Zebra Technologies Announces First-Quarter 2024 Results

First-Quarter Financial Highlights

• Net sales of $1,175 million; year-over-year decrease of 16.4%
• Net income of $115 million and net income per diluted share of $2.23
• Non-GAAP diluted EPS decreased year-over-year to $2.84
• Adjusted EBITDA decreased year-over-year to $234 million
• On track with $120 million annualized net expense savings from our Exit and Restructuring plans 

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill., April 30, 2024 — Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the edge of the enterprise with solutions and partners that enable businesses to gain a performance edge, today announced results for the first quarter ended March 30, 2024.

“While our first quarter results continued to be impacted by broad-based softness across our end markets, we realized improvement in demand from the fourth quarter of 2023. Our teams executed well, driving significant sequential improvement in profitability, resulting from our cost restructuring actions and improved gross margin.” said Bill Burns, Chief Executive Officer of Zebra Technologies.

“Our increased 2024 outlook reflects a better-than-expected start to the year with modest recovery in demand and progress on our cost actions. We continue to be well positioned to extend our lead in the industry with our innovative solutions and remain focused on digitizing & automating our customers’ operations to solve their biggest challenges.”

Download PDF with consolidated balance sheet, cash flow and income statements

Net sales were $1,175 million in the first quarter of 2024 compared to $1,405 million in the prior year. Net sales in the Enterprise Visibility & Mobility ("EVM") segment were $783 million in the first quarter of 2024 compared to $883 million in the prior year. Asset Intelligence & Tracking ("AIT") segment net sales were $392 million in the first quarter of 2024 compared to $522 million in the prior year. Consolidated organic net sales for the first quarter decreased 16.8% year-over-year, with a 11.8% decrease in the EVM segment and 25.3% decrease in the AIT segment.

First quarter 2024 gross profit was $563 million compared to $667 million in the prior year. Gross margin increased to 47.9% for the first quarter of 2024 compared to 47.5% in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to lower premium supply chain costs and improved software and service margins, partially offset by volume deleveraging. Adjusted gross margin was 48.1% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to 47.5% in the prior year.

Operating expenses decreased in the first quarter of 2024 to $404 million from $442 million in the prior year, primarily due to the impact of restructuring actions.  Adjusted operating expenses decreased in the first quarter of 2024 to $348 million from $384 million in the prior year.

Net income for the first quarter of 2024 was $115 million, or $2.23 per diluted share, compared to net income of $150 million, or $2.90 per diluted share, for the prior year. Non-GAAP net income for the first quarter of 2024 decreased to $147 million, or $2.84 per diluted share, compared to $204 million, or $3.94 per diluted share, for the prior year.

Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2024 was $234 million, or 19.9% of adjusted net sales, compared to $301 million, or 21.4% of adjusted net sales for the prior year primarily due to higher operating expense as a percentage of revenue, partially offset by higher gross margin.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

As of March 30, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $127 million and total debt of $2,093 million.

For the first three months of 2024, net cash provided by operating activities was $125 million and the Company made capital expenditures of $14 million, resulting in free cash flow of $111 million. The Company had net debt payments of $133 million.

Cost Initiatives

As previously announced, the Company is executing on its 2024 Productivity Plan and the Voluntary Retirement Plan to generate cost efficiencies. Together, these Exit and Restructuring plans are expected to generate approximately $120 million of net annualized cost savings. After realizing approximately $50 million of operating expense savings in 2023 and an incremental $25 million in the first quarter of 2024, the Company continues to expect approximately $60 million of incremental savings for the full year 2024.

The total charges associated with the Exit and Restructuring plans are expected to be approximately $130 million. Total charges of $120 million have been incurred through the first quarter of 2024, with the remaining charges expected to be substantially complete by mid-2024. 

Outlook

Second Quarter 2024

The Company expects second quarter 2024 net sales to decrease between 1% and 5% compared to the prior year. Foreign currency translation is expected to have an approximately 50 basis point favorable impact.

Adjusted EBITDA margin for the second quarter of 2024 is expected to be slightly above 19%. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $2.60 to $2.90.

Full Year 2024

The Company expects full year 2024 net sales growth between 1% and 5% compared to the prior year. Foreign currency translation is expected to have a negligible impact.

Adjusted EBITDA margin for the full year 2024 is expected to be approximately 20%. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $11.25 to $12.25. This assumes an adjusted effective tax rate of approximately 17%.

Free cash flow is expected to be at least $600 million and is inclusive of our final $45 million settlement payment in the first quarter.

The Company does not provide a reconciliation for non-GAAP estimates on a forward-looking basis where it is unable to provide a meaningful or accurate calculation or estimation of reconciling items and the information is not available without unreasonable effort. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing or amount of the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measure as discussed under the "Forward-Looking Statements" caption below. This would include items that have not yet occurred, are out of the Company’s control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted, and that would impact diluted net earnings per share. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information. Forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures provided without the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures may vary materially from the corresponding GAAP financial measures.

Conference Call Notification

Investors are invited to listen to a live webcast of Zebra’s conference call regarding the Company’s financial results. The conference call will be held today at 7:30 a.m. Central Time (8:30 a.m. Eastern Time). To view the webcast, visit the investor relations section of the Company’s website at investors.zebra.com.

