Annual Report
2023
To Our Investors,
2023 was one of the most challenging years in our 50+ year history. Many
of our customers navigated macro uncertainty and a soft “goods economy”,
while continuing to absorb capacity built during the pandemic to address
the spike in e-commerce activity. As a result of these economic headwinds,
we experienced double-digit sales declines across our major product
offerings in each of our primary end markets, impacting profitability and
cash flow.
We took bold action to address and mitigate the impacts of the demand
environment, including a $120 million annualized cost savings plan. We are
reallocating resources to accelerate growth in underpenetrated markets
including Japan, along with the manufacturing and government sectors, and
are addressing new automation use cases with RFID and machine vision.
Through these actions, we are well positioned to drive profitable sales
growth as our end markets recover.
Advancing Our Enterprise Asset Intelligence Vision
As we look toward the long-term opportunities for Zebra, our future is bright. Our solutions remain essential
to our customers’ operations, and we are well positioned to benefit from secular trends to digitize and
automate workflows. We are proud to support the advancement of a wide range of industries including
retail & e-commerce, transportation & logistics, manufacturing and healthcare. As I focus on moving Zebra
forward, we will continue to collaborate closely with customers and partners to elevate Zebra as a premier
solutions provider.
We remain focused on investing in innovation to extend our industry leadership. Examples of our progress
over the past year include launching additional fixed and mobile RFID solutions to address evolving use
cases across the supply chain, demonstrating a GenAI open-source model on Zebra mobile computers and
tablets, and introducing a next generation warehouse mobile computer with extended range scanning for
demanding environments.
Purpose, Culture and Sustainability
Together we create new ways of working that make everyday life better for organizations, their employees,
and those they serve. At Zebra, we foster an inclusive culture, recognizing that success depends on the
dedication and motivation of our employees to develop innovative offerings that drive positive impact. We
continue to focus on attracting, developing, and retaining top global talent to drive our competitive edge.
We have been integrating our sustainability priorities of human capital management, resource conservation,
and climate into our business strategy. Our inaugural sustainability report illustrates how we incorporate our
priorities into the way we operate and serve our customers.
I would like to thank our employees, customers, and partners for their dedication and resilience as we
navigated through a challenging year. I also want to thank our Executive Chair, Anders Gustafsson, for his
support through my transition into the CEO role.
We are well positioned for a successful 2024 as we continue to lead the industry in innovation and address
our customers’ biggest challenges.
Bill Burns
Chief Executive Officer
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
☒
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023
OR
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 000-19406
Zebra Technologies Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
36-2675536
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
3 Overlook Point, Lincolnshire, IL 60069
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (847) 634-6700
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
Trading Symbol(s)
ZBRA
Name of exchange on which registered
The NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to
file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be
submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such
shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a
smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”,
“smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
☒ Accelerated filer
☐
☐ Smaller reporting company ☐
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition
period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the
Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the
effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C.
7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements
of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of
incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period
pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Act).
Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of the shares of Class A Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, computed by
reference to the closing price of such stock as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second
quarter, July 1, 2023, was $15.0 billion.
As of February 8, 2024, there were 51,381,409 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, outstanding.
Documents Incorporated by Reference
Certain sections of the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on
May 9, 2024, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report, as indicated herein. The definitive proxy statement shall
be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year to which this report
relates.
ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
Item 1.
Business
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Unresolved Staff Comments
Item 1B.
Item 1C. Cybersecurity
Item 2.
Properties
Item 3.
Item 4.
Legal Proceedings
Mine Safety Disclosures
PART II
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities
Item 6.
Item 7.
[Reserved]
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
Results of Operations
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Critical Accounting Estimates
New Accounting Pronouncements
Non-GAAP Measures
Item 7A.
Item 8.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1: Description of Business and Basis of Presentation
Note 2: Significant Accounting Policies
Note 3: Revenues
Note 4: Inventories
Note 5: Business Acquisitions
Note 6: Goodwill and Other Intangibles
Note 7: Property, Plant and Equipment
Note 8: Investments
Note 9: Exit and Restructuring Costs
Note 10: Fair Value Measurements
Note 11: Derivative Instruments
Note 12: Long-Term Debt
Note 13: Leases
Note 14: Accrued Liabilities, Commitments and Contingencies
Note 15: Share-Based Compensation
Note 16: Income Taxes
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Note 17: Earnings Per Share
Note 18: Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Note 19: Accounts Receivables Factoring
Note 20: Segment Information & Geographic Data
Item 9.
Item 9A.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Controls and Procedures
Item 9B.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Other Information
PART III
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Item 11.
Item 12.
Item 13.
Item 14.
Executive Compensation
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
PART IV
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
Item 16.
Form 10-K Summary
Signatures
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PART I
References in this document to “the Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to Zebra Technologies Corporation and its
subsidiaries, unless the context specifically indicates otherwise.
Safe Harbor
Forward-looking statements contained in this filing are subject to the safe harbor created by the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 and are highly dependent upon a variety of important factors, which could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. When used in this document and documents
referenced, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “estimate,” “will,” 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. The forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the Company’s financial outlook
for the first quarter and full year of 2024. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and
assumptions, and are subject to the risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company’s industry, market conditions, general
domestic and international economic conditions, and other factors. These factors include:
• Market acceptance of the Company’s products, services and solution offerings and competitors’ offerings and the
potential effects of emerging technologies and changes in customer requirements,
The effect of global market conditions, including the North America; EMEA; Latin America; and Asia-Pacific regions
in which we do business,
The impact of changes in foreign exchange rates, customs duties and trade policies due to the large percentage of our
sales and operations being outside the U.S.,
Our ability to control manufacturing and operating costs,
Risks related to the manufacturing of the Company’s products and conducting business operations in non-U.S.
countries, including the risk of depending on key suppliers who are also in non-U.S. countries,
The Company’s ability to purchase sufficient materials, parts, and components, our ability to provide services,
software, and products to meet customer demand, particularly in light of global economic conditions,
The availability of credit and the volatility of capital markets, which may affect our suppliers, customers, and
ourselves,
Success of integrating acquisitions,
Our ability to attract, retain, develop, and motivate key personnel,
Interest rate and financial market conditions,
Access to cash and cash equivalents held outside the U.S.,
The effect of natural disasters, man-made disasters, public health issues (including pandemics), and cybersecurity
incidents on our business,
The impact of changes in foreign and domestic governmental policies, laws, or regulations,
The outcome of litigation in which the Company may be involved, particularly litigation or claims related to
infringement of third-party intellectual property rights, and
The outcome of any future tax matters or tax law changes.
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We encourage readers of this report to review Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in this report for further discussion of issues that could
affect the Company’s future results. We undertake 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 report.
Item 1.
Business
The Company
We are a global leader in the Automatic Identification and Data Capture (“AIDC”) industry. The AIDC market consists of
mobile computing, data capture, radio frequency identification devices (“RFID”), barcode printing, and other workflow
automation products and services. The Company’s solutions are proven to help our customers and end-users digitize and
automate their workflows to achieve their critical business objectives, including improved productivity and operational
efficiency, optimized regulatory compliance, and better customer experiences.
We design, manufacture, and sell a broad range of AIDC products, including: mobile computers, barcode scanners and imagers,
RFID readers, specialty printers for barcode labeling and personal identification, real-time location systems (“RTLS”), related
accessories and supplies, such as labels and other consumables, and related software applications. We also provide machine
vision and robotics automation solutions; a full range of services, including maintenance, technical support, repair, managed
and professional services; as well as cloud-based software subscriptions. End-users of our products, solutions and services
include those in the retail and e-commerce, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, healthcare, public sector, and other
4
industries. We operate in 122 facilities with approximately 9,750 employees worldwide. We provide our products, solutions
and services globally through a direct sales force and extensive network of over 10,000 channel partners, operating in
approximately 185 countries.
We continue to advance our Enterprise Asset Intelligence (“EAI”) vision: every asset and front-line worker visible, connected,
and fully optimized. Through continual innovation, we have expanded beyond the traditional AIDC market to transform
activities such as factory production, packages moving through a supply chain, retail shopping, and the hospital patient journey.
Data from enterprise assets, including status, condition, location, utilization, and preferences, is analyzed in the cloud to provide
prioritized actionable insights. As a result, our solutions enable enterprises to “sense, analyze, and act” more effectively to
optimize their activities.
The need to transform workflows is being driven by secular trends in technology, which include the internet of things (“IoT”),
cloud-based data analytics, automation, mobility, computer vision, as well as artificial intelligence and machine learning. The
IoT enables the real-time exchange of an increasingly broad set of information among a proliferation of smart, connected
devices. The continued rapid growth of mobile computing devices and application software are also significantly expanding use
cases throughout enterprises and supply chains. With these expanded capabilities, end-users can consume and act upon dynamic
enterprise data and information anytime and anywhere. Leveraging artificial intelligence through machine learning can analyze
real-time data for increased visibility into workflows and actionable insights. Additionally, computer and machine vision
technology, which enables the automatic extraction and understanding of useful information from a digital image or video,
provides a key element in many of our solutions.
Acquisitions
Matrox: On June 3, 2022, the Company acquired Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd. (“Matrox”) for $881 million in cash, net of
Matrox’s cash on-hand. Matrox is a leading provider of advanced machine vision components and software serving multiple
end-markets. Through its acquisition, the Company expanded its machine vision products and software offerings. The operating
results of Matrox are included in the EVM segment.
Antuit: On October 7, 2021, the Company acquired Antuit Holdings Pte. Ltd. (“Antuit”) for $145 million in cash, net of cash
acquired. Antuit is a provider of demand-sensing and pricing optimization software solutions for retail and consumer products
companies. Through this acquisition, the Company expanded its portfolio of software solution offerings to customers in these
industries by combining Antuit’s platform with its existing software solutions and EVM products. The operating results of
Antuit are included in the EVM segment.
Fetch: On August 9, 2021, the Company acquired Fetch Robotics, Inc. (“Fetch”) for $301 million, which consisted of $290
million in cash paid, net of cash acquired, and the fair value of the Company’s existing minority ownership interest in Fetch of
$11 million, as remeasured upon acquisition. Fetch is a provider of autonomous mobile robot solutions for customers who
operate in the manufacturing, distribution, and fulfillment industries, enabling customers to optimize workflows through robotic
automation. Through this acquisition, the Company expanded its automation solution offerings within these industries. The
operating results of Fetch are included within the EVM segment.
Adaptive Vision: On May 17, 2021, the Company acquired Adaptive Vision Sp. z o.o. (“Adaptive Vision”) for $18 million in
cash, net of cash acquired. Adaptive Vision is a provider of graphical machine vision software with applications in the
manufacturing industry, as well as a provider of libraries and other offerings for machine vision developers. The operating
results of Adaptive Vision are included within the EVM segment.
See Note 5, Business Acquisitions in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details.
Operations and Technologies
Our operations consist of two reportable segments that provide complementary offerings to our customers: Asset Intelligence &
Tracking (“AIT”), which includes barcode and card printing, RFID and RTLS offerings, supplies, and services; and Enterprise
Visibility & Mobility (“EVM”), which includes mobile computing, data capture, fixed industrial scanning and machine vision,
services and workflow optimization solutions.
Asset Intelligence & Tracking
Barcode and Card Printing: We design, manufacture, and sell printers, which produce high-quality labels, wristbands, tickets,
receipts, and plastic cards on demand. Our customers use our printers in a wide range of applications, including routing and
tracking, patient safety, transaction processing, personal identification, product authentication, ticketing and receipts. These
applications require high levels of data accuracy, speed, and reliability.
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Our printers use thermal printing technology, which creates images by heating certain pixels of an electrical printhead to
selectively image a ribbon or heat-sensitive substrate. Our printers integrate company-designed mechanisms, electrical systems,
and firmware that supports serial, parallel, Ethernet, USB, Bluetooth, or 802.11 wireless communications with appropriate
security protocols. Enclosures of metal or high-impact plastic help ensure durability of our printers. Printing instructions can be
received as a proprietary language such as Zebra Programming Language II, as a print driver-provided image, or as user-
defined Extensible Markup Language. These features make our printers easy to integrate into most computer systems.
We also provide dye-sublimination thermal card printers that produce high quality images and are used for secure, reliable
personal identification (e.g. state identification cards, drivers’ licenses, and healthcare identification cards), access control (e.g.
employee or student building access), and financial transactions (e.g. credit, debit and ATM cards). Additionally, we provide
RFID printers that encode data into passive RFID transponders embedded in a label or card. We offer a wide range of
accessories and options for our printers, including carrying cases, vehicle mounts and battery chargers.
RFID and RTLS Offerings: We provide a range of hardware and software options for capturing location data to satisfy a large
variety of requirements for range, accuracy, and precision. Our active and passive RFID products include fixed readers, RFID
enabled mobile computers, and RFID sleds that utilize passive ultra-high frequency to provide high-speed, non-line of sight
data capture from hundreds or thousands of RFID tags in near real-time. Using the Electronic Product Code (“EPC”) standard,
end-users across multiple industries use our RFID technology to track high-value assets, monitor shipments, and drive increased
retail sales through improved inventory accuracy. Our location solutions offerings include a range of RTLS and services that
generate precise, on-demand information about the physical location and status of high-valued assets, equipment, and people.
These solutions incorporate active and passive RFID technologies, beacons, and other tracking technologies to enable users to
locate, track, manage, and optimize the utilization of enterprise assets and personnel. We provide substantially all elements of
the location solution, including tags, sensors, exciters, middleware software, and application software.
Supplies: We produce and sell stock and customized thermal labels, receipts, ribbons, plastic cards, and RFID tags suitable for
use with our printers, as well as wristbands for use in laser printers. We support our printing products, resellers, and end-users
with an extensive line of superior quality, high-performance supplies optimized to a particular end-user’s needs, such as
chemical or abrasion resistance, extreme temperature environments, exceptional image quality, or long life. We promote the use
of supplies with our printing equipment. Our supplies business also includes temperature-monitoring labels primarily used in
vaccine distribution, which incorporate chemical indicators designed to change color upon exceeding predefined time and/or
temperature thresholds.
Services: We provide a full range of maintenance, technical support, and repair services. We also provide managed and
professional services, including those which help customers manage their devices and related software applications. Our
offerings include cloud-based subscriptions and multiple service levels. They are typically contracted through multi-year
service agreements. We provide our services directly and through our global network of partners.
Enterprise Visibility & Mobility
Mobile Computing: We design, manufacture, and sell rugged and enterprise-grade mobile computing products and accessories
in a variety of specialized form factors and designs to meet a wide array of enterprise applications. Purpose-built devices ensure
reliable operations for targeted use cases, surviving years of rough handling and harsh environments. Industrial applications
include inventory management in warehouses and distribution centers; field mobility applications include field service, post and
parcel, and direct store delivery; and retail and customer facing applications include e-commerce, omnichannel, mobile point of
sale, inventory look-up, staff collaboration, and analytics. Our mobile computing products primarily incorporate the Android™
operating system and support local-area and wide-area voice and data communications. Our products are also offered with
software tools and services that enable secure data transmission while also supporting application development, device
configuration, and field support to facilitate seamless, rapid deployment and maximum customer return on investment. Our
products often incorporate barcode scanning, global position system and RFID features, and other sensory capabilities.
Additionally, specialized features, such as advanced data capture technologies, data analytics technologies, voice and video
collaboration tools, and advanced battery technologies, enable our customers to work more efficiently and better serve their
own customers.
Data Capture, Fixed Industrial Scanning, and Machine Vision: We design, manufacture, and sell barcode scanners, industrial
machine vision cameras, and fixed industrial scanners. Our portfolio of scanners includes laser scanning and imager products in
a variety of form factors, including fixed, handheld, and embedded original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) modules. Our
scanners incorporate a range of technologies including area imagers, linear imagers, and lasers, as well as read linear and two-
dimensional barcodes. They are used in a broad range of applications, ranging from supermarket checkouts to industrial
warehouse optimization to patient management in hospitals. The design of these products reflects the diverse needs of these
markets, with different ergonomics, multiple communication protocols, and varying levels of ruggedness. In 2021 we
introduced fixed industrial scanning and machine vision solutions, and in 2022, we significantly expanded our machine vision
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solutions through the acquisition of Matrox Imaging. Our fixed industrial scanning products automatically track and trace items
that move from production through distribution. Our industrial machine vision platform-independent software, software
development kits, smart cameras, vision controllers, frame grabbers, input/output cards, and 3D sensors capture, inspect, assess,
and record data from industrial vision systems in factory automation, semiconductor inspection, pharmaceutical packaging,
food & beverage, among other use cases. We also provide related software and accessories for these products.
Services: We provide a full range of maintenance, technical support, and repair services. We also provide managed and
professional services that, among other things, help customers design, test, and deploy our solutions as well as manage their
mobility devices, software applications and workflows. Our offerings include cloud-based subscriptions with multiple service
levels, which are typically contracted through multi-year service agreements. We provide our services directly and through our
global network of partners.
Workflow optimization solutions: We provide a portfolio of solutions that help our customers improve the agility and
productivity of key operational workflows by analyzing and acting on data in real time. Our primary focus is on frontline
workers in Zebra’s core customer segments, including retail, transportation and logistics, warehouse and distribution, and
healthcare. Our workflow optimization solutions include:
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Software-based solutions, which include workforce management, workflow execution and task management, demand-
sensing, price optimization, prescriptive analytics, as well as communication and collaboration-based solutions. These
solutions are typically delivered through cloud-based software subscriptions and leverage big data, artificial
intelligence, and mobile and web applications to provide customers with real-time visibility and actionable insights
about their business. By analyzing labor, inventory, transactional and real-time situational data, these solutions are
able to forecast demand, prescribe actions, schedule workers, and enhance collaboration. Our software-based solutions
are available with multiple service levels, and are often contracted through multi-year service agreements;
Retail solutions, which include a range of physical inventory management solutions, including solutions for full store
physical inventories, cycle counts, and analytics; and
Robotic automation solutions, which include software-powered autonomous robots that enable customers to
orchestrate workflows alongside frontline workers, improving productivity and operational efficiency. Our robotic
automation solutions are available in a variety of form factors to accommodate many use cases.
Our Competitive Strengths
The following are core competitive strengths that we believe enable us to differentiate ourselves from our competitors:
An industry leader focused on improving enterprise workflows
We are focused on the key technology solutions that drive improved enterprise workflows, including mobile computing,
barcode and card printing, data capture, RFID, fixed industrial scanning, machine vision, and workflow optimization solutions,
along with related software, services, and accessories. Our leadership position enables us to work with and support customers
globally, in a variety of industries, who are focused on implementing leading-edge solutions.
High barriers to entry
On a global basis, we have long-standing relationships with end-users and with our extensive network of channel partners. We
believe these customer relationships and our strong partner network are critical to our success and would be difficult for a new
market entrant to replicate. We believe a significant portion of our products and solutions are deployed with specialized product
performance and software application requirements, which could result in high switching costs.
Commitment to innovation and deep industry-specific expertise
Over time, we have developed and delivered improved, targeted end-to-end solutions for our customers. We remain committed
to leveraging our technology portfolio and expertise in the industries that we service to continue to develop innovative solutions
that meet the key needs of our customers.
Highly diversified business mix
We are highly diversified across business segments, end markets, geographies, and customers. Additionally, we have strong
recurring business in services, supplies, and software driven by an extensive global installed base of purpose-built products and
solutions.
Global reach and brand
We sell to customers directly and through our network of channel partners around the world. This global presence gives us the
capability to supply our customers with products, solutions, and services no matter the location of their operations. In addition,
we believe we have strong brand recognition with a reputation in the industry as a trusted and strategic partner, known for
delivering high quality products that are reliable and durable.
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Scale advantages
We believe the size and scope of our operations, including market leadership, product and solution development investment,
portfolio breadth, and global distribution, give us advantages over our competitors. We believe we have the largest installed
base of products compared to other companies in our industry. These characteristics enable us to compete successfully, achieve
economies of scale, and develop industry-leading solutions.
Our Business Strategies
Leverage our market leadership position and innovation to profitably grow our core business
We expect to drive revenue growth by continuing to outpace our competition in our core businesses, including mobile
computing, data capture, barcode printing, and services. We expect to achieve this by leveraging our broad portfolio of
solutions and product innovation and continuing to be a strategic partner to end customers. We also expect to drive growth by
capitalizing on technology transitions occurring in the industry, including transitions to the 5th generation mobile network (5G)
and Android™ operating system in mobile computing and transitions in data capture to technologies involving 2D and 3D
imaging and RFID, among others. This includes increased focus on market segments and geographies that offer share-gain
opportunities. In addition, we plan to leverage our market-leading installed base to accelerate growth in attach-oriented
offerings, including services, supplies, accessories, and software applications. Our global channel partner network is vital to
helping us achieve these goals. As such, we will ensure that we provide the necessary value and support for our partners to be
successful.
Advance our Enterprise Asset Intelligence vision
Our EAI vision is for every asset and front-line worker to be connected, visible, and fully optimized. We believe that secular
technology trends, particularly in IoT, cloud computing, automation, mobility, and artificial intelligence advance our vision and
are transforming our customers’ businesses and our industry, providing us with significant new opportunities to create value for
our customers and for the Company. We expect to capitalize on these trends, and in particular the proliferation of smart
connected sensors and devices in our core market segments, by providing end-to-end solutions that integrate these sensors and
devices with cloud-based workflows and analytics applications. We plan to continue investing in the development of
technologies that will enable intelligent solutions, providing increased visibility into the enterprise, real-time, actionable
information, and improved customer experiences. Our solutions will also increasingly include advanced features, functions, and
user experiences to drive additional competitive differentiation and elevate our role as a solutions provider.
