MLI
Mueller Industries, Inc.
Manufacturing - Metal Fabrication
Market Cap$15.29B
5Y Perf.+929.1%
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Stock Comparison
MLI vs NVT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
NVT
nVent Electric plc
Electrical Equipment & Parts
Market Cap$26.96B
5Y Perf.+809.6%
MLI vs NVT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | MLI | NVT |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing - Metal Fabrication | Electrical Equipment & Parts |
| Market Cap | $15.29B | $26.96B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $4.37B | $4.33B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $847M | $492M |
| Gross Margin | 27.8% | 37.0% |
| Operating Margin | 22.9% | 15.8% |
| Forward P/E | 17.0x | 39.7x |
| Total Debt | $46M | $1.56B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.37B | $238M |
MLI vs NVT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
MLI
NVT
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mueller Industries,… (MLI) | 100 | 1029.1 | +929.1% |
| nVent Electric plc (NVT) | 100 | 909.6 | +809.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: MLI vs NVT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: MLI leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. nVent Electric plc is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
MLI
Mueller Industries, Inc.
The Income Pick
MLI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 5 yrs, beta 1.11, yield 0.7%
- 8.5% 10Y total return vs NVT's 5.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.11, Low D/E 1.8%, current ratio 5.92x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
NVT
nVent Electric plc
The Growth Play
NVT is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 29.5%, EPS growth 118.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 19.3%
- 29.5% revenue growth vs MLI's 10.9%
- +178.6% vs MLI's +88.2%
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NVT | 29.5% revenue growth vs MLI's 10.9% |
| Value | MLI | Lower P/E (17.0x vs 39.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | MLI | 19.4% margin vs NVT's 11.4% |
| Stability / Safety | MLI | Beta 1.11 vs NVT's 1.68, lower leverage |
| Dividends | MLI | 0.7% yield, 5-year raise streak, vs NVT's 0.5% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NVT | +178.6% vs MLI's +88.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MLI | 23.9% ROA vs NVT's 7.2%, ROIC 44.7% vs 8.9% |
MLI vs NVT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
MLI vs NVT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLMLILAGGINGNVT
NVTnVent Electric plc
1leads
MLIMueller Industries, I…
5leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs NVTMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
MLI4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
MLI6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
MLI8/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
NVT4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
MLI2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
MLI2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MLI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MLI and NVT operate at a comparable scale, with $4.4B and $4.3B in trailing revenue. MLI is the more profitable business, keeping 19.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to NVT's 11.4%. On growth, NVT holds the edge at +53.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | MLIMueller Industrie… | NVTnVent Electric plc |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.4B | $4.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.1B | $848M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $847M | $492M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $652M | $387M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +27.8% | +37.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +22.9% | +15.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +19.4% | +11.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.9% | +8.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +19.3% | +53.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +55.4% | -59.7% |
MLI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
MLI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 20.1x trailing earnings, MLI trades at a 48% valuation discount to NVT's 38.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, MLI's 14.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than NVT's 34.3x.
| Metric | MLIMueller Industrie… | NVTnVent Electric plc |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $15.3B | $27.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $14.0B | $28.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 20.09x | 38.68x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 17.02x | 39.70x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.49x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.49x | 34.30x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.66x | 6.93x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 6.06x | 7.36x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 22.27x | 72.49x |
MLI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MLI leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MLI delivers a 28.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $28 in annual profit, vs $13 for NVT. MLI carries lower financial leverage with a 0.02x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NVT's 0.42x.
| Metric | MLIMueller Industrie… | NVTnVent Electric plc |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +28.4% | +13.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +23.9% | +7.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +44.7% | +8.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +32.6% | +10.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.02x | 0.42x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$1.3B | $1.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.4B | $238M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $46M | $1.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 13483.55x | 6.61x |
MLI leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NVT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in MLI five years ago would be worth $59,094 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $53,671 for NVT. Over the past 12 months, NVT leads with a +178.6% total return vs MLI's +88.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NVT at 59.8% vs MLI's 55.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | MLIMueller Industrie… | NVTnVent Electric plc |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +18.3% | +56.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +88.2% | +178.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +274.8% | +308.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +490.9% | +436.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +847.6% | +576.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +55.3% | +59.8% |
NVT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MLI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MLI is the less volatile stock with a 1.11 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NVT's 1.68 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | MLIMueller Industrie… | NVTnVent Electric plc |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.11x | 1.68x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $140.84 | $174.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $72.16 | $59.73 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.8% | +95.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 68.2 | 82.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 679K | 2.3M |
MLI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
MLI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates MLI as "Hold" and NVT as "Buy". For income investors, MLI offers the higher dividend yield at 0.71% vs NVT's 0.48%.
| Metric | MLIMueller Industrie… | NVTnVent Electric plc |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $134.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 6 | 17 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.7% | +0.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 5 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.98 | $0.79 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.6% | +0.9% |
MLI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
MLI leads in 5 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). NVT leads in 1 (Total Returns).
Best OverallMueller Industries, Inc. (MLI)Leads 5 of 6 categories
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MLI vs NVT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MLI or NVT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, nVent Electric plc (NVT) is the stronger pick with 29.
5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 9% for Mueller Industries, Inc. (MLI). Mueller Industries, Inc. (MLI) offers the better valuation at 20. 1x trailing P/E (17. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate nVent Electric plc (NVT) a "Buy" — based on 17 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — MLI or NVT?
On trailing P/E, Mueller Industries, Inc.
(MLI) is the cheapest at 20. 1x versus nVent Electric plc at 38. 7x. On forward P/E, Mueller Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — MLI or NVT?
Over the past 5 years, Mueller Industries, Inc.
(MLI) delivered a total return of +490. 9%, compared to +436. 7% for nVent Electric plc (NVT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MLI returned +847. 6% versus NVT's +576. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — MLI or NVT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Mueller Industries, Inc.
(MLI) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 11β versus nVent Electric plc's 1. 68β — meaning NVT is approximately 51% more volatile than MLI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Mueller Industries, Inc. (MLI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 42% for nVent Electric plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — MLI or NVT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), nVent Electric plc (NVT) is pulling ahead at 29.
5% versus 10. 9% for Mueller Industries, Inc. (MLI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: nVent Electric plc grew EPS 118. 8% year-over-year, compared to 28. 9% for Mueller Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NVT leads at 19. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — MLI or NVT?
Mueller Industries, Inc.
(MLI) is the more profitable company, earning 18. 3% net margin versus 18. 2% for nVent Electric plc — meaning it keeps 18. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MLI leads at 21. 4% versus 15. 8% for NVT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NVT leads at 37. 7%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is MLI or NVT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Mueller Industries, Inc.
(MLI) trades at 17. 0x forward P/E versus 39. 7x for nVent Electric plc — 22. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — MLI or NVT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Mueller Industries, Inc. (MLI) offers the highest yield at 0. 7%, versus 0. 5% for nVent Electric plc (NVT).
09Is MLI or NVT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Mueller Industries, Inc.
(MLI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 11), 0. 7% yield, +847. 6% 10Y return). nVent Electric plc (NVT) carries a higher beta of 1. 68 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MLI: +847. 6%, NVT: +576. 7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between MLI and NVT?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: MLI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; NVT is a mid-cap high-growth stock. MLI pays a dividend while NVT does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(MLI: 19.3% · NVT: 53.5%)Net Margin>
%
(MLI: 19.4% · NVT: 11.4%)P/E Ratio<
x
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