About Zebra

Zebra (NASDAQ: ZBRA) helps organizations monitor, anticipate, and accelerate workflows by empowering their frontline and ensuring that everyone and everything is visible, connected and fully optimized. Our award-winning portfolio spans software to innovations in robotics, machine vision, automation and digital decisioning, all backed by a +50-year legacy in scanning, track-and-trace and mobile computing solutions. With an ecosystem of 10,000 partners across more than 100 countries, Zebra's customers include over 80% of the Fortune 500. Newsweek recently recognized Zebra as one of America's Most Loved Workplaces and Greatest Workplaces for Diversity, and we are on Fast Company's list of the Best Workplaces for Innovators. Learn more at www.zebra.com or sign up for news alerts. Follow Zebra’s Your Edge blog, LinkedIn, X and Facebook, and check out our Story Hub: Zebra Perspectives.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, the statements regarding the company’s outlook. Actual results may differ from those expressed or implied in the company’s forward-looking statements. These statements represent estimates only as of the date they were made. Zebra undertakes no obligation, other than as may be required by law, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason after the date of this release.

These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions and are subject to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Zebra’s industry, market conditions, general domestic and international economic conditions, and other factors. These factors include customer acceptance of Zebra’s offerings and competitors' offerings, and the potential effects of emerging technologies and changes in customer requirements. The effect of global market conditions, and the availability of credit and capital markets volatility may have adverse effects on Zebra, its suppliers and its customers. In addition, natural disasters, man-made disasters, public health issues (including pandemics), and cybersecurity incidents may have negative effects on Zebra's business and results of operations. Zebra's ability to purchase sufficient materials, parts, and components, and ability to provide services, software and products to meet customer demand could negatively impact Zebra's results of operations and customer relationships. Profits and profitability will be affected by Zebra’s ability to control manufacturing and operating costs. Because of its debt, interest rates and financial market conditions may also have an adverse impact on results. Foreign exchange rates, customs duties and trade policies may have an adverse effect on financial results because of the large percentage of Zebra's international sales. The impacts of changes in foreign and domestic governmental policies, regulations, or laws, as well as the outcome of litigation or tax matters in which Zebra may be involved are other factors that could adversely affect Zebra's business and results of operations. The success of integrating acquisitions could also adversely affect profitability, reported results and the company’s competitive position in its industry. These and other factors could have an adverse effect on Zebra’s sales, gross profit margins and results of operations and increase the volatility of Zebra's financial results. When used in this release and documents referenced, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “outlook,” and “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to the company or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying these statements. Descriptions of certain risks, uncertainties and other factors that could adversely affect the company’s future operations and results can be found in Zebra’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company’s most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release contains certain Non-GAAP financial measures, consisting of “adjusted net sales,” “adjusted gross profit,” “adjusted gross margin,” “EBITDA,” “Adjusted EBITDA,” “Adjusted EBITDA margin,” “Adjusted EBITDA % of adjusted net sales,” “Non-GAAP net income,” “Non-GAAP earnings per share,” “Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share,” “free cash flow,” “organic net sales,” “organic net sales decline,” and “adjusted operating expenses.” Management presents these measures to focus on the on-going operations and believes it is useful to investors because they enable them to perform meaningful comparisons of past and present operating results. The company believes it is useful to present non-GAAP financial measures, which exclude certain significant items, as a means to understand the performance of its ongoing operations and how management views the business. Please see the “Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures” tables and accompanying disclosures at the end of this press release for more detailed information regarding non-GAAP financial measures herein, including the items reflected in adjusted net earnings calculations. These measures, however, should not be construed as an alternative to any other measure of performance determined in accordance with GAAP.

The company does not provide a reconciliation for non-GAAP estimates on a forward-looking basis (including the information under “Outlook” above) where it is unable to provide a meaningful or accurate calculation or estimation of reconciling items and the information is not available without unreasonable effort. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing or amount of various items that have not yet occurred, are out of the company’s control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted, and that would impact diluted net earnings per share, the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measure. For the same reasons, the company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information. Forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures provided without the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures may vary materially from the corresponding GAAP financial measures.

As a global company, Zebra's operating results reported in U.S. dollars are affected by foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations because the underlying foreign currencies in which the company transacts change in value over time compared to the U.S. dollar; accordingly, the company presents certain organic growth financial information, which includes impacts of foreign currency translation, to provide a framework to assess how the company’s businesses performed excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Foreign currency impact represents the difference in results that are attributable to fluctuations in the currency exchange rates used to convert the results for businesses where the functional currency is not the U.S. dollar. This impact is calculated by translating current period results at the currency exchange rates used in the comparable period in the prior year, rather than the exchange rates in effect during the current period. In addition, the company excludes the impact of its foreign currency hedging program in the prior year periods. The company believes these measures should be considered a supplement to and not in lieu of the company’s performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Contacts

Investors
Michael Steele, CFA, IRC
Vice President, Investor Relations
Phone: + 1 847 518 6432
InvestorRelations@Zebra.com

Media
Therese Van Ryne
Senior Director, External Communications
Phone: + 1 847 370 2317
therese.vanryne@zebra.com