ITRON, INC.ITRI
ITRON, INC. Stock Compensation Disclosure
Stock-Based Compensation
We grant stock-based compensation awards, including restricted stock units, phantom stock, and unrestricted stock units, under the Second Amended and Restated 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (Stock Incentive Plan). Prior to December 31, 2020, stock options were also granted as part of the stock-based compensation awards. In the Stock Incentive Plan, we have 13,991,273 shares of common stock authorized for issuance subject to stock splits, dividends, and other similar events, and at December 31, 2025, 3,808,654 shares were available for grant. We issue new shares of common stock upon the exercise of stock options or when vesting conditions on restricted stock units are fully satisfied. These shares are subject to a fungible share provision such that the authorized share available for grant under the Plan is reduced by (i) one share for every one share subject to a stock option or share appreciation right granted and (ii) 1.7 shares for every one share of common stock that was subject to an award other than an option or share appreciation right.
We also award phantom stock units, which are settled in cash upon vesting and accounted for as liability-based awards, with no impact to the shares available for grant.
In addition, we maintain the ESPP, for which 441,813 shares of common stock were available for future issuance at December 31, 2025.
ESPP activity and stock-based grants other than restricted stock units were not significant for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
Total stock-based compensation expense and the related tax benefit were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| In thousands | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| Stock options | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 103 | |||||||||||
| Restricted stock units | 61,520 | 42,531 | 27,189 | ||||||||||||||
| Unrestricted stock awards | 929 | 1,343 | 1,065 | ||||||||||||||
| Phantom stock units | 3,925 | 5,923 | 5,025 | ||||||||||||||
| Total stock-based compensation | $ | 66,374 | $ | 49,797 | $ | 33,382 | |||||||||||
| Related tax benefit | $ | 15,144 | $ | 10,802 | $ | 6,928 | |||||||||||
Stock Options
A summary of our stock option activity is as follows:
| Shares | Weighted Average Exercise Price per Share | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life | Aggregate Intrinsic Value | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In thousands | Years | In thousands | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding, January 1, 2023 | 381 | $ | 60.63 | 4.8 | $ | 1,892 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Granted | — | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercised | (18) | 45.96 | 397 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Canceled | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding, December 31, 2023 | 363 | $ | 61.36 | 4.0 | $ | 5,886 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Granted | — | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercised | (89) | 51.45 | 4,450 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Canceled | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding, December 31, 2024 | 274 | $ | 64.55 | 3.2 | $ | 12,087 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Granted | — | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercised | (87) | 39.95 | 6,461 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Forfeited | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Canceled | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding and Exercisable, December 31, 2025 | 187 | $ | 75.89 | 3.1 | $ | 3,188 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
At December 31, 2025, all stock-based compensation expense related to nonvested stock options has been recognized.
Restricted Stock Units
The following table summarizes restricted stock unit activity:
| Number of Restricted Stock Units | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | Aggregate Intrinsic Value | |||||||||||||||
| In thousands | In thousands | ||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding, January 1, 2023 | 528 | $ | 66.39 | ||||||||||||||
| Granted | 497 | 56.89 | |||||||||||||||
Released (1) | (242) | $ | 13,974 | ||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | (32) | ||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding, December 31, 2023 | 751 | $ | 58.89 | ||||||||||||||
| Granted | 552 | 76.34 | |||||||||||||||
Released (1) | (446) | $ | 38,260 | ||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | (26) | ||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding, December 31, 2024 | 831 | $ | 67.71 | ||||||||||||||
| Granted | 608 | 98.35 | |||||||||||||||
Released (1) | (611) | 66.17 | $ | 61,617 | |||||||||||||
| Forfeited | (38) | 84.66 | |||||||||||||||
| Outstanding, December 31, 2025 | 790 | $ | 88.51 | ||||||||||||||
| Vested but not released, December 31, 2025 | 17 | $ | 92.86 | $ | 1,618 | ||||||||||||
(1) Shares released is presented as gross shares and does not reflect shares withheld by us for employee payroll tax obligations.
At December 31, 2025, total unrecognized compensation expense on restricted stock units was $35.6 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.6 years.
The weighted average assumptions used to estimate the fair value of performance-based restricted stock units granted with a service and market condition and the resulting weighted average fair value are as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| Expected volatility | 39.7 | % | 40.3 | % | 46.0 | % | |||||||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | 3.8 | % | 4.3 | % | 4.6 | % | |||||||||||
| Expected term (years) | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.9 | ||||||||||||||
| Weighted average fair value | $ | 105.82 | $ | 115.69 | $ | 73.41 | |||||||||||
Phantom Stock Units
The following table summarizes phantom stock unit activity:
| Number of Phantom Stock Units | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | Aggregate Intrinsic Value | |||||||||||||||
| In thousands | In thousands | ||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding, January 1, 2023 | 85 | $ | 66.46 | ||||||||||||||
| Granted | 77 | 56.52 | |||||||||||||||
| Released | (43) | $ | 2,511 | ||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | (4) | ||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding, December 31, 2023 | 115 | $ | 58.58 | ||||||||||||||
| Granted | 57 | 77.38 | |||||||||||||||
| Released | (63) | $ | 5,420 | ||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | (18) | ||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding, December 31, 2024 | 91 | $ | 68.63 | ||||||||||||||
| Granted | 41 | 98.56 | |||||||||||||||
| Released | (61) | 67.16 | $ | 6,201 | |||||||||||||
| Forfeited | (7) | 77.72 | |||||||||||||||
| Outstanding, December 31, 2025 | 64 | $ | 88.36 | ||||||||||||||
At December 31, 2025, total unrecognized compensation expense on phantom stock units was $3.5 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.6 years. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, we have recognized a phantom stock liability of $2.5 million and $4.8 million within wages and benefits payable in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
About Stock Compensation Disclosures
Stock-based compensation disclosures detail the equity awards granted to employees and executives — including stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), and performance shares — along with the valuation methods and assumptions used to expense them. This section reveals the true cost of talent retention and the alignment between management incentives and shareholder interests.
Key signals: total unrecognized compensation expense and its expected recognition period signal future earnings headwinds from already-granted awards. For stock options, examine Black-Scholes assumptions — expected volatility, risk-free rate, and expected term — as understating any of these reduces reported compensation expense. Compare stock compensation expense as a percentage of revenue against peers to assess dilution cost. Watch vesting schedules for acceleration clauses tied to change-of-control events. Performance-based awards with undemanding targets may indicate weak governance. Add back stock compensation to operating cash flow to calculate a more conservative free cash flow figure.