Esco (ESE) Soars, Itron (ITRI) Plummets On News Esco May Win Sempra Energy (SRE) Gas Smart Meter Contract

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06:12:10 pm on July 22, 2010

Sempra Energy (SRE) will soon make an announcement as to which company will win the estimated $400 million smart meter contract.  It had been thought that Itron (ITRI) would win the contract, but today Esco Technologies (ESE) announced it was selected by Sempra for “negotiation of a definitive agreement”. 

RBC Capital Markets analyst Stuart Bush called the move unusual and said it implies Esco has a leading position in negotiations.  Stifel Nicolaus analyst Jeff Osborne said the contract was part of the bullish case for Itron and would be a major loss.  Couldn’t have put it better myself.  As the stock was getting crushed, down nearly 15%, JP Morgan defended the stock saying that Itron could still win a piece of the Sempra business.  It sent shares about 10% off the lows, closing down less than 8%.  Esco shares soared nearly 25% today, helping make the case that the $25 level will hold as a major area of long term support.

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===> Click Here For Your FREE Itron Technical Analysis

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