CIX vs MLI vs KALU vs ATI vs CMC

For growth investors, Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) is the stronger pick with 11.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 6% for Commercial Metals Company (CMC). 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 ATI Inc. (ATI) a "Buy" — based on 29 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 Commercial Metals Company at 95. 3x. On forward P/E, Commercial Metals Company is actually cheaper at 10. 8x — 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, ATI Inc.

(ATI) delivered a total return of +572. 7%, compared to +40. 7% for Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ATI returned +1050% versus KALU's +135. 1%. 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 Kaiser Aluminum Corporation's 1. 71β — meaning KALU is approximately 243% more volatile than CIX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Mueller Industries, Inc. (MLI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 136% for Kaiser Aluminum Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) is pulling ahead at 11.

5% versus -1. 6% for Commercial Metals Company (CMC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kaiser Aluminum Corporation grew EPS 135. 9% year-over-year, compared to -82. 1% for Commercial Metals Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, ATI leads at 6. 1% 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 1. 1% for Commercial Metals Company — 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 5. 7% for KALU. 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, Commercial Metals Company (CMC) trades at 10. 8x forward P/E versus 88. 0x for CompX International Inc. — 77. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CMC: 17. 4% to $82. 75.

In this comparison, CIX (9.

3% yield), KALU (1. 8% yield), CMC (1. 0% yield), MLI (0. 7% yield) pay a dividend. ATI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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). Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU) carries a higher beta of 1. 71 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CIX: +223. 2%, KALU: +135. 1%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CIX (Industrials) and MLI (Industrials) and KALU (Basic Materials) and ATI (Industrials) and CMC (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CIX is a small-cap deep-value stock; MLI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; KALU is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ATI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; CMC is a small-cap quality compounder stock. CIX, MLI, KALU, CMC pay a dividend while ATI 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.