MLI vs. LECO
MLI (Mueller Industries, Inc.) and LECO (Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.) are both stocks. Both are in the Industrials sector — MLI in Metal Fabrication, LECO in Tools & Accessories. Over the past 10 years, MLI returned 25.71%/yr vs 17.77%/yr for LECO. Their 0.49 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship.
Performance
MLI vs. LECO - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MLI achieves a 16.37% return, which is significantly higher than LECO's 9.72% return. Over the past 10 years, MLI has outperformed LECO with an annualized return of 25.71%, while LECO has yielded a comparatively lower 17.77% annualized return.
MLI
- 1D
- -0.67%
- 1M
- 17.54%
- 6M
- -1.87%
- YTD
- 16.37%
- 1Y
- 61.07%
- 3Y*
- 51.41%
- 5Y*
- 45.63%
- 10Y*
- 25.71%
- ALL TIME*
- 17.81%
LECO
- 1D
- 4.43%
- 1M
- 1.11%
- 6M
- -0.91%
- YTD
- 9.72%
- 1Y
- 9.75%
- 3Y*
- 10.81%
- 5Y*
- 15.07%
- 10Y*
- 17.77%
- ALL TIME*
- 14.26%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $128.09M | $97.46M | $95.40M | |
| $96.51M | $99.99M | $92.66M |
MLI vs. LECO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MLI Mueller Industries, Inc. | 16.37% | 46.29% | 70.51% | 62.38% | 1.05% | 70.95% | 12.30% | 37.79% | -33.10% | -2.76% |
LECO Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. | 9.72% | 29.63% | -12.55% | 52.61% | 5.42% | 21.89% | 22.97% | 25.41% | -12.24% | 21.37% |
Correlation
The correlation between MLI and LECO is 0.57, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.57 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.58 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.62 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.62 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 13, 1995 | 0.49 |
The correlation between MLI and LECO shifts across timeframes, from 0.49 (all time) to 0.62 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
MLI:
$14.69B
LECO:
$14.32B
MLI:
$3.84
LECO:
$10.00
MLI:
17.31
LECO:
26.13
MLI:
1.12
LECO:
1.13
MLI:
3.16
LECO:
3.23
MLI:
4.14
LECO:
9.26
MLI:
$4.66B
LECO:
$4.48B
MLI:
$1.26B
LECO:
$1.61B
MLI:
$1.18B
LECO:
$887.34M
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Return for Risk
MLI vs. LECO — Risk / Return Rank
MLI
LECO
MLI vs. LECO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Mueller Industries, Inc. (MLI) and Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (LECO). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| MLI | LECO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.48 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.67 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.08 | +0.26 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.58 | 0.43 | +2.14 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.20 | 0.97 | +5.23 |
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Drawdowns
MLI vs. LECO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MLI drawdown since its inception was -61.72%, smaller than the maximum LECO drawdown of -68.89%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MLI and LECO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| MLI | LECO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -61.72% | -68.89% | +7.17% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -22.33% | -20.09% | -2.24% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -27.79% | -34.29% | +6.50% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.79% | -34.29% | +6.50% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -52.95% | -38.89% | -14.06% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.44% | -12.02% | +6.58% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -16.02% | -13.51% | -2.51% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 9.26% | 8.99% | +0.27% |
Volatility
MLI vs. LECO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Mueller Industries, Inc. (MLI) is 9.62%, while Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (LECO) has a volatility of 10.71%. This indicates that MLI experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than LECO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| MLI | LECO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.62% | 10.71% | -1.09% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 28.57% | 21.87% | +6.70% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 32.10% | 28.96% | +3.14% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 33.22% | 27.06% | +6.16% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 35.95% | 27.61% | +8.34% |
Dividends
MLI vs. LECO - Dividend Comparison
MLI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.90%, less than LECO's 1.19% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LECO Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. | 1.19% | 1.27% | 1.54% | 1.21% | 1.61% | 1.50% | 1.70% | 1.96% | 2.08% | 1.57% | 1.71% | 2.29% |
MLI Mueller Industries, Inc. | 0.90% | 0.87% | 1.01% | 1.27% | 1.69% | 0.88% | 1.14% | 1.26% | 1.71% | 9.60% | 0.94% | 1.11% |
Financials
MLI vs. LECO - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Mueller Industries, Inc. and Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
MLI vs. LECO - Profitability Comparison
MLI - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Mueller Industries, Inc. reported a gross profit of 377.82M and revenue of 1.43B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 26.5%.
LECO - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. reported a gross profit of 449.00M and revenue of 1.22B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 36.8%.
MLI - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Mueller Industries, Inc. reported an operating income of 309.97M and revenue of 1.43B, resulting in an operating margin of 21.7%.
LECO - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. reported an operating income of 224.13M and revenue of 1.22B, resulting in an operating margin of 18.4%.
MLI - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Mueller Industries, Inc. reported a net income of 249.66M and revenue of 1.43B, resulting in a net margin of 17.5%.
LECO - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. reported a net income of 158.52M and revenue of 1.22B, resulting in a net margin of 13.0%.
Frequently Asked Questions
MLI and LECO have a correlation of 0.57, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
LECO has higher volatility (10.71%) compared to MLI (9.62%). In terms of maximum drawdown, MLI dropped -61.72% vs LECO's -68.89%.
MLI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.80 vs 0.32), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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