if they don't stay financially healthy.

Nobody can argue that 3M (NYSE:MMM) isn't both big and strong. A member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and one of the largest conglomerates in the United States, the company also benefits from a lack of large competitors and a recognizable brand. In these ways, it's similar to its peers, General Electric (NYSE:GE) and Honeywell International (NYSE:HON).

But if its balance sheet isn't healthy enough, it simply may not be worth the investment...

Source: The Motley Fool