3M quarterly profit rises 2.55 percent

3M Co , the maker of Scotch tape and Post-it notes, reported a 2.55 percent increase in quarterly profit, partly helped by lower costs, as sales continued to stagnate.

Net income attributable to the company rose to $1.33 billion, or $2.15 per share, in the third quarter ended Sept. 30, from $1.30 billion, or $2.05 per share, a year earlier.

3M's operating expenses fell about 1 percent to about $5.81 billion.

Net sales were flat at $7.71 billion.

(Reporting by Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)