MLI vs GFF

For growth investors, Mueller Industries, Inc.

(MLI) is the stronger pick with 10. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 9% for Griffon Corporation (GFF). Mueller Industries, Inc. (MLI) offers the better valuation at 20. 1x trailing P/E (17. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Griffon Corporation (GFF) a "Buy" — based on 7 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, Mueller Industries, Inc.

(MLI) is the cheapest at 20. 1x versus Griffon Corporation at 83. 2x. On forward P/E, Griffon Corporation is actually cheaper at 16. 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. 43x versus Griffon Corporation's 0. 94x — 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 +265. 3% for Griffon Corporation (GFF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MLI returned +867. 6% versus GFF's +540. 7%. 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), Mueller Industries, Inc.

(MLI) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 12β versus Griffon Corporation's 1. 35β — meaning GFF is approximately 20% 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 22% for Griffon Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(MLI) is pulling ahead at 10. 9% versus -3. 9% for Griffon Corporation (GFF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Mueller Industries, Inc. grew EPS 28. 9% year-over-year, compared to -74. 2% for Griffon Corporation. 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 2. 0% for Griffon Corporation — 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 8. 2% for GFF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GFF leads at 42. 0%, 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. 43x versus Griffon Corporation's 0. 94x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Griffon Corporation (GFF) trades at 16. 8x forward P/E versus 17. 4x for Mueller Industries, Inc. — 0. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Griffon Corporation (GFF) offers the highest yield at 0. 9%, versus 0. 7% for Mueller Industries, Inc. (MLI).

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. 12), 0. 7% yield, +867. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MLI: +867. 6%, GFF: +540. 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.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

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.