Robert W. Baird Upgrades Itron (NASDAQ:ITRI) to Outperform

Itron (NASDAQ:ITRI) was upgraded by equities researchers at Robert W. Baird from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research note issued on Wednesday, MarketBeat.com reports. The firm currently has a $128.00 price target on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock, up from their prior price target of $118.00. Robert W. Baird’s price target would indicate a potential upside of 29.15% from the company’s current price.

Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Guggenheim set a $155.00 price objective on Itron in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Zacks Research cut shares of Itron from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Argus reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Itron in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Itron from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Oppenheimer raised their price objective on shares of Itron from $125.00 to $133.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $137.90.

Itron Stock Performance

Shares of ITRI stock opened at $99.11 on Wednesday. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $97.65 and its two-hundred day moving average is $110.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 1.91 and a current ratio of 1.80. Itron has a 1 year low of $88.57 and a 1 year high of $142.00. The firm has a market cap of $4.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.22, a PEG ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.48.

Itron (NASDAQ:ITRI) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 17th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.46 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.19 by $0.27. The business had revenue of $571.66 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $561.31 million. Itron had a return on equity of 20.04% and a net margin of 12.72%.The company’s revenue was down 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.35 earnings per share. Itron has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.200-1.300 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 5.750-6.250 EPS. Analysts predict that Itron will post 5.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Christopher E. Ware sold 343 shares of Itron stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $96.51, for a total transaction of $33,102.93. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 18,774 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,811,878.74. This trade represents a 1.79% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Donald L. Reeves III sold 536 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $96.51, for a total transaction of $51,729.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 19,068 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,840,252.68. The trade was a 2.73% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 3,113 shares of company stock valued at $301,678. 1.45% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Itron

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC acquired a new stake in Itron during the third quarter worth about $1,300,000. Robeco Schweiz AG raised its position in shares of Itron by 31.2% during the 3rd quarter. Robeco Schweiz AG now owns 372,176 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $46,358,000 after purchasing an additional 88,504 shares during the period. Schroder Investment Management Group raised its position in shares of Itron by 23.6% during the 2nd quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 376,087 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $49,504,000 after purchasing an additional 71,702 shares during the period. J. Safra Sarasin Holding AG bought a new stake in shares of Itron in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $4,673,000. Finally, Arvin Capital Management LP acquired a new position in Itron during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $8,331,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.19% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Itron

Here are the key news stories impacting Itron this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 results and operational commentary beat expectations — Itron reported stronger-than-expected EPS, margin expansion, solid bookings and noted recurring-revenue acceleration and segment expansion that investors cheered. That drove an initial gap up in shares after the print. Itron Shares Jump 8% on Q4 Earnings Beat, Revenues Fall Y/Y
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrade from Robert W. Baird — Baird moved ITRI from Neutral to Outperform and raised its price target to $128 (from $118), citing the grid-modernization opportunity and stronger recurring revenue trends. The upgrade and higher PT provide upside support to the stock. Itron just upgraded at Baird — here’s why
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst coverage roundup — multiple outlets published analyst commentary and roundups that summarize mixed views on the stock; these pieces consolidate sell-side views but add little new near-term catalyst on their own. Where Itron Stands With Analysts
• Neutral Sentiment: Short-interest data flagged but appears erroneous — a February short-interest entry shows 0 shares and a 0.0 days-to-cover ratio, which likely reflects a reporting/data error rather than a real change in short positioning; investors should watch for corrected filings.
• Negative Sentiment: Bearish/valuation critique — at least one detailed analysis argues that despite cheap relative multiples the shares don’t yet justify an upgrade, highlighting risks around revenue declines, potential FY dilution from new initiatives, and uncertainty on sustainable growth. That commentary can temper momentum from the earnings beat and upgrade. Itron: Despite A Cheap Relative Valuation, Shares Don’t Justify An Upgrade Now

Itron Company Profile

Itron, Inc (NASDAQ: ITRI) is a global technology company that develops innovative solutions to measure, manage and analyze the use of energy and water. Its comprehensive portfolio includes smart meters, data collection devices, communication networks and advanced software applications designed to optimize utility operations and foster sustainable resource management. The company’s offerings enable utilities and cities to accurately monitor consumption patterns, streamline billing processes and improve grid reliability.

Itron’s product lineup spans a range of hardware and software solutions, from residential and commercial smart meters to meter data management systems (MDMS), networked communication platforms and analytics tools.