3M cuts 2012 profit view, Q3 earnings edge up

NEW YORK (MarketWatch)
3M Co. on Tuesday cut its 2012 profit estimate to a range of $6.27 to $6.35 a share, including 3 cents a share in acquisition costs
Its earlier 2012 view was $6.35 to $6.50 a share
3M said the lowered profit forecast reflects "current economic realities."
Wall Street analysts expected 3M to earn $6.40 a share in 2012, according to a survey by FactSet
The St. Paul, Minn., maker of adhesives and films used in a variety of industries said its third-quarter profit edged up to $1.16 billion, or $1.65 a share, from $1.09 billion, or $1.52 a share, in the year-ago period
Sales dipped 0.4% to $7.5 billion
Analysts estimated a profit of $1.65 a share and sales of $7.63 billion