ETN vs. MLI: Eaton vs. Mueller Industries Stock Comparison
How do Eaton (ETN) 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
Eaton (ETN) and Mueller Industries (MLI) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but ETN is classified in Electrical Equipment while MLI is classified in Machinery.
| Profile Item | ETN | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Eaton Corporation plc | Mueller Industries, Inc. |
| Country/Region | Ireland | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Electrical Equipment | Machinery |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Electrical Components & Equipment | Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components |
| Market Capitalization | 132.76 billion USD | 11.54 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1972 | February 25, 1991 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ETN | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -2.33% | 3.68% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 19.68% | 44.56% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 17.50% | 32.39% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ETN | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 43.57% | 34.44% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.14 | 1.01 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -34.46% | -27.79% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.32M | 1.61M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ETN | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.15 | -0.02 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.21 | -0.02 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Eaton (ETN) at 19.55% and Mueller Industries (MLI) at 26.26% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
ETN
Capital Goods industry group
19.55%
- Max
- 40.55%
- ETN
- 19.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Eaton (ETN) at 12.18% 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.
ETN
Capital Goods industry group
12.18%
- Max
- 27.47%
- ETN
- 12.18%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 19.53% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Eaton (ETN) at 17.85%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
ETN
Capital Goods industry group
17.85%
- Max
- 36.60%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- ETN
- 17.85%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ETN | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 19.55% | 26.26% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.22% | 16.23% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 12.18% | 17.27% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 17.85% | 19.53% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 35.16% | 27.25% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Eaton (ETN) at 10.33% 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.
EPS Growth
Both Eaton (ETN) at 10.00% 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.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ETN | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 10.33% | 10.87% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.77% | 1.62% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 10.00% | 29.19% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 19.39% | 5.63% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 4.39 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Eaton (ETN) at 1.23 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.
ETN
Capital Goods industry group
1.23
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- ETN
- 1.23
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 0.01 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Eaton (ETN) at 1.00 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
ETN
Capital Goods industry group
1.00
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- ETN
- 1.00
- Median
- 0.60
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ETN | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.23 | 4.39 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.00 | 0.01 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.85 | -1.31 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Eaton (ETN) at 1.33% and Mueller Industries (MLI) at 1.24% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.
ETN
Capital Goods industry group
1.33%
- Max
- 2.66%
- ETN
- 1.33%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 16.67% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Eaton (ETN) at 43.36% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
ETN
Capital Goods industry group
43.36%
- Max
- 67.39%
- ETN
- 43.36%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ETN | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.33% | 1.24% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 43.36% | 16.67% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 13.58 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Eaton (ETN) at 34.14 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for MLI, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
ETN
Capital Goods industry group
34.14
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- ETN
- 34.14
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 2.31 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Eaton (ETN) at 4.15 sits in the pricier quartile — ETN costs more per dollar of sales.
ETN
Capital Goods industry group
4.15
- Max
- 7.54
- ETN
- 4.15
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 0.33 looks cheap against book in the lower P/B ratio quartile, while Eaton (ETN) at 6.33 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.
ETN
Capital Goods industry group
6.33
- Max
- 9.66
- ETN
- 6.33
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ETN | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 34.14 | 13.58 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.15 | 2.31 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.33 | 0.33 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.29% | 4.65% |