Increase our opportunity for growth through expansion in adjacent market segments
We plan to drive growth through expansion, organically and inorganically, in adjacent market segments that are synergistic
with our core markets. We will focus specifically on segments where our products and solutions, workflow expertise, and
customer and industry relationships will enable us to provide significant value to end-users.
Enhance financial strength and flexibility
While maintaining our strong balance sheet, we intend to continue to improve profitability and cash flow generation through
operational execution and increased productivity derived from continuous business process improvement, supply chain
resiliency, cost management, and focus on working capital efficiency.
Sustainable business model
Zebra’s ESG priorities of human capital management, resource conservation, and climate align with our strategic focus and
corporate values. Initiatives within these priorities are advanced by our cross-functional Sustainability Council, with executive
sponsorship and board oversight. Our approach helps to ensure that our business is sustainable over the long term for the benefit
of our primary stakeholder groups, including employees, customers, partners, and investors. We are driving a high-
performance, inclusive and diverse culture, striving to consistently be the employer of choice in the communities where we
work and live. We also focus on waste reduction, circular economy product innovation with certified refurbished devices, eco-
packaging and sustainable product design. Additionally, we have science-based targets on carbon emission reductions in
Zebra’s operations and throughout our value chain.
Competition
We operate in a highly competitive environment. The need for companies to improve productivity and implement their
strategies, as well as the secular trends around IoT, cloud computing, automation, and mobility, are some of the factors that are
creating growth opportunities for established and new competitors.
Key competitive factors include the breadth and quality of products, solutions and services, as well as pricing, design,
performance, durability, geographic availability, warranty coverage, relationships with customers and channel partners,
company reputation, and brand recognition. We believe we compete effectively with respect to these factors.
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Mobile Computing: Competitors in mobile computing and related services include companies that have historically served
enterprises with ruggedized devices. For some applications, we compete with companies that provide tablets and smart phones.
Competitors include: Datalogic, Honeywell, and Panasonic.
Data Capture, Fixed Industrial Scanning, and Machine Vision: Competitors that provide a broad portfolio of barcode scanning
products and related services that are suitable for most global market applications include Datalogic and Honeywell. We also
compete against smaller companies that focus on limited product subsets or specific regions, including Newland and Impinj.
Competitors in our fixed industrial scanning and machine vision business include Cognex, SICK, and Keyence.
Barcode and Card Printing: We consider our direct competition in printing to be producers of on-demand thermal transfer and
direct thermal label fixed and mobile printing systems and RFID printers/encoders. We also compete with companies engaged
in the design, manufacture, and marketing of printing systems that use technologies such as ink-jet, direct marking and laser
printing, as well as card printers based on ink-jet, thermal transfer, embossing, film-based systems, encoders, laser engraving,
and large-scale dye sublimation printers. In addition, service bureaus, which provide centralized services, compete for end-user
business and provide an alternative to our card printing solutions. Competitors include: Fargo Electronics (a unit of HID
Global), Honeywell, Sato, Toshiba TEC, TSC, Brother, and Dymo.
Supplies: The supplies industry is highly fragmented with competition comprised of numerous companies of various sizes
around the world.
RFID and RTLS Offerings: We compete with numerous companies operating in this market including Impinj, Chainway, Alien,
Rodinbell, JADAK, Ubisense, and Invengo.
Workflow optimization solutions: We compete with a diverse and varied group of companies across our solution offerings
worldwide. Competitors range from providers of software-based solutions serving customers in the retail industry to providers
of autonomous mobile robot solutions serving customers in the manufacturing, distribution, and fulfillment industries.
Customers
End-users of our products, solutions and services are diversified across a wide variety of industries. We have three customers,
who are distributors of the Company’s products and solutions, that individually accounted for more than 10% of our Net sales
during the past three years. No other customer accounted for more than 10% of our Net sales during these years. See Note 20,
Segment Information & Geographic Data in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
Our Net sales to significant customers as a percentage of the Company’s total Net sales were approximately:
Customer A
Customer B
Customer C
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
2023
18 %
14 %
12 %
21 %
15 %
13 %
22 %
14 %
13 %
Sales and Marketing
Sales: We sell our products and services primarily through distributors (two-tier distribution), value added resellers (“VARs”),
independent software vendors (“ISVs”), direct marketers, and OEMs, and our software solutions primarily through our direct
sales force. We also sell our products and services directly to a select number of customers through our direct sales force.
Distributors purchase our products and sell to VARs, ISVs and others, thereby increasing the distribution of our products
globally. VARs, ISVs, OEMs, and systems integrators provide end users with a variety of hardware, accessories, software
applications, and services. VARs and ISVs typically customize solutions for specific end-user applications using their industry,
systems, and applications expertise. Some OEMs resell Zebra-manufactured products and solutions under their own brands as
part of their own product offerings. Because these sales channels provide specific software, configuration, installation,
integration, and support services to end-users within various industry segments, these relationships are highly valued and allow
our products to reach end users in a wide array of industries around the world. We believe that the breadth of our distributor and
channel partner network is a competitive differentiator and enhances our ability to compete. Finally, we experience some
seasonality in sales, depending upon the geographic region and industry served.
Marketing: Our marketing function aligns closely with sales, customer success and product management to market our products
and to promote solutions that address the needs of our customers. Marketing is responsible for leading strategic cross-functional
practices which benefit the broader organization including pricing, enterprise analytics, customer experience, market sizing,
brand strategy and channel strategy. From a more traditional sense, the marketing organization is also comprised of regional
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marketing teams that interface closely with customers, partners, and sellers; plus teams that support external communications,
product marketing, digital marketing, marketing operations, and business intelligence functions.
Manufacturing and Outsourcing
Final assembly of our hardware products is performed by third-parties, including electronics manufacturing services companies
(“EMSs”) and joint design manufacturers (“JDMs”). Our products are currently produced in facilities primarily located in the
Asia-Pacific region, including China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Malaysia, as well as Mexico and Brazil. The EMSs and JDMs
produce our products to our design specifications. We maintain control over portions of the supply chain, including supplier
selection and price negotiations for key components. The manufacturers generally purchase all the components and
subassemblies used in the production of our products. Our products are shipped to regional distribution centers, operated by
third party logistics providers or the Company. A portion of products are reconfigured at the distribution centers through
firmware downloads, packaging, and customer specific customization before they are shipped to customers. In addition, certain
products are manufactured in accordance with procurement regulations and various international trade agreements and remain
eligible for sale to the U.S. government.
Production facilities for our supplies products are located in the U.S. and Western Europe. We also supplement our in-house
supplies production capabilities with third-party manufacturers, principally located in Asia-Pacific.
Repair services for our products are performed by either our own operations or through third-parties, with repair service hubs
located in each of the regions in which we serve our customers.
Research and Development
The Company devotes significant resources to developing innovative solutions for our target markets and ensuring that our
products, solutions, and services maintain high levels of reliability and provide value to end-users. Research and development
expenditures for the years ended 2023, 2022 and 2021 were $519 million, $570 million and $567 million, or 11.3%, 9.9% and
10.1% of Net sales, respectively. Worldwide, we have employed approximately 2,800 engineers and innovation and design
experts, who along with contractors, are focused on strengthening and broadening our extensive portfolio of products and
solutions.
Intellectual Property
We rely on a combination of trade secrets, patents, trademarks, copyrights, and contractual rights to establish and protect our
innovations, and hold a large portfolio of intellectual property rights in the U.S. and other countries. As of December 31, 2023,
the Company owned approximately 1,800 trademark registrations and trademark applications, and approximately 6,800 patents
and patent applications, worldwide.
We believe that our intellectual property will continue to provide us with a competitive advantage in our product areas as well
as provide leverage for future technologies. Our success depends more upon our extensive know-how, deep understanding of
end-user processes and work-flows, innovative culture, technical leadership and marketing and sales abilities. Although we do
not rely only on patents or other intellectual property rights to protect or establish our market position, we will enforce our
intellectual property rights when and where appropriate.
Human Capital
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had approximately 9,750 employees globally, with a majority in sales and technical
roles. Our employees work in 55 countries with a majority of our employees located outside of the U.S. Some portions of our
business, primarily in Europe, China, and India, are subject to labor laws that differ significantly from those in the U.S. In
Europe, for example, it is common for a works council to represent employees when discussing matters such as compensation,
benefits, restructurings, and layoffs.
The Company is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining talent to enable our strategic vision and purpose. This
commitment directly shapes our approach to fostering a culture of inclusion and diversity to drive innovation and enables
employees to reach their potential.
We believe that our strong Company culture is a key contributor to our success. In 2023 we refreshed our company values,
which are Lead through Innovation; Deliver Excellence with Agility; Think and Act Customer First; Succeed as One; and Make
a Positive Impact. Together, we create new ways of working that make everyday life better for organizations, their employees
and those they serve. Employee engagement within the Company is consistently high with the most recent measures scoring
above relevant benchmarks for technology companies. Furthermore, as recognition of the Company’s strong culture and
commitment to its employees, the Company was ranked #66 on Newsweek’s list of Global Most Loved Workplaces, #5 on Fast
Company’s list of the Best Workplaces for Innovators, and was Great Place to Work-Certified™ in 2023.
The wellbeing of our employees remains a core focus. We have benefits that demonstrate our commitment, including zDay, (a
paid, Company-wide day off for all eligible Zebra employees), summer hours, and Focus Fridays to encourage meeting-free
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time on Friday afternoons. In 2023 we launched our new Employee Experience Community, where employees from around the
globe provide their input to improve people-related programs.
Talent Development
Zebra is committed to creating an environment that fosters continuous learning. We believe that effective career development
happens when employees and managers have open discussions regarding their development plans and the best way to use
available resources to support their learning and development.
All Zebra employees have access to the Zebra Education Network, an online learning platform, offering a wide variety of
learning and development resources. Employees are able to make choices around their development with broad access to
learning content and can connect this to their individual development plans. We also offer annual training and certification
programs for all employees globally, including mandatory compliance training.
We offer ample employee development opportunities and have expanded these offerings through our Global Learning and
Leadership Roadmap (“Roadmap”) in 2023. The Roadmap reflects Zebra’s enterprise-wide development programs and is
supplemented through various functional and business unit offerings, focused on functional development needs. The Roadmap
invites all employees to participate in their development at any stage of their career. A highlight of our program offerings
includes Zebra Foundations, a course designed to help all new employees learn about Zebra, our vision, purpose, culture and
values, and understand resources available, all taught through hands-on, gamified learning experiences and interactive
presentations. We also offer Zebra’s Leadership Essentials, which is designed specifically for employees new to leading others
and fosters their leadership and management skill development. This course focuses on values, team engagement, coaching and
feedback, delegation and development, and performance management and innovation.
For more senior management, Zebra offers a series of leadership programs and experiences, designed to advance the
development of leaders at critical stages of their careers. Senior leaders in Zebra nominate specific candidates for these
leadership programs. We connect nominations for these programs to our annual talent review and succession planning process.
Our comprehensive talent review includes the assessment of our future leadership pipeline and skills needed to proactively
develop employees for the future. Regular talent discussions are held by Executive Leadership to align on critical planning
activities and now include a review of the leadership development alumni and progress of prior participants of our nominated
leadership development programs.
Inclusion & Diversity
Our vision is to leverage a diverse workforce where employees can bring their best selves to work and to be an inclusive
workspace where all employees are seen, heard, valued, and respected. We believe an inclusive and diverse workforce increases
Zebra’s innovation, and drives employee development and engagement. Our current aspirations for diverse representation are to
increase the representation of women globally, and ethnic racial minority groups across the total organization. These aspirations
also include increased representation for both groups for leadership roles (director level and above). To support these
aspirations, we routinely review our progress through inclusion survey scores, ERG engagement, diversity of candidate slates,
succession plans, and voluntary turnover, which drive shared accountability across the organization. Additionally, we partner
with outreach organizations (Disability:IN, Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE), and Hiring our Heroes (HOH))
to expand our talent acquisition reach to historically underrepresented groups.
We will continue to focus on the development and retention of talent that creates opportunities for progress toward our
aspirations. Our Company-wide 4C Framework will also continue to guide our Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) strategy,
encouraging all employees to contribute to I&D in ways meaningful to them and their work at Zebra:
•
•
•
•
Culture: Advancing culture of belonging through continuous learning.
Career: Providing insights to inspire curiosity for progress and individual advancement.
Community: Connecting actions in the community with our philanthropy philosophy.
Customer: Advancing customer relationships through shared I&D aspirations.
Our focus on I&D continues through the expansion of our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), now with over 20% employee
membership across the globe. With two new ERGs in 2023, we now have nine employee-led ERGs, along with an employee-
led sustainability network, that are pivotal to our culture of inclusion and are aligned with our 4C model. All of our ERGs are
sponsored by members of our Executive Leadership Team. Our I&D Advisory Council, comprised of Executive Leadership
Team members and leaders of our ERGs, oversees our strategy, governance, and progress against aspirations for an inclusive
culture and diverse representation at Zebra. We proactively collaborate with our ERG leaders, members, and allies to support
and deliver continuous learning, with input provided to refresh our Inclusive Leadership training and Connect through Inclusion
Workshops.
Our employees actively participate in volunteering activities, supported through our Zebra Gives programs. In 2023 our
employee volunteerism (measured by use of volunteer paid time off) increased by 30% over 2022. Through our community
partnerships, our employees leverage their talents and experience to have a positive impact on important community causes and
outreach, including advancing STEM education along with our I&D vision. Through partnerships to advance STEM, we
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sponsor educational events, mentor teams and individuals, and pilot programs to widen Zebra’s future talent pipeline. Our
philanthropy focus extends to Healthcare and Disaster Relief where we maintain relationships with key strategic partners.
In addition, we benchmark and learn from a network of organizations through our membership of the Alliance for Global
Inclusion, where we also participate in the Alliance Index to inform our internal I&D strategy. In 2023 Zebra received a perfect
score of 100 in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index, the foremost benchmarking
survey and report measuring how U.S.-based companies promote LGBTQ+ workplace equality through corporate policies,
benefits, and practices. We intend to continue participating in such indices into 2024 to inform the choices we make on
inclusive policies and practices.
Regulatory Matters
Wireless Regulatory Matters
Our business is subject to certain wireless regulatory matters. The use of wireless voice, data, and video communications
systems requires radio spectrum, which is regulated by government agencies throughout the world. In the U.S., the Federal
Communications Commission (“FCC”) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (“NTIA”)
regulate spectrum use by non-federal entities and federal entities, respectively. Similarly, countries around the world have one
or more regulatory bodies that define and implement the rules for use of the radio spectrum, pursuant to their respective
national laws and international coordination under the International Telecommunications Union. We manufacture and market
products in spectrum bands already made available by regulatory bodies, these include voice and data infrastructure, mobile
radios, and portable or hand-held devices. Consequently, our results of operations could be positively or negatively affected by
the rules and regulations adopted from time-to-time by the FCC, NTIA, or regulatory agencies in other countries. Our products
operate both on the licensed and unlicensed spectrum. The availability of additional radio spectrum may provide new business
opportunities, and consequently, the loss of available radio spectrum may result in the loss of business opportunities.
Regulatory changes in current spectrum bands may also provide opportunities or may require modifications to some products so
they can continue to be manufactured and marketed.
Other Regulatory Matters
Some of our operations use substances regulated under various federal, state, local, and international laws governing the
environment and worker health and safety, including those governing the discharge of pollutants into the ground, air and water,
the management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes and the cleanup of contaminated sites. Certain products are
subject to various federal, state, local, and international laws governing chemical substances in electronic products. During
2023, compliance with U.S. federal, state and local, and foreign laws regulating the discharge of materials into the environment,
or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment did not have a material effect on our business or results of operations.
Available Information
Our website address is www.zebra.com. The information on our website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this
Annual Report on Form 10-K or incorporated into any other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”). Our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments
to those reports, are made available free of charge on the Investor Relations page of our website as soon as reasonably
practicable after we electronically file them with or furnish them to the SEC.
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Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Investors should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties, and other factors described below, as well as other disclosures in
this report, including Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, because they
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows, and growth prospects.
These risks are not the only risks we face. Our business operations could also be affected by additional factors that are not
presently known to us or that we currently consider to be immaterial. No priority or significance is intended by, nor should be
attached to, the order in which the risk factors appear.
General Business and Industry Risks
The Company is vulnerable to the potential difficulties associated with the increase in the complexity of our business. We have
expanded operations and customer offerings over the last several years both organically and through acquisitions. This has
caused increased complexities in the business. We believe our future success depends in part on our ability to manage our
growth and increased complexities of our business. The following factors could present difficulties to us:
• Managing our distribution channel partners and end-user customers;
• Managing our contract manufacturing and supply chain;
• Manufacturing an increased number of products;
• Developing and managing custom solutions offerings;
• Managing parties to whom we have outsourced portions of our business operations;
• Managing administrative and operational burdens;
• Managing stakeholder interests including customer, investor and employee social responsibility matters;
• Maintaining and improving information technology infrastructure to support growth and to manage cyber security
threats;
• Managing the integration of acquisitions;
• Managing logistical problems common to complex, expansive operations;
• Managing our international operations;
• Managing the cost of labor including any union organizing efforts and our responses to such efforts; and
• Attracting, developing and retaining individuals with the requisite technical expertise to develop new technologies and
introduce new products and solutions.
Inability to consummate future acquisitions at appropriate prices could negatively impact our growth rate and stock price. Our
ability to expand revenues, earnings, and cash flow depends in part upon our ability to identify and successfully acquire and
integrate businesses at appropriate prices and to realize anticipated synergies. Acquisitions can be difficult to identify and
consummate due to competition among prospective buyers and the need to satisfy applicable closing conditions and obtain
antitrust and other regulatory approval on acceptable terms. Macroeconomic factors, such as rising inflation and interest rates,
capital market volatility, etc., could negatively influence our future acquisition opportunities.
The Company could encounter difficulties in any acquisition it undertakes, including unanticipated integration problems and
business disruption. Acquisitions could also dilute stockholder value and adversely affect operating results. We may acquire or
make investments in businesses, technologies, services, products, or solutions. An acquisition may present business issues
which are new to us. The process of integrating any acquired business, technology, service, product, or solution into our
operations may result in unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures. Integration of an acquired company also may
consume considerable management time and attention, which could otherwise be available for ongoing operations and the
further development of our existing business. These and other factors may result in benefits of an acquisition not being fully
realized.
Acquisitions also may involve a number of risks, including, but not limited to:
•
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•
•
•
Difficulties and uncertainties in retaining the customers, distributors, vendors, or other business relationships from the
acquired entities;
The loss of key employees of acquired entities;
Disruptions in our business due to difficulties integrating and reorganizing operations, products, technologies and
personnel;
The ability of acquired entities to fulfill their customers’ obligations;
The inheritance of known, and the discovery of unknown, issues or liabilities;
Pre-closing and post-closing acquisition-related earnings charges could adversely impact operating results and cash
flows in any given period, and the impact may be substantially different from period to period;
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•
•
•
The failure of acquired entities to meet or exceed expected operating results or cash flows could result in impairment
of goodwill or intangible assets acquired;
The ability to implement internal controls and accounting systems necessary to be compliant with requirements
applicable to public companies subject to SEC reporting, which could result in misstated financial reports; and
Future acquisitions could result in changes such as potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities and the incurrence
of debt and contingent liabilities.
The Company may not be able to continue to develop products or solutions to address user needs effectively. To be successful,
we must adapt to rapidly changing technological and application needs by continually improving our products and solutions, as
well as introducing new products, solutions, and services, to address user demands.
The Company’s industry is impacted by:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Evolving industry standards;
Frequent new product, solution, and service introductions;
Evolving distribution channels;
Increasing demand for customized product and software solutions;
Changing customer demands; and
Changing security protocols.
Future success will depend on our ability to effectively and economically adapt in this evolving environment. We could incur
substantial costs if we must modify our business to adapt to these changes, and may even be unable to adapt to these changes.
The Company participates in a competitive industry, which may become more competitive. Competitors may be able to respond
more quickly to new or emerging technology and changes in customer requirements. The markets that we serve are rapidly
evolving and highly competitive. Some of our products, solutions and services are in direct competition with similar or
alternative products, solutions and services provided by our competitors. In addition, we often compete with local competitors
that may have a substantial advantage in attracting customers in their countries due to more established branding in that
country, greater knowledge with respect to the tastes and preferences of customers residing in that country or their focus on a
single market. Because of the potential for consolidation in any market, such competitors may become larger, and increased size
could permit them to operate in wider geographic areas. To remain competitive, we believe we must continue to effectively and
economically:
Identify and evolve with customer needs, emerging technologies, and industry trends;
•
• Monitor disruptive technologies and business models;
•
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•
•
•
•
Innovate, develop and timely commercialize new technologies, solutions, and services;
Competitively price our products, solutions and services;
Offer superior customer service;
Provide products and solutions of high quality and reliability;
Provide dependable and efficient distribution networks; and
Attract, retain and develop employees with technical expertise and an understanding of our industry and customer
needs.
