MLI vs SCCO

For growth investors, Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) is the stronger pick with 17.

4% 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 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, Mueller Industries, Inc.

(MLI) is the cheapest at 20. 1x versus Southern Copper Corporation at 34. 3x. On forward P/E, Mueller Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 0x. 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 Southern Copper Corporation's 1. 22x — 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 +167. 4% for Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MLI returned +847. 6% versus SCCO's +668. 4%. 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. 11β versus Southern Copper Corporation's 1. 78β — meaning SCCO is approximately 60% 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 67% for Southern Copper Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) is pulling ahead at 17.

4% versus 10. 9% for Mueller Industries, Inc. (MLI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Mueller Industries, Inc. grew EPS 28. 9% year-over-year, compared to 24. 5% for Southern Copper Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, SCCO leads at 10. 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.

Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) is the more profitable company, earning 32.

3% net margin versus 18. 3% for Mueller Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 32. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SCCO leads at 52. 2% versus 21. 4% for MLI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SCCO leads at 56. 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.

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 Southern Copper Corporation's 1. 22x. 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 25. 4x for Southern Copper Corporation — 8. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) offers the highest yield at 1. 7%, 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. 11), 0. 7% yield, +847. 6% 10Y return). Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO) carries a higher beta of 1. 78 — 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%, SCCO: +668. 4%), 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 SCCO (Basic Materials)), 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; SCCO is a mid-cap high-growth 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.