Mueller Industries, Inc. reported financial results for the third quarter of 2026, which ended on September 26, 2026. The company announced that net sales increased to $1.42 billion for the quarter, compared to $1.08 billion in the same period of the prior year. This increase was attributed to unit volume growth across most businesses and price adjustments related to rising material costs.
Net income for the quarter was reported at $221.2 million, up from $208.1 million in the third quarter of 2025. Operating income also rose to $281.6 million from $276.1 million in the prior year. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) were reported at $1.00, compared to $0.94 in the prior year. The company noted that these figures have been adjusted to reflect a two-for-one stock split that took effect on June 30, 2026.
COMEX copper prices averaged $6.48 per pound during the quarter, representing a 34.2 percent increase over the prior year period. The company reported net cash generated from operations of $337.0 million, bringing its cash and short-term investments to $1.48 billion at the end of the quarter. During the quarter, Mueller Industries purchased 3.2 million shares of its common stock for a total of $201.9 million.
The company operates across three main segments: Piping Systems, Industrial Metals, and Climate. Segment data shows net sales of $890.6 million for the Piping Systems segment, $409.4 million for Industrial Metals, and $142.8 million for Climate. The company’s current ratio remains strong at 4.4 to 1.
In a statement regarding the results, CEO Greg Christopher noted that the company delivered year-over-year earnings growth for the ninth consecutive quarter. He highlighted that demand remained healthy and backlogs grew in each segment, largely driven by U.S. data center expansions and commercial building activities. Christopher also mentioned that the results were notable given the protracted decline in the residential construction market.
Regarding the outlook, Christopher stated that the company remains optimistic as it executes on strategic priorities. These include investments in North American manufacturing operations to reduce costs and reshore production, as well as initiatives to increase product offerings and expand distribution capabilities.