We cannot assure that we will be able to compete successfully against current or future competitors or technologies. Current or
future competitors are likely to continue to develop and introduce new and enhanced products, solutions and services that could
cause a decline in market acceptance of our products, solutions or services, or result in the loss of major customers. Increased
competition in our industry may result in price reductions, lower gross profit margins, and loss of market share, and could
require increased spending on research and development, sales and marketing, and customer support. In addition, we may not
be able to effectively anticipate and react to new entrants in the marketplace competing with our products, solutions or services.
Further, as we expand into markets beyond our core products, we may face well established competitors, placing us at a
disadvantage in a new competitive landscape. Some competitors may make strategic acquisitions or establish cooperative
relationships with suppliers or companies that produce complementary products and solutions, which may create additional
pressures on our competitive position in the marketplace. An inability to compete successfully could have an adverse effect on
our business and results of operations.
Operational Risks
The Company has substantial operations and sells a significant portion of our products, solutions and services outside of the
U.S. and purchases important components, including final products, from suppliers located outside the U.S., many of whom
with operations concentrated in China. Shipments to non-U.S. customers are expected to continue to account for a material
portion of Net sales. We also expect to continue the use of third-party contract manufacturing services with non-U.S.
production and assembly operations for our products.
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Risks associated with operations, sales, and purchases include:
•
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•
•
Fluctuating foreign currency rates could restrict sales, increase costs of purchasing, and affect collection of receivables
outside of the U.S.;
Volatility in foreign credit markets may affect the financial well-being of our customers and suppliers;
Violations of anti-corruption laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act, could result
in large fines and penalties;
Geopolitical turmoil, including popular uprisings, regional conflicts, terrorism and war could limit or prohibit our
ability to transfer certain technologies, to sell our products and solutions, and could result in additional closure of
facilities in sanctioned countries (e.g., the ongoing military conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and
Hamas, and changes in China-Taiwan and U.S.-China relations);
Adverse changes in, or uncertainty of, local business laws or practices, including the following:
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•
Imposition of burdensome tariffs, quotas, taxes, trade barriers, or capital flow restrictions;
Restrictions on the export or import of technology may reduce or eliminate the ability to sell in, or purchase
from, certain markets;
Political and economic instability and uncertainty may reduce demand for our products or put our assets at
risk;
Limited intellectual property protection in certain countries may limit recourse against infringement on our
products or may cause us to refrain from selling in certain geographic territories;
Staffing may be difficult including higher than anticipated turnover;
A government-controlled exchange rate and limitations on the convertibility of currencies, including the
Chinese Yuan;
Transportation delays and customs related delays may affect production and distribution of our products;
Difficulty in effectively managing and overseeing operations that are distant and remote from corporate
headquarters; and
Integration and enforcement of laws varies significantly among jurisdictions and may change over time.
The war between Russia and Ukraine and the global response to this war could have an adverse impact on our business and
results of operations. On March 5, 2022, we suspended our business operations in Russia. While this suspension has not had,
and is not expected to have, a material impact on our operating results, it is not possible to predict the broader or long-term
consequences of the war between Russia and Ukraine, which may include further sanctions, embargoes, regional instability,
geopolitical shifts and adverse effects on macroeconomic conditions, cybersecurity conditions, currency exchange rates,
financial markets and energy markets. Such geopolitical instability and uncertainty could have a negative impact on our ability
to sell and ship products, collect payments from and support customers in certain regions, and could increase the costs, risks
and adverse impacts from supply chain and logistics challenges.
Third parties may allege that the Company or our suppliers infringe upon their intellectual property rights. Periodically, third
parties claim that we or our suppliers infringe upon their intellectual property rights. As we continue to expand our business and
incorporate new technologies into our products and solutions, these types of claims may increase. Any of these claims, with or
without merit, could result in costly litigation and divert the attention of key personnel. To the extent a violation of a third
party’s patent or other intellectual property right is established, we may be prevented from operating our business as planned
and we may be required to pay costly judgments or settlements, enter into costly licensing arrangements or use a non-infringing
method to accomplish our business objectives, any of which could have a negative impact on our operating margins. See Item
3, Legal Proceedings for additional information regarding current patent litigation.
The inability to protect intellectual property could harm our reputation, and our competitive position may be materially
damaged. Our intellectual property is valuable and provides us with certain competitive advantages. We use copyrights, patents,
trademarks, trade secrets, and contracts to protect these proprietary rights. Despite these precautions, third parties may be able
to copy or reproduce aspects of our intellectual property and our products or, without authorization, to misappropriate and use
information we regard as trade secrets. Additionally, the intellectual property rights we obtain may not be sufficient to provide
us with a competitive advantage and may be successfully challenged, invalidated, circumvented, or infringed. In any
infringement litigation that the Company may undertake to protect our intellectual property, any award of monetary damages
may be unlikely or very difficult to obtain, and any such award we may receive may not be commercially valuable.
Furthermore, efforts to enforce or protect our proprietary rights may be ineffective and could result in the invalidation or
narrowing of the scope of our intellectual property and may cause us to incur substantial litigation costs. Because of the
substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some of the
Company’s confidential information could be compromised by disclosure during this type of litigation. Some aspects of our
business and services also rely on technologies, software, and content developed by or licensed from third parties, and we may
not be able to maintain our relationships with such third parties or enter into similar relationships in the future on reasonable
terms or at all.
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We currently use third-party and/or open source operating systems and associated application ecosystems in certain of our
products and solutions. Such parties ceasing continued development of the operating systems or restricting our access to such
operating systems could adversely impact our business and financial results. We are dependent on third-parties’ continued
development of operating systems, software application ecosystem infrastructures, and such third-parties’ approval of our
implementations of their operating systems and associated applications. If such parties cease to continue development or
support of such operating systems or restrict our access to such operating systems, we would be required to change our strategy
for such devices. Our financial results could be negatively impacted by a resulting shift away from the operating systems we
currently use and the associated applications ecosystem could be costly and difficult. A strategy shift could increase the burden
of development on the Company and potentially create a gap in our portfolio for a period of time, which could competitively
disadvantage us. Some aspects of our business and services also rely on technologies, software, and content developed by or
licensed from third parties, and we may not be able to maintain our relationships with such third parties or enter into similar
relationships in the future on reasonable terms or at all.
Emerging issues related to the development and use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) could give rise to legal or regulatory
action, damage our reputation or otherwise materially harm our business. Our development and use of AI technology in our
products and operations remains in the early phases. While we aim to develop and use AI responsibly and attempt to mitigate
ethical and legal issues presented by its use, we may ultimately be unsuccessful in identifying or resolving issues before they
arise. AI technologies are complex and rapidly evolving and the technologies that we develop or use may ultimately be flawed.
Moreover, AI technology is subject to rapidly evolving domestic and international laws and regulations, which could impose
significant costs and obligations on the company. For example, in 2023 the Biden Administration issued a new, executive order
on safe, secure and trustworthy AI and the EU introduced the AI Act to establish rules for providers and users. Emerging
regulations may pertain to data privacy, data protection, and the ethical use of AI, as well as clarifying intellectual property
considerations. Our use of AI could give rise to legal or regulatory action, increased scrutiny or liability, damage our reputation,
or otherwise materially harm our business.
Cybersecurity incidents could disrupt business operations. New technologies and systems being installed with the intent of
advancing capabilities and processing efficiencies may introduce new risks which could outpace the organization's ability to
properly identify, assess and address such risks. Further, new business models that rely heavily on global digitization, use of the
cloud, big data, mobile and social media expose the organization to even more cyber-attacks. We rely on information
technology systems throughout the Company to keep financial records, process orders, manage inventory, coordinate shipments
to distributors and customers, maintain confidential and proprietary information, and other technical activities, and operate
other critical functions such as internet connectivity, network communications, and email. The Company stores confidential and
proprietary information through cloud-based services that are hosted by third parties where we have less influence over security
protocols. In addition, our customers may use certain of our products and solutions to transmit and/or process personal data and
other sensitive information. Like many companies, we continually strive to meet industry information security standards
relevant to our business. We periodically perform vulnerability assessments, remediate vulnerabilities, review log/access,
perform system maintenance, manage network perimeter protection, implement and manage disaster recovery testing, and
provide periodic educational sessions to our employees to foster awareness of schemes to access sensitive information. Despite
our implementation of a variety of security controls and measures, as well as those of our third-party vendors, there is no
assurance that such actions will be sufficient to prevent a cybersecurity incident. Further, as cybercrime and threats continue to
rapidly evolve and become increasingly more difficult to detect and defend against, our current security controls and measures
may not be effective in preventing cybersecurity incidents and we may not have the capabilities to detect certain vulnerabilities.
A cybersecurity incident could include an attempt to gain unauthorized access to digital systems for purposes of
misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. Phishing and other types of
attempts to obtain unauthorized information or access are often sophisticated and difficult to detect or defeat.
Cybersecurity incidents can take a variety of forms including, unintentional events as well as deliberate attacks by individuals,
groups and sophisticated organizations, such as state sponsored organizations or nation-state actors. Further, certain of our third
party vendors have limited access to our employee and customer data and may use this data in unauthorized ways. Any such
cybersecurity incident or misuse of our employees’ or customers’ data may lead to a material disruption of our core business
systems, the loss or corruption of confidential business information, and/or the disclosure of personal data that in each case
could result in an adverse business impact as well as possible damage to our brand. This could also lead to a public disclosure
or theft of private intellectual property and a possible loss of customer confidence.
While we have experienced and expect to continue to experience these types of threats and incidents, there have been no
material incidents incurred to-date at the Company. If our core business operations, or that of one of our third-party service
providers, were to be breached, this could affect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our systems and data. Any
failure on the part of us or our third-party service providers to maintain the security of data we are required to protect, including
via the penetration of our network security and the misappropriation of confidential and proprietary information, could result in:
business disruption; damage to our reputation; financial obligations to third parties; fines, penalties, regulatory proceedings;
private litigation with potentially large costs; deterioration in our suppliers’, distributors’, and customers’ confidence in us; as
well as other competitive disadvantages. Such failures to maintain the security of data could have a material adverse effect on
our business, financial condition, and results of operations. While we continue to perform security due diligence, there is always
the possibility of a significant breach. In addition, any failure on the part of one of our contract manufacturers, distributors or
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resellers to maintain the security of its systems or data, including via the penetration of their network security or ransomware,
could result in business disruption to us and damage to our reputation.
Any threats or security breaches to our systems may negatively impact our customers. Our products and solutions that are
deployed in customer environments also have the possibility of being breached, which could result in disclosure of a customer’s
confidential information, or disrupt the availability of the customer’s data and systems. Further, our customers may fail to adopt
adequate security controls and measures, or may fail to timely update their products and solutions to install or enable security
patches, which may result in a security breach. The market perception of the effectiveness of our products and our reputation
could also be harmed as a result of any actual or perceived security breach that occurs in our network or in the network of a
customer of our products, regardless of whether the breach is attributable to our products, the systems of other vendors or to
actions of malicious parties. It is possible that such a breach, or a perceived breach, could result in delays in, or loss of market
acceptance of, our products, solutions or services; diversion of our resources; injury to our reputation; theft or misuse of our
intellectual property or other assets; increased service and warranty expenses; and payment of damages. To date, we have had
no material incidents related to the security of our products or solutions. Further, strategic customers may negotiate specific
controls and we may incur additional costs to comply with such customer-specific controls. Although we maintain insurance
related to cybersecurity risks, there can be no assurance that our insurance will cover the particular cyber incident at issue or
that such coverage will be sufficient.
We may incur liabilities as a result of product failures due to actual or apparent design or manufacturing defects. We have
been subject to product liability claims, and may continue to be subject to such claims, including claims for property or
economic damages or personal injury, where damages arose, and may continue to arise, from our products as a result of actual
or apparent design or manufacturing defects. In addition, such design or manufacturing defects may occur not only in our own
designed products, but also in components provided by third-party suppliers. We seek to limit such risk through insurance
protection as well as product design, manufacturing quality control processes, product testing and contractual indemnification
from suppliers. Although there have been no material claims to-date at the Company, due to the growing size of the Company’s
installed product base and growing number of applications in which our products can be used, an actual or alleged design or
manufacturing defect could result in product recalls, injury to our reputation, and customer service costs or legal costs that
could have material adverse effects on our financial results.
Defects or errors in the Company’s software products could harm our reputation, result in significant cost to us, and impair
our ability to market such products. Our software may contain undetected errors, defects, or bugs. Although we have not
suffered significant harm from any errors, defects, or bugs to date, we may discover significant errors, defects, or bugs in the
future that we may not be able to correct or correct in a timely manner. Any future errors, defects, or bugs found in our software
products and related services may result in delays in, or loss of market acceptance of, our products, solutions or services;
diversion of resources; injury to reputation; increased service and warranty expenses; and payment of damages; which could
have a material adverse effect on our financial results.
Our business success depends on our ability to attract, retain, develop and motivate key personnel. Our business and results of
operations could be adversely affected by increased competition for highly skilled employees, higher employee turnover, or
increased compensation and benefit costs. The future success of the Company is substantially dependent on the continued
services and contributions of key personnel, including senior management and other highly skilled employees. The experience,
industry knowledge, and skill sets of our employees materially benefit our operations and performance, and the ability to
attract, retain, develop, and motivate highly skilled employees is important to our long-term success. Skilled employees in our
industry are in high demand and competition for their experience and skill sets is intense. The incentives and benefits we have
available to attract, retain, and motivate employees may become less effective as employees seek new or different opportunities
based on factors such as compensation, benefits, mobility, and flexibility that are different from what we offer. Although we
strive to be an employer of choice, we may not be able to continue to successfully attract, retain, develop, or motivate key
personnel in the future. Any disruption in the services of key personnel may have a material adverse effect on our business and
results of operations.
A natural disaster, widespread public health issue, civil unrest, or man-made disaster may cause supply disruptions that could
adversely affect our business and results of operations. Natural disasters or widespread public health issues, including
pandemics, may occur in the future and the Company is not able to predict to what extent or duration any such disruptions will
have on our ability to maintain ordinary business operations. The Company’s operations and facilities are subject to
catastrophic loss due to fire, flood, terrorism, or other natural or man-made disasters. If any of our facilities were to experience
a catastrophic loss, it could disrupt our operations, delay production, shipments and revenue, and result in large expenses to
repair or replace the facility. Following an interruption to our business, the Company could require substantial recovery time,
experience significant expenditures to resume operations, and lose significant sales. If such a disruption were to occur, we could
breach agreements, our reputation could be harmed, and our business and operating results could be adversely affected. The
consequences of a natural disaster or widespread public health issue may have a material adverse effect on our business and
results of operations.
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Global health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have had an impact on our supply chain and could have a material
impact on our global operations, our customers and our vendors, which could adversely impact our business results and
financial condition. Global health crises could have a material impact on our global operations, our employees, our customers
and our vendors, which could adversely impact our business results and financial conditions. For example, the continued
evolution of COVID-19 and its variants, as well as periodic spikes in infection rates, local outbreaks on our sites or supplier,
customer or vendor sites, in spite of safety measures or vaccinations, could cause disruptions to our operations or those of our
suppliers, customers or vendors. Pandemic conditions could lead to global supply chain challenges, which could adversely
impact our ability to procure certain components and could impact our ability to manufacture products and cause delays in
delivery of our products and/or solutions to our customers. As new variants of viruses appear, especially variants that are more
easily spread, cause more serious outcomes, or are resistant to existing vaccines, new health orders and safety protocols could
further impact our on-site operations and our ability to manufacture, ship or deliver products and solutions to customers. These
factors could materially and negatively impact our business results, operations, revenue, growth and overall financial condition.
We are exposed to risks under large, multi-year system and solutions and services contracts that may negatively impact our
business. We enter into large, multi-year system and solutions and services contracts with our customers that expose us to risks,
including among others: (i) technological risks, especially when contracts involve new technology; (ii) financial risks, including
the accuracy of estimates inherent in projecting costs associated with large, long-term contracts and the related impact on
operating results; and (iii) cybersecurity risks, especially in solutions or managed services contracts with customers that process
personal data. Recovery of front-loaded costs incurred on long-term managed services and software-based solutions contracts
with customers is dependent on the continued viability of such customers. The insolvency of customers could result in a loss of
anticipated future revenue attributable to that program or product, which could have an adverse impact on our profitability.
We enter into fixed-price contracts that could subject us to losses in the event we fail to properly estimate our costs. If our
initial cost estimates are incorrect, we can lose money on these contracts. Because many of these contracts involve new
technologies and applications and require the Company to engage subcontractors and can last multiple years, unforeseen events,
such as technological difficulties, fluctuations in the price of raw materials, problems with our subcontractors or suppliers, and
other cost overruns, can result in the contract pricing becoming less favorable or even unprofitable to us and have an adverse
impact on our financial results. In addition, a significant increase in inflation rates could have an adverse impact on the
profitability of longer-term contracts.
We utilize the services of subcontractors to perform under many of our contracts, and the inability of our subcontractors to
perform in a timely and compliant manner could negatively impact our performance obligations as the prime contractor. We
engage subcontractors on many of our contracts and our use of subcontractors has and may continue to increase as we expand
our global solutions and services business. Our subcontractors may further subcontract performance and may supply third-party
products and software. We may have disputes with our subcontractors, including disputes regarding the quality and timeliness
of work performed by a subcontractor and the functionality, warranty and indemnities of products, software, and services
supplied by a subcontractor. We are not always successful in passing along customer requirements to our subcontractors, and
thus in some cases may be required to absorb contractual risks from our customers without corresponding back-to-back
coverage from our subcontractors. Our subcontractors may not be able to acquire or maintain the quality of the materials,
components, subsystems, and services they supply, or secure preferred warranty and indemnity coverage from their suppliers,
which might result in greater product returns, service problems, warranty claims and costs, and regulatory compliance issues
and could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We have outsourced portions of certain business operations such as repair, distribution, engineering services, and information
technology services and may outsource additional business operations, which limits our control over these business operations
and exposes us to additional risk as a result of the actions of our outsource partners. We are not able to directly control certain
business operations that we outsource. Our outsource partners may not prioritize our business over that of their other customers
and they may not meet our desired level of service, cost reductions, or other metrics. In some cases, our outsource partners’
actions may result in our being found to be in violation of laws or regulations, such as import or export regulations. As many of
our outsource partners operate outside of the U.S., our outsourcing activity exposes us to information security vulnerabilities
and increases our global risks. In addition, we are exposed to the financial viability of our outsource partners. Once a business
activity is outsourced, we may be contractually prohibited from, or may not practically be able to, bring such activity back
within the Company or move it to another outsource partner. The actions of our outsource partners could result in reputational
damage to us and could negatively impact our financial results. Further, we have from time-to-time, and in certain instances
will continue to, transition our outsourced operations to new service providers and/or to different geographies. Such transition
activities between new or existing outsource partners or across different geographies, as well as insourcing activities, could
result in additional cost, time and management attention in order to effectively manage the transition, which could negatively
impact our financial results.
Failure of our suppliers, subcontractors, distributors, resellers, and representatives to use acceptable legal or ethical business
practices could negatively impact our business. It is our policy to require suppliers, subcontractors, distributors, resellers, and
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third-party sales representatives (“TPSRs”) to operate in compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including
those regarding working conditions, employment practices, environmental compliance, anti-corruption, and trademark and
copyright licensing. However, we do not control their labor and other business practices. If one of our suppliers, subcontractors,
distributors, resellers, or TPSRs violates labor or other laws or implements labor or other business practices that are regarded as
unethical, the shipment of finished products to us could be interrupted, orders could be canceled, relationships could be
terminated, and our reputation could be damaged. If one of our suppliers or subcontractors fails to procure necessary license
rights to trademarks, copyrights, or patents, legal action could be taken against us that could impact the salability of the
Company’s products and solutions, and expose us to financial obligations to a third-party. Any of these events could have a
negative impact on our sales and results of operations.
We rely on third-party dealers, distributors, and resellers to sell many of our products, services and solutions, and their failure
to effectively bring our products, services and solutions to market may negatively affect our results of operation and financial
results. In addition to our own sales force, we offer our products, services and solutions through a variety of third-party dealers,
distributors, and resellers who may also market other products, services and solutions that compete with ours. Failure of one or
more of our third-party dealers, distributors, or resellers to effectively promote our offerings could affect our ability to bring
products, services and solutions to market and have a negative impact on our results of operations. Any changes to our channel
program may cause some of our third-party dealers, distributors, or resellers to exit the program due to modifications to the
program structure, which may reduce our ability to bring products and solutions to market and could have a negative impact on
our results of operations.
Third-party dealers, distributors or resellers could also face additional costs or credit concerns resulting from an uncertain
economic environment that would cause such parties to reduce purchases of our products, thereby causing a negative impact on
our financial results. Some of these third-parties are smaller and more likely to be impacted by a significant decrease in
available credit that could result from a weakness in the financial markets. If credit pressures or other financial difficulties result
in insolvency for third-party dealers, distributors, or resellers and we are unable to successfully transition end-customers to
purchase our products and solutions from other third-parties or from us directly, it may cause, and in some cases, has caused, a
negative impact on our financial results.
