LII vs. MLI: Lennox vs. Mueller Industries Stock Comparison
How do Lennox (LII) 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
Lennox (LII) and Mueller Industries (MLI) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but LII is classified in Building Products while MLI is classified in Machinery.
| Profile Item | LII | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Lennox International Inc. | Mueller Industries, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Building Products | Machinery |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Building Products | Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components |
| Market Capitalization | 11.70 billion USD | 11.54 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | July 29, 1999 | February 25, 1991 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | LII | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -27.83% | 3.68% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -2.32% | 44.56% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 3.79% | 32.39% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | LII | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 41.59% | 34.44% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.18 | 1.01 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -49.95% | -27.79% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 563.34K | 1.61M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | LII | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.77 | -0.02 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.96 | -0.02 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Lennox (LII) at 62.82% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Mueller Industries (MLI) at 26.26% also sits in the top quartile.
LII
Capital Goods industry group
62.82%
- LII
- 62.82%
- 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 Lennox (LII) at 13.76% 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.
LII
Capital Goods industry group
13.76%
- Max
- 27.47%
- LII
- 13.76%
- 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 Lennox (LII) at 20.57% 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.
LII
Capital Goods industry group
20.57%
- Max
- 36.60%
- LII
- 20.57%
- 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 | LII | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 62.82% | 26.26% |
| ROA (TTM) | 15.93% | 16.23% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 13.76% | 17.27% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 20.57% | 19.53% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 32.62% | 27.25% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 10.87% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Lennox (LII) at -2.73% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both Lennox (LII) at 1.11% 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.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | LII | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -2.73% | 10.87% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.26% | 1.62% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 1.11% | 29.19% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 17.97% | 5.63% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 4.39 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Lennox (LII) at 1.21 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.
LII
Capital Goods industry group
1.21
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- LII
- 1.21
- 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 quartile, while Lennox (LII) at 1.58 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.
LII
Capital Goods industry group
1.58
- Max
- 2.33
- LII
- 1.58
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | LII | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.21 | 4.39 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.58 | 0.01 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.73 | -1.31 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Lennox (LII) at 1.53% and Mueller Industries (MLI) at 1.24% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.
LII
Capital Goods industry group
1.53%
- Max
- 2.66%
- LII
- 1.53%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Lennox (LII) at 24.68% 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.
LII
Capital Goods industry group
24.68%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- LII
- 24.68%
- 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 | LII | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.53% | 1.24% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 24.68% | 16.67% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Lennox (LII) at 15.47 and Mueller Industries (MLI) at 13.58 sit in the cheaper earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, with the market paying less for a dollar of trailing earnings than it pays for typical peers.
LII
Capital Goods industry group
15.47
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- LII
- 15.47
- 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 Lennox (LII) at 2.15 and Mueller Industries (MLI) at 2.31 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
LII
Capital Goods industry group
2.15
- Max
- 7.54
- Q3
- 3.76
- Median
- 2.15
- LII
- 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 Lennox (LII) at 8.88 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.
LII
Capital Goods industry group
8.88
- Max
- 9.66
- LII
- 8.88
- 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 | LII | MLI |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 15.47 | 13.58 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.15 | 2.31 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 8.88 | 0.33 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.14% | 4.65% |