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ITRON, INC. (ITRI)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q2 2025 delivered record profitability and cash flow: gross margin 36.9% (up 230 bps YoY), adjusted EBITDA $89.8M, and free cash flow ~$91M; revenue was $606.8M, roughly flat YoY and sequentially .
- EPS beat Street: non-GAAP EPS $1.62 vs consensus $1.33; revenue modestly below consensus ($606.8M vs $609.4M); margin expansion and higher interest income drove the beat while project timing and lack of constrained revenue catch-up weighed on revenue (S&P Global estimates*).
- Guidance reset: FY 2025 revenue lowered to $2.35–$2.40B (from $2.40–$2.50B), while non-GAAP EPS raised to $6.00–$6.20 (from $5.20–$5.60), reflecting stronger mix/efficiency despite slower near-term deployments amid macro/trade-policy uncertainty .
- Stock narrative catalyst: management emphasized secular grid-edge demand, record margins, and Outcomes momentum; near-term caution on regulatory pacing and tariff volatility is balanced by bookings strength and DI adoption trends .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Record gross margin and profitability: total gross margin reached 36.9% (+230 bps YoY), non-GAAP operating income $82.2M (+19% YoY), adjusted EBITDA $89.8M (+16% YoY), and free cash flow ~$90.7M .
- Strategic mix shift and portfolio optimization: Devices margin uplift from exiting lower-margin legacy electric products; Networks/Outcomes benefited from favorable customer/product mix; CEO: “quarterly record levels of margin, profitability, and cash flow” .
- Outcomes momentum and DI scaling: Outcomes revenue +9% YoY; DI-capable endpoints shipped reached 15.3M and licensed apps surpassed 18M (+~140% YoY), underpinning recurring software growth .
What Went Wrong
- Revenue modestly below consensus and down slightly YoY: $606.8M vs Street $609.4M and vs Q2’24 $609.1M; absence of prior-year constrained revenue catch-up and project timing drove the shortfall (S&P Global estimates*) .
- Near-term macro/regulatory/trade friction: customers more deliberate, regulatory pacing and annual capex buckets stretching deployments; guidance reflects slower activity despite constructive long-term outlook .
- Segment softness: Devices revenue −5% YoY and Networked Solutions −1% YoY; Networks faced timing issues and lack of catch-up revenue; Outcomes growth slowed to +9% (sub-10% QoQ) with mix-driven variability .
Financial Results
Consolidated performance vs prior quarters
Q2 2025 actuals vs Wall Street consensus
Year-over-year comparatives (Q2 2025 vs Q2 2024)
Segment breakdown (Q2 2025)
KPIs and operating metrics
Guidance Changes
Management rationale: slower near-term deployments (macro/trade-policy uncertainty, regulatory pacing) pressured revenue, while portfolio mix and efficiency improvements lifted earnings power; normalized for ~$125M 2024 constrained revenue catch-up, revenue trajectory remains constructive .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO: “Itron delivered solid second quarter results driving quarterly record levels of margin, profitability, and cash flow” .
- CFO: “Gross margin of 36.9% is an all-time quarterly record…non-GAAP operating income of $82M was an all-time record; adjusted EBITDA of $90M was also a new record” .
- CEO on near-term environment: “Customers and regulators face a more complex environment, leading to slower project deployments and delayed decisions…we are lowering our full year revenue outlook midpoint by ~3%…and raising EPS outlook midpoint by 13%” .
- CFO on guidance mechanics: FY 2025 revenue $2.35–$2.40B vs prior $2.40–$2.50B; non-GAAP EPS $6.00–$6.20 vs $5.20–$5.60; assumes ~22% effective tax rate .
Q&A Highlights
- Margin durability: EBITDA margin higher than expected, driven by device portfolio changes (closure of low-margin France factory) and favorable mix; Networks/Outcomes margins fluctuate with deployment phase/software mix .
- Revenue pacing/backlog: Slower deployment pace (labor, sequencing, budgets) affecting backlog conversion; no cancellations; backlog pushouts create easier comps next year but too early to quantify .
- Regulatory environment: PUCs balancing ratepayer pressure with infrastructure needs; approvals continue but deliberation increases complexity and timing .
- M&A and capital allocation: Focus on Outcomes/software assets; active funnel; disciplined capital deployment; cash balances contributing to interest income until deployed .
- DI/Outcomes runway: DI endpoints and applications scaling; recurring revenue per endpoint set to expand; Outcomes gross margin path subject to quarterly mix .
Estimates Context
- Q2 2025: EPS beat ($1.62 vs $1.33*), revenue slight miss ($606.8M vs $609.4M*); Street had 8 EPS and 10 revenue estimates, underscoring margin upside vs conservative revenue timing (S&P Global estimates*).
- FY 2025: Post-update, company revenue guidance ($2.35–$2.40B) aligns with Street revenue ~$2.356B*, but company EPS guidance ($6.00–$6.20) is below current consensus ~$6.87*, implying potential downward estimate revisions unless margin outperformance persists (S&P Global estimates*).
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Margin-driven EPS upside despite flat revenue: mix optimization and operational efficiency are offsetting near-term deployment pacing—supporting premium on profitability quality .
- Short-term: Expect muted revenue growth as regulatory/capex timing elongates backlog conversion; trading setup favors owning on pullbacks given resilient earnings algorithm and recurring software build .
- Medium-term thesis: DI/Outcomes scale (endpoints, apps) expands recurring revenue and moat; secular grid demand (AI/data centers, reshoring, resiliency) sustains multi-year growth .
- Guidance mix shift: Monitor execution against raised EPS and lowered revenue guide; watch Q3 delivery vs outlook ($570–$585M, $1.45–$1.55 EPS) as a near-term check on deployment pacing .
- Tariff/regulatory watch: Headline risk on trade policy changes and rate-case deliberation can affect timing but not destination; multi-sourcing and pricing flexibility mitigate earnings risk .
- Capital deployment optionality: Robust cash and low net leverage position Itron for accretive Outcomes/software M&A, a catalyst for multiple expansion .
- Segment lens: Devices margins structurally improved; Networks timing normalizes; Outcomes margin trajectory positive but quarterly mix remains variable—position sizing should reflect this .
Appendix: Source Documents
- Q2 2025 8-K and press release:
- Q2 2025 earnings call transcript:
- Q1 2025 press release/8-K/call:
- Q4 2024 press release/8-K/call:
- Values retrieved from S&P Global for consensus estimates.*