3M Company or Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation: Who Manages SG&A Costs Better?

Managing SG&A Costs: A Tale of Two Giants

In the competitive landscape of industrial manufacturing, managing Selling, General, and Administrative (SG&A) expenses is crucial for maintaining profitability. This analysis compares the SG&A cost management of two industry titans: 3M Company and Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (Wabtec) from 2014 to 2023.

3M Company, a global leader in innovation, has seen its SG&A expenses fluctuate over the years, peaking in 2023 with a significant increase. This spike represents a 138% rise from its 2014 levels, indicating potential strategic investments or operational challenges.

Conversely, Wabtec, a key player in rail technology, has maintained a more consistent SG&A expense pattern. Despite a steady increase, their expenses in 2023 were only about 3.5 times higher than in 2014, showcasing a more controlled growth.

This comparison highlights the contrasting strategies of these two companies in managing operational costs amidst evolving market dynamics.