ITRI vs CSCO

For growth investors, Cisco Systems, Inc.

(CSCO) is the stronger pick with 5. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 0% for Itron, Inc. (ITRI). Itron, Inc. (ITRI) offers the better valuation at 13. 0x trailing P/E (14. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) a "Buy" — based on 73 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 13. 0x versus Cisco Systems, Inc. at 37. 0x. On forward P/E, Itron, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, Cisco Systems, Inc.

(CSCO) delivered a total return of +99. 8%, compared to -0. 0% for Itron, Inc. (ITRI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CSCO returned +314. 4% versus ITRI's +102. 5%. 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), Cisco Systems, Inc.

(CSCO) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 92β versus Itron, Inc. 's 1. 53β — meaning ITRI is approximately 66% more volatile than CSCO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 63% versus 74% for Itron, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cisco Systems, Inc.

(CSCO) is pulling ahead at 5. 3% versus -3. 0% for Itron, Inc. (ITRI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Itron, Inc. grew EPS 25. 7% year-over-year, compared to 0. 4% for Cisco Systems, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ITRI leads at 9. 7% 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.

Cisco Systems, Inc.

(CSCO) is the more profitable company, earning 18. 0% net margin versus 12. 7% for Itron, Inc. — meaning it keeps 18. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CSCO leads at 20. 8% versus 13. 5% for ITRI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CSCO leads at 64. 9%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Itron, Inc.

(ITRI) trades at 14. 0x forward P/E versus 22. 7x for Cisco Systems, Inc. — 8. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ITRI: 62. 3% to $137. 00.

In this comparison, CSCO (1.

7% yield) pays a dividend. ITRI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Cisco Systems, Inc.

(CSCO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 92), 1. 7% yield, +314. 4% 10Y return). Itron, Inc. (ITRI) carries a higher beta of 1. 53 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CSCO: +314. 4%, ITRI: +102. 5%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: ITRI is a small-cap deep-value stock; CSCO is a large-cap quality compounder stock. CSCO pays 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.