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Zebra Tech (ZBRA)
NASDAQ:ZBRA

Zebra Tech (ZBRA) AI Stock Analysis

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ZB

Zebra Tech

(NASDAQ:ZBRA)

62Neutral
Zebra Technologies exhibits strong financial performance and strategic growth initiatives, yet faces challenges with its technical indicators and valuation metrics. The earnings call highlighted both robust recent results and potential future hurdles, such as tariff impacts and an uncertain macroeconomic environment. These mixed elements result in a moderate overall stock score.
Positive Factors
Earnings Performance
Q4 revenue increased 32% y/o/y, benefiting from easy comps and ahead of Street expectations.
Technological Innovation
Zebra Technologies is well positioned for innovations around AI and expanding RFID use cases due to its leadership and key partnerships.
Negative Factors
Market Valuation
The current trading valuation of Zebra Technologies is considered high, with recovery largely built into the price.

Zebra Tech (ZBRA) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

Zebra Tech Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionZebra Technologies Corp. engages in designing, manufacturing and selling of automatic identification and data capture products. Its products include mobile computers, barcode scanners, radio frequency identification devices (RFID) readers, specialty printers for barcode labeling and personal identification, real-time location systems, accessories and supplies, such as self-adhesive labels and other consumables, and software utilities and applications. It also provides services such as maintenance, technical support, repair, managed and professional services, including cloud-based subscriptions. It operates through the following two segments: Asset Intelligence & Tracking (AIT) and Enterprise Visibility & Mobility (EVM). The AIT segment comprises of barcode and card printing, location solutions, supplies, and services. The EVM segment comprises of mobile computing, data capture, and RFID. The company was founded by Edward L. Kaplan and Gerhard Cless in 1969 and is headquartered in Lincolnshire, IL.
How the Company Makes MoneyZebra Technologies makes money primarily through the sale of its hardware products, such as barcode scanners, mobile computers, and printers, which are integral to supply chain management and asset tracking. The company also generates revenue from its software solutions and services, including analytics platforms that provide insights into business operations. In addition, Zebra has established significant partnerships with large enterprises across various industries, which enhance its market reach and adoption of its technology solutions. A growing portion of its revenue comes from recurring sources, such as software subscriptions, maintenance, and support services, which provide a steady income stream and strengthen customer relationships.

Zebra Tech Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Zebra Tech demonstrates solid financial health across its income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. The company shows strong profitability and efficiency in its operations, as evidenced by improving margins and revenue growth. The balance sheet is stable with manageable debt levels, and the cash flow statement reflects strong cash generation and conversion. Overall, Zebra Tech is well-positioned for sustainable growth with a balanced financial strategy.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Zebra Tech shows strong gross profit margins, consistently over 40%, indicating effective cost management and pricing strategies. The net profit margin has improved significantly from the previous year, rising to 10.6% in 2024 from 6.5% in 2023, showcasing improved profitability. The revenue growth rate from 2023 to 2024 is 8.67%, which is a healthy sign of business expansion, albeit slower than previous years. EBIT and EBITDA margins have also improved, indicating better operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The balance sheet reflects a stable financial structure with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65 in 2024, showing moderate leverage. Return on Equity (ROE) improved to 14.7% in 2024, indicating efficient utilization of equity. However, the equity ratio stands at 45.0%, suggesting a balanced but not overly conservative capital structure. Overall, the company maintains a stable balance sheet with manageable debt levels.
Cash Flow
80
Positive
Zebra Tech's cash flow performance is robust, with a significant turnaround in free cash flow from negative in 2023 to positive in 2024, highlighting improved cash generation capabilities. The operating cash flow to net income ratio of 1.92 in 2024 indicates strong cash conversion efficiency. The company's free cash flow to net income ratio of 1.81 suggests effective cash management and the ability to fund operations and growth.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
4.98B4.58B5.78B5.63B4.45B
Gross Profit
2.41B2.12B2.62B2.63B2.00B
EBIT
742.00M481.00M1.35B979.00M651.00M
EBITDA
937.00M652.00M1.14B1.17B736.00M
Net Income Common Stockholders
528.00M296.00M463.00M837.00M504.00M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
901.00M137.00M105.00M332.00M168.00M
Total Assets
7.97B7.31B7.53B6.21B5.38B
Total Debt
2.33B2.41B2.16B1.11B1.37B
Net Debt
1.43B2.28B2.06B780.00M1.21B
Total Liabilities
4.38B4.27B4.80B3.23B3.23B
Stockholders Equity
3.59B3.04B2.73B2.98B2.14B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
954.00M-91.00M413.00M1.01B895.00M
Operating Cash Flow
1.01B-4.00M488.00M1.07B962.00M
Investing Cash Flow
-57.00M-92.00M-968.00M-546.00M-641.00M
Financing Cash Flow
-190.00M117.00M253.00M-371.00M-157.00M

