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MDU vs MLI
Which Stock Would AI Choose? MDU Resources Group (MDU) vs. Mueller Industries (MLI) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- MDU Resources Group operates as a diversified utility and energy provider, while Mueller Industries focuses on manufacturing copper, brass, and aluminum products for industrial applications.
- Both stocks have shown measured price movements in recent market activity, influenced by broader sector trends in energy infrastructure and industrial demand.
- MDU exhibits exposure to regulated utilities and commodity price fluctuations, whereas MLI benefits from manufacturing cycles and supply chain dynamics.
- Relative performance has reflected differences in market positioning, with utilities facing interest rate sensitivity and industrials tied to economic activity indicators.
- Sector exposure creates distinct risk profiles: MDU with regulatory and weather-related factors, MLI with raw material cost volatility.
- Market sentiment for both remains tied to macroeconomic indicators, with no dominant catalyst distinguishing one from the other in recent weeks.
Introduction
MDU and MLI represent two distinct segments of the market, offering investors and traders a comparison between a utility and energy infrastructure company and an industrial manufacturer. This analysis examines their business models, recent performance trends, and relative positioning in the current environment. Portfolio managers evaluating sector allocation, day traders monitoring momentum shifts, and long-term investors assessing diversification opportunities may find the comparison relevant for understanding trade-offs in stability versus cyclical exposure.
MDU Overview and Recent Performance
MDU Resources Group provides electric and natural gas utility services alongside energy production and pipeline operations. In recent market activity, the stock has responded to movements in energy commodity prices and interest rate expectations. Utility demand patterns and regulatory developments have contributed to sentiment, with broader infrastructure spending themes providing some support amid economic uncertainty. Performance has reflected a balance between stable cash flows from regulated operations and exposure to wholesale energy markets.
MLI Overview and Recent Performance
Mueller Industries manufactures copper, brass, aluminum, and plastic products serving construction, HVAC, plumbing, and industrial markets. Recent market activity has seen the stock influenced by industrial production data, metal price fluctuations, and supply chain conditions. Manufacturing sector indicators and housing-related demand have shaped investor views, with the company’s diversified product lines offering some resilience to individual end-market swings.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
MDU’s regulated utility base provides more predictable revenue streams compared with MLI’s cyclical exposure to manufacturing and commodity inputs. Growth drivers differ markedly: MDU benefits from infrastructure modernization and energy transition investments, while MLI gains from industrial expansion and replacement demand. Recent momentum has varied with sector rotations, utilities showing relative defensiveness and industrials tracking broader economic indicators. Risk factors include regulatory oversight and interest rate sensitivity for MDU versus raw material costs and global trade dynamics for MLI. Sector exposure places MDU in defensive utilities and energy, contrasting MLI’s positioning in cyclical industrials. Market sentiment reflects these distinctions, with each stock attracting attention from investors prioritizing income stability or growth cyclicality.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors such as trend consistency and relative positioning, Tickeron’s AI models currently assign a modestly higher probability of favorable risk-adjusted outcomes to MLI over the near term, citing steadier alignment with industrial recovery signals and manufacturing data. MDU remains competitive due to its defensive characteristics, particularly if macroeconomic uncertainty increases. The assessment remains probabilistic and subject to evolving market conditions.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
Disclaimers and LimitationsTo compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is MDU is a StrongBuy and MLI is a Buy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
MDU’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileMLI’s FA Score has 3 green FA rating(s).
- MDU’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- MLI’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
MDU’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while MLI’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- MDU’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 3 bearish.
- MLI’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 6 bearish.
Price Growth
MDU (@Gas Distributors) experienced а +0.09% price change this week, while MLI (@Metal Fabrication) price change was +7.05% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Gas Distributors industry was -1.25%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +3.47%, and the average quarterly price growth was +4.83%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Metal Fabrication industry was +5.10%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +0.44%, and the average quarterly price growth was +6.31%.
Reported Earning Dates
MDU is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 2026.
MLI is expected to report earnings on Jul 28, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Gas Distributors (-1.25% weekly)Gas distributors are involved in moving and selling gas – from wellheads or over-distribution systems operated by other firms – to residential and non-residential customers. These companies perform tasks such as the gathering and processing of gas, intrastate and interstate transport, and delivery to the customer. Some of the biggest gas distributing companies in the U.S. include Sempra Energy, Avangrid Inc and Atmos Energy Corporation.
@Metal Fabrication (+5.10% weekly)The industry is involved in value-added processes including creation of metal structures like machines and parts by cutting, bending and assembling, using various raw materials. A fabrication shop often bids on a project/job, and then builds the product if awarded the contract. Robotics and automation are making their way into the industry apparently to fill in skills gap[s19] . RBC Bearings Incorporated, Timken Company and Valmont Industries, Inc. are some of the largest metal fabrication companies in the U.S.
| MDU | MLI | MDU / MLI | |
| Capitalization | 4.42B | 14B | 32% |
| EBITDA | 529M | 1.19B | 44% |
| Gain YTD | 9.806 | 10.975 | 89% |
| P/E Ratio | 22.99 | 17.37 | 132% |
| Revenue | 1.81B | 4.37B | 41% |
| Total Cash | N/A | N/A | - |
| Total Debt | 2.6B | 22.8M | 11,386% |
MDU | MLI | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 33 | 20 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 58 Fair valued | 20 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 11 | 7 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 82 | 35 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 51 | 57 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 27 | 27 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 26 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
MLI's Valuation (20) in the Metal Fabrication industry is somewhat better than the same rating for MDU (58) in the Gas Distributors industry. This means that MLI’s stock grew somewhat faster than MDU’s over the last 12 months.
MLI's Profit vs Risk Rating (7) in the Metal Fabrication industry is in the same range as MDU (11) in the Gas Distributors industry. This means that MLI’s stock grew similarly to MDU’s over the last 12 months.
MLI's SMR Rating (35) in the Metal Fabrication industry is somewhat better than the same rating for MDU (82) in the Gas Distributors industry. This means that MLI’s stock grew somewhat faster than MDU’s over the last 12 months.
MDU's Price Growth Rating (51) in the Gas Distributors industry is in the same range as MLI (57) in the Metal Fabrication industry. This means that MDU’s stock grew similarly to MLI’s over the last 12 months.
MDU's P/E Growth Rating (27) in the Gas Distributors industry is in the same range as MLI (27) in the Metal Fabrication industry. This means that MDU’s stock grew similarly to MLI’s over the last 12 months.
| MDU | MLI | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | N/A | 1 day ago 75% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 68% | 1 day ago 56% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 68% | 1 day ago 72% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 70% | 1 day ago 78% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 60% | 1 day ago 72% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 38% | 1 day ago 55% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 58% | 1 day ago 73% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 10 days ago 45% | 12 days ago 49% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 42% | 1 day ago 56% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | N/A | 1 day ago 44% |
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MDU and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, MDU has been loosely correlated with BKH. These tickers have moved in lockstep 54% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if MDU jumps, then BKH could also see price increases.
MLI and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, MLI has been loosely correlated with MTUS. These tickers have moved in lockstep 51% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if MLI jumps, then MTUS could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To MLI | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLI | 100% | +0.75% | ||
| MTUS - MLI | 51% Loosely correlated | +3.25% | ||
| CMC - MLI | 45% Loosely correlated | -0.04% | ||
| CODI - MLI | 45% Loosely correlated | -4.16% | ||
| MDU - MLI | 44% Loosely correlated | +0.19% | ||
| NWPX - MLI | 44% Loosely correlated | -0.91% | ||
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