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Itron (ITRI) Exceeds Market Returns: Some Facts to Consider

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Itron (ITRI - Free Report) closed at $86.74 in the latest trading session, marking a +1.92% move from the prior day. The stock outpaced the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.72%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw an upswing of 0.3%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq appreciated by 1.12%.

The stock of energy and water meter company has risen by 6.29% in the past month, leading the Computer and Technology sector's loss of 6.12% and the S&P 500's loss of 0.9%.

Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Itron in its upcoming release. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of $1.31, showcasing a 19.14% downward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. At the same time, our most recent consensus estimate is projecting a revenue of $564.72 million, reflecting a 6.93% fall from the equivalent quarter last year.

In terms of the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $6.01 per share and a revenue of $2.38 billion, indicating changes of -15.71% and +0.34%, respectively, from the former year.

It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for Itron. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability.

Our research demonstrates that these adjustments in estimates directly associate with imminent stock price performance. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. At present, Itron boasts a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell).

In terms of valuation, Itron is presently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 14.17. This valuation marks a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 24.98.

Investors should also note that ITRI has a PEG ratio of 0.75 right now. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. The Electronics - Testing Equipment industry currently had an average PEG ratio of 2.02 as of yesterday's close.

The Electronics - Testing Equipment industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 25, positioning it in the top 11% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the power of our distinct industry groups by determining the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks forming the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Zacks.com.

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