FIX vs. MLI: Comfort Systems USA vs. Mueller Industries Stock Comparison
How do Comfort Systems USA (FIX) 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
Comfort Systems USA (FIX) and Mueller Industries (MLI) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but FIX is classified in Construction & Engineering while MLI is classified in Machinery.
| Profile Item | FIX | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Comfort Systems USA Inc. | Mueller Industries, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Construction & Engineering | Machinery |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Construction & Engineering | Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components |
| Market Capitalization | 35.81 billion USD | 11.54 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 27, 1997 | February 25, 1991 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | FIX | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 15.31% | 3.68% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 81.62% | 44.56% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 62.48% | 32.39% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | FIX | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 60.97% | 34.44% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.68 | 1.01 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -53.28% | -27.79% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 471.64K | 1.61M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | FIX | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.18 | -0.02 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.25 | -0.02 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 58.61% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Mueller Industries (MLI) at 26.26% also sits in the top quartile.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
58.61%
- FIX
- 58.61%
- Max
- 40.55%
- 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 Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 13.01% 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.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
13.01%
- Max
- 27.47%
- FIX
- 13.01%
- 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 Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 16.47%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
16.47%
- Max
- 36.60%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- FIX
- 16.47%
- 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 | FIX | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 58.61% | 26.26% |
| ROA (TTM) | 16.88% | 16.23% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 13.01% | 17.27% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 16.47% | 19.53% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 25.70% | 27.25% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 29.52% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Mueller Industries (MLI) at 10.87% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for FIX.
EPS Growth
Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 97.81% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Mueller Industries (MLI) at 29.19% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for FIX.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | FIX | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 29.52% | 10.87% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 30.03% | 1.62% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 97.81% | 29.19% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 61.78% | 5.63% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 4.39 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 1.15 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
1.15
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- FIX
- 1.15
- 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)
Both Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 0.11 and Mueller Industries (MLI) at 0.01 keep leverage in the lower quartile of their industries, with less balance-sheet debt relative to equity than most peers.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
0.11
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- FIX
- 0.11
- 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 | FIX | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.15 | 4.39 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.11 | 0.01 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -0.81 | -1.31 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 1.24% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 0.31% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, MLI the richer one.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
0.31%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- FIX
- 0.31%
- 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)
Both Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 6.48% 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.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
6.48%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- FIX
- 6.48%
- 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 | FIX | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.31% | 1.24% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 6.48% | 16.67% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 13.58 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 21.98 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for MLI, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
21.98
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- FIX
- 21.98
- 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)
On P/S ratio, both Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 2.85 and Mueller Industries (MLI) at 2.31 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
2.85
- Max
- 7.54
- Q3
- 3.76
- FIX
- 2.85
- 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 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile relative to book while Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 10.66 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.
FIX
Capital Goods industry group
10.66
- FIX
- 10.66
- Max
- 9.66
- 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 | FIX | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 21.98 | 13.58 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.85 | 2.31 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 10.66 | 0.33 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 5.94% | 4.65% |