
Sensus is owned by Xylem Inc. (NYSE: XYL), a publicly traded water technology company headquartered in Washington, DC. Tracing its history to the National Meter Company founded in 1870, Sensus makes smart meters, FlexNet communication networks, and analytics for water, gas, and electric utilities. Xylem acquired it in October 2016 for approximately $1.7 billion.
Parent Company
Founded
1870
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Sensus | Xylem Inc. | Wholly owned |
The metering lineage begins with National Meter Company, founded in Brooklyn in 1870 to produce disc and piston water meters. A parallel thread started in 1886 when George Westinghouse founded Pittsburgh Meter Company, which merged into Pittsburgh Equitable Meter Company in 1927.
Willard F. Rockwell bought Pittsburgh Equitable in 1945 and renamed it Rockwell Manufacturing, which grew into one of the dominant US meter makers. The metering business later passed to Invensys, which sold it to private equity buyers in 2003; the new company took the Sensus Metering Systems name.
Sensus built its modern identity on the FlexNet fixed-network advanced metering infrastructure, using licensed spectrum for secure utility communications. The 2016 Xylem acquisition combined that communications layer with Xylem's water expertise, and the brand now provides metering for water, gas, and electric utilities.
Is Xylem publicly traded?
Yes. It trades on the NYSE under ticker XYL and is in the S&P 500.
What does the name Xylem mean?
Xylem is the plant tissue that transports water from roots to leaves, chosen to signal the company's focus on moving water.
Who is the CEO of Xylem?
Matthew Pine, who became president and CEO in January 2024.
Did Xylem buy Evoqua?
Yes. The approximately $7.5 billion all-stock acquisition closed in May 2023, creating the world's largest pure-play water technology company.
Where is Xylem headquartered?
Washington, DC, at 301 Water Street SE.
What companies did Xylem spin off from?
ITT Corporation, in a 2011 three-way split.
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xylem | USA | 2011 | Mass market | Global | All Genders |
Market Positioning: Sensus competes with 1 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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Graybar is privately owned, unlike Sensus which is under a publicly traded parent company.
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