Tearsheet

Zebra Technologies (ZBRA)


Market Price (12/18/2025): $255.56 | Market Cap: $13.0 Bil
Sector: Information Technology | Industry: Electronic Equipment & Instruments

Zebra Technologies (ZBRA)


Market Price (12/18/2025): $255.56
Market Cap: $13.0 Bil
Sector: Information Technology
Industry: Electronic Equipment & Instruments

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 16%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 15%
Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -39%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -70%
Weak revenue growth
Rev Chg 3Y AvgRevenue Change % averaged over trailing 3 years is -2.4%
1 Attractive yield
FCF Yield is 5.2%
  Key risks
ZBRA key risks include [1] supply chain challenges adversely affecting its Asset Intelligence & Tracking segment and [2] a substantial and rapidly growing long-term debt load.
2 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 46%
  
3 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Automation & Robotics, and E-commerce & DTC Adoption. Themes include Process / Warehouse Automation, Factory Automation, Show more.
  
0 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 16%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 15%
1 Attractive yield
FCF Yield is 5.2%
2 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 46%
3 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Automation & Robotics, and E-commerce & DTC Adoption. Themes include Process / Warehouse Automation, Factory Automation, Show more.
4 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -39%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -70%
5 Weak revenue growth
Rev Chg 3Y AvgRevenue Change % averaged over trailing 3 years is -2.4%
6 Key risks
ZBRA key risks include [1] supply chain challenges adversely affecting its Asset Intelligence & Tracking segment and [2] a substantial and rapidly growing long-term debt load.

Valuation, Metrics & Events

ZBRA Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

For Zebra Technologies (ZBRA), the stock experienced a -19.8% movement from approximately August 31, 2025, to December 18, 2025, primarily due to several key factors: 1. 1. The company reported mixed third-quarter 2025 results on October 28, 2025, which led to a significant stock decline. Despite beating analyst expectations for earnings per share (EPS), Zebra Technologies' revenue slightly missed or was in line with forecasts, triggering a negative market reaction that saw the stock tumble over 16% post-announcement. 2. 2. Concerns over weak underlying organic growth and reliance on acquisitions for future growth impacted investor sentiment. The market reacted negatively to the company's fourth-quarter outlook, which indicated a low organic growth rate of 0% to 2.5% when excluding the favorable impacts of recent acquisitions and foreign currency translation. This suggested that underlying demand might be stalling, and the company was perceived as "buying growth" through mergers and acquisitions. 3.

Show more

Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
ZBRA Return50%55%-57%7%41%-32%2%
Peers Return32%15%-21%5%5%2%35%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%14%108%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
ZBRA Win Rate58%83%25%50%58%42% 
Peers Win Rate65%63%37%50%45%45% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%73% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
ZBRA Max Drawdown-37%-2%-62%-23%-12%-45% 
Peers Max Drawdown-41%-6%-34%-15%-9%-22% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: HON, CGNX, TRMB, AVY, FTV. See ZBRA Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/17/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventZBRAS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-67.8%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven210.4%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-37.7%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven60.4%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven78 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-28.8%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven40.4%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven148 days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-61.1%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven157.0%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven792 days1,480 days

Compare to HON, AVY, IEX, TTC, BRC


In The Past

Zebra Technologies's stock fell -67.8% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 12/10/2021. A -67.8% loss requires a 210.4% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About Zebra Technologies (ZBRA)

Better Bets than Zebra Technologies (ZBRA)

Latest Trefis Analyses

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to ZBRA. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
ENPH_11302025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11302025ENPHEnphase EnergyDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
9.6%9.6%-0.9%
PD_11262025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11262025PDPagerDutyDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
10.1%10.1%0.0%
CRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CRMSalesforceDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
13.5%13.5%-0.1%
HUBS_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11212025HUBSHubSpotDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
9.1%9.1%0.0%
FIVN_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11212025FIVNFive9Dip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
11.5%11.5%0.0%
ZBRA_10312025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield10312025ZBRAZebra TechnologiesDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
-5.6%-5.6%-15.2%
ZBRA_4302025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield04302025ZBRAZebra TechnologiesDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
8.2%1.6%-8.8%
ZBRA_4302022_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield04302022ZBRAZebra TechnologiesDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
-22.1%-22.1%-38.6%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
ENPH_11302025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11302025ENPHEnphase EnergyDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
9.6%9.6%-0.9%
PD_11262025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11262025PDPagerDutyDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
10.1%10.1%0.0%
CRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CRMSalesforceDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
13.5%13.5%-0.1%
HUBS_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11212025HUBSHubSpotDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
9.1%9.1%0.0%
FIVN_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11212025FIVNFive9Dip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
11.5%11.5%0.0%
ZBRA_10312025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield10312025ZBRAZebra TechnologiesDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
-5.6%-5.6%-15.2%
ZBRA_4302025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield04302025ZBRAZebra TechnologiesDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
8.2%1.6%-8.8%
ZBRA_4302022_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield04302022ZBRAZebra TechnologiesDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
-22.1%-22.1%-38.6%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for Zebra Technologies

Peers to compare with:

