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ITW vs. MLI: Illinois Tool Works vs. Mueller Industries Stock Comparison

How do Illinois Tool Works (ITW) 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

Illinois Tool Works (ITW) 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 Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
Profile ItemITWMLI
NameIllinois Tool Works Inc.Mueller 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 Capitalization79.85 billion USD11.54 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 13, 1973February 25, 1991
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ITW
MLI
GSPC
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) 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 Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and Mueller Industries (MLI). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
MetricITWMLI
Total Return (1Y)20.29%3.68%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)10.62%44.56%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.67%32.39%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ITW
MLI
GSPC
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) 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 Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and Mueller Industries (MLI). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
MetricITWMLI
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.16%34.44%
Beta (5Y)0.911.01
Max Drawdown (5Y)-28.05%-27.79%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.27M1.61M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ITW 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 Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
MetricITWMLI
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.72-0.02
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.12-0.02

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 101.65% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Mueller Industries (MLI) at 26.26% also sits in the top quartile.

ITW

Capital Goods industry group

101.65%

ITW
101.65%
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%
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) 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 Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 19.39% 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.

ITW

Capital Goods industry group

19.39%

Max
27.47%
ITW
19.39%
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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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 28.05% 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.

ITW

Capital Goods industry group

28.05%

Max
36.60%
ITW
28.05%
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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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
MetricITWMLI
ROE (TTM)101.65%26.26%
ROA (TTM)17.13%16.23%
Net Margin (TTM)19.39%17.27%
Operating Margin (TTM)28.05%19.53%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.32%27.25%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Mueller Industries (MLI) at 10.87% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 0.92% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at -10.42% 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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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
MetricITWMLI
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.92%10.87%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)0.23%1.62%
EPS Growth (YoY)-10.42%29.19%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)2.40%5.63%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Mueller Industries (MLI) at 4.39 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 1.29 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

ITW

Capital Goods industry group

1.29

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
ITW
1.29
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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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) 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 quartile, while Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 2.98 is above its industry debt-to-equity ratio range.

ITW

Capital Goods industry group

2.98

ITW
2.98
Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
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
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) 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 Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
MetricITWMLI
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.294.39
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.980.01
Net Debt / EBITDA1.76-1.31

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 2.29% and Mueller Industries (MLI) at 1.24% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

ITW

Capital Goods industry group

2.29%

Max
2.66%
ITW
2.29%
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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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) 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 Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 58.43% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

ITW

Capital Goods industry group

58.43%

Max
67.39%
ITW
58.43%
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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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
MetricITWMLI
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.29%1.24%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)58.43%16.67%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Mueller Industries (MLI) at 13.58 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 25.06 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for MLI, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

ITW

Capital Goods industry group

25.06

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
ITW
25.06
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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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) 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 Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 4.80 sits in the pricier quartile — ITW costs more per dollar of sales.

ITW

Capital Goods industry group

4.80

Max
7.54
ITW
4.80
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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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) 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 relative to book while Illinois Tool Works (ITW) at 25.42 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.

ITW

Capital Goods industry group

25.42

ITW
25.42
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
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Illinois Tool Works (ITW) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and Mueller Industries (MLI)
MetricITWMLI
P/E Ratio (TTM)25.0613.58
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.802.31
P/B Ratio (MRQ)25.420.33
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.89%4.65%