NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Jan 11, 2012) - Shares of several companies focused on smart meters struggled in 2011 as much of the stimulus money that drove smart meter deployment in the U.S. came to a close, slowing growth in the sector. "It may continue to be a difficult year in terms of fundamentals, but that's priced into the smart meter guys," Ben Schuman, analyst at Pacific Crest told The Street. Five Star Equities examines investing opportunities in the Scientific & Technical Instrument industry and provides equity research on POWRtech International Corporation (OTCBB: [ POWT ]) and Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: [ ITRI ]). Access to the full company reports can be found at:

[ www.fivestarequities.com/POWT ]
[ www.fivestarequities.com/ITRI ]

Internationally, Shuman argues that smart meter adoption is poised for growth. This sentiment is echoed by IHS Market Research, which predicts that global shipments of smart meters are expected to triple from 2011 to 2016. By 2016, IHS believes that the industry will ship 62 million meters. According to IHS, the jump in smart meter sales will also benefit the semiconductor industry. IHS believes that global sales of semiconductors used in these smart meters could grow to $1.1 billion in 2016, up from $505.6 million in 2011.

Five Star Equities releases regular market updates on the Scientific & Technical Instrument industry so investors can stay ahead of the crowd and make the best investment decisions to maximize their returns. Take a few minutes to register with us free at [ www.fivestarequities.com ] and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.

Itron, Inc. is a technology company, offering end-to-end smart metering solutions to electric, natural gas, and water utilities around the world. Last week the company acquired C&N Engineering's GasGate technology to augment its gas solutions by adding remote gas shut-off capabilities to its product portfolio.

POWRtec International Corp. develops, produces, and sells intelligent electrical meters. POWRTtech argues that its intelligent Smart Meters "allow for the consumer to remotely control power draining devices, such as air conditioners, turning them on and off from virtually any location, reducing energy waste significantly and thus entailing remarkable savings on the utility bill." The company offers meters, which are network-enabled and can be built to utilize virtually any communications protocol. Earlier this month the company signed a contract with Danish Utility giant, DONG Energy, securing the delivery of 50,000 of its Smart Read Meters.

Five Star Equities provides Market Research focused on equities that offer growth opportunities, value, and strong potential return. We strive to provide the most up-to-date market activities. We constantly create research reports and newsletters for our members. Five Star Equities has not been compensated by any of the above-mentioned companies. We act as an independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at: [ www.fivestarequities.com/disclaimer ]