CR vs. MLI: Crane vs. Mueller Industries Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Crane (CR) and Mueller Industries (MLI) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Crane (CR) and Mueller Industries (MLI) are both classified in the Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components sub-industry within the broader Machinery industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Mueller Industries (MLI) has more than two decades of public-market history since February 25, 1991, whereas Crane (CR) listed on March 29, 2023 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Crane (CR) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
Profile Item	CR	MLI
Name	Crane Company	Mueller Industries, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Machinery	Machinery
GICS Sub-Industry	Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components	Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization	11.63 billion USD	11.54 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	March 29, 2023	February 25, 1991
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MLI

GSPC

Crane (CR) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Crane (CR) and Mueller Industries (MLI). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Crane (CR) and Mueller Industries (MLI). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Crane (CR) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
Metric	CR	MLI
Total Return (1Y)	11.24%	3.68%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	28.26%	44.56%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	--	32.39%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MLI

GSPC

Crane (CR) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Crane (CR) and Mueller Industries (MLI). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Crane (CR) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
Metric	CR	MLI
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	34.10%	34.44%
Beta (5Y)	0.98	1.01
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-28.02%	-27.79%
Avg. Volume (3M)	401.91K	1.61M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CR and MLI are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Crane (CR) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
Metric	CR	MLI
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.20	-0.02
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.28	-0.02

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Mueller Industries (MLI) at 26.26% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Crane (CR) at 16.14% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for MLI.

CR

Capital Goods industry group

16.14%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
CR: 16.14%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

MLI

Capital Goods industry group

26.26%

Max: 40.55%
MLI: 26.26%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Crane (CR) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Crane (CR) at 12.41% and Mueller Industries (MLI) at 17.27% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

CR

Capital Goods industry group

12.41%

Max: 27.47%
CR: 12.41%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

MLI

Capital Goods industry group

17.27%

Max: 27.47%
MLI: 17.27%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

Crane (CR) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Crane (CR) at 18.77% and Mueller Industries (MLI) at 19.53% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

CR

Capital Goods industry group

18.77%

Max: 36.60%
CR: 18.77%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

MLI

Capital Goods industry group

19.53%

Max: 36.60%
MLI: 19.53%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

Crane (CR) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Crane (CR) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
Metric	CR	MLI
ROE (TTM)	16.14%	26.26%
ROA (TTM)	9.33%	16.23%
Net Margin (TTM)	12.41%	17.27%
Operating Margin (TTM)	18.77%	19.53%
Gross Margin (TTM)	42.27%	27.25%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Crane (CR) at 8.16% and Mueller Industries (MLI) at 10.87% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Crane (CR) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Crane (CR) at 23.96% and Mueller Industries (MLI) at 29.19% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Crane (CR) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Crane (CR) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
Metric	CR	MLI
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.16%	10.87%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	9.07%	1.62%
EPS Growth (YoY)	23.96%	29.19%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-4.47%	5.63%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Crane (CR) at 2.61 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Mueller Industries (MLI) at 4.39 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

CR

Capital Goods industry group

2.61

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
CR: 2.61
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

MLI

Capital Goods industry group

4.39

Max: 5.22
MLI: 4.39
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

Crane (CR) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Mueller Industries (MLI) at 0.01 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Crane (CR) at 0.42 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

CR

Capital Goods industry group

0.42

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
CR: 0.42
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

MLI

Capital Goods industry group

0.01

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
MLI: 0.01
Min: 0.00

Crane (CR) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Crane (CR) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
Metric	CR	MLI
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.61	4.39
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.42	0.01
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.08	-1.31

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Mueller Industries (MLI) at 1.24% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Crane (CR) at 0.50% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, MLI the richer one.

CR

Capital Goods industry group

0.50%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
CR: 0.50%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MLI

Capital Goods industry group

1.24%

Max: 2.66%
MLI: 1.24%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Crane (CR) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Crane (CR) at 17.10% and Mueller Industries (MLI) at 16.67% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

CR

Capital Goods industry group

17.10%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
CR: 17.10%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MLI

Capital Goods industry group

16.67%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
MLI: 16.67%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Crane (CR) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Crane (CR) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
Metric	CR	MLI
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.50%	1.24%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	17.10%	16.67%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Mueller Industries (MLI) at 13.58 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Crane (CR) at 34.55 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for MLI, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

CR

Capital Goods industry group

34.55

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
CR: 34.55
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

MLI

Capital Goods industry group

13.58

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
MLI: 13.58
Min: 3.03

Crane (CR) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Mueller Industries (MLI) at 2.31 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Crane (CR) at 4.22 sits in the pricier quartile — CR costs more per dollar of sales.

CR

Capital Goods industry group

4.22

Max: 7.54
CR: 4.22
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

MLI

Capital Goods industry group

2.31

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
MLI: 2.31
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

Crane (CR) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Mueller Industries (MLI) at 0.33 looks cheap against book in the lower P/B ratio quartile, while Crane (CR) at 5.13 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.

CR

Capital Goods industry group

5.13

Max: 9.66
CR: 5.13
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

MLI

Capital Goods industry group

0.33

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
MLI: 0.33
Min: -1.08

Crane (CR) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Crane (CR) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
Metric	CR	MLI
P/E Ratio (TTM)	34.55	13.58
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.22	2.31
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	5.13	0.33
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.88%	4.65%