diff --git a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.java b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.java
index 12004a5d0e..867330f82b 100644
--- a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.java
+++ b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.java
@@ -657,10 +657,10 @@ public abstract class AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory extends AbstractBeanFac
 
 		// If all factory methods have the same return type, return that type.
 		// Can't clearly figure out exact method due to type converting / autowiring!
+		Class<?> commonType = null;
 		boolean cache = false;
 		int minNrOfArgs = mbd.getConstructorArgumentValues().getArgumentCount();
 		Method[] candidates = ReflectionUtils.getUniqueDeclaredMethods(factoryClass);
-		Set<Class<?>> returnTypes = new HashSet<Class<?>>(1);
 		for (Method factoryMethod : candidates) {
 			if (Modifier.isStatic(factoryMethod.getModifiers()) == isStatic &&
 					factoryMethod.getName().equals(mbd.getFactoryMethodName()) &&
@@ -694,7 +694,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory extends AbstractBeanFac
 								factoryMethod, args, getBeanClassLoader());
 						if (returnType != null) {
 							cache = true;
-							returnTypes.add(returnType);
+							commonType = ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(returnType, commonType);
 						}
 					}
 					catch (Throwable ex) {
@@ -704,18 +704,17 @@ public abstract class AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory extends AbstractBeanFac
 					}
 				}
 				else {
-					returnTypes.add(factoryMethod.getReturnType());
+					commonType = ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(factoryMethod.getReturnType(), commonType);
 				}
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (returnTypes.size() == 1) {
+		if (commonType != null) {
 			// Clear return type found: all factory methods return same type.
-			Class<?> result = returnTypes.iterator().next();
 			if (cache) {
-				mbd.resolvedFactoryMethodReturnType = result;
+				mbd.resolvedFactoryMethodReturnType = commonType;
 			}
-			return result;
+			return commonType;
 		}
 		else {
 			// Ambiguous return types found: return null to indicate "not determinable".
diff --git a/spring-beans/src/test/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/xml/FactoryMethods.java b/spring-beans/src/test/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/xml/FactoryMethods.java
index eb7113448b..4a9703eaa7 100644
--- a/spring-beans/src/test/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/xml/FactoryMethods.java
+++ b/spring-beans/src/test/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/xml/FactoryMethods.java
@@ -54,11 +54,11 @@ public class FactoryMethods {
 		return new FactoryMethods(tb, name, num);
 	}
 
-	static FactoryMethods newInstance(TestBean tb, int num, Integer something) {
+	static ExtendedFactoryMethods newInstance(TestBean tb, int num, Integer something) {
 		if (something != null) {
 			throw new IllegalStateException("Should never be called with non-null value");
 		}
-		return new FactoryMethods(tb, null, num);
+		return new ExtendedFactoryMethods(tb, null, num);
 	}
 
 	@SuppressWarnings("unused")
@@ -119,4 +119,12 @@ public class FactoryMethods {
 		this.name = name;
 	}
 
+
+	public static class ExtendedFactoryMethods extends FactoryMethods {
+
+		ExtendedFactoryMethods(TestBean tb, String name, int num) {
+			super(tb, name, num);
+		}
+	}
+
 }
diff --git a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/util/ClassUtils.java b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/util/ClassUtils.java
index 1877f2aa48..710b5bbf8f 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/util/ClassUtils.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/util/ClassUtils.java
@@ -1143,6 +1143,39 @@ public abstract class ClassUtils {
 		return Proxy.getProxyClass(classLoader, interfaces);
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Determine the common ancestor of the given classes, if any.
+	 * @param clazz1 the class to introspect
+	 * @param clazz2 the other class to introspect
+	 * @return the common ancestor (i.e. common superclass, one interface
+	 * extending the other), or {@code null} if none found. If any of the
+	 * given classes is {@code null}, the other class will be returned.
+	 * @since 3.2.6
+	 */
+	public static Class<?> determineCommonAncestor(Class<?> clazz1, Class<?> clazz2) {
+		if (clazz1 == null) {
+			return clazz2;
+		}
+		if (clazz2 == null) {
+			return clazz1;
+		}
+		if (clazz1.isAssignableFrom(clazz2)) {
+			return clazz1;
+		}
+		if (clazz2.isAssignableFrom(clazz1)) {
+			return clazz2;
+		}
+		Class<?> ancestor = clazz1;
+		do {
+			ancestor = ancestor.getSuperclass();
+			if (ancestor == null || Object.class.equals(ancestor)) {
+				return null;
+			}
+		}
+		while (!ancestor.isAssignableFrom(clazz2));
+		return ancestor;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Check whether the given class is visible in the given ClassLoader.
 	 * @param clazz the class to check (typically an interface)
diff --git a/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/util/ClassUtilsTests.java b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/util/ClassUtilsTests.java
index ce187d7c71..f29b8b6198 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/util/ClassUtilsTests.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/util/ClassUtilsTests.java
@@ -20,41 +20,48 @@ import java.io.Serializable;
 import java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException;
 import java.lang.reflect.Method;
 import java.lang.reflect.Proxy;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.LinkedList;
 import java.util.List;
-
-import junit.framework.TestCase;
+import java.util.Set;
 
