ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORP

Results of Operations: Year Ended 2025 versus 2024 and Year Ended 2024 versus 2023

Consolidated Results of Operations

Net sales to customers by geographic region were as follows (amounts in millions, except percentages):

Operating expenses are summarized below (amounts in millions, except percentages):

Consolidated Organic Net sales growth:

(1)Operating results reported in U.S. Dollars are affected by foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Foreign currency translation 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 the current period results at the currency exchange rates used in the comparable prior year period as well as removing realized cash flow hedge gains and losses from both the current and prior year periods.

(2)For purposes of computing Organic Net sales growth, amounts directly attributable to business acquisitions are excluded for twelve months following their respective acquisitions.

(3)Consolidated Organic Net sales growth is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Measures section at the end of this item.

Total Net sales increased $415 million or 8.3% compared to the prior year reflecting growth in both our AVA and CF segments associated with improved demand trends that began in the middle of 2024, along with contributions from our recent Elo and Photoneo acquisitions. Excluding the effects of foreign currency changes and acquisitions, Consolidated Organic Net sales increased by 6.2%.

Gross margin decreased to 48.1% for the current year compared to 48.4% in the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to unfavorable impacts of tariffs, net of mitigating actions, along with lower services and software margins, largely offset by volume leverage favorability. Gross margin was higher in AVA and declined in CF. As we exited 2025, the unfavorable impacts of existing import tariffs have been fully mitigated.

Operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 were $1,893 million and $1,671 million, or 35.1% and 33.5% of Net sales, respectively. Current year Operating expenses were higher than the prior year primarily due to higher employee and employee-related costs, the inclusion of operating expenses and higher acquisition and integration costs associated with recently acquired companies, and higher exit and restructuring costs primarily driven by the planned divestiture of our robotics automation solutions business. The higher employee and employee-related costs in the current year include higher share-based compensation costs, primarily driven by changes made in the current year to the timing of the annual grant and eligibility provisions as well as improved expected attainment associated with performance-based awards.

Operating income was $700 million for the current year compared to $742 million for the prior year. The decrease was due to higher Operating expenses, partly offset by higher Gross profit.

Total other expense, net, increased primarily due to non-recurring interest rate swap gains in the prior year and foreign exchange transaction losses in the current year, partly offset by lower net interest costs associated with the Company’s borrowings driven by rate favorability and higher interest income on cash equivalents in the current year.

The Company’s effective tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 were 25.2% and 16.9%, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate compared to the prior year was primarily due to increased taxes related to foreign earnings subject to U.S. taxation as a result of 2025 U.S tax legislation, lower share-based compensation deductions, increased reserves for uncertain tax positions, and U.S. state income taxes, partly offset by the generation of U.S. and Canadian tax credits and the release of certain Canadian valuation allowance reserves.

Net income decreased 20.6% compared to the prior year due to lower Operating income, higher non-operating expenses, and higher income taxes, as described above.

Results of Operations by Segment

The following commentary should be read in conjunction with the financial results of each reportable business segment as detailed in Note 20, Segment Information & Geographic Data in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. To the extent applicable, Share-based Compensation, Amortization of intangible assets, Acquisition and integration costs, Exit and restructuring costs, as well as certain other non-recurring costs (impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, and business acquisition purchase accounting adjustments) are excluded from segment results.

Connected Frontline (“CF”)

CF Organic Net sales growth:

(1)Operating results reported in U.S. Dollars are affected by foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Foreign currency translation 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 the current period results at the currency exchange rates used in the comparable prior year period as well as removing realized cash flow hedge gains and losses from both the current and prior year periods.

(2)For purposes of computing Organic Net sales growth, amounts directly attributable to the acquisition of Elo are excluded for twelve months following the September 30, 2025 acquisition date.

(3) CF Organic Net sales growth is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Measures section at the end of this item.

Total Net sales for CF increased $246 million, or 9.1%, compared to the prior year primarily due to higher sales of mobile computing products and the net sales of Elo. CF Organic Net sales increased by 5.6%.

Gross margin decreased to 47.2% in the current year compared to 49.2% in the prior year primarily due to unfavorable impacts of tariffs, net of mitigating actions, and lower services and software margins, partly offset by volume leverage favorability.

Operating income increased 4.7% in the current year compared to the prior year due to higher Gross profit, partly offset by higher Operating expenses. The inclusion of Elo’s results of operations also contributed to the higher Gross profit and Operating expenses.

2024 compared to 2023

Total Net sales for CF increased $434 million, or 19.0%, compared to 2023 primarily due to higher sales of mobile computing products, favorable foreign currency changes, as well as higher services and software sales. CF Organic Net sales increased by 18.5%.

Gross margin increased to 49.2% in 2024 compared to 45.2% in 2023 primarily due to volume leverage, favorable business mix, higher service and software margins, lower freight rates, and lower inventory-related charges.

Operating income increased 70.4% in 2024 compared to 2023 due to higher Gross profit, partly offset by higher Operating expenses.

Asset Visibility & Automation (“AVA”)

AVA Organic Net sales growth (decline):

(1)Operating results reported in U.S. Dollars are affected by foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Foreign currency translation 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 the current period results at the currency exchange rates used in the comparable prior year period as well as removing realized cash flow hedge gains and losses from both the current and prior year periods.

(2)For purposes of computing AVA Organic Net sales growth (decline), amounts directly attributable to the acquisition of Photoneo are excluded for twelve months following the February 28, 2025 acquisition date.

(3)AVA Organic Net sales growth (decline) is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Measures section at the end of this item.

Total Net sales for AVA increased $169 million, or 7.5%, compared to the prior year primarily due to higher sales of printing products, as well as higher sales of RFID, supplies and sensors, and data capture products. AVA Organic Net sales increased by 7.0%.

Gross margin increased to 50.0% in the current year compared to 48.0% for the prior year primarily due to primarily due to favorable business mix, lower inventory related charges, and volume leverage favorability.

Operating income for the current year increased 22.4% compared to the prior year due to higher Gross profit partially offset by higher Operating expenses.

2024 compared to 2023

Total Net sales for AVA decreased $37 million, or 1.6%, compared to 2023 primarily due to lower sales of data capture and printing products, partly offset by favorable foreign currency changes and higher sales of services and software and RFID products. AVA Organic Net sales decreased by 2.2%.

Gross margin increased to 48.0% in 2024 compared to 47.7% in the previous year primarily due to favorable business mix, partly offset by higher inventory related charges.

Operating income decreased by 1.6% in 2024 compared to 2023 due to lower Gross profit, partly offset by lower Operating expenses.