Mueller Industries reported first-quarter 2026 net sales of $1.19 billion, up from $1.00 billion a year earlier, a gain of $190 million, or 19%. Net income rose to $239.0 million from $157.4 million, an increase of $81.6 million, or 52%. Operating income climbed to $312.2 million from $206.3 million, up $105.9 million, or 51%. Diluted earnings per share increased to $2.16 from $1.39, while the quarterly dividend rose to $0.35 per share from $0.25.
Copper prices were a major factor in the quarter: Comex copper averaged $5.80 per pound, up 26.8% from the prior-year period. The company said improved sales in its industrial, electrical, commercial and mechanical markets, along with higher selling prices tied to raw material cost increases, drove the revenue gain.
Reported operating income included a $41.4 million gain from the sale of the Sherwood Valve business, compared with a $14.5 million gain from asset sales in the prior-year quarter. Excluding those gains, operating income increased 41%.
Cash generated from operations totaled $79.7 million. Mueller spent $75.0 million repurchasing 650,000 shares during the quarter. At quarter-end, the company held $1.38 billion in cash, carried no debt, and reported a current ratio of 5.4 to 1.
The company also completed the acquisition of Bison Metals Technologies on March 30. Mueller said the deal will add synergies to its North American copper tube products platform and expand copper tube manufacturing capacity. As a result of these announcements, the company's shares have moved -2.23% on the market, and are now trading at a price of $109.50. Check out the company's full 8-K submission here.