Final assembly of certain of our products is performed by third-party electronics manufacturers. We may be dependent on these
third-party electronics manufacturers as a sole-source of supply for the manufacture of such products. A failure by such
manufacturers to provide manufacturing services to us as we require, or any disruption in such manufacturing services up to
and including a catastrophic shut-down, may adversely affect our business results. Because we rely on these third-party
electronics manufacturers to manufacture our products, we may incur increased business continuity risks. We are not able to
exercise direct control over the assembly or related operations of certain of our products. If these third-party manufacturers
experience business difficulties or fail to meet our manufacturing needs, then we may be unable to satisfy customer product
demands, lose sales, and be unable to maintain customer relationships. Longer production lead times may result in shortages of
certain products and inadequate inventories during periods of unanticipated higher demand. Without such third parties
continuing to manufacture our products, we may have no other means of final assembly of certain of our products until we are
able to secure the manufacturing capability at another facility or develop an alternative manufacturing facility. This transition
could be costly and time consuming. We have taken actions to diversify, and may take additional actions to diversify in the
future, our product sourcing footprint. Such actions have, and may again, result in additional costs.
Our future operating results depend on our ability to purchase a sufficient amount of materials, parts, and components, as well
as services and software to meet the demands of customers. We source some of our components from sole source suppliers.
Any disruption to our suppliers or significant increase in the price of supplies, inclusive of transportation costs, or change in
customer demand could have a negative impact on our results of operations. Our ability to meet customers’ demands depends,
in part, on our ability to obtain in a timely manner an adequate delivery of quality materials, parts, and components, as well as
services and software from our suppliers, and our ability to deliver products, services and software to our customers. In
addition, certain supplies are available only from a single source or limited sources and we may not be able to diversify sources
in a timely manner. If demand for our products, solutions or services increases from our current expectations or if suppliers are
unable or unwilling to meet our demand for other reasons, including as a result of natural disasters, public health issues, severe
weather conditions, or financial issues, we could experience an interruption in supplies or a significant increase in the price of
supplies that could have a negative impact on our business. We have experienced shortages in the past that have negatively
impacted our results of operations and may experience such shortages in the future. At times we have and may continue to
execute multi-year purchase commitments with suppliers that contain minimum spend thresholds, which we are obligated to
fulfill even if customer demand declines, and may require that we purchase inventory that exceeds our forecasted demand. In
addition, volatility in customer demand, product availability, and costs to transport products, may result in increased operating
input costs, elevated inventory levels, as well as inventory-related losses. Also, credit constraints at our suppliers could cause us
to accelerate payment of accounts payable by us, impacting our cash flow.
In addition, our current contracts with certain suppliers may be canceled or not extended by such suppliers and, therefore, not
afford us with sufficient protection against a reduction or interruption in supplies. Moreover, in the event any of these suppliers
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breach their contracts with us, our legal remedies associated with such a breach may be insufficient to compensate us for any
damages it may suffer.
Financial and Market Risks
The impact of changes in customs duties and trade policies in the United States and corresponding actions by other countries in
which the Company does business could adversely affect our financial performance. The Company currently imports a
significant percentage of our products into the U.S., and an increase in customs duties with respect to these imports could
negatively impact the Company’s financial performance. Although the Company has taken actions to diversify its product
sourcing footprint, these efforts may not be sufficient to mitigate negative impacts on the Company’s financial performance
resulting from an increase in customs duties.
Taxing authority challenges may lead to tax payments exceeding current reserves. We are subject to, and may become subject
to, ongoing tax examinations in various jurisdictions. As a result, we may record incremental tax expense based on expected
outcomes of such matters. In addition, we may adjust previously reported tax reserves based on expected results of these
examinations. Such adjustments could result in an increase or decrease to the Company’s effective tax rate and cash flows.
Future changes in tax law in various jurisdictions around the world and income tax holidays could have a material impact on
our effective tax rate, foreign rate differential, future income tax expense, and cash flows.
Forecasting our estimated annual effective tax rate is complex and subject to uncertainty, and there may be material differences
between our forecasted and actual tax rates. Forecasts of our income tax position and effective tax rate are complex, subject to
uncertainty and periodic updates because our income tax position for each year combines the effects of a mix of profits earned
and losses incurred by us in various tax jurisdictions with a broad range of income tax rates, as well as changes in the valuation
of deferred tax assets and liabilities, the impact of various accounting rules and changes to these rules, the results of
examinations by various tax authorities, and the impact of any acquisition, business combination, disposition or other
reorganization, or financing transaction.
As a multinational corporation, we conduct our business in many countries and are subject to taxation in many jurisdictions.
The taxation of our business is subject to the application of multiple, and sometimes conflicting, tax laws and regulations, as
well as multinational tax conventions. Many countries have recently adopted, or are considering the adoption of, revisions to
their respective tax laws based on the on-going reports issued by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and
Development (“OECD”)/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (“BEPS”) Project, which could materially impact our tax
liability due to our organizational structure and significant operations outside of the U.S. Our effective tax rate is highly
dependent upon the geographic distribution of our worldwide earnings or losses resulting from our structure and operating
model, the tax regulations and tax holidays in each geographic region, and the availability of tax credits and carry-forwards.
The application of tax laws and regulations is subject to legal and factual interpretation, judgment, and uncertainty. Tax laws
themselves are subject to change as a result of changes in fiscal policy, changes in legislation, and the evolution of regulations
and court rulings. Consequently, taxing authorities may impose tax assessments or judgments against us that could materially
impact our tax liability and/or our effective income tax rate.
Economic conditions and financial market disruptions may adversely affect our business and results of operations. Adverse
economic conditions or reduced and/or changes in the timing and amount of information technology spending may negatively
impact our business. General disruption of financial markets and a related general economic downturn or uncertainty could
adversely affect our business and financial condition through a reduction in demand for our products, solutions or services by
our customers. If a slowdown were severe enough, it could require further impairment testing and write-downs of goodwill and
other intangible assets. Cost reduction actions have been and may be necessary in the future resulting in restructuring charges as
well as changes in staffing levels which may strain our resources. A tightening of financial credit or increase in the cost of
borrowing could adversely affect our customers, suppliers, outsourced manufacturers, and channel partners (e.g., distributors
and resellers) from obtaining adequate credit for the financing of significant purchases. An economic downturn could also result
in a decrease in or cancellation of orders for our products, solutions and services; negatively impacting the ability to collect
accounts receivable on a timely basis; result in additional reserves for uncollectible accounts receivable; and require additional
reserves for inventory obsolescence. Higher volatility and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates for the U.S. Dollar against
currencies such as the Euro, British Pound Sterling and Czech Koruna could negatively impact product sales, margins, and cash
flows.
It is important that we are able to obtain many different types of insurance, and if we are not able to obtain insurance or
exhaust our coverage, we may be forced to retain the risk. We have many types of insurance coverage and are also self-insured
for some risks and obligations. Our third-party insurance coverage varies from time to time in both type and amount depending
on availability, cost and our decisions with respect to risk retention. Economic conditions and uncertainties in global markets
may adversely affect the cost and other terms upon which we are able to obtain third-party insurance. In addition, our third-
party insurance policies are subject to deductibles, policy limits, and exclusions that result in our retention of a level of risk on a
self-insurance basis. Further, certain types of coverages may be difficult or expensive to obtain. We self-insure against certain
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business risks and expenses where we believe we can adequately self-insure against the anticipated exposure and risk or where
insurance is either not deemed cost-effective or is not available. If the amount of our third-party insurance coverage is not
available or adequate to cover all claims or liabilities, or to the extent we have elected to self-insure, we may be forced to bear
substantial costs from an accident, incident, or claim. Losses not covered by insurance could be substantial and unpredictable
and could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Our indebtedness could adversely affect our business. Our indebtedness could have important consequences, including the
following:
• We may experience difficulty in satisfying our obligations with respect to our existing indebtedness or future
•
indebtedness;
Our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, or general corporate
purposes may be impaired;
• We may be at a competitive disadvantage with reduced flexibility in planning for, or responding to, changing
conditions in the industry, including increased competition; and
• We may be more vulnerable to economic downturns and adverse developments in the business.
We expect to fund our expenses and to pay the principal and interest on our indebtedness from cash flow from operations. Our
ability to meet our expenses and to pay principal and interest on our indebtedness when due depends on our future performance
and ability to collect cash from our customers, which will be affected by financial, business, economic, and other factors. We
will not be able to control many of these factors, such as economic conditions in the markets where we operate and pressure
from competitors.
If our business does not generate sufficient cash flows from operations or if future borrowings are not available to us in an
amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs, we may need to refinance all or a
portion of our indebtedness on or before the maturity thereof, sell assets, reduce or delay capital investments, or seek to raise
additional capital, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our operations. In addition, we may not be able to effect
any of these actions, if necessary, on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Our ability to restructure or refinance our
indebtedness will depend on the condition of the capital and debt markets and our financial condition at such time. Any
refinancing of our indebtedness could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants,
which could further restrict business operations. The terms of anticipated or future debt instruments may limit or prevent us
from taking any of these actions. In addition, any failure to make scheduled payments of interest and/or principal on
outstanding indebtedness would likely result in a reduction of our credit rating, which could harm our ability to access
additional capital on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Our inability to generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy our debt
service obligations, or to refinance or restructure our obligations on commercially reasonable terms or at all, would have an
adverse effect, which could be material, on our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as on our ability
to satisfy the obligations in respect of our indebtedness.
Our use of derivative financial instruments to reduce interest rate risk may result in added volatility in our operating results.
We do not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. However, we do utilize derivative financial
instruments to reduce interest rate risk associated with our indebtedness. To manage variable interest rate risk, we entered into
forward interest rate swap agreements, which will effectively convert a portion of our indebtedness into a fixed rate loan. Under
generally accepted accounting principles, changes in the fair values of the swap contracts are reflected in our Consolidated
Statements of Operations as a component of “Interest expense, net” if not hedged. The associated impact on our quarterly
operating results is directly related to changes in prevailing interest rates. If interest rates increase, we would have a non-cash
gain on the swaps, and vice versa in the event of a decrease in interest rates. Consequently, these swaps may introduce
additional volatility to our operating results.
Legal and Regulatory Risks
We could be adversely impacted by changes in accounting standards and subjective assumptions, estimates, and judgments by
management related to complex accounting matters. Generally accepted accounting principles and related accounting
pronouncements, implementation guidelines, and interpretations with regard to a wide range of matters that are relevant to our
businesses, including, but not limited to, revenue recognition, business acquisition purchase price allocations, impairment of
goodwill and other intangible assets, inventories, tax matters, and litigation and other contingent liabilities are highly complex
and involve many subjective assumptions, estimates, and judgments. Changes in these rules or their interpretation or changes in
underlying assumptions, estimates, or judgments could significantly change our reported or expected financial performance or
financial condition. New accounting guidance may also require systems and other changes that could increase our operating
costs and/or change our financial statements.
Laws and regulations relating to the handling of personal data may result in increased costs, legal claims, or fines against the
Company. As part of our operations, the Company collects, uses, stores, and transfers personal data of third parties, employees
and limited customer data in and across various jurisdictions. Laws and regulations relating to the handling of such personal
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data may result in increased costs, legal claims, or fines against the Company. Existing laws and emerging regulations may be
inconsistent across jurisdictions and are subject to evolving and differing (sometimes conflicting) interpretations. Government
officials, regulators and privacy advocates are increasingly scrutinizing how companies collect, process, use, store, share and
transmit personal data, which may result in new interpretations of existing laws that impact our business. Compliance with
these laws may require us to, among other things, make changes in services, business practices, or internal systems that may
result in increased costs, lower revenue, reduced efficiency, or greater difficulty in competing with foreign-based firms.
Further, there is no assurance that we will be able to meet additional requirements that may be imposed on the transfer of
personal data without incurring expenses. We may experience reluctance or refusal by customers to purchase or continue to use
our services due to concerns regarding their data protection obligations. Our actual or perceived failure to comply with
applicable laws and regulations or other obligations to which we may be subject, or to protect personal data from unauthorized
access, use, or other processing, may subject the Company to enforcement actions and regulatory investigations, claims, legal
proceedings or other actions, reputational harm and loss of goodwill, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our
operations, financial performance, and business.
The unfavorable outcome of any pending or future litigation, arbitration, or administrative action could have a material
adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. From time to time we are a party to litigation, arbitration, or
administrative actions. Our financial results and reputation could be negatively impacted by unfavorable outcomes to any
pending or future litigation or administrative actions, including those related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K.
Bribery Act, or other anti-corruption laws. There can be no assurances as to the favorable outcome of any litigation or
administrative proceedings. In addition, it can be very costly to defend litigation or administrative proceedings and these costs
could negatively impact our financial results.
We are subject to a wide range of product regulatory and safety, consumer, worker safety, and environmental laws. Our
operations and the products we manufacture and/or sell are subject to a wide range of product regulatory and safety, consumer,
worker safety, and environmental laws and regulations. Compliance with such existing or future laws and regulations could
subject us to future costs or liabilities, impact our production capabilities, constrict our ability to sell, expand or acquire
facilities, restrict what products, solutions and services we can offer, and generally impact our financial performance. Some of
these laws are environmental and relate to the use, disposal, remediation, emission and discharge of, and exposure to hazardous
substances. These laws often impose liability and can require parties to fund remedial studies or actions regardless of fault. We
continue to incur disposal costs and have ongoing remediation obligations. Environmental laws have tended to become more
stringent over time and any new obligations under these laws could have a negative impact on our operations or financial
performance.
Laws focused on the energy efficiency of electronic products and accessories; recycling of both electronic products and
packaging; reducing or eliminating certain hazardous substances in electronic products; and the transportation of batteries
continue to expand significantly. Laws pertaining to accessibility features of electronic products, standardization of connectors
and power supplies, the transportation of lithium-ion batteries, and other aspects are also proliferating. There are also
demanding and rapidly changing laws around the globe related to issues such as product safety, radio interference, radio
frequency radiation exposure, medical related functionality, and consumer and social mandates pertaining to use of wireless or
electronic equipment. These laws, and changes to these laws, could have a substantial impact on whether we can offer certain
products, solutions, and services, and on what capabilities and characteristics our products, solutions or services can or must
include.
These laws impact our products and negatively affect our ability to manufacture and sell products competitively. We expect
these trends to continue. In addition, we anticipate that we will see increased demand to meet voluntary criteria related to
reduction or elimination of certain constituents from products, increasing energy efficiency, and providing additional
accessibility.
Increased public awareness and worldwide focus on environmental and climate change issues has led to legislative and
regulatory efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions, and may result in more international, federal or regional requirements or
industry standards to reduce or mitigate global warming. ESG requirements and other increased regulation of climate change
concerns could subject us to additional costs and restrictions and require us to make certain changes to our manufacturing
practices and/or product designs, which could negatively impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and
competitive position.
From time to time, we create and publish voluntary disclosures regarding ESG matters. Identification, assessment, and
disclosure of such matters is complex. Many of the statements in such voluntary disclosures are based on our expectations and
assumptions, which may require substantial discretion and forecasts about costs and future circumstances. However, if our ESG
practices or business portfolio do not meet evolving investor or other stakeholder expectations and standards, then our
reputation, our ability to attract or retain employees and our attractiveness as an investment, supplier, business partner, or
acquiror could be negatively impacted. In addition, we note that certain ESG matters are becoming less “voluntary” as
regulators, including the SEC, begin proposing and adopting regulations regarding ESG matters, including, but not limited to
climate change-related matters. To the extent we are subject to increased regulatory requirements, we could become subject to
22
increased compliance-related costs and risks, including potential enforcement and litigation. Such ESG matters may also impact
our suppliers and customers, which may compound or cause new impacts on our business, financial condition or results of
operations.
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 1C.
Cybersecurity
Zebra takes a comprehensive approach to managing cybersecurity risk, starting with the integration of cybersecurity risk into
our overall enterprise risk management framework, among other significant risks to the Company.
Board Oversight
Our Board of Directors is responsible for oversight of risks to the Company, and is assisted by the Audit Committee in the
oversight of cybersecurity risks. Management updates the Board on at least an annual basis on key cybersecurity activities. In
connection with this oversight, the Audit Committee monitors the quality and effectiveness of the Company’s cybersecurity
program covering security of its internal information technology systems and its products and solutions as well as our cyber
incident response plan and resources. The Audit Committee regularly receives updates from management about prevention,
detection, mitigation and remediation of cyber threats, including the overall status of the Company’s cyber security program,
results of third-party assessments, and recent cyber threats. In addition, the Audit Committee reviews the Company’s cyber
security investment methodology to determine whether cyber maturity improvements and risk reductions are being made.
Management’s Role
Management is responsible for day-to-day cyber risk management activities, including proactively identifying, assessing,
prioritizing, managing and mitigating enterprise cybersecurity risks. Our Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) is the accountable
leader in executive management for Zebra’s IT and cybersecurity programs.
The Chief Security Officer (“CSO”) is the senior-most security professional responsible for the implementation of the
Company’s cybersecurity, product security, and corporate/physical security programs, and reports to the CFO. The CSO also
recommends to the Company’s executive management regarding the Company’s cyber risk mitigation priorities. The
Company’s current CSO has served in that role for Zebra since 2018. He is a recognized leader in the field of cyber security
with over 14 years of global executive cybersecurity experience.
The Chief Information Officer (“CIO”) is a peer to the CSO, also reporting to the CFO. The CIO and his team are responsible
for executing cybersecurity risk mitigation plans. Zebra’s current CIO was appointed to the role in March 2022 and has nearly
20 years of experience in managing IT functions.
The Chief Information Security Officer (“CISO”) reports to the CSO and oversees the Company’s Security Operations Center
(“SOC”). The CISO establishes and oversees the execution of prioritized cybersecurity mitigation plans for the Company.
Zebra’s current CISO was appointed to the role in June 2018 and has held multiple leadership roles overseeing IT functions
during his 14 years with the Company, including driving efforts within the cybersecurity function.
Cybersecurity Risk Management
The underlying controls of our cyber risk management program are based on recognized best practices and standards for cyber
security and information technology, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework.
Our approach to cybersecurity risk management includes the following key elements:
•
Defense and On-going Monitoring – Our SOC is responsible for the on-going monitoring and analysis of cyber threats
to the Company. The SOC evaluates cyber security incidents according to the Company’s cyber incident response
plan, appropriate cyber incident playbook, and crisis communications cyber incident plan. The Company also utilizes
endpoint detection and response services as well as data forensic investigation services for additional detection
capability and timely assistance with potential cyber security incidents.
23
•
•
•
Technical Safeguards – The Company utilizes various tactics for cyber threat prevention. We periodically perform
vulnerability assessments, remediate vulnerabilities, review log and access, perform system maintenance, manage
network perimeter protection, and implement and manage disaster recovery testing. Further, Zebra relies on its
information security management system supported by a comprehensive set of policies that directly align with ISO
27001 and are supported by System and Organization Controls 2 (SOC2) reports and external ISO 27001:2013
certification for certain parts of our business.
Education and Awareness – To foster employee awareness of cyber threats, we provide periodic educational sessions
to our employees, including annual training on general cybersecurity concepts and educational opportunities that
include real-life simulation and “tabletop exercises.” We also regularly conduct privacy and security summits that
involve training and information sessions conducted by employees and by third parties.
Third-Party Risk Management (“TPRM”) – Our TPRM function focuses on mitigating cyber risk from specific third-
party vendor categories. This function performs initial TPRM assessments as part of the vendor selection process and
regularly reassess vendors based on vendor type and risk factors.
While we have experienced and expect to continue to experience cybersecurity threats and incidents, there have been no
material incidents incurred to-date at the Company. However, there can be no guarantee that our policies and procedures will be
followed in every instance or that those policies and procedures will be effective. Cybersecurity threats could materially affect
our business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition, as further discussed in the risk factors in Part I, Item 1A of
this report.
Item 2.
Properties
Our corporate headquarters are located in Lincolnshire, Illinois; a northern suburb of Chicago. We also operate manufacturing,
repair, distribution and warehousing, administrative, research, and sales facilities in other U.S. and international locations.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company owned 3 laboratory and warehouse facilities located in the U.S., U.K., and Canada.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had a total of 119 leased facilities with locations spread globally; 36 of which are
located in the U.S. and 83 of which are located in other countries. See Note 13, Leases in the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements for further details related to the Company’s lease arrangements.
We generally consider the productive capacity of our facilities to be adequate and sufficient for our requirements. The extent of
utilization of each manufacturing facility varies throughout the year.
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
See Note 14, Accrued Liabilities, Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for
discussion of certain matters.
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
24
PART II
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities
Stock Information
Our Class A Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC under the symbol “ZBRA”.
As of February 8, 2024, the last reported price for the Company’s Class A Common Stock was $247.12 per share, and there
were 84 registered stockholders of record for Zebra’s Class A Common Stock. The number of beneficial owners is substantially
greater than the number of stockholders of record because a large portion of our Class A common stock is transacted through
banks and brokers.
Dividend Policy
Since our initial public offering in 1991, we have not declared any cash dividends or distributions on our capital stock. We
currently do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
Treasury Shares
The following table sets forth information with respect to repurchases of the Company’s common stock for the three months
ended December 31, 2023.