 import org.springframework.tests.sample.objects.DerivedTestObject;
 import org.springframework.tests.sample.objects.ITestInterface;
 import org.springframework.tests.sample.objects.ITestObject;
 import org.springframework.tests.sample.objects.TestObject;
 
+import static org.junit.Assert.*;
+
+import org.junit.Before;
+import org.junit.Test;
+
 /**
  * @author Colin Sampaleanu
  * @author Juergen Hoeller
  * @author Rob Harrop
  * @author Rick Evans
  */
-public class ClassUtilsTests extends TestCase {
+public class ClassUtilsTests {
 
 	private ClassLoader classLoader = getClass().getClassLoader();
 
-	@Override
+	@Before
 	public void setUp() {
 		InnerClass.noArgCalled = false;
 		InnerClass.argCalled = false;
 		InnerClass.overloadedCalled = false;
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testIsPresent() throws Exception {
 		assertTrue(ClassUtils.isPresent("java.lang.String", classLoader));
 		assertFalse(ClassUtils.isPresent("java.lang.MySpecialString", classLoader));
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testForName() throws ClassNotFoundException {
 		assertEquals(String.class, ClassUtils.forName("java.lang.String", classLoader));
 		assertEquals(String[].class, ClassUtils.forName("java.lang.String[]", classLoader));
@@ -69,6 +76,7 @@ public class ClassUtilsTests extends TestCase {
 		assertEquals(short[][][].class, ClassUtils.forName("[[[S", classLoader));
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testForNameWithPrimitiveClasses() throws ClassNotFoundException {
 		assertEquals(boolean.class, ClassUtils.forName("boolean", classLoader));
 		assertEquals(byte.class, ClassUtils.forName("byte", classLoader));
@@ -81,6 +89,7 @@ public class ClassUtilsTests extends TestCase {
 		assertEquals(void.class, ClassUtils.forName("void", classLoader));
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testForNameWithPrimitiveArrays() throws ClassNotFoundException {
 		assertEquals(boolean[].class, ClassUtils.forName("boolean[]", classLoader));
 		assertEquals(byte[].class, ClassUtils.forName("byte[]", classLoader));
@@ -92,6 +101,7 @@ public class ClassUtilsTests extends TestCase {
 		assertEquals(double[].class, ClassUtils.forName("double[]", classLoader));
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testForNameWithPrimitiveArraysInternalName() throws ClassNotFoundException {
 		assertEquals(boolean[].class, ClassUtils.forName(boolean[].class.getName(), classLoader));
 		assertEquals(byte[].class, ClassUtils.forName(byte[].class.getName(), classLoader));
@@ -103,76 +113,91 @@ public class ClassUtilsTests extends TestCase {
 		assertEquals(double[].class, ClassUtils.forName(double[].class.getName(), classLoader));
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testGetShortName() {
 		String className = ClassUtils.getShortName(getClass());
 		assertEquals("Class name did not match", "ClassUtilsTests", className);
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testGetShortNameForObjectArrayClass() {
 		String className = ClassUtils.getShortName(Object[].class);
 		assertEquals("Class name did not match", "Object[]", className);
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testGetShortNameForMultiDimensionalObjectArrayClass() {
 		String className = ClassUtils.getShortName(Object[][].class);
 		assertEquals("Class name did not match", "Object[][]", className);
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testGetShortNameForPrimitiveArrayClass() {
 		String className = ClassUtils.getShortName(byte[].class);
 		assertEquals("Class name did not match", "byte[]", className);
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testGetShortNameForMultiDimensionalPrimitiveArrayClass() {
 		String className = ClassUtils.getShortName(byte[][][].class);
 		assertEquals("Class name did not match", "byte[][][]", className);
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testGetShortNameForInnerClass() {
 		String className = ClassUtils.getShortName(InnerClass.class);
 		assertEquals("Class name did not match", "ClassUtilsTests.InnerClass", className);
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testGetShortNameAsProperty() {
 		String shortName = ClassUtils.getShortNameAsProperty(this.getClass());
 		assertEquals("Class name did not match", "classUtilsTests", shortName);
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testGetClassFileName() {
 		assertEquals("String.class", ClassUtils.getClassFileName(String.class));
 		assertEquals("ClassUtilsTests.class", ClassUtils.getClassFileName(getClass()));
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testGetPackageName() {
 		assertEquals("java.lang", ClassUtils.getPackageName(String.class));
 		assertEquals(getClass().getPackage().getName(), ClassUtils.getPackageName(getClass()));
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testGetQualifiedName() {
 		String className = ClassUtils.getQualifiedName(getClass());
