CIX vs MLI

For growth investors, Mueller Industries, Inc.

(MLI) is the stronger pick with 10. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 5% for CompX International Inc. (CIX). CompX International Inc. (CIX) offers the better valuation at 15. 0x trailing P/E (88. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Mueller Industries, Inc. (MLI) a "Hold" — based on 6 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.

On trailing P/E, CompX International Inc.

(CIX) is the cheapest at 15. 0x versus Mueller Industries, Inc. at 20. 1x. On forward P/E, Mueller Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Mueller Industries, Inc. wins at 0. 42x versus CompX International Inc. 's 6. 40x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Mueller Industries, Inc.

(MLI) delivered a total return of +490. 9%, compared to +46. 0% for CompX International Inc. (CIX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MLI returned +847. 6% versus CIX's +223. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), CompX International Inc.

(CIX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 50β versus Mueller Industries, Inc. 's 1. 11β — meaning MLI is approximately 123% more volatile than CIX relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Mueller Industries, Inc.

(MLI) is pulling ahead at 10. 9% versus 8. 5% for CompX International Inc. (CIX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Mueller Industries, Inc. grew EPS 28. 9% year-over-year, compared to 17. 0% for CompX International Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MLI leads at 1. 6% 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.

Mueller Industries, Inc.

(MLI) is the more profitable company, earning 18. 3% net margin versus 12. 3% for CompX International Inc. — 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 14. 3% for CIX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CIX leads at 30. 4%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Mueller Industries, Inc. (MLI) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 42x versus CompX International Inc. 's 6. 40x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Mueller Industries, Inc. (MLI) trades at 17. 0x forward P/E versus 88. 0x for CompX International Inc. — 70. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

CompX International Inc. (CIX) offers the highest yield at 9. 3%, versus 0. 7% for Mueller Industries, Inc. (MLI).

For long-horizon retirement investors, CompX International Inc.

(CIX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 50), 9. 3% yield, +223. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CIX: +223. 2%, MLI: +847. 6%), 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.

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: CIX is a small-cap deep-value stock; MLI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. 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.