Total Number of
Shares
Purchased
Average Price
Paid per Share
Total Number of
Shares
Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs (1)
Approximate
Dollar Value of
Shares that May
Yet Be
Purchased Under
the Plans or
Programs (in
millions) (1)
— $
—
—
— $
—
—
—
—
— $
—
—
— $
893
893
893
893
Period
October 1, 2023 - October 28, 2023
October 29, 2023 - November 25, 2023
November 26, 2023 - December 31, 2023
Total
(1) On May 17, 2022, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to $1
billion of its outstanding shares of common stock. This authorization augments the previous $1 billion share repurchase
authorization which was announced on July 30, 2019. Repurchases may be effected from time to time through open
market purchases, including pursuant to a pre-set trading plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has cumulatively repurchased 3,517,602 shares of
common stock for approximately $1.1 billion, resulting in a remaining amount of share repurchases authorized under the
plans of $893 million.
25
Stock Performance Graph
The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return, calculated on a dividend-reinvested basis, in Zebra
Technologies Corporation Class A Common Stock, the S&P 500 Index, and the S&P 500 Information Technology Index for the
five years ended December 31, 2023. The comparison assumes that $100 was invested in each of the Company’s Class A
Common Stock, the S&P 500 Index, and the S&P 500 Information Technology Index as of the market close on December 31,
2018. Note that historic stock price performance is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
Value at each year-end of $100 initial investment made on December 31, 2018
12/18
12/19
12/20
12/21
12/22
12/23
Zebra Technologies Corporation
$ 100.00 $ 160.42 $ 241.37 $ 373.80 $ 161.03 $ 171.66
S&P 500
$ 100.00 $ 131.49 $ 155.68 $ 200.37 $ 164.08 $ 207.21
S&P 500 Information Technology
$ 100.00 $ 150.29 $ 216.25 $ 290.92 $ 208.90 $ 329.73
26
Item 6.
[Reserved]
27
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
This section generally discusses fiscal 2023 and 2022 items and year-over-year comparisons between 2023 and 2022.
Discussions of 2021 items and year-over-year comparisons between 2022 and 2021 are not included herein. Refer to
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of the Company’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 for that discussion.
Overview
The Company is a global leader in providing Enterprise Asset Intelligence (“EAI”) solutions in the Automatic Identification and
Data Capture (“AIDC”) industry. The AIDC market consists of mobile computing, data capture, radio frequency identification
devices (“RFID”), barcode printing, and other workflow automation products and services. The Company’s operations consist
of two reportable segments that provide complementary offerings to our customers: Asset Intelligence & Tracking (“AIT”) and
Enterprise Visibility & Mobility (“EVM”). Refer to Part I, Item 1 of this document for additional information.
•
•
The AIT segment is an industry leader in barcode printing and asset tracking technologies. Its major product lines
include barcode and card printers, RFID and RTLS offerings, and supplies, including temperature-monitoring labels,
and services.
The EVM segment is an industry leader in automatic information and data capture solutions. Its major product lines
include mobile computing, data capture, fixed industrial scanning and machine vision, services, and workflow
optimization solutions. Our workflow optimization solutions include cloud-based software subscriptions, retail
solutions, and robotic automation solutions.
Change in Segments
In the second quarter of 2023, our advanced location technology solutions business, which is primarily comprised of RFID
devices and RTLS offerings, moved from our EVM segment into our AIT segment contemporaneous with a change in our
organizational structure and management of the business. We have reported our segment results reflecting this change,
including historical periods, on a comparable basis. This change does not have an impact on the Consolidated Financial
Statements.
During the past year, we have maintained our position as a market leader in our core businesses, which are generally considered
to be comprised of our mobile computing and data capture products, printing products and supplies, as well as support and
repair services. Customers across the industries that we serve have benefited from our core offerings to keep pace with the
increasingly on-demand economy and to invest in their long-term technology capabilities. The Company continues to focus on
scaling and integrating our recent acquisitions providing growth opportunities across our solution offerings.
Macroeconomic Environment
We entered 2023 facing headwinds from global cost inflation, rising interest rates, and a stronger U.S. dollar, which have
negatively impacted our current year results. As the year progressed, we experienced a broad-based decline in customer demand
across our core product offerings. Demand declines were most pronounced in our mobile computing and printing businesses
within our EVM and AIT segments, respectively, as we believe many of our customers were absorbing significant capacity
built-out in recent years, while also experiencing tighter capital spending budgets. These dynamics, coupled with a general
trend in distributors reducing their inventory levels, negatively impacted our current year results. We have been partially
mitigating the financial impacts of these operating headwinds through a combination of cost management actions and targeted
list price increases. Throughout 2023, we also experienced an overall improvement in both component part availability and
costs of transportation, which enabled us to better meet customer demand as compared to the prior year. We are not yet seeing
signs of a broad-based recovery in end-market demand.
2023 Financial Summary and Other Recent Developments
•
•
•
•
Net sales were $4,584 million in the current year compared to $5,781 million in the prior year.
Operating income was $481 million in the current year compared to $529 million in the prior year.
Net income was $296 million, or $5.72 per diluted share in the current year, compared to Net income of $463 million,
or $8.80 per diluted share in the prior year.
Net cash used in operating activities was $4 million in the current year compared to net cash provided by operating
activities of $488 million in the prior year.
• We repurchased $52 million of common shares in the current year compared to $751 million in the prior year.
28
Restructuring Activity
As a result of the impacts on our business discussed above, the Company expanded the scope of its 2022 Productivity Plan and
initiated a U.S. employee voluntary retirement plan (“VRP”) in the current year (the “Programs”). During the first quarter of
2024, the Company committed to additional actions under the 2022 Productivity Plan which will bring the total expected cost of
the Programs to approximately $130 million. These costs are classified within Exit and restructuring on the Consolidated
Statements of Operations. The Programs are expected to impact over 9% of our global employee base and are estimated to
result in annualized net cost savings of approximately $120 million, primarily within Operating expenses. The Company has
realized approximately $50 million of net savings to date, primarily in the third and fourth quarters of the current year. The
actions under the VRP have been completed in the current year and the remaining actions under the 2022 Productivity Plan are
expected to be substantially completed in the first half of 2024.
29
Results of Operations: Year Ended 2023 versus 2022 and Year Ended 2022 versus 2021
Consolidated Results of Operations
(amounts in millions, except percentages)
Net sales:
Tangible products
Services and software
Total Net sales
Gross profit
Gross margin
Operating expenses
Operating income
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
2021
Percent
Change
2023 vs 2022
Percent
Change
2022 vs 2021
$
3,665
$
4,915
$
4,845
919
4,584
2,123
46.3 %
1,642
866
5,781
2,624
45.4 %
2,095
$
481
$
529
$
782
5,627
2,628
46.7 %
1,649
979
(25.4) %
6.1 %
(20.7) %
(19.1) %
90 bps
(21.6) %
(9.1) %
1.4 %
10.7 %
2.7 %
(0.2) %
(130) bps
27.0 %
(46.0) %
Net sales to customers by geographic region were as follows (amounts in millions, except percentages):
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
2021
Percent
Change
2023 vs 2022
Percent
Change
2022 vs 2021
North America
EMEA
Asia-Pacific
Latin America
Total Net sales
$
$
2,405 $
2,919 $
1,414
481
284
4,584 $
1,920
609
333
5,781 $
2,819
1,976
543
289
5,627
(17.6) %
(26.4) %
(21.0) %
(14.7) %
(20.7) %
3.5 %
(2.8) %
12.2 %
15.2 %
2.7 %
Operating expenses are summarized below (amounts in millions, except percentages):
Selling and marketing
Research and development
General and administrative
Settlement and related costs
Amortization of intangible assets
Acquisition and integration costs
Exit and restructuring costs
Total Operating expenses
Year Ended December 31,
As a Percentage of Net sales
2023
2022
2021
$
$
581 $
519
334
—
104
6
98
1,642 $
607 $
570
375
372
136
21
14
2,095 $
587
567
348
—
115
25
7
1,649
2023
12.7 %
11.3 %
7.3 %
—
NM
NM
NM
35.8 %
2022
10.5 %
9.9 %
6.5 %
6.4 %
NM
NM
NM
36.2 %
2021
10.4 %
10.1 %
6.2 %
—
NM
NM
NM
29.3 %
Consolidated Organic Net sales (decline) growth:
Reported GAAP Consolidated Net sales (decline) growth
Adjustments:
Impact of foreign currency translations (1)
Impact of acquisitions (2)
Consolidated Organic Net sales (decline) growth (3)
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
(20.7) %
2.7 %
1.4 %
(0.5) %
(19.8) %
2.0 %
(1.5) %
3.2 %
(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, inclusive of
the Company’s foreign currency hedging program.
30
(2) For purposes of computing Organic Net sales (decline) growth, amounts directly attributable to business acquisitions are
excluded for twelve months following their respective acquisitions.
(3) Consolidated Organic Net sales (decline) growth is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Measures section
at the end of this item.
2023 compared to 2022
Total Net sales decreased $1,197 million or 20.7% compared to the prior year reflecting declines in both of our segments
resulting from broad-based decline in demand for our core products as well as a reduction of inventory levels at our
distributors. Current year Net sales of both segments included the benefit of targeted list price increases, partially offset by the
negative effects of foreign currency changes. Prior year Net sales of both segments were negatively impacted by supply chain
bottlenecks, which were most pronounced in our EVM segment. Excluding the effects of foreign currency changes and
acquisitions, Consolidated Organic Net sales decreased by 19.8%.
Gross margin increased to 46.3% for the current year compared to 45.4% in the prior year. As compared to the prior year, Gross
margin was significantly higher in our AIT segment, while Gross margin in our EVM segment was modestly lower. Both
segments, particularly AIT, benefited from lower premium freight and component part costs compared to the prior year, and
were negatively impacted by volume deleveraging, particularly EVM.
Operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were $1,642 million and $2,095 million, or 35.8% and
36.2% of Net sales, respectively. Excluding the $372 million settlement charge in the prior year, Operating expenses would
have been 29.8% of Net sales. The increase as a percentage of Net sales over the prior year reflects the impact of expense
deleveraging. Current year Operating expenses were lower than the prior year primarily due to the prior year including a $372
million settlement charge, lower employee incentive compensation, cost efficiencies attributed to our Exit and restructuring
actions, lower Amortization of intangible assets, and lower Acquisition and integration costs, partially offset by higher Exit and
restructuring costs and the inclusion of operating expenses associated with recently acquired businesses.
Operating income was $481 million for the current year compared to $529 million for the prior year. The decrease was due to
lower Gross profit partially offset by lower Operating expenses.
Net income decreased 36.1% compared to the prior year primarily due to lower Operating income, as described above, as well
as higher Other (expense) income, net. Other (expense) income, net was an expense of $147 million for the current year,
compared to income of $15 million in the prior year primarily due to higher interest expense associated with higher interest
rates and average outstanding debt levels as well as lower interest rate swap gains in the current year.
The Company’s effective tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 were 11.4% and 14.9%,
respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate compared to the prior year was primarily due to favorability in discrete
items.
Diluted earnings per share decreased to $5.72 as compared to $8.80 in the prior year due to lower Net income, partially offset
by lower average shares outstanding.
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, segment operating income excludes business acquisition purchase accounting adjustments, amortization of
intangible assets, acquisition and integration costs, impairment of goodwill and other intangibles, exit and restructuring costs, as
well as certain other non-recurring costs (such as the settlement in the prior year).
31
Asset Intelligence & Tracking Segment (“AIT”)
(amounts in millions, except percentages)
Net sales:
Tangible products
Services and software
Total Net sales
Gross profit
Gross margin
Operating expenses
Operating income
AIT Organic Net sales (decline) growth:
AIT Reported GAAP Net sales (decline) growth
Adjustments:
Impact of foreign currency translations (1)
AIT Organic Net sales (decline) growth (2)
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
2021
Percent
Change
2023 vs 2022
Percent
Change
2022 vs 2021
$
1,537
$
1,728
$
1,625
114
1,651
787
109
1,837
795
109
1,734
796
47.7 %
43.3 %
45.9 %
441
346
$
434
361
$
410
386
$
(11.1) %
4.6 %
(10.1) %
(1.0) %
440 bps
1.6 %
(4.2) %
6.3 %
—
5.9 %
(0.1) %
(260) bps
5.9 %
(6.5) %
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
(10.1) %
5.9 %
1.3 %
(8.8) %
2.0 %
7.9 %
(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, inclusive of
the Company’s foreign currency hedging program.
(2) AIT Organic Net sales (decline) growth is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Measures section at the end
of this item.
2023 compared to 2022
Total Net sales for AIT decreased $186 million or 10.1% compared to the prior year primarily due to lower sales of printing
products and the negative effects of foreign currency changes, partially offset by targeted list price increases. Excluding the
impact of foreign currency changes, AIT Organic Net sales decreased by 8.8%.
Gross margin increased to 47.7% in the current year compared to 43.3% for the prior year primarily due to lower premium
freight and component part costs, and price increases, partially offset by the negative impact of foreign currency changes and
volume deleveraging.
Operating income decreased 4.2% in the current year compared to the prior year due to lower Gross profit and higher Operating
expenses.
32
Enterprise Visibility & Mobility Segment (“EVM”)
(amounts in millions, except percentages)
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2023
2021
Percent
Change
2023 vs 2022
Percent
Change
2022 vs 2021
Net sales:
Tangible products
Services and software
Total Net sales
Gross profit
Gross margin
Operating expenses
Operating income
$
2,128
$
3,187
$
3,220
805
2,933
1,336
45.6 %
993
343
$
757
3,944
1,829
46.4 %
1,118
$
711
$
679
3,899
1,838
47.1 %
1,092
746
(33.2) %
6.3 %
(25.6) %
(27.0) %
(80) bps
(11.2) %
(51.8) %
(1.0) %
11.5 %
1.2 %
(0.5) %
(70) bps
2.4 %
(4.7) %
EVM Organic Net sales (decline) growth:
EVM Reported GAAP Net sales (decline) growth
Adjustments:
Impact of foreign currency translations (1)
Impact of acquisitions (2)
EVM Organic Net sales (decline) growth (3)
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
(25.6) %
1.2 %
1.5 %
(0.8) %
(24.9) %
2.1 %
(2.2) %
1.1 %
(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, inclusive of
the Company’s foreign currency hedging program.
(2) For purposes of computing EVM Organic Net sales (decline) growth, amounts directly attributable to business acquisitions
are excluded for twelve months following their respective acquisitions.
(3) EVM Organic Net sales (decline) growth is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Measures section at the
end of this item.
2023 compared to 2022
Total Net sales for EVM decreased $1,011 million or 25.6% compared to the prior year primarily due to lower sales of mobile
computing products (contributing the majority of the total decrease) and data capture products, which were partially offset by
higher sales of services and software, and contributions from our recent acquisitions. Current year Net sales included the benefit
of targeted list price increases, substantially offset by the negative effects of foreign currency changes. Excluding the impacts of
foreign currency changes and acquisitions, EVM Organic Net sales decreased by 24.9%.
Gross margin decreased to 45.6% in the current year compared to 46.4% for the prior year primarily due to product volume
deleveraging, the negative impact of foreign currency changes and inventory-related charges, partially offset by pricing, higher
service and software margins, and lower premium freight and component part costs.
Operating income for the current year decreased 51.8% compared to the prior year due to lower Gross profit, partially offset by
lower Operating expenses.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The primary factors that influence our liquidity include the amount and timing of cash collections from our customers, cash
payments to our suppliers, capital expenditures, acquisitions, and share repurchases. Management believes that our existing
capital resources, inclusive of available borrowing capacity on debt and other financing facilities and funds generated from
operations, are sufficient to meet anticipated capital requirements and service our indebtedness. The following table summarizes
our cash flow activities for the years indicated (in millions):
33
Cash flow (used in) provided by:
Operating activities
Investing activities
Financing activities
Effect of exchange rates on cash balances
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents, including restricted cash
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
2021
$ Change
2023 vs 2022
$ Change
2022 vs 2021
$
(4) $
(92)
117
—
488 $
(968)
253
—
1,069 $
(546)
(371)
—
(492) $
876
(136)
—
(581)
(422)
624
—
$
21 $
(227) $
152 $
248 $
(379)
2023 vs. 2022
The change in our cash and cash equivalents balance during the current year is reflective of the following:
•
•
•
$492 million of incremental operating cash outflows primarily due to reduced operating profits and higher cash
payments for income taxes, Exit and restructuring actions, interest, inventory purchases, and the settlement, partially
offset by favorability in the timing of customer collections and lower employee incentive compensation payments.
$876 million less in investing activities primarily due to cash payments for the acquisition of Matrox in the prior year.
$136 million less in financing activities primarily due to increased borrowings in the prior year as a result of the
Company refinancing its long-term credit facilities, partially offset by lower common stock repurchases in the current
year.
Company Debt
The following table shows the carrying value of the Company’s debt (in millions):
Term Loan A
Revolving Credit Facility
Receivables Financing Facilities
Total debt
Less: Debt issuance costs
Less: Unamortized discounts
Less: Current portion of debt
Total long-term debt
December 31,
2023
2022
1,684 $
413
129
2,226 $
(2)
(4)
(173)
2,047 $
1,728
50
254
2,032
(4)
(5)
(214)
1,809
$
$
$
In May 2022, the Company refinanced its long-term credit facilities by entering into its third amendment to the Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement, which increased the Company’s borrowing under Term Loan A from $875 million to $1.75 billion
and the Company’s borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility from $1 billion to $1.5 billion, extended the
maturities of the facilities to May 25, 2027, and replaced LIBOR with SOFR as the benchmark reference rate.
Term Loan A
The principal on Term Loan A is due in quarterly installments, with the next quarterly installment due in March 2024 and the
majority due upon maturity in 2027. The Company may make prepayments in whole or in part, without premium or penalty,
and would be required to prepay certain outstanding amounts in the event of certain circumstances or transactions. As of
December 31, 2023, the Term Loan A interest rate was 6.71%. Interest payments are made monthly and are subject to variable
rates plus an applicable margin.
Revolving Credit Facility
The Company has a Revolving Credit Facility that is available for working capital and other general business purposes,
including letters of credit. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had letters of credit totaling $11 million, which reduced
funds available for borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility from $1,500 million to $1,489 million. As of December 31,
2023, the Revolving Credit Facility had an average interest rate of 6.66%. Upon borrowing, interest payments are made
monthly and are subject to variable rates plus an applicable margin. The Revolving Credit Facility matures on May 25, 2027.
34
Receivables Financing Facilities
The Company has two Receivables Financing Facilities with financial institutions that have a combined total borrowing limit of
up to $280 million. As collateral, the Company pledges perfected first-priority security interests in its U.S. domestically
originated accounts receivable. The Company has accounted for transactions under its facilities as secured borrowings. The
Company’s first facility allows for borrowings of up to $180 million and matures on March 19, 2024. The Company’s second
facility allows for borrowings of up to $100 million and matures on May 13, 2024.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets included $483 million of gross receivables that were
pledged under the facilities. As of December 31, 2023, $129 million had been borrowed and was classified as current.
Borrowings under the facilities bear interest at a variable rate plus an applicable margin. As of December 31, 2023, the facilities
had an average interest rate of 6.81%. Interest is paid monthly on these borrowings.
See Note 12, Long-Term Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details related to the Company’s
debt instruments.
Receivables Factoring
The Company transfers certain receivables to banks without recourse as part of its credit and cash management activities. Such
transfers are accounted for as sales and the related receivables are removed from the Company’s balance sheet. The Company
does not maintain any beneficial interest in the receivables sold. The Company services the receivables on behalf of the banks,
but otherwise maintains no significant continuing involvement with respect to the receivables. Sale proceeds that are
representative of the fair value of factored receivables, less a factoring fee, are reflected in Cash flows from operating activities
on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, while sale proceeds in excess of the fair value of factored receivables are
reflected in Cash flows from financing activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The Company has two
Receivables Factoring arrangements. One arrangement allows for the factoring of up to €150 million of uncollected receivables
originated from the EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions. In the third quarter, the Company amended its second arrangement to
allow the factoring of uncollected receivables originated from the EMEA region from up to $25 million to $50 million.
Otherwise, the amendment did not substantially change the terms of the arrangement.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were a total of $56 million and $61 million, respectively, of uncollected receivables
that had been sold and removed from the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
As servicer of sold receivables, the Company had $112 million and $130 million of obligations that were not yet remitted to
banks as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. These obligations are included within Accrued liabilities on the
Consolidated Balance Sheets, with changes in such obligations reflected within Cash flows from financing activities on the
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
See Note 19, Accounts Receivable Factoring in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Share Repurchases
On May 17, 2022, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to $1
billion of its outstanding shares of common stock. This authorization augments the previous $1 billion share repurchase
authorization which was announced on July 30, 2019. The newly authorized share repurchase program does not have a stated
expiration date. The level of the Company’s repurchases depends on a number of factors, including its financial condition,
capital requirements, cash flows, results of operations, future business prospects and other factors its management may deem
relevant. The timing, volume, and nature of repurchases are subject to market conditions, applicable securities laws and other
factors and may be amended, suspended or discontinued at any time. Repurchases may be affected from time to time through
open market purchases, including pursuant to a pre-set trading plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company repurchased 194,319 shares of
common stock for approximately $52 million. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has cumulatively repurchased 3,517,602
shares of common stock for approximately $1.1 billion, resulting in a remaining amount of share repurchases authorized under
the plans of $893 million.
