MLI vs. RBC: Mueller Industries vs. RBC Bearings Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Mueller Industries (MLI) and RBC Bearings (RBC) 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

Mueller Industries (MLI) and RBC Bearings (RBC) 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 Mueller Industries (MLI) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
Profile Item	MLI	RBC
Name	Mueller Industries, Inc.	RBC Bearings Incorporated
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Machinery	Machinery
GICS Sub-Industry	Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components	Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components
Market Capitalization	11.54 billion USD	15.02 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 25, 1991	August 10, 2005
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MLI

RBC

GSPC

Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC), 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 Mueller Industries (MLI) and RBC Bearings (RBC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Mueller Industries (MLI) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
Metric	MLI	RBC
Total Return (1Y)	3.68%	13.77%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	44.56%	30.63%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	32.39%	15.68%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MLI

RBC

GSPC

Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC), 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 Mueller Industries (MLI) and RBC Bearings (RBC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Mueller Industries (MLI) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
Metric	MLI	RBC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	34.44%	29.69%
Beta (5Y)	1.01	1.34
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-27.79%	-34.92%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.61M	309.06K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

MLI and RBC 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 Mueller Industries (MLI) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
Metric	MLI	RBC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.02	0.32
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.02	0.45

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Mueller Industries (MLI) at 26.26% sits in the top ROE quartile, while RBC Bearings (RBC) at 10.51% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for MLI.

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%

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

10.51%

Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
RBC: 10.51%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Mueller Industries (MLI) at 17.27% and RBC Bearings (RBC) at 17.51% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

17.51%

Max: 27.47%
RBC: 17.51%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Mueller Industries (MLI) at 19.53% and RBC Bearings (RBC) at 24.97% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

24.97%

Max: 36.60%
RBC: 24.97%
Q3: 18.33%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Mueller Industries (MLI) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
Metric	MLI	RBC
ROE (TTM)	26.26%	10.51%
ROA (TTM)	16.23%	6.06%
Net Margin (TTM)	17.27%	17.51%
Operating Margin (TTM)	19.53%	24.97%
Gross Margin (TTM)	27.25%	45.61%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Mueller Industries (MLI) at 10.87% and RBC Bearings (RBC) at 14.34% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both Mueller Industries (MLI) at 29.19% and RBC Bearings (RBC) at 18.05% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Mueller Industries (MLI) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
Metric	MLI	RBC
Revenue Growth (YoY)	10.87%	14.34%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	1.62%	8.39%
EPS Growth (YoY)	29.19%	18.05%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.63%	22.54%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Mueller Industries (MLI) at 4.39 and RBC Bearings (RBC) at 3.13 post current ratio above their industries’ typical mid-ranges — short-term liquidity appears comfortable, though unusually high readings can point to idle current assets.

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

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

3.13

Max: 5.22
RBC: 3.13
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.36

Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Mueller Industries (MLI) at 0.01 and RBC Bearings (RBC) at 0.22 keep leverage in the lower quartile of their industries, with less balance-sheet debt relative to equity than most peers.

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

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

0.22

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
RBC: 0.22
Min: 0.00

Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Mueller Industries (MLI) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
Metric	MLI	RBC
Current Ratio (MRQ)	4.39	3.13
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.01	0.22
Net Debt / EBITDA	-1.31	1.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

RBC Bearings (RBC) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Mueller Industries (MLI) reports a yield of 1.24%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
RBC: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

RBC Bearings (RBC) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Mueller Industries (MLI) reports a payout of 16.67%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

0.00%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
RBC: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Mueller Industries (MLI) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
Metric	MLI	RBC
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.24%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	16.67%	0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Mueller Industries (MLI) at 13.58 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while RBC Bearings (RBC) at 42.44 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

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

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

42.44

Max: 59.38
RBC: 42.44
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): 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 RBC Bearings (RBC) at 7.42 sits in the pricier quartile — RBC costs more per dollar of sales.

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

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

7.42

Max: 7.54
RBC: 7.42
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): 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 RBC Bearings (RBC) at 4.21 is valued near its industry’s middle — MLI is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

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

RBC

Capital Goods industry group

4.21

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
RBC: 4.21
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. RBC Bearings (RBC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Mueller Industries (MLI) and RBC Bearings (RBC)
Metric	MLI	RBC
P/E Ratio (TTM)	13.58	42.44
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.31	7.42
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	0.33	4.21
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.65%	2.22%