HEI vs. MLI: HEICO vs. Mueller Industries Stock Comparison
How do HEICO (HEI) 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
HEICO (HEI) and Mueller Industries (MLI) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but HEI is classified in Aerospace & Defense while MLI is classified in Machinery.
| Profile Item | HEI | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Name | HEICO Corporation | Mueller Industries, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Machinery |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Aerospace & Defense | Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components |
| Market Capitalization | 46.49 billion USD | 11.54 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | February 25, 1991 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | HEI | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 6.50% | 3.68% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 28.48% | 44.56% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 18.19% | 32.39% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | HEI | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 33.37% | 34.44% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.06 | 1.01 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -27.11% | -27.79% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 480.74K | 1.61M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | HEI | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.07 | -0.02 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.10 | -0.02 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 26.26% sits in the top ROE quartile, while HEICO (HEI) at 17.73% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for MLI.
HEI
Capital Goods industry group
17.73%
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- HEI
- 17.73%
- 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 HEICO (HEI) at 16.38% 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.
HEI
Capital Goods industry group
16.38%
- Max
- 27.47%
- HEI
- 16.38%
- 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)
Both HEICO (HEI) at 25.14% 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.
HEI
Capital Goods industry group
25.14%
- Max
- 36.60%
- HEI
- 25.14%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | HEI | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 17.73% | 26.26% |
| ROA (TTM) | 8.50% | 16.23% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 16.38% | 17.27% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 25.14% | 19.53% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 40.40% | 27.25% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both HEICO (HEI) at 16.26% 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
HEICO (HEI) at 33.52% 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 HEI.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | HEI | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 16.26% | 10.87% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 26.64% | 1.62% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 33.52% | 29.19% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 24.32% | 5.63% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
HEICO (HEI) at 2.72 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.
HEI
Capital Goods industry group
2.72
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- HEI
- 2.72
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 0.01 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while HEICO (HEI) at 0.45 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
HEI
Capital Goods industry group
0.45
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.60
- HEI
- 0.45
- 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 | HEI | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.72 | 4.39 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.45 | 0.01 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.56 | -1.31 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 1.24% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while HEICO (HEI) at 0.08% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, MLI the richer one.
HEI
Capital Goods industry group
0.08%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- HEI
- 0.08%
- 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 HEICO (HEI) at 4.17% 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.
HEI
Capital Goods industry group
4.17%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- HEI
- 4.17%
- 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 | HEI | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.08% | 1.24% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 4.17% | 16.67% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 13.58 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while HEICO (HEI) at 55.44 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.
HEI
Capital Goods industry group
55.44
- Max
- 59.38
- HEI
- 55.44
- Q3
- 35.92
- 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 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while HEICO (HEI) at 8.98 clears its benchmark range — HEI looks notably rich on sales.
HEI
Capital Goods industry group
8.98
- HEI
- 8.98
- Max
- 7.54
- 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 HEICO (HEI) at 9.40 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.
HEI
Capital Goods industry group
9.40
- Max
- 9.66
- HEI
- 9.40
- 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 | HEI | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 55.44 | 13.58 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 8.98 | 2.31 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 9.40 | 0.33 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.82% | 4.65% |