Itron's Rating Lowered by Argus Due to Unclear Earnings Outlook
Analyst Downgrade: Itron's shares were downgraded to Hold from Buy by Argus, following a more than 50% increase since August 2023, suggesting investors may want to lock in profits now.
Shift in Focus: The company is transitioning from non-communicating devices to smart networks and customized solutions, anticipating growth as demand for electricity and water resources rises.
Earnings Outlook: Itron's earnings forecast is uncertain, with non-GAAP guidance indicating over 20% EPS growth, but management's comments suggest a more conservative mid-teens growth rate and a slowdown in order growth.
Valuation Concerns: Currently trading at 16x FY 2026 adjusted earnings estimates, Itron's valuation has decreased amid earnings uncertainty, leading to the analyst's recommendation to maintain a Hold rating until the outlook improves.
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- Earnings Announcement: Itron is set to release its Q4 2023 earnings report on February 17 before the market opens, with a consensus EPS estimate of $2.19, reflecting a substantial year-over-year increase of 62.2%, indicating strong profitability.
- Revenue Expectations: Despite the optimistic EPS forecast, the revenue estimate stands at $561.48 million, representing an 8.4% year-over-year decline, suggesting challenges in revenue growth that could impact investor confidence.
- Historical Performance: Over the past two years, Itron has achieved a 100% accuracy rate in beating EPS estimates and a 75% rate for revenue estimates, demonstrating a high level of reliability in financial forecasting, which enhances market expectations for future performance.
- Estimate Revision Trends: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen three upward revisions and two downward adjustments, while revenue estimates experienced one upward and one downward revision, indicating market uncertainty regarding Itron's future performance.
- Roku Options Volume: Roku Inc's options trading volume reached 34,468 contracts today, representing approximately 3.4 million shares, which accounts for 95% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, indicating strong market interest in its future performance.
- High Put Option Activity: Among Roku's options, the $85 strike put option expiring on February 13, 2026, has seen particularly high activity with 3,566 contracts traded, representing about 356,600 shares, reflecting investor expectations of potential downside risks in its stock price.
- Itron Options Trading: Itron Inc recorded an options trading volume of 5,353 contracts, equivalent to approximately 535,300 shares, which is about 94% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, showcasing active market engagement with its stock.
- High Call Option Activity: The $105 strike call option for Itron, expiring on March 20, 2026, has seen 1,285 contracts traded today, representing around 128,500 shares, indicating investor confidence in its future upside potential.
- Project Background: Itron and Toumetis have launched a project in Southern California aimed at reducing SAIFI and SAIDI metrics through advanced real-time analytics, thereby enhancing electric reliability and wildfire mitigation efforts.
- Technology Integration: The project combines Itron's high-resolution data with Toumetis' Cascadence⢠predictive analytics platform, integrating data from over 800 electric distribution circuits to create a unified operational view for earlier risk identification.
- Core Objectives: By early identification of precursor conditions and accelerating fault location, the initiative aims to reduce customer interruptions and shorten outage durations, particularly in high fire threat areas, ensuring safer electric operations.
- Future Outlook: Itron and Toumetis plan to use initial data integration and results measurement to guide potential expansions into additional circuits and operating scenarios, further enhancing the reliability and responsiveness of the electric system.

- Market Share Shift: According to Similarweb, Gemini's market share surged from 5% to 18% in 2025, while ChatGPT's share fell from 87% to 68%, potentially undermining investor confidence in OpenAI.
- Stock Market Correction Prediction: Historical data indicates that stock markets typically experience a correction of at least 10% every 1-2 years, and given the last correction in early 2025, another could be expected in the second half of 2026, prompting investor caution.
- Electricity Bottleneck Issue: The demand for electricity from AI infrastructure is growing faster than supply, leading to rising electricity prices, with the Trump administration intervening to ensure Microsoft does not pass these costs onto consumers, which could impact the AI sector's growth.
- Investment Opportunities: Amid the electricity bottleneck, companies like Itron and Tesla may benefit from optimizing existing grid capabilities to meet increasing demand, presenting potential investment opportunities in the energy sector.
- Market Share Shift: According to Similarweb, Gemini's market share surged from 5% to 18% in 2025, while ChatGPT's share dropped from 87% to 68%, indicating a significant shift that could impact investor confidence in the AI sector.
- Correction Prediction: A stock market correction of at least 10% is anticipated in 2026, as historical data suggests such corrections occur every one to two years, prompting investors to prepare for potential volatility.
- Power Bottleneck Opportunities: The rapid increase in electricity demand from AI infrastructure is leading to rising power prices, creating opportunities for companies like Itron that deploy smart meters to help utilities optimize existing resources amid this bottleneck.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: Despite the expected correction, the overall market is projected to rise in 2026, driven by strong infrastructure spending, lower inflation, and mortgage rates, encouraging investors to maintain a positive outlook.
- Market Share Shift: Alphabet's Gemini has surged from 5% to 21% market share in 2025, while ChatGPT's share dropped from 87% to 68%, potentially shaking investor confidence in the AI sector.
- Correction Anticipation: A stock market correction of at least 10% is expected in 2026, as historical data indicates such corrections occur every one to two years, prompting investors to prepare for volatility.
- Power Bottleneck Opportunities: The surge in electricity demand from AI infrastructure is creating a power bottleneck, leading to rising electricity prices, with companies like Itron and Tesla likely to benefit from solutions that optimize existing resources.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: Despite the anticipated correction, the market is expected to rebound by the end of 2026, supported by strong infrastructure spending and lower inflation, indicating a generally positive outlook for investors.