Future Cash Requirements
We believe that our Cash and cash equivalents, which totaled $137 million as of December 31, 2023, along with anticipated
cash generation from operations and available borrowing capacity on debt and other financing facilities, will be sufficient to
fund the Company’s cash requirements during the next 12 months and thereafter based on our current business plans.
35
Included in the Company’s Cash and cash equivalents are amounts held by foreign subsidiaries, which was $33 million and $36
million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. We do not expect that Cash and cash equivalents held by foreign
subsidiaries will need to be repatriated in order to fund the Company’s U.S. operations based on current cash requirements.
Our cash requirements during the next 12 months and thereafter include payments to satisfy the following obligations:
•
•
•
Purchase obligations — The Company has a limited number of multi-year purchase commitments, primarily related to
semiconductors and cloud services, which contain minimum purchase requirements and are non-cancellable. As of
December 31, 2023, these multi-year commitments were approximately $124 million. This amount excludes routine
purchase orders for goods and services, as well as amounts already reflected within Current liabilities on the
Consolidated Balance Sheet. See Note 14, Accrued Liabilities, Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details.
Debt obligations — We expect to make total payments of approximately $291 million associated with the Company’s
debt facilities in 2024. This expected use of cash is based on the Company’s current borrowings and applicable interest
rates and margins as of December 31, 2023, and includes principal and interest payments along with expected cash
settlements associated with the Company’s interest rate swaps. In the ordinary course of business, the Company may
decide to borrow additional amounts or repay principal earlier than contractually owed, which would affect future cash
payments. See Note 12, Long-Term Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details related
to the Company’s debt facilities.
Leases obligations — We lease certain manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, sales and administrative offices,
equipment, and vehicles. As of December 31, 2023, the Company’s fixed lease commitments totaled $237 million, of
which $53 million is payable in 2024. See Note 13, Leases in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for
further details related to the Company’s lease arrangements.
In addition to the expected cash requirements described above, the Company may use cash to fund strategic acquisitions,
investments, or repurchase common stock under its share repurchase program. We also expect to spend approximately $80
million to $90 million on capital expenditures in 2024.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Management prepared the consolidated financial statements of the Company under accounting principles generally accepted in
the U.S. The application of these principles requires the use of estimates which affect the amounts reported in our consolidated
financial statements. While we believe that our estimates are reasonable based upon available information, actual results could
differ substantially from those estimates. Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements provides additional discussion of these items along with other significant accounting policies of the Company. The
accounting estimates described below have been identified by Management as those that are most significant to our financial
statements.
Income Taxes
We estimate a provision or benefit for income taxes and amounts to be settled or recovered in several tax jurisdictions globally.
Our estimates are complex and involve significant judgments and interpretations of regulations. Resolution of income tax
treatments in individual jurisdictions may not be known for several years after completion of a given year. We are also required
to evaluate the realizability of our deferred tax assets on an ongoing basis, which requires estimation of our ability to generate
future taxable income. In particular, our income tax provision or benefit is dependent on our ability to forecast future taxable
income in the U.S., U.K., Singapore, and other jurisdictions. Significant judgments included in our forecasts include projecting
future sales volumes and pricing, costs to manufacture and procure products and to deliver services and solutions, among other
factors. There were no significant changes in estimates to our income tax provision during the current year.
Acquisitions
We account for acquired businesses using the acquisition method of accounting. This method requires that the purchase price be
allocated to the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair values. The excess of the purchase
price over the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. The estimates used to determine the
fair values of long-lived intangible assets can be complex and require judgment. We generally value intangible assets using
income-based valuation methodologies, such as the excess earnings method, which require critical estimates that include, but
are not limited to, future expected cash flows from revenues and the determination of discount rates.
Goodwill Impairment
36
Our goodwill impairment testing includes a comparison of the estimated fair value of each of our reporting units to its carrying
value. Fair value determinations require judgment and can be sensitive to changes in underlying assumptions, estimates, as well
as market factors. We estimate the fair value of reporting units using both income and market-based valuation approaches.
Estimating the fair value of reporting units requires that we make assumptions and estimates including projections of revenue
and income growth rates as well as cash flows; capital investments; competitive and customer trends; appropriate peer group
selection; market-based discount rates and other market factors. Our annual impairment testing, most recently completed in the
fourth quarter of 2023, continues to indicate that the fair values of each of our reporting units significantly exceed their
respective carrying values.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenues when we transfer control of promised goods, solutions or services to our customers in an amount that
reflects the consideration we expect to receive. The consideration that we expect to receive is estimated by reflecting reductions
to our transaction price for product returns, rebates, and other incentives. These estimates are developed using the expected
value that the Company anticipates receiving and are based on recent trends observed in similar transactions. Additionally,
some of our contracts with customers contain multiple performance obligations, including various hardware, software, and/or
services. For such contracts that contain multiple performance obligations, we allocate the estimated total transaction price to
each performance obligation based on relative standalone selling prices (“SSP”). The determination of SSP is established at a
regional level. SSP is based on observable prices in recent standalone transactions for the same or similar offerings, to the
extent available, which is often applicable to tangible products and software licenses. Alternatively, in the absence of recent
observable prices, the Company generally applies the expected cost-plus margin approach to professional services, repair and
maintenance services, and solution offerings. There were no changes to our estimation processes for consideration received or
SSP that materially affected revenues during the year.
New Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements regarding recent accounting
pronouncements.
Non-GAAP Measures
The Company has provided reconciliations of the supplemental non-GAAP financial measures, as defined under the rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, presented herein to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and
presented in accordance with GAAP.
These supplemental non-GAAP financial measures – Consolidated Organic Net sales (decline) growth, AIT Organic Net sales
(decline) growth, and EVM Organic Net sales (decline) growth – are presented because our management evaluates our financial
results both including and excluding the effects of business acquisitions and foreign currency translation, as applicable.
Management believes that the supplemental non-GAAP financial measures presented provide additional perspective and
insights when analyzing the core operating performance of our business from period to period and trends in our historical
operating results. These supplemental non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for, or
as an alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with the GAAP financial measures presented.
37
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market risk is the sensitivity of income to changes in interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency changes. Zebra is
primarily exposed to the following types of market risk: interest rate and foreign currency.
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to interest rate volatility with regard to existing debt issuances. Our exposure is primarily tied to the Secured
Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”). We use interest rate derivative contracts, including interest rate swaps, to mitigate the
Company’s exposure from interest rate changes on existing debt and future debt issuances, thereby reducing the volatility of our
financing costs and, based on current and projected market conditions, fix a portion of variable-rate debt. Generally, under these
interest rate swaps, we agree with a counterparty to exchange variable-rate for fixed-rate interest amounts with an agreed upon
notional amount.
As of December 31, 2023, we had approximately $2.2 billion of debt outstanding under our debt facilities, which bears interest
determined by reference to a variable rate index. A one percentage point increase or decrease in interest rates would increase or
decrease annual interest expense by approximately $14 million. This exposure includes the impact of associated forward
interest rate swaps outstanding as of December 31, 2023. Refer to Note 11, Derivative Instruments in the Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements for further discussion of these risk mitigation activities. Exposure to variable interest may increase or
decrease, to the extent that the Company’s borrowings under its debt facilities increase or decrease, respectively.
Foreign Exchange Risk
We provide products, solutions and services in approximately 185 countries throughout the world and, therefore, at times are
exposed to risk based on movements in foreign exchange rates. In some instances, we invoice customers in their local currency
and have a resulting foreign currency denominated revenue transaction and accounts receivable. We also purchase certain raw
materials and other items in foreign currencies. We manage these risks using derivative financial instruments, including foreign
currency exchange contracts. See Note 11, Derivative Instruments in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further
discussions of hedging activities.
The currencies that we are primarily exposed to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates are the Euro, British Pound
Sterling, and Czech Koruna. A one percentage point increase or decrease in exchange rates relative to the U.S. Dollar would
increase or decrease our pre-tax income by approximately $1 million. This amount is inclusive of the impact of associated
derivative contracts.
38
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 42)
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page
40
42
43
44
45
46
47
39
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Zebra Technologies Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Zebra Technologies Corporation and subsidiaries (the
Company) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income,
stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes
(collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its
operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with U.S.
generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
(PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in
Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission
(2013 framework) and our report dated February 15, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are
required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to
error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial
statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included
examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included
evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that
was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that
are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The
communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as
a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit
matter or on the accounts or disclosure to which it relates.
Accounting for Income Taxes
Description of the
Matter
As discussed in Note 16 of the financial statements, the Company earns a significant
amount of its operating income across multiple jurisdictions. As the Company operates
in a multinational tax environment and incurs income tax obligations in a number of
jurisdictions, complexities and uncertainties can arise in the application of complex tax
regulations to the Company’s multinational operations.
Auditing the application of taxation legislation to the Company’s business operations
and structure is inherently complex and requires judgment. These factors impact the
Company’s evaluation and estimation of uncertain tax positions.
40
How We Addressed
the Matter in Our
Audit
We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating
effectiveness of controls over the Company’s identification of and accounting for the
tax impact of significant changes in the business. This included controls over the
Company’s tax technical assessment of cross-jurisdictional transactions.
Our audit procedures included, among others, involving our tax professionals in the
significant operating jurisdictions to test the Company’s tax provision and the
application of significant tax laws to cross-jurisdictional transactions. We evaluated the
Company’s transfer pricing used in intercompany transactions to assess whether there
was alignment with the Company’s operations. We assessed the completeness of
significant tax matters identified and the adequacy of the accounting for any potential
uncertainty.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2005.
Chicago, Illinois
February 15, 2024
41
ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In millions, except share data)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $1 million each as of
December 31, 2023 and 2022
Inventories, net
Income tax receivable
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Total Current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net
Right-of-use lease assets
Goodwill
Other intangibles, net
Deferred income taxes
Other long-term assets
Total Assets
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities
Deferred revenue
Income taxes payable
Total Current liabilities
Long-term debt
Long-term lease liabilities
Deferred income taxes
Long-term deferred revenue
Other long-term liabilities
Total Liabilities
Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock, $.01 par value; authorized 10,000,000 shares; none issued
Class A common stock, $.01 par value; authorized 150,000,000 shares; issued
72,151,857 shares
Additional paid-in capital
Treasury stock at cost, 20,772,995 and 20,700,357 shares as of December 31, 2023 and
2022, respectively
Retained earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total Stockholders’ Equity
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
42
December 31,
2023
2022
$
137 $
105
$
$
521
804
63
147
1,672
309
169
3,895
527
438
296
7,306 $
173 $
456
504
458
7
1,598
2,047
152
67
312
94
4,270
—
1
615
768
860
26
124
1,883
278
156
3,899
630
407
276
7,529
214
811
744
425
138
2,332
1,809
139
75
333
108
4,796
—
1
561
(1,858)
4,332
(54)
3,036
7,306 $
(1,799)
4,036
(66)
2,733
7,529
$
ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In millions, except per share data)
Net sales:
Tangible products
Services and software
Total Net sales
Cost of sales:
Tangible products
Services and software
Total Cost of sales
Gross profit
Operating expenses:
Selling and marketing
Research and development
General and administrative
Settlement and related costs
Amortization of intangible assets
Acquisition and integration costs
Exit and restructuring costs
Total Operating expenses
Operating income
Other (loss) income, net:
Foreign exchange loss
Interest (expense) income, net
Other expense, net
Total Other (expense) income, net
Income before income tax
Income tax expense
Net income
Basic earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
2023
$
3,665
$
4,915
$
919
4,584
2,012
449
2,461
2,123
581
519
334
—
104
6
98
1,642
481
(2)
(133)
(12)
(147)
334
38
296
5.75
5.72
$
$
$
866
5,781
2,699
458
3,157
2,624
607
570
375
372
136
21
14
2,095
529
(3)
23
(5)
15
544
81
463
8.86
8.80
$
$
$
$
$
$
4,845
782
5,627
2,590
409
2,999
2,628
587
567
348
—
115
25
7
1,649
979
(5)
(5)
(1)
(11)
968
131
837
15.66
15.52
43
ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In millions)
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
2023
Net income
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Changes in unrealized gains and losses on anticipated sales hedging
transactions
Foreign currency translation adjustment
Comprehensive income
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
$
296 $
463 $
837
6
6
(29)
(8)
$
308 $
426 $
46
(6)
877
44
ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In millions, except share data)
Class A
Common
Stock
Shares
Class A
Common
Stock
Value
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
Treasury
Stock
Retained
Earnings
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
Total
Balance at December 31, 2020
53,462,082 $
1 $
395
$
(919) $
2,736 $
(69) $
2,144
Issuances of treasury shares related to share-based
compensation plans, net of forfeitures
Shares withheld to fund withholding tax obligations
related to share-based compensation plans
Share-based compensation
Repurchase of common stock
Net income
Changes in unrealized gains and losses on anticipated
sales hedging transactions (net of income taxes)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
150,097
(87,789)
—
(109,115)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(9)
—
76
—
—
—
—
(4)
(43)
—
(57)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
837
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
46
(6)
(13)
(43)
76
(57)
837
46
(6)
Balance at December 31, 2021
53,415,275 $
1 $
462
$
(1,023) $
3,573 $
(29) $
2,984
Issuances of treasury shares related to share-based
compensation plans, net of forfeitures
Shares withheld to fund withholding tax obligations
related to share-based compensation plans
Share-based compensation
Repurchase of common stock
Net income
Changes in unrealized gains and losses on anticipated
sales hedging transactions (net of income taxes)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
126,309
(62,542)
—
(2,027,542)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
11
—
88
—
—
—
—
(1)
(24)
—
(751)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
463
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(29)
(8)
10
(24)
88
(751)
463
(29)
(8)
Balance at December 31, 2022
51,451,500 $
1 $
561
$
(1,799) $
4,036 $
(66) $
2,733
Issuances of treasury shares related to share-based
compensation plans, net of forfeitures
Shares withheld to fund withholding tax obligations
related to share-based compensation plans
Share-based compensation
Repurchase of common stock
Net income
Changes in unrealized gains and losses on anticipated
sales hedging transactions (net of income taxes)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
155,478
(33,797)
—
(194,319)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(1)
—
55
—
—
—
—
3
(10)
—
(52)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
296
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
6
6
2
(10)
55
(52)
296
6
6
Balance at December 31, 2023
51,378,862 $
1 $
615
$
(1,858) $
4,332 $
(54) $
3,036
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
45
ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In millions)
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2023
2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
activities:
$
296 $
463 $
837
Depreciation and amortization
Share-based compensation
Deferred income taxes
Unrealized loss (gain) on forward interest rate swaps
Other, net
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net
Inventories, net
Other assets
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities
Deferred revenue
Income taxes
Settlement liability
Other operating activities
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
Purchases of short-term investments
Purchases of long-term investments
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
Payments of long term-debt
Payment of debt issuance costs, extinguishment costs and discounts
Payments for repurchases of common stock
Net payments related to share-based compensation plans
Change in unremitted cash collections from servicing factored receivables
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents, including
restricted cash
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, at beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, at end of period
Less restricted cash, included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Income taxes paid
Interest paid
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
176
55
(36)
17
3
249
50
(25)
(365)
(97)
12
(168)
(180)
9
(4)
—
(87)
(4)
(1)
(92)
440
(245)
—
(52)
(8)
(18)
117
—
21
117
138 $
(1)
137 $
252 $
111 $
$
$
$
$
204
88
(210)
(89)
5
(5)
(341)
(48)
92
(51)
60
108
225
(13)
488
(881)
(75)
—
(12)
(968)
1,284
(247)
(8)
(751)
(14)
(11)
253
—
(227)
344
117 $
(12)
105 $
168 $
58 $
187
76
(69)
(30)
1
(239)
18
(23)
96
110
113
1
—
(9)
1,069
(452)
(59)
(1)
(34)
(546)
46
(303)
—
(57)
(56)
(1)
(371)
—
152
192
344
(12)
332
199
32
46
ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 Description of Business and Basis of Presentation
Zebra Technologies Corporation and its subsidiaries (“Zebra” or the “Company”) is a global leader providing innovative
Enterprise Asset Intelligence (“EAI”) solutions in the automatic identification and data capture solutions industry. We design,
manufacture, and sell a broad range of products and solutions, including cloud-based software subscriptions, that capture and
move data. We also provide a full range of services, including maintenance, technical support, repair, managed and professional
services. End-users of our products, solutions and services include those in retail and e-commerce, manufacturing,
transportation and logistics, healthcare, public sector, and other industries. We provide our products, solutions and services
globally through a direct sales force and an extensive network of channel partners.
In the second quarter of 2023, our advanced location technology solutions business, which is primarily comprised of radio
frequency identification devices (“RFID”) and real-time location solution offerings (“RTLS”), moved from our Enterprise
Visibility & Mobility (“EVM”) segment into our Asset Intelligence & Tracking (“AIT”) segment contemporaneous with a
change in our organizational structure and management of the business. We have reported our segment results reflecting this
change, including historical periods, on a comparable basis. This change does not have an impact on the Consolidated Financial
Statements. See Note 20, Segment Information & Geographic Data for additional information related to each segment’s results.
Note 2 Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation
These accompanying consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the U.S. and include the accounts of Zebra and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany
accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Fiscal Calendar
The Company’s fiscal year is a 52-week period ending on December 31. Interim fiscal quarters end on a Saturday and generally
include 13 weeks of operating activity. During the 2023 fiscal year, the Company’s quarter end dates were April 1, July 1,
September 30, and December 31.
Use of Estimates
These consolidated financial statements were prepared using estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of
assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and
the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period as further discussed in the following footnotes to the
Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions
that the Company believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash consists primarily of deposits with banks. Cash equivalents include highly liquid short-term deposits with banks and other
investments with original maturities of less than or equal to three months. Cash equivalents are readily convertible to known
amounts of cash and are so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of a change in value because of changes in
interest rates.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable consist primarily of amounts due to us from our customers, net of variable consideration and an allowance
for doubtful accounts, in the normal course of business. Collateral on trade accounts receivable is generally not required. The
Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated uncollectible accounts receivable that is based on
expected credit losses. Expected credit losses are estimated based on historical loss experience, the durations of outstanding
trade receivables, and expectations of the future economic environment. Accounts are written off against the allowance account
when they are determined to be no longer collectible.
47
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of a moving-average cost (which approximates cost on a first-in, first-out basis) and net
realizable value. Manufactured inventory cost includes materials, labor, and manufacturing overhead. Purchased inventory cost
also includes internal purchasing overhead costs. Raw material inventories primarily consist of product components as well as
supplies used in repair operations. Provisions are made to reduce excess and obsolete inventories to their estimated net
realizable values as well as to record liabilities on non-cancellable purchase commitments. These provisions are based on
forecasted demand, experience with specific customers or suppliers, the age and nature of the inventory or committed purchase,
and the ability to redistribute inventory to other programs or rework it into other consumable inventory as well as renegotiate
contractual terms with a supplier.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed primarily using the
straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the various classes of property, plant and equipment, which are thirty
years for buildings and range from three to ten years for all other asset categories. Leasehold improvements are amortized using
the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or ten years.
Leases
The Company recognizes right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities for its lease commitments with terms greater than one
year. Contractual options to extend or terminate lease agreements are reflected in the lease term when they are reasonably
certain to be exercised. The initial measurement of ROU assets and lease liabilities is based on the present value of future lease
payments over the lease term as of the commencement date. In determining future lease payments, the Company has elected not
to separate lease and non-lease components. As the Company’s lease arrangements do not provide an implicit interest rate, we
apply the Company’s incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date in determining
the present value of future lease payments. Relevant information used in determining the Company’s incremental borrowing
rate includes the duration of the lease, the transaction currency of the lease, and the Company’s credit risk relative to risk-free
market rates. The Company’s ROU assets also include any initial direct costs incurred and exclude lease incentives. The
Company’s lease agreements do not contain any significant residual value guarantees or restrictive covenants. All leases of the
Company are classified as operating leases, with lease expense being recognized on a straight-line basis.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification
(“ASC”) 740 Topic, Income Taxes. Accordingly, deferred income taxes are provided for the future tax consequences
attributable to differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and income tax
purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary
differences are expected to be recovered or settled. A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax
assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The Company recognizes the benefit of tax positions when it is
more likely than not to be sustained on its technical merits. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to income
tax matters as part of income tax expense. The Company has elected consolidated tax filings in certain of its jurisdictions which
may allow the group to offset one member’s income with losses of other members in the current period and on a carryover
basis. The income tax effects of non-inventory intra-entity asset transfers are recognized in the period in which the transfer
occurs. The Company classifies its balance sheet accounts by applying jurisdictional netting principles for locations where
consolidated tax filing elections are in place.
U.S. tax law contains the Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”), Base Erosion Anti-Avoidance Tax (“BEAT”), and
Deduction for Foreign-Derived Intangible Income (“FDII”) provisions, which relate to the taxation of certain foreign
income. The Company recognizes its GILTI, BEAT, and FDII inclusions, when applicable, within income tax expense in the
year included in its U.S. tax return.
Goodwill
Goodwill is tested annually for impairment, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. When evaluating goodwill for
impairment as part of our annual assessment, we include consideration of current events and circumstances. Our annual
impairment testing also includes a comparison of the estimated fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value. If the
carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value, goodwill would be considered to be impaired and reduced to
its implied fair value. We estimate the fair value of reporting units by using a weighted combination of the income and market
approaches. The income approach requires management to estimate projected future operating and cash flow results, economic
projections, and discount rates. The market approach estimates fair value using comparable marketplace fair value data from
within a comparable industry group.