Financials

ZBRAHONCGNXTRMBAVYFTVMedian
NameZebra Te.Honeywel.Cognex Trimble Avery De.Fortive  
Mkt Price254.27199.8935.7678.89183.8655.24131.38
Mkt Cap12.9127.06.018.814.318.316.3
Rev LTM5,25540,6709723,6018,7707,2446,249
Op Inc LTM8067,6921585741,1221,255964
FCF LTM7926,1642143156531,088722
FCF 3Y Avg5375,2121504536211,241579
CFO LTM8667,4852223418561,220861
CFO 3Y Avg6126,3361664878721,354742

Growth & Margins

ZBRAHONCGNXTRMBAVYFTVMedian
NameZebra Te.Honeywel.Cognex Trimble Avery De.Fortive  
Rev Chg LTM12.9%7.5%10.2%-0.9%1.0%27.9%8.8%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg-2.4%5.2%-0.8%-1.3%-1.4%9.4%-1.1%
Rev Chg Q5.2%7.0%18.0%2.9%1.5%2.3%4.0%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM1.3%1.7%4.5%0.7%0.4%0.3%1.0%
Op Mgn LTM15.3%18.9%16.3%15.9%12.8%17.3%16.1%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg14.6%19.5%15.4%13.5%12.1%18.0%15.0%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM-0.2%-0.9%2.1%1.2%-0.0%-0.2%-0.1%
CFO/Rev LTM16.5%18.4%22.8%9.5%9.8%16.8%16.7%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg12.4%16.4%18.1%13.3%10.2%21.9%14.9%
FCF/Rev LTM15.1%15.2%22.0%8.8%7.4%15.0%15.0%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg10.9%13.5%16.3%12.4%7.2%20.1%12.9%

Valuation

ZBRAHONCGNXTRMBAVYFTVMedian
NameZebra Te.Honeywel.Cognex Trimble Avery De.Fortive  
Mkt Cap12.9127.06.018.814.318.316.3
P/S2.93.37.85.41.42.23.1
P/EBIT18.915.248.139.611.613.117.0
P/E29.521.869.054.418.226.928.2
P/CFO17.417.934.257.014.813.317.6
Total Yield3.4%6.8%2.2%1.8%7.8%4.3%3.9%
Dividend Yield0.0%2.2%0.7%0.0%2.3%0.6%0.7%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg3.2%4.0%2.0%3.0%4.2%5.5%3.6%
D/E0.20.30.00.10.30.20.2
Net D/E0.10.2-0.00.10.30.20.1

Returns

ZBRAHONCGNXTRMBAVYFTVMedian
NameZebra Te.Honeywel.Cognex Trimble Avery De.Fortive  
1M Rtn9.3%1.9%-0.6%4.4%8.3%9.5%6.3%
3M Rtn-19.9%0.7%-18.7%-0.9%12.1%15.1%-0.1%
6M Rtn-12.8%-3.4%19.8%10.0%6.9%3.5%5.2%
12M Rtn-35.6%-7.1%-1.3%8.2%-1.9%-4.4%-3.1%
3Y Rtn2.1%7.8%-23.6%58.3%8.3%14.4%8.1%
1M Excs Rtn8.5%1.2%-1.3%3.7%7.5%8.7%5.6%
3M Excs Rtn-22.6%0.1%-23.8%-4.7%10.7%11.9%-2.3%
6M Excs Rtn-25.2%-15.8%7.4%-2.4%-5.5%-8.9%-7.2%
12M Excs Rtn-48.1%-15.9%-13.8%-3.9%-14.8%-16.8%-15.4%
3Y Excs Rtn-69.9%-63.0%-95.0%-34.2%-60.3%-59.5%-61.6%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
Enterprise Visibility & Mobility (EVM)2,9333,9443,9763,0633,006
Asset Intelligence & Tracking (AIT)1,6511,8371,6571,3921,479
Corporate 0-6-7 
Total4,5845,7815,6274,4484,485


Operating Income by Segment
$ Mil20242023202220212020
Asset Intelligence & Tracking (AIT)346361382318355
Enterprise Visibility & Mobility (EVM)343711750470483
Corporate-208-543-153-137-146
Total481529979651692


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11282025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity1,110,901
Short Interest: % Change Since 1115202517.3%
Average Daily Volume730,116
Days-to-Cover Short Interest1.52
Basic Shares Quantity50,800,552
Short % of Basic Shares2.2%

Earnings Returns History

Expand for More

 Forward Returns
Earnings Date1D Returns5D Returns21D Returns
10/28/2025-11.7%-12.9%-19.7%
8/5/2025-11.4%-8.5%-10.4%
4/29/20255.2%3.0%19.4%
2/13/2025-8.4%-9.1%-21.0%
10/29/20245.8%3.7%10.7%
7/30/20243.9%-5.1%3.3%
4/30/20244.8%5.3%5.6%
2/15/202412.2%10.5%13.0%
...
SUMMARY STATS   
# Positive101012
# Negative131311
Median Positive5.5%4.5%10.7%
Median Negative-8.4%-8.5%-11.9%
Max Positive12.2%20.4%25.3%
Max Negative-17.3%-19.4%-27.0%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251028202510-Q 9/27/2025
6302025805202510-Q 6/28/2025
3312025429202510-Q 3/29/2025
12312024213202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241029202410-Q 9/28/2024
6302024730202410-Q 6/29/2024
3312024430202410-Q 3/30/2024
12312023215202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231031202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023801202310-Q 7/1/2023
3312023502202310-Q 4/1/2023
12312022216202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221101202210-Q 10/1/2022
6302022802202210-Q 7/2/2022
3312022503202210-Q 4/2/2022
12312021210202210-K 12/31/2021