Insteel Industries Inc (IIIN)vsMueller Industries Inc (MLI)
IIIN
Insteel Industries Inc
$33.89
+1.70%
INDUSTRIALS · Cap: $593.72M
MLI
Mueller Industries Inc
$112.00
+0.81%
INDUSTRIALS · Cap: $12.33B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Mueller Industries Inc generates 516% more annual revenue ($4.18B vs $677.91M). MLI leads profitability with a 18.3% profit margin vs 7.0%. IIIN appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.84. IIIN earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 73/100 (B).
IIIN
Strong Buy73
out of 100
Grade: B
MLI
Buy61
out of 100
Grade: C+
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
+67.3%
Fair Value
$113.72
Current Price
$33.88
$79.84 discount
Margin of Safety
+39.4%
Fair Value
$198.92
Current Price
$112.00
$86.92 discount
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Growing faster than its price suggests
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Reasonable price relative to book value
Revenue surging 23.3% year-over-year
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Every $100 of equity generates 26 in profit
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Areas to Watch
Smaller company, higher risk/reward
7.0% margin — thin
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
4.2% revenue growth
Expensive relative to growth rate
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : IIIN
The strongest argument for IIIN centers on Debt/Equity, Altman Z-Score, PEG Ratio. Revenue growth of 23.3% demonstrates continued momentum. PEG of 0.84 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bull Case : MLI
The strongest argument for MLI centers on Debt/Equity, Return on Equity, P/E Ratio. Profitability is solid with margins at 18.3% and operating margin at 17.5%.
Bear Case : IIIN
The primary concerns for IIIN are Market Cap, Profit Margin, Free Cash Flow.
Bear Case : MLI
The primary concerns for MLI are Revenue Growth, PEG Ratio.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
IIIN profiles as a growth stock while MLI is a value play — different risk/reward profiles.
MLI carries more volatility with a beta of 1.06 — expect wider price swings.
IIIN is growing revenue faster at 23.3% — sustainability is the question.
MLI generates stronger free cash flow (121M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
IIIN scores higher overall (73/100 vs 61/100) and 23.3% revenue growth. MLI offers better value entry with a 39.4% margin of safety. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Insteel Industries Inc
INDUSTRIALS · METAL FABRICATION · USA
Insteel Industries, Inc., manufactures and markets steel wire reinforcing products for concrete construction applications. The company is headquartered in Mount Airy, North Carolina.
Visit Website →Mueller Industries Inc
INDUSTRIALS · METAL FABRICATION · USA
Mueller Industries, Inc. manufactures and sells copper, brass, aluminum, and plastic products in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, the Middle East, China, and Mexico. The company is headquartered in Collierville, Tennessee.
Visit Website →Compare with Other METAL FABRICATION Stocks
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