ST vs ITRI

For growth investors, Itron, Inc.

(ITRI) is the stronger pick with -3. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 9% for Sensata Technologies Holding plc (ST). Itron, Inc. (ITRI) offers the better valuation at 12. 5x trailing P/E (13. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sensata Technologies Holding plc (ST) a "Buy" — based on 29 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. 5x versus Sensata Technologies Holding plc at 211. 1x. On forward P/E, Sensata Technologies Holding plc is actually cheaper at 12. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Itron, Inc.

(ITRI) delivered a total return of -7. 2%, compared to -21. 4% for Sensata Technologies Holding plc (ST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ITRI returned +94. 4% versus ST's +33. 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), Itron, Inc.

(ITRI) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 53β versus Sensata Technologies Holding plc's 1. 98β — meaning ST is approximately 29% more volatile than ITRI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Itron, Inc. (ITRI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 74% versus 105% for Sensata Technologies Holding plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Itron, Inc.

(ITRI) is pulling ahead at -3. 0% versus -5. 9% for Sensata Technologies Holding plc (ST). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Itron, Inc. grew EPS 25. 7% year-over-year, compared to -75. 3% for Sensata Technologies Holding plc. 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 0. 8% for Sensata Technologies Holding plc — meaning it keeps 12. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ST leads at 13. 9% versus 13. 5% for ITRI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ITRI leads at 37. 5%, 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, Sensata Technologies Holding plc (ST) trades at 12.

0x forward P/E versus 13. 5x for Itron, Inc. — 1. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ITRI: 68. 8% to $137. 00.

In this comparison, ST (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, Sensata Technologies Holding plc (ST) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1.

1% yield). 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 (ST: +33. 5%, ITRI: +94. 4%), 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: ST is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ITRI is a small-cap deep-value stock. ST 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.