BMI vs MWA vs ITRI vs AWK vs FELE

For growth investors, Badger Meter, Inc.

(BMI) is the stronger pick with 10. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 0% for Itron, Inc. (ITRI). Itron, Inc. (ITRI) offers the better valuation at 12. 6x trailing P/E (13. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Badger Meter, Inc. (BMI) a "Hold" — based on 18 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Itron, Inc.

(ITRI) is the cheapest at 12. 6x versus Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. at 30. 6x. On forward P/E, Itron, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Mueller Water Products, Inc. wins at 0. 81x versus American Water Works Company, Inc. 's 2. 60x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Mueller Water Products, Inc.

(MWA) delivered a total return of +86. 6%, compared to -10. 7% for American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BMI returned +242. 5% versus ITRI's +96. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), American Water Works Company, Inc.

(AWK) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 48β versus Itron, Inc. 's 1. 52β — meaning ITRI is approximately -418% more volatile than AWK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. (FELE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 147% for American Water Works Company, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Badger Meter, Inc.

(BMI) is pulling ahead at 10. 9% versus -3. 0% for Itron, Inc. (ITRI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Mueller Water Products, Inc. grew EPS 64. 9% year-over-year, compared to -15. 8% for Franklin Electric Co. , Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BMI leads at 17. 5% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

American Water Works Company, Inc.

(AWK) is the more profitable company, earning 21. 6% net margin versus 6. 9% for Franklin Electric Co. , Inc. — meaning it keeps 21. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AWK leads at 36. 6% versus 12. 7% for FELE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AWK leads at 43. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Mueller Water Products, Inc. (MWA) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 81x versus American Water Works Company, Inc. 's 2. 60x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Itron, Inc. (ITRI) trades at 13. 6x forward P/E versus 26. 4x for Badger Meter, Inc. — 12. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ITRI: 67. 3% to $137. 00.

In this comparison, AWK (2.

6% yield), BMI (1. 2% yield), FELE (1. 1% yield), MWA (1. 0% yield) pay a dividend. ITRI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, American Water Works Company, Inc.

(AWK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 48), 2. 6% yield). Itron, Inc. (ITRI) carries a higher beta of 1. 52 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AWK: +99. 3%, ITRI: +96. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (BMI (Technology) and MWA (Industrials) and ITRI (Technology) and AWK (Utilities) and FELE (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: BMI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MWA is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ITRI is a small-cap deep-value stock; AWK is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; FELE is a small-cap quality compounder stock. BMI, MWA, AWK, FELE pay a dividend while ITRI does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.