Core Insights - Itron, Inc. has appointed Scott Drury, former CEO of Southern California Gas Company, to its board of directors, effective immediately [1][2]. Company Overview - Itron is focused on transforming how energy, water, and city services are managed, providing intelligent infrastructure solutions to improve efficiency and resilience [5]. Leadership Experience - Scott Drury brings over 35 years of experience in the electric and natural gas industry, having led significant transformations and enhanced shareholder value during his tenure as CEO of Southern California Gas [2]. - Under Drury's leadership, Southern California Gas doubled its net income and received national recognition for innovation and clean energy commitments [2]. Board Collaboration - Itron's board members, including chair Diana Tremblay and president Tom Deitrich, expressed confidence in Drury's operational excellence and financial acumen, highlighting his alignment with the company's strategic priorities [3][4]. - Drury's experience as a customer of Itron for the past two years is expected to provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by Itron's customers [4].

Core Insights - Itron, Inc. has partnered with Pacific Technologies and the Water Authority of Fiji to launch the first smart water metering project in Fiji, expected to be completed by Q3 2025, marking a significant modernization of Fiji's water infrastructure [1][11] - The initiative aligns with WAF's Water Sector Strategy 2050, which aims to address challenges such as aging infrastructure and reducing non-revenue water, currently at 47% of production [3][11] Company Developments - Itron's solution allows WAF to upgrade its network at its own pace, withstand coastal conditions, and progress in digital transformation, contributing to a sustainable water future for Fiji [2] - The deployment involves upgrading existing meters to Itron's durable mechanical meters with Cyble communication modules, enabling quick and cost-effective conversion to smart devices [4] - Data from these meters will be managed using Itron's Temetra platform, facilitating seamless data collection and eliminating manual readings [4][5] Technology and Efficiency - The integration of Cyble modules with the Temetra platform provides WAF with advanced analytics to identify water losses and improve network efficiency [5] - Itron's technology is designed to resist corrosion and extreme conditions, minimizing maintenance costs for WAF [6] Financial Performance - Itron reported non-GAAP EPS of $1.62 for Q2 2025, exceeding estimates, with revenues of $607 million, nearly flat year-over-year [8] - For Q3 2025, Itron anticipates revenues between $570 million and $585 million, reflecting a 6% year-over-year decline at the midpoint, with non-GAAP EPS expected to fall by about 18% [9] Market Position - Itron is well-positioned to benefit from increasing utility modernization efforts, leading to higher demand for its grid edge intelligence platform and a robust portfolio of intelligent devices, software, and analytics [7] - The company's stock has gained 24.5% over the past year, outperforming the Zacks Electronics - Testing Equipment industry, which declined by 2.5% [10]

Core Insights - Itron, in partnership with Pacific Technologies, is deploying smart metering technology for the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) to enhance water operations and infrastructure [1][2] - The initiative aligns with WAF's Water Sector Strategy 2050, which aims for clean water, safe sanitation, financial sustainability, and a skilled workforce [2][5] - The deployment began in May 2025 and is expected to be completed by Q3 2025, focusing on modernizing existing infrastructure [1][3] Infrastructure Upgrade - WAF is upgrading its existing meters to Itron mechanical meters equipped with Cyble communications modules, transforming them into smart meters [3][4] - The Cyble module features a clip-on design that simplifies installation, making it a cost-effective solution for modernizing water operations [3][5] - The Temetra solution will facilitate data collection and storage, eliminating the need for manual meter reading and allowing for easy access to consumption data [3][4] Addressing Non-Revenue Water - The deployment aims to reduce non-revenue water, which WAF estimates to be 47% of its produced water [2][4] - Itron's solutions will provide insights and advanced data analytics to identify water losses, enhancing operational efficiency [4][6] - The integration of Itron's technology with WAF's existing systems will offer a comprehensive view of the water infrastructure across Fiji [4][6] Long-Term Vision - WAF's long-term vision includes creating a resilient and reliable water network, with the scalability of Itron's solutions allowing for gradual expansion based on priorities and budget [5][6] - The deployment is seen as a practical model for smart water management, enabling WAF to upgrade its network at its own pace [6][7] - Itron's smart water solution is designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions, reducing long-term maintenance costs for WAF [6][7]

Company Overview - Itron, Inc. (ITRI) is currently experiencing significant activity in the options market, particularly with the Dec. 19, 2025 $95 Put option showing high implied volatility, indicating potential for a major price movement [1] - The company holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) within the Electronics - Testing Equipment industry, which is positioned in the bottom 23% of the Zacks Industry Rank [3] Analyst Insights - Over the past 60 days, four analysts have raised their earnings estimates for Itron for the current quarter, increasing the Zacks Consensus Estimate from $1.28 per share to $1.45 [3] - The high implied volatility in the options market suggests that traders are anticipating a significant price movement for Itron shares, which could indicate an upcoming event that may lead to a rally or sell-off [2][4] Trading Strategies - Options traders often seek out options with high implied volatility to sell premium, a strategy that aims to benefit from the decay of option value over time [4]