 		assertEquals("Class name did not match", "org.springframework.util.ClassUtilsTests", className);
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testGetQualifiedNameForObjectArrayClass() {
 		String className = ClassUtils.getQualifiedName(Object[].class);
 		assertEquals("Class name did not match", "java.lang.Object[]", className);
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testGetQualifiedNameForMultiDimensionalObjectArrayClass() {
 		String className = ClassUtils.getQualifiedName(Object[][].class);
 		assertEquals("Class name did not match", "java.lang.Object[][]", className);
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testGetQualifiedNameForPrimitiveArrayClass() {
 		String className = ClassUtils.getQualifiedName(byte[].class);
 		assertEquals("Class name did not match", "byte[]", className);
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testGetQualifiedNameForMultiDimensionalPrimitiveArrayClass() {
 		String className = ClassUtils.getQualifiedName(byte[][].class);
 		assertEquals("Class name did not match", "byte[][]", className);
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testHasMethod() throws Exception {
 		assertTrue(ClassUtils.hasMethod(Collection.class, "size"));
 		assertTrue(ClassUtils.hasMethod(Collection.class, "remove", Object.class));
@@ -180,6 +205,7 @@ public class ClassUtilsTests extends TestCase {
 		assertFalse(ClassUtils.hasMethod(Collection.class, "someOtherMethod"));
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testGetMethodIfAvailable() throws Exception {
 		Method method = ClassUtils.getMethodIfAvailable(Collection.class, "size");
 		assertNotNull(method);
@@ -193,6 +219,7 @@ public class ClassUtilsTests extends TestCase {
 		assertNull(ClassUtils.getMethodIfAvailable(Collection.class, "someOtherMethod"));
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testGetMethodCountForName() {
 		assertEquals("Verifying number of overloaded 'print' methods for OverloadedMethodsClass.", 2,
 				ClassUtils.getMethodCountForName(OverloadedMethodsClass.class, "print"));
@@ -200,6 +227,7 @@ public class ClassUtilsTests extends TestCase {
 				ClassUtils.getMethodCountForName(SubOverloadedMethodsClass.class, "print"));
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testCountOverloadedMethods() {
 		assertFalse(ClassUtils.hasAtLeastOneMethodWithName(TestObject.class, "foobar"));
 		// no args
@@ -208,6 +236,7 @@ public class ClassUtilsTests extends TestCase {
 		assertTrue(ClassUtils.hasAtLeastOneMethodWithName(TestObject.class, "setAge"));
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testNoArgsStaticMethod() throws IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException {
 		Method method = ClassUtils.getStaticMethod(InnerClass.class, "staticMethod", (Class[]) null);
 		method.invoke(null, (Object[]) null);
@@ -215,6 +244,7 @@ public class ClassUtilsTests extends TestCase {
 				InnerClass.noArgCalled);
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testArgsStaticMethod() throws IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException {
 		Method method = ClassUtils.getStaticMethod(InnerClass.class, "argStaticMethod",
 				new Class[] {String.class});
@@ -222,6 +252,7 @@ public class ClassUtilsTests extends TestCase {
 		assertTrue("argument method was not invoked.", InnerClass.argCalled);
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testOverloadedStaticMethod() throws IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException {
 		Method method = ClassUtils.getStaticMethod(InnerClass.class, "staticMethod",
 				new Class[] {String.class});
@@ -230,6 +261,7 @@ public class ClassUtilsTests extends TestCase {
 				InnerClass.overloadedCalled);
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testIsAssignable() {
 		assertTrue(ClassUtils.isAssignable(Object.class, Object.class));
 		assertTrue(ClassUtils.isAssignable(String.class, String.class));
@@ -245,11 +277,13 @@ public class ClassUtilsTests extends TestCase {
 		assertFalse(ClassUtils.isAssignable(double.class, Integer.class));
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testClassPackageAsResourcePath() {
 		String result = ClassUtils.classPackageAsResourcePath(Proxy.class);
 		assertTrue(result.equals("java/lang/reflect"));
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testAddResourcePathToPackagePath() {
 		String result = "java/lang/reflect/xyzabc.xml";
 		assertEquals(result, ClassUtils.addResourcePathToPackagePath(Proxy.class, "xyzabc.xml"));
@@ -259,6 +293,7 @@ public class ClassUtilsTests extends TestCase {
 				ClassUtils.addResourcePathToPackagePath(Proxy.class, "a/b/c/d.xml"));
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testGetAllInterfaces() {
 		DerivedTestObject testBean = new DerivedTestObject();
 		List ifcs = Arrays.asList(ClassUtils.getAllInterfaces(testBean));
@@ -268,6 +303,7 @@ public class ClassUtilsTests extends TestCase {
 		assertTrue("Contains IOther", ifcs.contains(ITestInterface.class));
 	}
 
