Mueller Water Products Faces Turning Tides, RBC Says

11:24 AM EDT, 09/17/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Mueller Water Products (MWA) has high exposure to US utility capital spending and faces a more challenging setup than the market realizes, RBC Capital Markets said in a Wednesday note. "Consensus F2027 revenue growth of 4% does not reflect the combined headwinds of fading federal stimulus, hydrant backlog normalization, and ongoing resi softness," the report said. A separate RBC report forecast a 10% drop in municipal water spending, driven by the expiration of the American Rescue Plan Act at the end of the year. The note pointed to some 60% to 65% exposure to municipal water, among the highest in its coverage, while its core valve and hydrant business is tied to municipal project activity. "We see a convergence of headwinds in F2027 that consensus has not yet incorporated," the note said. RBC downgraded the stock to underperform from sector-perform and cut its price target to $21 from $30. Price: 21.84, Change: -0.90, Percent Change: -3.96