HWM vs. MLI: Howmet Aerospace vs. Mueller Industries Stock Comparison
How do Howmet Aerospace (HWM) 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
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) and Mueller Industries (MLI) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but HWM is classified in Aerospace & Defense while MLI is classified in Machinery.
| Profile Item | HWM | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Howmet Aerospace Inc. | 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 | 81.84 billion USD | 11.54 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 1, 2016 | February 25, 1991 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | HWM | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 5.06% | 3.68% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 64.83% | 44.56% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 46.04% | 32.39% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | HWM | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 37.60% | 34.44% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.27 | 1.01 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -36.47% | -27.79% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.47M | 1.61M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | HWM | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.02 | -0.02 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.03 | -0.02 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 37.65% 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.
HWM
Capital Goods industry group
37.65%
- Max
- 40.55%
- HWM
- 37.65%
- 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 Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 21.10% 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.
HWM
Capital Goods industry group
21.10%
- Max
- 27.47%
- HWM
- 21.10%
- 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 Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 28.78% 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.
HWM
Capital Goods industry group
28.78%
- Max
- 36.60%
- HWM
- 28.78%
- 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 | HWM | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 37.65% | 26.26% |
| ROA (TTM) | 13.97% | 16.23% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 21.10% | 17.27% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 28.78% | 19.53% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 36.63% | 27.25% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 11.06% 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
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 32.03% 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 HWM.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | HWM | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 11.06% | 10.87% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 13.37% | 1.62% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 32.03% | 29.19% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 49.51% | 5.63% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 1.86 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.
HWM
Capital Goods industry group
1.86
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- HWM
- 1.86
- 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 Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 0.80 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
HWM
Capital Goods industry group
0.80
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- HWM
- 0.80
- 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 | HWM | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.86 | 4.39 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.80 | 0.01 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.35 | -1.31 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 1.24% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 0.25% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, MLI the richer one.
HWM
Capital Goods industry group
0.25%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- HWM
- 0.25%
- 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 Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 9.80% 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.
HWM
Capital Goods industry group
9.80%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- HWM
- 9.80%
- 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 | HWM | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.25% | 1.24% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 9.80% | 16.67% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 13.58 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 40.35 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.
HWM
Capital Goods industry group
40.35
- Max
- 59.38
- HWM
- 40.35
- 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 Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 8.41 clears its benchmark range — HWM looks notably rich on sales.
HWM
Capital Goods industry group
8.41
- HWM
- 8.41
- 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 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile relative to book while Howmet Aerospace (HWM) at 14.20 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.
HWM
Capital Goods industry group
14.20
- HWM
- 14.20
- 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 | HWM | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 40.35 | 13.58 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 8.41 | 2.31 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 14.20 | 0.33 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.58% | 4.65% |