+	@Test
 	public void testClassNamesToString() {
 		List ifcs = new LinkedList();
 		ifcs.add(Serializable.class);
@@ -288,6 +324,36 @@ public class ClassUtilsTests extends TestCase {
 		assertEquals("[]", ClassUtils.classNamesToString(Collections.EMPTY_LIST));
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void testDetermineCommonAncestor() {
+		assertEquals(Number.class, ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(Integer.class, Number.class));
+		assertEquals(Number.class, ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(Number.class, Integer.class));
+		assertEquals(Number.class, ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(Number.class, null));
+		assertEquals(Integer.class, ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(null, Integer.class));
+		assertEquals(Integer.class, ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(Integer.class, Integer.class));
+
+		assertEquals(Number.class, ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(Integer.class, Float.class));
+		assertEquals(Number.class, ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(Float.class, Integer.class));
+		assertNull(ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(Integer.class, String.class));
+		assertNull(ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(String.class, Integer.class));
+
+		assertEquals(Collection.class, ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(List.class, Collection.class));
+		assertEquals(Collection.class, ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(Collection.class, List.class));
+		assertEquals(Collection.class, ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(Collection.class, null));
+		assertEquals(List.class, ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(null, List.class));
+		assertEquals(List.class, ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(List.class, List.class));
+
+		assertNull(ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(List.class, Set.class));
+		assertNull(ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(Set.class, List.class));
+		assertNull(ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(List.class, Runnable.class));
+		assertNull(ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(Runnable.class, List.class));
+
+		assertEquals(List.class, ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(List.class, ArrayList.class));
+		assertEquals(List.class, ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(ArrayList.class, List.class));
+		assertNull(ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(List.class, String.class));
+		assertNull(ClassUtils.determineCommonAncestor(String.class, List.class));
+	}
+
 
 	public static class InnerClass {