20 Best Investments in 2026

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13. Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ:ITRI)

Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ:ITRI) is one of the best investments on our list.

TheFly reported on February 18 that Oppenheimer raised its price target for ITRI to $133 from $125 and maintained an Outperform rating. The upgrade followed the company’s strong fourth-quarter results, which exceeded both revenue and earnings expectations. ITRI also provided guidance for FY2026 that was better than anticipated, along with several indicators suggesting a potential uptick in future demand.

The company’s fourth quarter and full year 2025 results were posted a day earlier on February 17. According to the report, total revenue for Q4 declined 7% year-over-year to $572 million due to portfolio optimization and the timing of project deployments. For the full year, revenue fell 3% to $2.4 billion.

The company generated a notable profit beat with non-GAAP diluted EPS of $2.46 for the quarter, up from $1.35 in the prior year and surpassing the $2.19 expert average. GAAP net income rose from $58 million to $102 million, or $2.21 per diluted share, via higher operating income and a tax benefit. Free cash flow rose 59% to $112 million for the quarter.

Due to a good mix of products and customers, the GAAP gross margin increased by 560 basis points to 40.5%. Operational efficiency was demonstrated by the 21% growth in adjusted EBITDA to $99 million. These results were mainly bolstered by growth in Outcomes revenue and strategic acquisitions.

Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ:ITRI) provides technology solutions for energy and water resource management, including smart meters, data analytics, and connected devices, helping utilities improve efficiency, reliability, and sustainability.

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