MLI vs. VRT: Mueller Industries vs. Vertiv Stock Comparison
How do Mueller Industries (MLI) and Vertiv (VRT) 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 Vertiv (VRT) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but MLI is classified in Machinery while VRT is classified in Electrical Equipment.
| Profile Item | MLI | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Mueller Industries, Inc. | Vertiv Holdings Co Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Capital Goods | Capital Goods |
| GICS Industry | Machinery | Electrical Equipment |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components | Electrical Components & Equipment |
| Market Capitalization | 11.54 billion USD | 70.41 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 25, 1991 | August 2, 2018 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MLI | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 3.68% | 11.12% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 44.56% | 71.14% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 32.39% | 49.38% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Vertiv (VRT) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.15, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Mueller Industries (MLI) is closer to market-like at 1.01 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
| Metric | MLI | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 34.44% | 71.11% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.01 | 2.15 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -27.79% | -69.52% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.61M | 5.90M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MLI | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.02 | 0.10 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.02 | 0.14 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Vertiv (VRT) at 46.57% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Mueller Industries (MLI) at 26.26% also sits in the top quartile.
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%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
46.57%
- VRT
- 46.57%
- Max
- 40.55%
- Q3
- 19.29%
- Median
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.08%
- Min
- -17.12%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Mueller Industries (MLI) at 17.27% and Vertiv (VRT) at 16.00% 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%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
16.00%
- Max
- 27.47%
- VRT
- 16.00%
- Q3
- 12.10%
- Median
- 6.30%
- Q1
- 1.40%
- Min
- -12.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Mueller Industries (MLI) at 19.53% and Vertiv (VRT) at 23.77% 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%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
23.77%
- Max
- 36.60%
- VRT
- 23.77%
- Q3
- 18.33%
- Median
- 11.12%
- Q1
- 5.14%
- Min
- -12.63%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MLI | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 26.26% | 46.57% |
| ROA (TTM) | 16.23% | 11.94% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 17.27% | 16.00% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 19.53% | 23.77% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 27.25% | 38.12% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Vertiv (VRT) at 27.69% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Mueller Industries (MLI) at 10.87% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for VRT.
EPS Growth
Vertiv (VRT) at 166.41% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Mueller Industries (MLI) at 29.19%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MLI | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 10.87% | 27.69% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 1.62% | 21.59% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 29.19% | 166.41% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.63% | 340.11% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 4.39 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Vertiv (VRT) at 1.39 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.
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
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
1.39
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.43
- VRT
- 1.39
- Min
- 0.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 0.01 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Vertiv (VRT) at 0.61 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
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
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
0.61
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.12
- VRT
- 0.61
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.29
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | MLI | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 4.39 | 1.39 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.01 | 0.61 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -1.31 | -0.11 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 1.24% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Vertiv (VRT) at 0.11% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, MLI the richer one.
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%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
0.11%
- Max
- 2.66%
- Q3
- 1.14%
- Median
- 0.24%
- VRT
- 0.11%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Mueller Industries (MLI) at 16.67% and Vertiv (VRT) at 4.67% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
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%
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
4.67%
- Max
- 67.39%
- Q3
- 28.02%
- Median
- 6.86%
- VRT
- 4.67%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MLI | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.24% | 0.11% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 16.67% | 4.67% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 13.58 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Vertiv (VRT) at 34.18 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for MLI, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
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
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
34.18
- Max
- 59.38
- Q3
- 35.92
- VRT
- 34.18
- Median
- 25.41
- Q1
- 19.47
- Min
- 3.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Mueller Industries (MLI) at 2.31 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Vertiv (VRT) at 5.37 sits in the pricier quartile — VRT 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
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
5.37
- Max
- 7.54
- VRT
- 5.37
- Q3
- 3.76
- 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 Vertiv (VRT) at 12.80 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.
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
VRT
Capital Goods industry group
12.80
- VRT
- 12.80
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.00
- Median
- 3.12
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- -1.08
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MLI | VRT |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 13.58 | 34.18 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.31 | 5.37 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.33 | 12.80 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.65% | 4.21% |