ROK vs ITRI

For growth investors, Rockwell Automation, Inc.

(ROK) is the stronger pick with 1. 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 Rockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK) a "Hold" — based on 39 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 Rockwell Automation, Inc. at 59. 9x. On forward P/E, Itron, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 8x.

Over the past 5 years, Rockwell Automation, Inc.

(ROK) delivered a total return of +80. 1%, compared to -2. 0% for Itron, Inc. (ITRI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ROK returned +347. 3% 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), Rockwell Automation, Inc.

(ROK) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 33β versus Itron, Inc. 's 1. 53β — meaning ITRI is approximately 15% more volatile than ROK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Itron, Inc. (ITRI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 74% versus 98% for Rockwell Automation, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Rockwell Automation, Inc.

(ROK) is pulling ahead at 1. 0% 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 -7. 4% for Rockwell Automation, 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.

Itron, Inc.

(ITRI) is the more profitable company, earning 12. 7% net margin versus 10. 4% for Rockwell Automation, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ROK leads at 17. 1% versus 13. 5% for ITRI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ROK leads at 48. 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 37. 8x for Rockwell Automation, Inc. — 24. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ITRI: 65. 1% to $137. 00.

In this comparison, ROK (1.

1% yield) pays a dividend. ITRI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Rockwell Automation, Inc.

(ROK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 1% yield, +347. 3% 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 (ROK: +347. 3%, 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.

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

In terms of investment character: ROK is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ITRI is a small-cap deep-value stock. ROK 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.