Core Insights - Itron, Inc. has appointed Sheri Savage, former CFO of Ultra Clean Holdings, to its board of directors, effective August 11, 2025, bringing over 30 years of finance experience [1][2]. Company Overview - Itron is focused on innovating solutions for utilities and cities to manage energy and water, aiming to improve efficiency and deliver reliable services [5]. Leadership Experience - Sheri Savage has held multiple leadership roles at Ultra Clean Holdings since 2009, becoming CFO in 2016 and leading the company through significant revenue and earnings growth [2]. - Prior to her role at UCT, Savage served as corporate controller and vice president of finance at Credence Systems Corporation, and held various roles at Protiviti and KLA-Tencor Corporation [2]. Board Expectations - The chair of Itron's board, Diana Tremblay, highlighted Savage's strategic financial leadership and extensive experience in various financial domains as key qualifications for her board position [3]. - Itron's CEO, Tom Deitrich, expressed confidence that Savage's experience in public company finance will be beneficial for advancing the company's business strategy and enhancing shareholder value [4].

Core Insights - Zacks Premium provides tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies, including daily updates on Zacks Rank and Industry Rank, research reports, and stock screens [1][2] Group 1: Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores rate stocks based on value, growth, and momentum, serving as complementary indicators to the Zacks Rank [2][3] - Each stock receives a rating from A to F, with A indicating the highest potential for outperforming the market [3] - The Style Scores are categorized into four types: Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score, and VGM Score [3][4][5][6] Group 2: Value Score - The Value Score identifies attractive stocks using ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow, focusing on finding undervalued stocks [3] Group 3: Growth Score - The Growth Score emphasizes a company's financial health and future outlook, analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow [4] Group 4: Momentum Score - The Momentum Score assesses trends in stock prices and earnings estimates, helping investors identify favorable times to invest in high-momentum stocks [5] Group 5: VGM Score - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for selecting stocks with strong value, growth, and momentum characteristics [6] Group 6: Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model based on earnings estimate revisions, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +23.75% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [7][8] - Investors are encouraged to select stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B for optimal returns [9] Group 7: Stock Highlight - Itron Inc (ITRI) - Itron Inc, a technology and services company, is rated 2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank and has a VGM Score of A [11] - The company is projected to have a year-over-year earnings growth of 4.8% for the current fiscal year, with recent earnings estimates revised upward [12] - Itron has an average earnings surprise of +32.5%, making it a strong candidate for growth investors [12]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of Wall Street analysts' recommendations, particularly focusing on Itron (ITRI), and emphasizes the importance of using these recommendations in conjunction with other analytical tools like Zacks Rank for making informed investment decisions [1][5][10]. Group 1: Brokerage Recommendations - Itron has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.30, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, with 80% of recommendations being Strong Buy and 10% being Buy [2][14]. - The article suggests that relying solely on brokerage recommendations may not be wise, as studies indicate they often fail to guide investors effectively towards stocks with high potential for price appreciation [5][10]. Group 2: Analyst Bias and Limitations - Analysts from brokerage firms tend to exhibit a strong positive bias in their ratings, with a ratio of five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" [6][10]. - The interests of brokerage firms may not align with those of retail investors, leading to a lack of insight into future stock price movements [7][10]. Group 3: Zacks Rank as a Tool - Zacks Rank categorizes stocks into five groups based on earnings estimate revisions, providing a more effective indicator of near-term stock price performance compared to ABR [8][11]. - The Zacks Rank is timely and reflects the latest earnings estimates, unlike the potentially outdated ABR [12]. Group 4: Itron's Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Itron has increased by 11.7% over the past month to $5.89, indicating growing optimism among analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects [13]. - This increase in consensus estimates has contributed to Itron receiving a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), suggesting a favorable outlook for the stock [14].

Core Viewpoint - Growth investors seek stocks with above-average financial growth, but identifying such stocks can be challenging due to inherent risks and volatility [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Itron (ITRI) is highlighted as a recommended growth stock with a favorable Growth Score and a top Zacks Rank [2] - The company operates in the energy and water meter sector, which is currently positioned for growth [3] Group 2: Earnings Growth - Itron has a historical EPS growth rate of 36.7%, with projected EPS growth of 4.8% this year, surpassing the industry average of 4.7% [4] Group 3: Cash Flow Growth - Itron's year-over-year cash flow growth stands at 50.8%, significantly higher than the industry average of 11.3% [5] - The company's annualized cash flow growth rate over the past 3-5 years is 4.9%, compared to the industry average of 4.4% [6] Group 4: Earnings Estimate Revisions - There has been a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions for Itron, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year increasing by 11.7% over the past month [8] Group 5: Investment Positioning - Itron has earned a Growth Score of B and a Zacks Rank 2 due to positive earnings estimate revisions, positioning it well for potential outperformance [10]

