KEYS vs ITRI

For growth investors, Keysight Technologies, Inc.

(KEYS) is the stronger pick with 8. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 0% for Itron, Inc. (ITRI). Itron, Inc. (ITRI) offers the better valuation at 12. 7x trailing P/E (13. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Keysight Technologies, Inc. (KEYS) a "Buy" — based on 15 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. 7x versus Keysight Technologies, Inc. at 75. 1x. On forward P/E, Itron, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 8x.

Over the past 5 years, Keysight Technologies, Inc.

(KEYS) delivered a total return of +156. 8%, compared to -2. 0% for Itron, Inc. (ITRI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KEYS returned +1311% versus ITRI's +97. 1%. 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), Itron, Inc.

(ITRI) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 53β versus Keysight Technologies, Inc. 's 1. 71β — meaning KEYS is approximately 12% more volatile than ITRI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Keysight Technologies, Inc. (KEYS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 51% versus 74% for Itron, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Keysight Technologies, Inc.

(KEYS) is pulling ahead at 8. 0% versus -3. 0% for Itron, Inc. (ITRI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Keysight Technologies, Inc. grew EPS 39. 0% year-over-year, compared to 25. 7% for Itron, 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.

Keysight Technologies, Inc.

(KEYS) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 7% net margin versus 12. 7% for Itron, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KEYS leads at 17. 6% versus 13. 5% for ITRI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KEYS leads at 62. 1%, 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 13. 8x forward P/E versus 41. 2x for Keysight Technologies, Inc. — 27. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ITRI: 65. 1% to $137. 00.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Keysight Technologies, Inc.

(KEYS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1311% 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 (KEYS: +1311%, ITRI: +97. 1%), 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: KEYS is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ITRI is a small-cap deep-value stock. 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.