Validea Benjamin Graham Strategy Daily Upgrade Report - 10/19/2024
Mueller Industries Inc. Rating Update: The stock rating for Mueller Industries Inc. (MLI) improved from 71% to 86% based on Benjamin Graham's value investing strategy, indicating strong interest due to its solid fundamentals and valuation.
MGP Ingredients Inc. Rating Update: MGP Ingredients Inc. (MGPI) also saw its rating rise from 57% to 86%, reflecting favorable underlying fundamentals and valuation in the alcoholic beverages sector, suggesting potential investment interest.
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- Overview of Oversold Stocks: According to Benzinga Pro, major players in the industrials sector, including Mueller Industries Inc, Joby Aviation Inc, and ACV Auctions Inc, have relative strength indices (RSI) near or below 30, indicating they are considered oversold and may present investment opportunities.
- RSI Indicator Interpretation: The relative strength index (RSI) is a momentum indicator that compares a stock's strength on days when prices rise to its strength on days when prices fall, helping traders better assess short-term stock performance and inform their investment decisions.
- Investment Strategy Suggestion: Stocks are typically viewed as oversold when the RSI falls below 30, prompting investors to consider buying these undervalued companies, aiming to capitalize on potential gains when the market rebounds and enhance portfolio performance.
- Market Dynamics Analysis: As market attention on oversold stocks increases, investors should closely monitor the fundamental changes in these companies to make timely investment decisions and seize potential rebound opportunities.
- Earnings Per Share: Mueller Industries reported a GAAP EPS of $1.38 for Q4, demonstrating resilience in profitability despite market challenges, indicating the company's ability to navigate adverse conditions.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved Q4 revenue of $962.4 million, a 4.2% year-over-year increase, primarily driven by a $38.9 million rise in net sales, showcasing success in price elevation strategies.
- Sales Price vs. Volume: While higher net selling prices due to rising raw material costs contributed to revenue growth, lower unit volumes in core copper and brass products indicate fluctuations in market demand impacting overall performance.
- Rating Downgrade: As growth normalizes, Mueller Industries faces a rating downgrade, reflecting a market reassessment of the company's future growth potential, which may affect investor confidence.
- Market Cap Growth: Shopify's market cap has reached $217 billion, significantly exceeding previous estimates of $150-190 billion, reflecting strong market confidence in its e-commerce platform.
- User Base Expansion: The company has attracted a large number of new users by providing convenient online store solutions, enhancing its market share and competitiveness in the e-commerce sector.
- Diversified Revenue Sources: Shopify not only relies on e-commerce transactions but also enhances overall profitability through diversified revenue streams such as value-added services and payment processing.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: With the continued growth of the e-commerce industry, Shopify is expected to further expand its market share, solidifying its leadership position among global e-commerce platforms.
- Market Cap Milestone: Shopify's market cap has reached $217 billion, reflecting its robust growth in the e-commerce sector and solidifying its position as a market leader.
- User Growth: The platform continues to see an increase in user numbers, driving revenue growth and likely attracting more investor interest, thereby boosting market confidence.
- Technological Innovation: Shopify is consistently rolling out new features and tools to enhance user experience, enabling merchants to manage their online stores more efficiently, which strengthens customer loyalty.
- Market Expansion: The company is expanding its services globally, particularly in emerging markets, which is expected to further drive its long-term growth potential.

Upcoming Ex-Dividend Dates: On December 5, 2025, Mueller Industries Inc (MLI), Waste Management, Inc. (WM), and Hub Group, Inc. (HUBG) will trade ex-dividend, with respective dividends of $0.25, $0.825, and $0.125 to be paid on December 19 and 17, 2025.
Expected Price Adjustments: Following the ex-dividend date, MLI shares are expected to open 0.23% lower, WM shares 0.38% lower, and HUBG shares 0.31% lower, based on their recent stock prices.
Dividend Yield Estimates: The estimated annualized yields for the companies are 0.90% for Mueller Industries, 1.54% for Waste Management, and 1.25% for Hub Group, reflecting their historical dividend stability.
Current Trading Performance: As of Wednesday trading, Mueller Industries shares are up about 1%, Waste Management shares are down approximately 0.6%, and Hub Group shares are up about 1.1%.
Badger Meter Dividend Announcement: Badger Meter declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.40 per share, payable on December 5, 2025, to shareholders of record on November 21, 2025.
Mueller Industries Dividend Declaration: Mueller Industries announced a quarterly cash dividend of 25 cents per share, set to be paid on December 19, 2025, to shareholders of record on December 5, 2025.
WhiteHorse Finance Financial Results: WhiteHorse Finance reported its third-quarter financial results and declared a distribution of $0.25 per share, payable on January 5, 2026, to stockholders of record as of December 22, 2025.
Silvercorp Metals Dividend Declaration: Silvercorp Metals announced a semi-annual dividend of US$0.0125 per share, to be paid to shareholders of record on November 28, 2025, with a payment date scheduled on or before December 12, 2025.








