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IEX vs. MLI: IDEX vs. Mueller Industries Stock Comparison

How do IDEX (IEX) 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

IDEX (IEX) 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.

Company profile comparison for IDEX (IEX) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
Profile ItemIEXMLI
NameIDEX CorporationMueller Industries, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryMachinery
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & ComponentsIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization16.67 billion USD11.54 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 2, 1989February 25, 1991
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

IEX
MLI
GSPC
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IDEX (IEX) 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 IDEX (IEX) and Mueller Industries (MLI). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
MetricIEXMLI
Total Return (1Y)42.33%3.68%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)8.92%44.56%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)1.31%32.39%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

IEX
MLI
GSPC
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IDEX (IEX) 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 IDEX (IEX) and Mueller Industries (MLI). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
MetricIEXMLI
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.98%34.44%
Beta (5Y)0.951.01
Max Drawdown (5Y)-34.60%-27.79%
Avg. Volume (3M)666.74K1.61M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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IEX 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 IDEX (IEX) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
MetricIEXMLI
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.66-0.02
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.64-0.02

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Mueller Industries (MLI) at 26.26% sits in the top ROE quartile, while IDEX (IEX) at 13.35% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for MLI.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

13.35%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
IEX
13.35%
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%
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IDEX (IEX) 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 IDEX (IEX) at 14.65% 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.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

14.65%

Max
27.47%
IEX
14.65%
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%
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IDEX (IEX) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both IDEX (IEX) at 22.33% 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.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

22.33%

Max
36.60%
IEX
22.33%
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%
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IDEX (IEX) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
MetricIEXMLI
ROE (TTM)13.35%26.26%
ROA (TTM)7.06%16.23%
Net Margin (TTM)14.65%17.27%
Operating Margin (TTM)22.33%19.53%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.91%27.25%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both IDEX (IEX) at 5.77% 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.

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

EPS Growth

Both IDEX (IEX) at -3.46% 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.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
MetricIEXMLI
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.77%10.87%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.81%1.62%
EPS Growth (YoY)-3.46%29.19%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-5.97%5.63%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

IDEX (IEX) at 2.78 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.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

2.78

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
IEX
2.78
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
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IDEX (IEX) 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 IDEX (IEX) at 0.44 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

0.44

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
IEX
0.44
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
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IDEX (IEX) 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 IDEX (IEX) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
MetricIEXMLI
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.784.39
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.440.01
Net Debt / EBITDA1.18-1.31

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both IDEX (IEX) at 1.30% and Mueller Industries (MLI) at 1.24% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

1.30%

Max
2.66%
IEX
1.30%
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%
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IDEX (IEX) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Mueller Industries (MLI) at 16.67% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while IDEX (IEX) at 50.14% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

50.14%

Max
67.39%
IEX
50.14%
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%
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IDEX (IEX) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
MetricIEXMLI
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.30%1.24%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)50.14%16.67%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Mueller Industries (MLI) at 13.58 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while IDEX (IEX) at 31.53 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for MLI, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

31.53

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
IEX
31.53
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
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IDEX (IEX) 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 IDEX (IEX) at 4.56 sits in the pricier quartile — IEX costs more per dollar of sales.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

4.56

Max
7.54
IEX
4.56
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
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IDEX (IEX) 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 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while IDEX (IEX) at 4.17 is valued near its industry’s middle — MLI is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

IEX

Capital Goods industry group

4.17

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
IEX
4.17
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
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IDEX (IEX) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for IDEX (IEX) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
MetricIEXMLI
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.5313.58
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.562.31
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.170.33
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.50%4.65%