MLI vs GFF vs MAS vs RS vs LEN

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). Lennar Corporation (LEN) offers the better valuation at 11. 1x trailing P/E (14. 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, Lennar Corporation (LEN) is the cheapest at 11.

1x versus Griffon Corporation at 80. 8x. On forward P/E, Lennar Corporation is actually cheaper at 14. 4x. 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 Lennar Corporation's 43. 78x — 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 +513. 9%, compared to -10. 4% for Lennar Corporation (LEN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MLI returned +867. 6% versus LEN's +124. 0%. 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), Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.

(RS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 76β versus Griffon Corporation's 1. 35β — meaning GFF is approximately 78% more volatile than RS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Mueller Industries, Inc. (MLI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 46% for Masco 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 7. 2% for RS. 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 Lennar Corporation's 43. 78x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Lennar Corporation (LEN) trades at 14. 4x forward P/E versus 18. 8x for Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. — 4. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GFF: 30. 7% to $115. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Lennar Corporation (LEN) offers the highest yield at 2. 3%, versus 0. 7% for Mueller Industries, Inc. (MLI).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.

(RS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 76), 1. 3% yield, +463. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RS: +463. 9%, MAS: +151. 5%), 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 (MLI (Industrials) and GFF (Industrials) and MAS (Industrials) and RS (Basic Materials) and LEN (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: MLI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; GFF is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MAS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; RS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; LEN is a mid-cap deep-value 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.