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MLI vs. WCC: Mueller Industries vs. WESCO Stock Comparison

How do Mueller Industries (MLI) and WESCO (WCC) 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 WESCO (WCC) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but MLI is classified in Machinery while WCC is classified in Trading Companies & Distributors.

Company profile comparison for Mueller Industries (MLI) and WESCO (WCC)
Profile ItemMLIWCC
NameMueller Industries, Inc.WESCO International, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryMachineryTrading Companies & Distributors
GICS Sub-IndustryIndustrial Machinery & Supplies & ComponentsTrading Companies & Distributors
Market Capitalization11.54 billion USD14.24 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 25, 1991May 12, 1999
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MLI
WCC
GSPC
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Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. WESCO (WCC), 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 WESCO (WCC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Mueller Industries (MLI) and WESCO (WCC)
MetricMLIWCC
Total Return (1Y)3.68%26.01%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)44.56%33.71%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)32.39%19.77%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MLI
WCC
GSPC
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Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. WESCO (WCC), 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 WESCO (WCC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Mueller Industries (MLI) and WESCO (WCC)
MetricMLIWCC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)34.44%48.31%
Beta (5Y)1.011.56
Max Drawdown (5Y)-27.79%-37.37%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.61M592.41K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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MLI and WCC 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 WESCO (WCC)
MetricMLIWCC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.020.45
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.020.66

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Mueller Industries (MLI) at 26.26% sits in the top ROE quartile, while WESCO (WCC) at 15.44% 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%

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

15.44%

Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
WCC
15.44%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. WESCO (WCC): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Mueller Industries (MLI) at 17.27% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of WESCO (WCC) at 3.04%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

3.04%

Max
27.47%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
WCC
3.04%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. WESCO (WCC): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Mueller Industries (MLI) at 19.53% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of WESCO (WCC) at 6.61%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

6.61%

Max
36.60%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
WCC
6.61%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. WESCO (WCC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Mueller Industries (MLI) and WESCO (WCC)
MetricMLIWCC
ROE (TTM)26.26%15.44%
ROA (TTM)16.23%5.43%
Net Margin (TTM)17.27%3.04%
Operating Margin (TTM)19.53%6.61%
Gross Margin (TTM)27.25%21.51%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Mueller Industries (MLI) at 10.87% and WESCO (WCC) at 7.76% 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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Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. WESCO (WCC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Mueller Industries (MLI) at 29.19% and WESCO (WCC) at 0.00% 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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Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. WESCO (WCC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Mueller Industries (MLI) and WESCO (WCC)
MetricMLIWCC
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.87%7.76%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.62%3.15%
EPS Growth (YoY)29.19%0.00%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.63%-5.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

WESCO (WCC) at 2.01 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.

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

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

2.01

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
WCC
2.01
Q1
1.43
Min
0.36
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Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. WESCO (WCC): 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 WESCO (WCC) at 1.25 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

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

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

1.25

Max
2.33
WCC
1.25
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. WESCO (WCC): 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 WESCO (WCC)
MetricMLIWCC
Current Ratio (MRQ)4.392.01
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.011.25
Net Debt / EBITDA-1.313.46

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Mueller Industries (MLI) at 1.24% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while WESCO (WCC) at 0.68% 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%

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

0.68%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
WCC
0.68%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. WESCO (WCC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Mueller Industries (MLI) at 16.67% and WESCO (WCC) at 12.13% 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%

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

12.13%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
WCC
12.13%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. WESCO (WCC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Mueller Industries (MLI) and WESCO (WCC)
MetricMLIWCC
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.24%0.68%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)16.67%12.13%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Mueller Industries (MLI) at 13.58 and WESCO (WCC) at 18.17 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.

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

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

18.17

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
WCC
18.17
Min
3.03
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Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. WESCO (WCC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

WESCO (WCC) at 0.55 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Mueller Industries (MLI) at 2.31 prices around its industry’s middle — WCC costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

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

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

0.55

Max
7.54
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
WCC
0.55
Min
0.03
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Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. WESCO (WCC): 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 WESCO (WCC) at 2.62 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

WCC

Capital Goods industry group

2.62

Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
WCC
2.62
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Mueller Industries (MLI) vs. WESCO (WCC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Mueller Industries (MLI) and WESCO (WCC)
MetricMLIWCC
P/E Ratio (TTM)13.5818.17
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.310.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)0.332.62
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.65%2.71%