Franklin Electric (FELE) vs Middleby (MIDD)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Franklin Electric (FELE) has outperformed Middleby (MIDD) over the past year, gaining 4.1% versus a loss of 5.4%. Over five years, FELE leads with a +16.6% price change compared with -24.0% for MIDD. Middleby is the larger company by market cap ($4.76 billion vs $4.31 billion), about 1.1 times the size, while Franklin Electric is growing revenue faster (+5.4% vs +1.6%).
On valuation, Middleby trades at a lower forward P/E (13.5x vs 18.9x for Franklin Electric). Franklin Electric pays a dividend yielding 1.12%, while Middleby does not currently pay one. Franklin Electric converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 6.9% versus -8.7%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | FELE | MIDD |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $97.59 | $105.24 |
| Market cap | $4.31B | $4.76B |
| 1-day change | -1.67% | -0.64% |
| YTD return | +2.16% | -12.61% |
| 1-year return | +4.05% | -5.40% |
| 5-year return | +16.59% | -24.03% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 28.12 | — |
| Forward P/E | 18.90 | 13.48 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.47 | $-5.42 |
| Dividend yield | 1.12% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $1.09 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $2.13B | $3.20B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +5.44% | +1.62% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $147.09M | $-277.73M |
| Gross margin | 35.47% | 39.11% |
| Operating margin | 12.62% | 17.96% |
| Net margin | 6.90% | -8.68% |
| 52-week high | $115.82 | $148.55 |
| 52-week low | $89.54 | $89.16 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -15.74% | -29.16% |
| Analyst consensus | none | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +21.43% | +48.13% |
| Average volume | 278.25K | 597.49K |
| Shares outstanding | 44.21M | 45.22M |
| Employees | 6,500 | 8,826 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Industrials |
| Industry | Metal Fabrications | Industrial Machinery/Components |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Franklin Electric offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.12% vs 0.00%).
- Franklin Electric is more profitable, keeping 6.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -8.7 cents for Middleby.
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Franklin Electric in Consumer Discretionary and Middleby in Industrials.
About Franklin Electric
FELE stock →Franklin Electric Co., Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and distributes water and fuel pumping systems in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates through Water Systems, Energy Systems, and Distribution segments.
Consumer Discretionary · Metal Fabrications · 6,500 employees
About Middleby
MIDD stock →The Middleby Corporation operates in the foodservice industry worldwide. The company develops and manufactures a line of solutions used in commercial foodservice and food processing.
Industrials · Industrial Machinery/Components · 8,826 employees
FELE vs MIDD FAQ
Which is bigger, Franklin Electric or Middleby?
Middleby (MIDD) is larger, with a market capitalization of $4.76B compared with $4.31B for Franklin Electric (FELE).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, FELE or MIDD?
FELE returned +4.05% over the past 12 months, compared with -5.40% for MIDD (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Franklin Electric or Middleby?
Franklin Electric pays a dividend yielding 1.12%, while Middleby does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Franklin Electric and Middleby in the same industry?
No. Franklin Electric is in the Consumer Discretionary sector, while Middleby is in Industrials.