Zebra Tech Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price279.18
Price Trends
50DMA
359.13
Negative
100DMA
375.23
Negative
200DMA
353.93
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-22.28
Positive
RSI
23.50
Positive
STOCH
4.75
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ZBRA, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 279.18 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 309.34, below the 50-day MA of 359.13, and below the 200-day MA of 353.93, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -22.28 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 23.50 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 4.75 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for ZBRA.

Zebra Tech Risk Analysis

Zebra Tech disclosed 40 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Zebra Tech reported the most risks in the “Tech & Innovation” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Zebra Tech Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (58)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
$4.67B19.9417.70%12.29%147.67%
AVAVT
68
Neutral
$4.15B14.066.45%2.58%-12.21%-51.31%
62
Neutral
$14.40B27.5515.95%8.07%78.02%
58
Neutral
$21.35B10.05-19.26%2.35%5.02%-22.63%
54
Neutral
$2.47B14.9313.01%-1.85%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ZBRA
Zebra Tech
279.18
-5.32
-1.87%
AVT
Avnet
46.90
-0.32
-0.68%
ITRI
Itron
103.31
14.13
15.84%
SYNA
Synaptics
63.07
-39.46
-38.49%

Zebra Tech Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date: Feb 13, 2025 | % Change Since: -20.89% | Next Earnings Date: Apr 29, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call reflected a balanced sentiment, with strong performance in the fourth quarter and strategic acquisitions and innovations, but tempered by challenges in the manufacturing sector, tariff impacts, and an uncertain outlook for 2025.
Highlights
Strong Fourth Quarter Performance
Zebra Technologies delivered results above their outlook with sales exceeding $1.3 billion, a 32% increase compared to the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA margin reached 22.1%, a nearly 7% increase, and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share doubled to $4.
Record Free Cash Flow
For the full year, Zebra generated $954 million of free cash flow with a 136% free cash flow conversion rate and ended the year with a 1.2x net debt to adjusted EBITDA leverage ratio.
Geographic Sales Growth
Sales grew 36% in North America, 24% in EMEA, 30% in Asia-Pacific, and 40% in Latin America, with particularly strong performance in Brazil.
Acquisition of Photoneo
Zebra agreed to purchase Photoneo, a leading 3D machine vision company, for approximately EUR 60 million, expanding their capabilities in automotive manufacturing, logistics, and other key markets.
Innovative AI Solutions
Zebra launched AI-based machine vision offerings and demonstrated AI-powered modern store solutions at the National Retail Federation trade show, showcasing their commitment to innovation in retail technology.
Lowlights
Manufacturing Sector Lagging
Despite overall sales growth, the manufacturing sector lagged behind other end markets, creating a challenge for future growth.
Tariffs Impacting Profit
Incremental tariffs from China and Mexico are expected to impact gross profit by approximately $20 million in 2025, peaking in Q2, with a total unmitigated impact potentially exceeding $60 million annually.
Uncertain 2025 Outlook
Zebra's visibility beyond Q1 is lower than usual due to an uncertain environment, including dynamic global trade, geopolitical, and macroeconomic factors, with cautious sales growth guidance of 3% to 7% for the year.
Impact of Strong U.S. Dollar
The strong U.S. dollar has created a headwind for sales growth, affecting the company's international competitiveness and customer plans.
Company Guidance
During the call, Zebra Technologies provided several key metrics highlighting their strong performance in the fourth quarter of 2024 and their cautious outlook for 2025. The company reported a 32% year-over-year increase in sales, achieving over $1.3 billion, and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 22.1%, reflecting a 7% improvement. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share more than doubled to $4. For the full year, Zebra generated $954 million in free cash flow, achieving a 136% free cash flow conversion rate. Looking forward, the company anticipates first-quarter sales growth of 8% to 11%, with adjusted EBITDA margin expected around 21%. For the full year 2025, Zebra projects sales growth between 3% and 7%, an adjusted EBITDA margin of 21% to 22%, and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share ranging from $14.75 to $15.25. Despite solid backlog and demand trends, the outlook remains cautious due to geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties, including new tariffs that are expected to impact gross profit by approximately $20 million in 2025.
Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.