We most recently performed our annual goodwill impairment testing in the fourth quarter of 2023 which did not result in any
impairment. See Note 6, Goodwill and Other Intangibles for additional information.
48
Other Intangible Assets
Other intangible assets consist primarily of technology and patent rights, customer and other relationships, and trade names.
These assets, which are generally acquired through business combinations, are recorded at fair value upon acquisition and
amortized on a straight-line basis over the asset’s useful life which typically ranges from two to eleven years.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of
The Company accounts for long-lived assets in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 360, Property, Plant and
Equipment, which requires that long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles be reviewed for impairment whenever
events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of
assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the sum of the undiscounted cash
flows expected to result from the use and the eventual disposition of the asset. If such assets are impaired, the impairment to be
recognized is the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the
carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.
Investments in Securities
The Company’s investments primarily include equity securities that are accounted for at cost, adjusted for impairment losses or
changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or similar investment of the same
issuer. These investments are primarily in venture capital backed technology companies where the Company's ownership
interest is less than 20% and the Company does not have the ability to exercise significant influence. See Note 8, Investments
for additional information.
Revenue Recognition
Revenues are primarily comprised of sales of hardware, supplies, services, solutions and software offerings. We recognize
revenues when we transfer control of promised goods or services to our customers in an amount that reflects the consideration
that we expect to receive, which includes estimates of variable consideration, in exchange for those goods or services. We are
typically the principal in all elements of our transactions and record Net sales and Cost of sales on a gross basis. Substantially
all revenues for tangible products, supplies and perpetual or term software licenses are recognized at a point in time, which is
generally upon shipment, when control and the risks and rewards of ownership have transferred to the customer, and the
Company has a contractual right to payment. Revenues for our service offerings are recognized over time. Our service offerings
include repair and maintenance service contracts, as well as professional services such as installation, integration and
provisioning that typically occur in the early stages of a project. The average life of repair and maintenance service contracts is
approximately three years. Professional service arrangements range in duration from a day to several weeks or months.
Revenues for solutions, including Company-hosted software license and maintenance agreements, are typically recognized over
time.
The Company elects to exclude sales and other governmental taxes that are collected by the Company from a customer, from
the transaction price. The Company also considers shipping and handling activities as part of its fulfillment costs and not as a
separate performance obligation. See Note 3, Revenues for additional information.
Research and Development Costs
Research and development (“R&D”) costs include:
•
•
•
•
•
Salaries, benefits, and other R&D personnel related costs;
Consulting and other outside services used in the R&D process;
Engineering supplies;
Engineering related information systems costs; and
Allocation of building and related costs.
R&D costs are expensed as incurred, including those associated with developing and maintaining software within our customer
offerings. The Company typically applies a dynamic and iterative approach to developing customer product and software
offerings as well as ongoing software maintenance, and feature and functionality enhancement releases, and accordingly, such
costs do not meet capitalization criteria.
Advertising
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. These costs totaled $31 million, $33 million and $35 million for the years ended
2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
49
Warranties
In general, the Company provides warranty coverage of one year on mobile computers and batteries. Printers are warrantied
from one to two years, depending on the model. Advanced data capture products are warrantied from one to five years,
depending on the product. Thermal printheads are warrantied for six months and battery-based products, such as location tags,
are covered by a 90-day warranty. A provision for warranty expense is adjusted quarterly based on historical and expected
warranty experience.
Contingencies
The Company establishes a liability for loss contingencies when the loss is both probable and estimable. See Note 14, Accrued
Liabilities, Commitments and Contingencies for additional information.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between
market participants at the measurement date. Our financial assets and liabilities that are accounted for at fair value generally
include our employee deferred compensation plan investments, foreign currency forwards, and interest rate swaps. In
accordance with ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”), we recognize derivative instruments and hedging
activities as either assets or liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and measure them at fair value. Accounting for the
gains and losses on our derivatives resulting from changes in fair value is dependent on the use of the derivative and whether it
is designated and qualifies for hedge accounting.
The Company utilizes foreign currency forwards to hedge certain foreign currency exposures. We use broker quotations or
market transactions, in either the listed or over-the-counter markets, to value our foreign currency exchange contracts. The
Company also has interest rate swaps to hedge a portion of the variability in future cash flows on debt. We use relevant
observable market inputs at quoted intervals, such as forward yield curves and the Company’s own credit risk, to value our
interest rate swaps. See Note 11, Derivative Instruments for additional information on the Company’s derivatives and hedging
activities.
The Company’s securities held for its deferred compensation plans are measured at fair value using quoted prices in active
markets for identical assets. If active markets for identical assets are not available to determine fair value, then we use quoted
prices for similar assets or inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly.
The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the short-
term nature of those financial instruments. See Note 10, Fair Value Measurements for information related to financial assets
and liabilities carried at fair value.
Share-Based Compensation
The Company has share-based compensation plans and an employee stock purchase plan under which shares of Class A
Common Stock are available for future grant and purchase. The Company recognizes compensation costs over the vesting
period of awards, which is typically three years, net of estimated forfeitures. Compensation costs associated with awards with
graded vesting terms are recognized on a straight-line basis. See Note 15, Share-Based Compensation for additional
information.
Foreign Currency Translation
The balance sheet accounts of the Company’s subsidiaries that have not designated the U.S. Dollar as its functional currency are
translated into U.S. Dollars using the period-end exchange rate, and statement of earnings items are translated using the average
exchange rate for the period. The resulting translation gains or losses are recorded in Stockholders’ equity as a cumulative
translation adjustment, which is a component of AOCI within the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Acquisitions
We account for acquired businesses using the acquisition method of accounting which requires that the purchase price be
allocated to the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed, generally measured at their estimated fair values. The excess
of the purchase price over the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. The estimates used to
determine the fair values of long-lived assets, such as intangible assets, can be complex and require judgment. Critical estimates
in valuing certain intangible assets include, but are not limited to, future expected cash flows from revenues and the
determination of discount rates. Management’s estimates of fair value are based on estimates and assumptions utilized as part of
the purchase price allocation process and are believed to be reasonable; however, elements of these estimates and assumptions
are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement during the measurement period, which is up to one year after the acquisition
date.
50
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
The Company did not adopt any material new accounting standards during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No.
2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which requires retrospective
disclosure of significant segment expenses and other segment items on an annual and interim basis. Additionally, it requires
disclosure of the title and position of the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”). This ASU will be effective for the
Company’s fiscal December 31, 2024 year-end and interim periods beginning in fiscal 2025, with early adoption permitted. We
are assessing the impact of this guidance on our disclosures; it will not have an impact on our results of operations, cash flows,
or financial condition.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures,
which requires an annual tabular effective tax rate reconciliation disclosure including information for specified categories and
jurisdiction levels, as well as, disclosure of income taxes paid, net of refunds received, disaggregated by federal, state/local, and
significant foreign jurisdiction. This ASU will be effective for the Company’s fiscal December 31, 2025 year-end, with early
adoption permitted. We are assessing the impact of this guidance on our disclosures; it will not have an impact on our results of
operations, cash flows, or financial condition.
Note 3 Revenues
The Company recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of goods, solutions or services to a customer at an amount that reflects
the consideration which it expects to receive for providing those goods, solutions or services. To determine total expected
consideration, the Company estimates elements of variable consideration, which primarily include product rights of return,
rebates, and other incentives. These estimates are developed using the expected value method and are reviewed and updated, as
necessary, at each reporting period. Revenues, inclusive of variable consideration, are recognized to the extent it is probable
that a significant reversal in cumulative revenues recognized will not occur in future periods.
We enter into contracts that may include combinations of tangible products, services, solutions and software offerings, which
are generally capable of being distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations. We evaluate whether two or more
contracts should be combined and accounted for as a single contract and whether the combined or single contract has more than
one performance obligation. This evaluation requires judgment, and the decision to combine a group of contracts or separate the
combined or single contract into multiple distinct performance obligations may impact the amount of revenue recorded in a
reporting period. We deem performance obligations to be distinct if the customer can benefit from the product or service on its
own or together with readily available resources (“capable of being distinct”) and if the transfer of products, solutions or
services is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract (“distinct within the context of the contract”).
For contract arrangements that include multiple performance obligations, we allocate the total transaction price to each
performance obligation in an amount based on the estimated relative standalone selling prices for each performance obligation.
In general, standalone selling prices are observable for tangible products and software licenses, while standalone selling prices
for professional services, repair and maintenance services, and solutions are developed primarily with an expected cost-plus
margin approach. Regional pricing, marketing strategies, and business practices are evaluated to derive estimated standalone
selling prices.
The Company recognizes revenue for each performance obligation upon transfer of control of the promised goods or services.
Control is deemed to have been transferred when the customer has the ability to direct the use of and has obtained substantially
all of the remaining benefits from the goods and services. The determination of whether control transfers at a point in time or
over time requires judgment and includes our consideration of the following: 1) whether the customer simultaneously receives
and consumes the benefits provided as the Company performs its promises; 2) whether the Company’s performance creates or
enhances an asset that is under control of the customer; and 3) whether the Company’s performance does not create an asset
with an alternative use to the Company, while the Company has an enforceable right to payment for its performance completed
to date.
Revenues for tangible products are generally recognized upon shipment, whereas revenues for services and solution offerings
are generally recognized over time by using an output or time-based method, assuming all other criteria for revenue recognition
have been met. Revenues for software are recognized either upon delivery or over time using a time-based method, depending
upon how control is transferred to the customer. In cases where a bundle of products, services, solutions and/or software are
delivered to the customer, judgment is required to select the method of progress which best reflects the transfer of control.
51
Disaggregation of Revenue
The following table presents our Net sales disaggregated by product category for each of our segments, AIT and EVM, for the
years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 (in millions):
Segment
AIT
EVM
Total
Segment
AIT
EVM
Total
Segment
AIT
EVM
Corporate (1)
Total
$
$
$
$
$
$
Year Ended December 31, 2023
Services and
Software
Tangible
Products
Total
1,537 $
2,128
3,665 $
114 $
805
919 $
1,651
2,933
4,584
Year Ended December 31, 2022
Services and
Software
Tangible
Products
Total
1,728 $
3,187
4,915 $
109 $
757
866 $
1,837
3,944
5,781
Year Ended December 31, 2021
Services and
Software
Tangible
Products
Total
1,625 $
3,220
—
4,845 $
109 $
679
(6)
782 $
1,734
3,899
(6)
5,627
(1) Amounts included in Corporate consist of purchase accounting adjustments.
In addition, refer to Note 20, Segment Information & Geographic Data for Net sales to customers by geographic region.
Performance Obligations
The Company’s remaining performance obligations relate to repair and support services, as well as software solutions. The
aggregated transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations for arrangements with an original term exceeding
one year was $1,127 million and $1,105 million, inclusive of deferred revenue, as of December 31, 2023 and 2022,
respectively. On average, remaining performance obligations as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are expected to be recognized
over a period of approximately two years.
Contract Balances
Progress on satisfying performance obligations under contracts with customers related to billed revenues is reflected on the
Consolidated Balance Sheets in Accounts receivable, net. Progress on satisfying performance obligations under contracts with
customers related to unbilled revenues (“contract assets”) is reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Prepaid expenses
and other current assets for revenues expected to be billed within the next twelve months, and Other long-term assets for
revenues expected to be billed thereafter. The total contract asset balances were $16 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.
These contract assets result from timing differences between billing and satisfying performance obligations, as well as the
impact from the allocation of the transaction price among performance obligations for contracts that include multiple
performance obligations. Contract assets are evaluated for impairment and no impairment losses have been recognized during
the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
Deferred revenue on the Consolidated Balance Sheets consists of payments and billings in advance of our performance. The
combined short-term and long-term deferred revenue balances were $770 million and $758 million as of December 31, 2023
and 2022, respectively. The Company recognized $432 million, $399 million and $319 million in revenue that was previously
included in the beginning balance of deferred revenue during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Our payment terms vary by the type and location of our customer and the products, solutions or services offered. The time
between invoicing and when payment is due is not significant. In instances where the timing of revenue recognition differs from
the timing of invoicing, we have determined that our contracts do not include a significant financing component.
52
Costs to Obtain a Contract
Our incremental direct costs of obtaining a contract, which consist of sales commissions and incremental fringe benefits, are
deferred and amortized over the weighted-average contract term. The incremental costs to obtain a contract are derived at a
portfolio level and amortized on a straight-line basis. The total ending balance of deferred costs to obtain a contract, which are
recorded in Prepaid expenses and other current assets or Other long-term assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, depending
on the timing of expected amortization, was $42 million and $35 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Amortization expense, which is recorded in Selling and Marketing expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations, was
$26 million, $21 million and $18 million during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Incremental
costs of obtaining a contract are expensed as incurred if the amortization period would otherwise be one year or less.
Note 4 Inventories
The categories of Inventories, net are as follows (in millions):
Raw materials (1)
Work in process
Finished goods
Total Inventories, net (2)
December 31,
2023
December 31,
2022
$
$
403 $
4
397
804 $
369
4
487
860
(1) Raw material inventories primarily consist of product components as well as supplies used in repair operations.
(2) Categories of inventories for the period ended December 31, 2022 include a change to correct an immaterial
misclassification without impact to Inventories, net as presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Note 5 Business Acquisitions
Matrox
On June 3, 2022, the Company acquired Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd. (“Matrox”), a developer of advanced machine vision
components and software. Through its acquisition of Matrox, the Company significantly expanded its machine vision products
and software offerings.
The acquisition was accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations. The Company’s final
purchase consideration was $881 million comprised of cash paid, net of Matrox’s cash on-hand.
The Company utilized estimated fair values as of the acquisition date to allocate the total purchase consideration to the
identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The fair value of the net assets acquired was based on several estimates and
assumptions, as well as customary valuation techniques, primarily the excess earnings method for customer relationships as
well as the relief from royalty method for technology and patent intangible assets.
The purchase price allocation to assets acquired and liabilities assumed was as follows (in millions):
Identifiable intangible assets
Inventory
Other assets acquired
Deferred tax liabilities
Other liabilities assumed
Net assets acquired
Goodwill on acquisition
Total purchase price
$
$
$
297
31
24
(78)
(32)
242
639
881
The $639 million of goodwill, which is non-deductible for tax purposes, has been allocated to the EVM segment and principally
relates to the planned global expansion and integration of Matrox into the Company’s machine vision offerings.
53
The purchase price allocation to identifiable intangible assets acquired was as follows:
Customer and other relationships
Technology and patents
Trade names
Total identifiable intangible assets
Fair Value (in
millions)
Useful Life (in
years)
$
$
232
63
2
297
11
7
2
Antuit
On October 7, 2021, the Company acquired Antuit Holdings Pte. Ltd. (“Antuit”), a provider of demand-sensing and pricing
optimization software solutions for retail and consumer products companies. Through this acquisition, the Company intends to
enhance its solution offerings to customers in these industries by combining Antuit’s platform with its existing software
solutions and EVM products.
The acquisition was accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations. The Company’s
purchase consideration was $145 million in cash paid, net of Antuit’s cash on-hand.
The Company utilized estimated fair values as of the acquisition date to allocate the total purchase consideration to the
identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The fair value of the net assets acquired was based on several estimates and
assumptions, as well as customary valuation techniques, primarily the excess earnings method for technology and patent
intangible assets.
The purchase price allocation to assets acquired and liabilities assumed was as follows (in millions):
Identifiable intangible assets
Accounts receivable
Other assets acquired
Deferred tax liabilities
Other liabilities assumed
Net assets acquired
Goodwill on acquisition
Total purchase price
$
$
$
47
9
4
(5)
(11)
44
101
145
The $101 million of goodwill, which is non-deductible for tax purposes, has been allocated to the EVM segment and principally
relates to the planned expansion of Antuit’s portfolio and integration with the Company’s existing solution offerings as well as
expansion into current and new markets, industries and product offerings.
The purchase price allocation to identifiable intangible assets acquired was as follows:
Technology and patents
Customer and other relationships
Trade names
Total identifiable intangible assets
Fair Value (in
millions)
Useful Life (in
years)
$
$
39
7
1
47
8
2
2
Fetch
On August 9, 2021, the Company acquired Fetch Robotics, Inc. (“Fetch”), a provider of autonomous mobile robot solutions for
customers who operate in the manufacturing, distribution, and fulfillment industries, enabling customers to optimize workflows
through robotic automation. Through this acquisition, the Company intends to expand its automation solution offerings within
these industries.
The acquisition was accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations. The Company’s total
purchase consideration was $301 million, which consisted of $290 million in cash paid, net of Fetch’s cash on-hand, and the
fair value of the Company’s existing ownership interest in Fetch of $11 million, as remeasured upon acquisition. This
remeasurement resulted in a $1 million gain reflected in Other (expense) income, net on the Consolidated Statements of
Operations.
54
The Company utilized estimated fair values as of the acquisition date to allocate the total purchase consideration to the
identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The fair value of the net assets acquired was based on several estimates and
assumptions, as well as customary valuation techniques, primarily the excess earnings method for technology and patent
intangible assets.
The purchase price allocation to assets acquired and liabilities assumed was as follows (in millions):
Identifiable intangible assets
Right-of-use lease asset
Inventories
Deferred tax assets
Other assets acquired
Lease liability
Other liabilities assumed
Net assets acquired
Goodwill on acquisition
Total purchase price
$
$
$
114
11
5
6
4
(11)
(4)
125
176
301
The $176 million of goodwill, which is non-deductible for tax purposes, has been allocated to the EVM segment and principally
relates to the planned geographic expansion and integration of Fetch into the Company’s manufacturing and warehouse
automation offerings.
The purchase price allocation to identifiable intangible assets acquired was as follows:
Technology and patents
Customer and other relationships
Trade names
Total identifiable intangible assets
Fair Value (in
millions)
Useful Life (in
years)
$
$
100
5
9
114
7
2
5
In connection with the acquisition of Fetch, the Company granted share-based compensation awards, principally as a
replacement for unvested Fetch stock options, in the form of stock-settled restricted stock units. The total fair value of
approximately $23 million is attributable to post-acquisition service and will generally be expensed over a three-year service
period.
Adaptive Vision
On May 17, 2021, the Company acquired Adaptive Vision Sp. z o.o. (“Adaptive Vision”), a provider of graphical machine
vision software with applications in the manufacturing industry, as well as a provider of libraries and other offerings for
machine vision developers. The acquisition was accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting for business
combinations. The Company’s cash purchase consideration of $18 million, net of cash on-hand, was primarily allocated to
technology-related intangible assets of $13 million and associated deferred tax liabilities, and goodwill of $7 million. The
goodwill, which is non-deductible for tax purposes, has been allocated to the EVM segment and principally relates to the
planned expansion of the Adaptive Vision technologies into new product offerings and markets.
The operating results of each acquired company have been included in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and
Statements of Operations beginning on their respective acquisition dates. The Company has not included unaudited pro forma
results for the year preceding each acquisition, as doing so would not yield materially different results.
Acquisition and integration costs
The Company incurred $6 million, $21 million and $25 million of acquisition related costs during the years ended
December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. These costs are included within Acquisition and integration costs on the
Consolidated Statements of Operations and are primarily related to third-party transaction and advisory fees, and integration
activities associated with our business acquisitions.
55
Note 6 Goodwill and Other Intangibles
Goodwill
Changes in the net carrying value of goodwill by segment were as follows (in millions):
Goodwill as of December 31, 2021
Matrox acquisition
Fetch purchase price allocation adjustments
Antuit purchase price allocation adjustments
Foreign exchange impact
Goodwill as of December 31, 2022
AIT
EVM
Total
$
169 $
3,096 $
—
—
—
—
640
2
(4)
(4)
3,265
640
2
(4)
(4)
$
169 $
3,730 $
3,899
Advanced location technology business move to AIT, effective April 2, 2023
Matrox purchase price allocation adjustments
Foreign exchange impact
Goodwill as of December 31, 2023
60
—
—
(60)
(1)
(3)
—
(1)
(3)
$
229 $
3,666 $
3,895
See Note 5, Business Acquisitions for further details related to the Company’s acquisitions and purchase price allocation
adjustments.
The Company’s goodwill balance consists of four reporting units. The Company completed its annual goodwill impairment
testing during the fourth quarter of 2023 utilizing a quantitative approach. The estimated fair value of each reporting unit
exceeded its carrying value by at least 40%. No events occurred during the fiscal years ended 2023, 2022 or 2021 that indicated
it was more likely than not that our goodwill was impaired.
Other Intangibles, net
The balances in Other Intangibles, net consisted of the following (in millions):
As of December 31, 2023
As of December 31, 2022
Gross
Carrying
Amount
Accumulated
Amortization
Net
Gross
Carrying
Amount
Accumulated
Amortization
Net
Amortized intangible assets
Technology and patents
Customer and other
relationships
Trade names
Total
$
951 $
(680) $
271
$
951 $
(621) $
861
66
1,878 $
(615)
(56)
(1,351) $
$
246
10
527
$
860
66
1,877 $
(576)
(50)
(1,247) $
Amortization expense was $104 million, $136 million and $115 million for fiscal years ended 2023, 2022 and 2021,
respectively.