Itron (ITRI) FY Conference Summary Company Overview - Itron is a technology and solutions provider for utilities and cities globally, with a market cap of approximately $5.5 to $6 billion and annual revenue of about $2.5 billion [4][5] - The company serves around 8,000 customers, focusing on electricity, gas, and water utilities [5] Industry Challenges - Utilities face aging infrastructure and the need to integrate renewable energy sources, leading to increased complexity in managing generation capacity [6] - Environmental pressures such as floods, fires, and storms necessitate resilient and reliable utility services [6] - Consumer expectations for service interaction with utilities are rising [6] Technological Solutions - Itron's grid edge intelligence platform connects various endpoints through a secure IoT network, enabling proactive problem-solving for utilities [8] - The platform allows for applications that can monitor energy usage and detect potential issues, enhancing operational efficiency [8] Financial Performance and Outlook - The company revised its profitability outlook upward by 13% year-over-year but lowered revenue expectations by about 3% or $75 million due to project timing and labor constraints [9][12] - Itron has a backlog of $4.5 billion, providing three to four years of visibility for revenue flow [14] - The utility industry is expected to grow significantly, with a projected annual growth rate of 2-7% over the next 20-30 years [16] Customer Demand and CapEx Trends - The pipeline of opportunities for Itron is at an all-time high, with utility CapEx budgets increasing year-over-year [20][21] - Distribution CapEx is growing faster than other segments, expected to rise from 42% to 43-44% of total budgets in the coming years [21] - Utilities are prioritizing projects based on operational readiness, leading to potential delays in project timelines [22] Regulatory Environment - Rate cases are becoming more complex and taking longer to approve due to increased scrutiny from utility commissions [30] - The average return on approved rate cases is around 9.8%, indicating a constructive regulatory environment despite longer approval times [32] Federal Policy Impact - Federal funding from initiatives like the IIJA is seen as a secondary effect, with utilities likely to proceed with projects regardless of funding availability [37][40] - The company has not observed any significant pullback in project funding, although there is a shift towards legacy projects over renewables [40] Long-term Growth Targets - Itron remains confident in achieving its 2027 growth targets, with current performance tracking ahead of expectations [43] - The outcomes business has shown double-digit growth, driven by increased data utilization and customer demand for advanced solutions [48] M&A Strategy - Itron is actively seeking M&A opportunities to enhance its outcomes business, focusing on scalable and data-driven solutions [63][66] - The company is prepared to act quickly on suitable acquisitions, leveraging a strong balance sheet [68] Margin and Cash Flow Insights - Despite lower revenue projections, Itron raised its profitability outlook due to better product mix and productivity improvements [69] - Free cash flow conversion is tracking ahead of targets, driven by reduced capital expenditures and favorable tax legislation [78][80] Conclusion - Itron is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for utility solutions amid significant industry challenges, with a strong focus on technology, regulatory navigation, and strategic growth initiatives [82]

Core Insights - Itron reported a significant earnings beat with non-GAAP earnings per share at $1.62, exceeding analyst estimates of $1.35, while GAAP revenue was slightly below expectations at $607 million, down from $609 million year-over-year [1][2][5] Financial Performance - Non-GAAP EPS increased by 33.9% year-over-year from $1.21 in Q2 2024 to $1.62 in Q2 2025 [2] - GAAP revenue was $607 million, a decrease of 0.3% from $609 million in Q2 2024 [2] - Gross margin improved to 36.9%, up 2.3 percentage points from 34.6% in Q2 2024 [2][8] - Free cash flow more than doubled to $91 million from $45 million in Q2 2024, reflecting a 102.2% increase [2] - Adjusted EBITDA grew by 16.9% year-over-year to $90 million [2] Business Segments - Device Solutions revenue declined by 5% due to lower legacy electricity product sales, partially offset by increased water sales [5] - Networked Solutions revenue saw a 1% decline, attributed to shipment timing and the absence of one-time revenue recognized in Q2 2024 [5] - Outcomes segment, which includes utility software and data analytics, grew by 9% year-over-year, with a gross margin of 39.2% [6] Strategic Focus - Itron is focusing on technological innovation, investing in research and development for edge intelligence hardware and software applications [4] - The company emphasizes software and recurring revenue as key components of its value proposition, alongside supply chain management and strategic partnerships [4] Operational Highlights - The company achieved record profitability in Q2 2025, with a significant increase in cash and equivalents year-to-date [8] - Total long-term debt was reduced, enhancing the balance sheet, while the backlog rose to $4.5 billion, providing medium-term revenue visibility [9] Future Outlook - Itron updated its FY2025 guidance, projecting revenue between $2.35 billion and $2.4 billion and non-GAAP diluted EPS between $6.00 and $6.20 [10] - For Q3 2025, expected revenue is between $570 million and $585 million, with non-GAAP diluted EPS between $1.45 and $1.55 [10]