Estimated future intangible asset amortization expense is as follows (in millions):
Year Ended December 31,
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
Thereafter
Total
Note 7 Property, Plant and Equipment
56
$
$
330
284
16
630
101
95
92
77
60
102
527
Property, plant and equipment, net is comprised of the following (in millions):
Buildings
Land
Machinery and equipment
Furniture and office equipment
Software and computer equipment
Leasehold improvements
Projects in progress
Property, plant and equipment, gross
Less accumulated depreciation
Property, plant and equipment, net
December 31,
2023
2022
86 $
8
343
34
104
112
44
731 $
(422)
309 $
75
7
318
24
125
88
48
685
(407)
278
$
$
$
Depreciation expense was $72 million, $68 million and $72 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021,
respectively. The Company retired a significant level of substantially depreciated assets in the current year.
Note 8 Investments
The carrying value of the Company’s long-term investments was $113 million as of both December 31, 2023 and 2022, which
are included in Other long-term assets on the Consolidated Balances Sheets. The Company paid $1 million, $12 million and
$34 million for the purchases of long-term investments during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021,
respectively. Net gains and losses related to the Company’s long-term investments are included within Other expense, net on
the Consolidated Statements of Operations and were not significant for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
Note 9 Exit and Restructuring Costs
In the current year, the Company expanded the scope of the 2022 Productivity Plan and also initiated a voluntary retirement
plan (“VRP”) applicable to retirement-eligible U.S. employees. Employees who participated in the VRP agreed to retire in 2023
in exchange for cash severance and other benefits. During the first quarter of 2024, the Company committed to additional
actions under the 2022 Productivity Plan which will bring the total expected cost of the programs to approximately
$130 million.
Total charges associated with these programs, which are classified within Exit and restructuring on the Consolidated Statements
of Operations, were $110 million to date, including $98 million and $12 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and
2022, respectively. The actions under the VRP have been completed in the current year and the remaining actions under the
2022 Productivity Plan are expected to be substantially completed in the first half of 2024. The Company’s payment obligations
as of December 31, 2023 are reflected within Accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These obligations are
expected to be settled by the first quarter of 2024.
The Company’s liability associated with Exit and restructuring was:
Balance as of December 31, 2022
Exit and restructuring charges
Non-cash utilization
Cash payments
Balance as of December 31, 2023
$
$
9
98
(13)
(72)
22
The Company incurred Exit and restructuring costs, under previously announced programs of $2 million and $7 million for the
years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Note 10 Fair Value Measurements
Financial assets and liabilities are measured using inputs from three levels of the fair value hierarchy in accordance with ASC
Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer
a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC Topic 820 established a fair
57
value hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value into the following three broad
levels:
•
•
•
Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities.
The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs (e.g. U.S. Treasuries and money market funds).
Level 2: Observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted in active markets but corroborated by market data.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs are used when little or no market data is available. The fair value hierarchy gives the
lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.
In determining fair value, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs. In addition,
the Company considers counterparty credit risk in the assessment of fair value.
The Company’s financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value as of December 31, 2023 are classified below (in millions):
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
Assets:
Forward interest rate swap contracts (2)
$
Investments related to the deferred compensation plan
$
Total Assets at fair value
— $
41
41 $
83 $
—
83 $
— $
—
— $
Liabilities:
Foreign exchange contracts (1)
Forward interest rate swap contracts (2)
Liabilities related to the deferred compensation plan
Total Liabilities at fair value
$
$
1 $
6 $
— $
—
41
28
—
—
—
42 $
34 $
— $
83
41
124
7
28
41
76
The Company’s financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value as of December 31, 2022 are classified below (in millions):
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
Assets:
Forward interest rate swap contracts (2)
$
Investments related to the deferred compensation plan
$
Total Assets at fair value
Liabilities:
Foreign exchange contracts (1)
Liabilities related to the deferred compensation plan
Total Liabilities at fair value
$
$
— $
35
35 $
5 $
35
40 $
72 $
—
72 $
14 $
—
14 $
— $
—
— $
— $
—
— $
72
35
107
19
35
54
(1) The fair value of the foreign exchange contracts is calculated as follows:
•
•
Fair value of forward contracts associated with forecasted sales hedges is calculated using the period-end exchange
rate adjusted for current forward points.
Fair value of hedges against net assets denominated in foreign currencies is calculated at the period-end exchange rate
adjusted for current forward points unless the hedge has been traded but not settled at year end (Level 2). If this is the
case, the fair value is calculated at the rate at which the hedge is being settled (Level 1).
(2) The fair value of forward interest rate swaps is based upon a valuation model that uses relevant observable market inputs at
the quoted intervals, such as forward yield curves, and is adjusted for the Company’s credit risk and the interest rate swap
terms.
Note 11 Derivative Instruments
In the normal course of business, the Company is exposed to global market risks, including the effects of changes in foreign
currency exchange rates and interest rates. The Company uses derivative instruments to manage its exposure to such risks and
may elect to designate certain derivatives as hedging instruments under ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC
815”). The Company formally documents all relationships between designated hedging instruments and hedged items as well as
its risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking hedge transactions. The Company does not hold or issue
derivatives for trading or speculative purposes.
58
In accordance with ASC 815, the Company recognizes derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities on the Consolidated
Balance Sheets and measures them at fair value. The following table presents the fair value of its derivative instruments (in
millions):
Asset (Liability)
Fair Values as of December 31,
Balance Sheets Classification
2023
2022
Derivative instruments designated as hedges:
Foreign exchange contracts
Total derivative instruments designated as hedges
Accrued liabilities
$
$
(6) $
(6) $
(14)
(14)
Derivative instruments not designated as hedges:
Forward interest rate swaps
Forward interest rate swaps
Foreign exchange contracts
Forward interest rate swaps
Forward interest rate swaps
Total derivative instruments not designated as hedges
Total net derivative asset
Prepaid expenses and other current
assets
$
Other long-term assets
Accrued liabilities
Accrued liabilities
Other long-term liabilities
$
$
34
$
49
(1)
(12)
(16)
54
48
$
$
25
47
(5)
—
—
67
53
The following table presents the net (losses) gains from changes in fair values of derivatives that are not designated as hedges
(in millions):
(Losses) Gains Recognized in Income
Statements of Operations
Classification
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
2023
Derivative instruments not designated as
hedges:
Foreign exchange contracts
Forward interest rate swaps
Total net gain recognized in income
Foreign exchange loss
Interest (expense) income, net
$
$
(4) $
9
5 $
2 $
83
85 $
7
13
20
Activities related to derivative instruments are reflected within Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities on the
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Credit and Market Risk Management
Financial instruments, including derivatives, expose the Company to counterparty credit risk of nonperformance and to market
risk related to currency exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations. The Company manages its exposure to counterparty credit
risk by establishing minimum credit standards, diversifying its counterparties, and monitoring its concentrations of credit. The
Company’s counterparties are commercial banks with expertise in derivative financial instruments. The Company evaluates the
impact of market risk on the fair value and cash flows of its derivative and other financial instruments by considering
reasonably possible changes in interest rates and currency exchange rates. The Company continually monitors the
creditworthiness of the customers to which it grants credit terms in the normal course of business. The terms and conditions of
the Company’s credit policies are designed to mitigate concentrations of credit risk.
The Company’s master netting and other similar arrangements with the respective counterparties allow for net settlement under
certain conditions, which are designed to reduce credit risk by permitting net settlement with the same counterparty. We present
the assets and liabilities of our derivative financial instruments, for which we have net settlement agreements in place, on a net
basis on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. If the derivative financial instruments had been presented gross on the Consolidated
Balance Sheets, the asset and liability positions would have been increased by $1 million and $4 million as of December 31,
2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
59
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk Management
The Company conducts business on a multinational basis in a variety of foreign currencies. Exposure to market risk for changes
in foreign currency exchange rates arises primarily from Euro-denominated external revenues, cross-border financing activities
between subsidiaries, and foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities. The Company manages its objective of
preserving the economic value of non-functional currency denominated cash flows by initially hedging transaction exposures
with natural offsets and, once these opportunities have been exhausted, through foreign exchange forward and option contracts,
as deemed appropriate.
The Company manages the exchange rate risk of anticipated Euro-denominated sales using forward contracts, which typically
mature within twelve months of execution. The Company designates these derivative contracts as cash flow hedges. Unrealized
gains and losses on these contracts are deferred in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”) on the
Consolidated Balance Sheets until the contract is settled and the hedged sale is realized. The realized gain or loss is then
recorded as an adjustment to Net sales on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Realized amounts reclassified to Net sales
were $15 million of losses for the year ended December 31, 2023, $87 million of gains for the year ended December 31, 2022
and $2 million of losses for the year ended December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the notional amounts of
the Company’s foreign exchange cash flow hedges were €485 million and €549 million, respectively. The Company has
reviewed its cash flow hedges for effectiveness and determined that they are highly effective.
The Company uses forward contracts, which are not designated as hedging instruments, to manage its exposures related to net
assets denominated in foreign currencies. These forward contracts typically mature within one month after execution. Monetary
gains and losses on these forward contracts are recorded in income and are generally offset by the transaction gains and losses
related to their net asset positions. The notional values and the net fair values of these outstanding contracts were as follows (in
millions):
Notional balance of outstanding contracts:
British Pound/U.S. Dollar
Euro/U.S. Dollar
Euro/Czech Koruna
Japanese Yen/U.S. Dollar
Singapore Dollar/U.S. Dollar
Mexican Peso/U.S. Dollar
Polish Zloty/U.S. Dollar
Net fair value of liabilities of outstanding contracts
December 31,
2023
2022
£
€
€
¥
S$
11 £
80 €
17 €
685 ¥
14 S$
11
191
15
—
5
Mex$
144 Mex$
372
zł
$
116 zł
1 $
47
5
Interest Rate Risk Management
The Company’s debt consists of borrowings under a term loan (“Term Loan A”), Revolving Credit Facility, and Receivables
Financing Facilities, which bear interest at variable rates plus applicable margins. As a result, the Company is exposed to
market risk associated with the variable interest rate payments on these borrowings. See Note 12, Long-Term Debt for further
details related to these borrowings.
The Company manages its exposure to changes in interest rates by utilizing long-term forward interest rate swaps to hedge this
exposure and to achieve a desired proportion of fixed versus variable-rate debt, based on current and projected market
conditions. The Company has interest rate swap agreements with a total notional amount of $800 million to lock into a fixed
SOFR interest rate base, which are subject to monthly net cash settlements effective through October 2027.
In the second quarter, the Company entered into new interest rate swap agreements that contain a total notional amount of
$400 million to lock into a variable interest rate base designed to offset a portion of the Company’s existing swap agreements.
These agreements are subject to monthly cash settlements effective through October 2027. At the same time, the Company
entered into additional new interest rate swap agreements that contain a total notional amount of $400 million to lock into a
fixed SOFR interest rate base, which are subject to monthly cash settlements effective through June 2030. As a result of these
transactions, the Company maintained fixed interest rates on a total notional amount of $800 million through October 2027 and
a total notional amount of $400 million through June 2030. There was no cash settlement, or significant impact on the
Consolidated Statement of Operations upon entering into these agreements.
60
Note 12 Long-Term Debt
The following table shows the carrying value of the Company’s debt (in millions):
Term Loan A
Revolving Credit Facility
Receivables Financing Facilities
Total debt
Less: Debt issuance costs
Less: Unamortized discounts
Less: Current portion of debt
Total long-term debt
As of December 31, 2023, the future maturities of debt are as follows (in millions):
2024
2025
2026
2027
Total future maturities of debt
December 31,
2023
2022
$
$
$
1,684 $
413
129
2,226 $
(2)
(4)
(173)
2,047 $
$
$
1,728
50
254
2,032
(4)
(5)
(214)
1,809
173
66
87
1,900
2,226
All borrowings as of December 31, 2023 were denominated in U.S. Dollars.
The estimated fair value of the Company’s debt approximated $2.2 billion and $2.0 billion as of December 31, 2023 and 2022,
respectively. These fair value amounts, developed based on inputs classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy,
represent the estimated value at which the Company’s lenders could trade its debt within the financial markets and do not
represent the settlement value of these liabilities to the Company. The fair value of debt will continue to vary each period based
on a number of factors, including fluctuations in market interest rates as well as changes to the Company’s credit ratings.
In May 2022, the Company refinanced its long-term credit facilities by entering into its third amendment to the Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement, which increased the Company’s borrowing under Term Loan A from $875 million to $1.75 billion
and the Company’s borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility from $1 billion to $1.5 billion, extended the
maturities of the facilities to May 25, 2027, and replaced LIBOR with SOFR as the benchmark reference rate.
Term Loan A
The principal on Term Loan A is due in quarterly installments, with the next quarterly installment due in March 2024 and the
majority due upon maturity in 2027. The Company may make prepayments, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty,
and would be required to prepay certain outstanding amounts in the event of certain circumstances or transactions. As of
December 31, 2023, the Term Loan A interest rate was 6.71%. Interest payments are made monthly and are subject to variable
rates plus an applicable margin.
Revolving Credit Facility
The Company has a Revolving Credit Facility that is available for working capital and other general business purposes,
including letters of credit. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had letters of credit totaling $11 million, which reduced
funds available for borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility from $1,500 million to $1,489 million. As of December 31,
2023, the Revolving Credit Facility had an average interest rate of 6.66%. Upon borrowing, interest payments are made
monthly and are subject to variable rates plus an applicable margin. The Revolving Credit Facility matures on May 25, 2027.
Receivables Financing Facilities
The Company has two Receivables Financing Facilities with financial institutions that have a combined total borrowing limit of
up to $280 million. As collateral, the Company pledges perfected first-priority security interests in its U.S. domestically
originated accounts receivable. The Company has accounted for transactions under its facilities as secured borrowings. The
Company’s first facility allows for borrowings of up to $180 million and matures on March 19, 2024. The Company’s second
facility allows for borrowings of up to $100 million and matures on May 13, 2024.
61
As of December 31, 2023, the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets included $483 million of gross receivables that were
pledged under the facilities. As of December 31, 2023, $129 million had been borrowed and was classified as current.
Borrowings under the facilities bear interest at a variable rate plus an applicable margin. As of December 31, 2023, the facilities
had an average interest rate of 6.81%. Interest is paid monthly on these borrowings.
Each of the Company’s borrowings described above include terms and conditions that limit the incurrence of additional
borrowings and require that certain financial ratios be maintained at designated levels.
The Company uses interest rate swaps to manage the interest rate risk associated with its debt. See Note 11, Derivative
Instruments for further information.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.
Note 13 Leases
The Company leases various manufacturing and repair facilities, distribution centers, research facilities, sales and
administrative offices, equipment, and vehicles. All leases are classified as operating leases with remaining terms of up to 10
years, with certain leases containing renewal options and termination options. The Company records ROU assets and lease
liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets associated with the fixed lease and non-lease payments of leases with terms
greater than one year.
The following table presents activities associated with our leases (in millions):
Fixed lease expenses
Variable lease expenses
Total lease expenses
Cash paid for leases
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations
Reductions of ROU assets and lease liabilities
Net non-cash increases to ROU assets and lease liabilities
December 31,
2023
2022
2021
52 $
35
87 $
48 $
40
88 $
82 $
93 $
55 $
(1)
54 $
72 $
(4)
68 $
39
37
76
76
32
—
32
$
$
$
$
$
Variable lease expenses incurred were not included in the measurement of the Company’s ROU assets and lease liabilities.
These expenses consisted primarily of distribution center service costs that were based on product distribution volumes, as well
as non-fixed common area maintenance, real estate taxes, and other operating costs associated with various facility leases.
Expenses related to short-term leases were not significant.
Cash payments for leases are included within Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities on the Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows.
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations include new lease arrangements entered into by the Company as well as
contract modifications that extend lease terms and/or provide us additional rights, changes in assessments that render it
reasonably certain that lease renewal options will be exercised based on facts and circumstances that arose during the period, as
well as lease arrangements obtained through acquisitions.
Reductions of the Company’s ROU assets and lease liabilities generally relate to modifications to lease agreements that result in
a reduction to future minimum lease payments, as well as changes in assessments that render it no longer reasonably certain that
lease renewal options will be exercised based on facts and circumstances that arose during the period. The Company’s reduction
of ROU assets and lease liabilities during 2023, 2022 and 2021 were not significant.
The weighted average remaining term of the Company’s leases was approximately 6 years each as of December 31, 2023, 2022
and 2021. The weighted average discount rate used to measure the ROU assets and lease liabilities was approximately 6% as of
December 31, 2023, and 5% as of December 31, 2022 and 2021.
62
Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable leases as of December 31, 2023 were as follows (in millions):
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
Thereafter
Total future minimum lease payments
Less: Interest
Present value of lease liabilities
Reported as of December 31, 2023:
Current portion of lease liabilities
Long-term lease liabilities
Present value of lease liabilities
$
$
$
$
$
53
43
35
27
21
58
237
(43)
194
42
152
194
The current portion of lease liabilities is included within Accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Revenues earned from lease arrangements under which the Company is a lessor during the years ended December 31, 2023,
2022 and 2021 were not significant.
Note 14 Accrued Liabilities, Commitments and Contingencies
Accrued Liabilities
The components of Accrued liabilities are as follows (in millions):
Unremitted cash collections due to banks on factored accounts receivable
Payroll and benefits
Settlement
Current portion of lease liabilities
Customer rebates
Incentive compensation
Warranty
Exit and restructuring
Freight and duty
Foreign exchange contracts
Other
Accrued liabilities
December 31,
2023
2022
112
83
45
42
40
47
27
22
10
7
69
504
$
$
130
90
180
37
55
107
26
9
19
19
72
744
$
$
Warranties
The following table is a summary of the Company’s accrued warranty obligations (in millions):
Warranty Reserve
Balance at the beginning of the year
Warranty expense
Warranties fulfilled
Balance at the end of the year
Commitments
63
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
2023
$
$
26
29
(28)
27
$
$
26
29
(29)
26
$
$
24
33
(31)
26
The Company has a limited number of multi-year purchase commitments, primarily related to semiconductors and cloud
services, which contain minimum purchase requirements and are non-cancellable. Commitments under these multi-year
contracts, which exclude routine purchase orders for goods and services, are as follows (in millions):
2024
2025
2026
Thereafter
Total
$
$
31
46
47
—
124
We record a liability for non-cancellable purchase commitments for quantities in excess of our forecasted demand consistent
with the assessment of net realizable value of our inventory. As of December 31, 2023, the liability for these purchase
commitments was $11 million and is included within Current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In addition, the
Company recorded a $10 million charge in the current year, associated with the partial cancellation of a purchase commitment,
which is also included within Current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023. There were no
significant liabilities related to purchase commitments as of December 31, 2022.
Contingencies
The Company is subject to a variety of investigations, claims, suits, and other legal proceedings that arise from time to time in
the ordinary course of business, including but not limited to, intellectual property, employment, tort, and breach of contract
matters. The Company currently believes that the outcomes of such proceedings, individually and in the aggregate, will not
have a material adverse impact on its business, cash flows, financial position, or results of operations. Any legal proceedings
are subject to inherent uncertainties, and the Company’s view of these matters and their potential effects may change in the
future. The Company records a liability for contingencies when a loss is deemed to be probable and the loss can be reasonably
estimated.
During the second quarter of 2022, the Company entered into a License and Settlement Agreement (“Settlement”) to resolve
certain patent-related litigation. The payment terms under the Settlement consisted of 8 quarterly payments of $45 million that
began in the second quarter of 2022. The final remaining quarterly payment will be paid in the first quarter of 2024 and is
included within Accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Note 15 Share-Based Compensation
The Company issues share-based compensation awards under the Zebra Technologies 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2018
Plan”), approved by shareholders in 2018 which superseded and replaced all prior share-based incentive plans. Outstanding
awards issued prior to the 2018 Plan are governed by the provisions of those plans until such awards have been exercised,
forfeited, cancelled, expired, or otherwise terminated in accordance with their terms. Awards available under the 2018 Plan
include stock-settled awards, including stock-settled restricted stock units, stock-settled performance stock units, restricted
stock awards, performance share awards, stock appreciation rights, incentive stock options, and non-qualified stock options.
Awards available under the 2018 Plan also include cash-settled awards, including cash-settled stock appreciation rights, cash-
settled restricted stock units, and cash-settled performance stock units. No awards remain available for future grants under
previous plans.
The Company uses treasury shares as its source for issuing shares under the share-based compensation programs. As of
December 31, 2023, the Company had 2,274,779 shares of Class A Common stock remaining available to be issued under the
2018 Plan.
The compensation expense from the Company’s share-based compensation plans and associated income tax benefit, excluding
the effects of excess tax benefits or shortfalls, were included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as follows (in
millions):
64
Compensation costs and related income tax benefit
Cost of sales
Selling and marketing
Research and development
General and administration
Total compensation expense
Income tax benefit
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
2023
$
$
$
6
16
25
19
66
13
$
$
$
6
22
34
34
96
17
$
$
$
8
26
28
31
93
14
As of December 31, 2023, total unearned compensation cost related to the Company’s share-based compensation plans was $92
million, which will be recognized over the weighted average remaining service period of approximately 1.4 years.
The majority of the Company’s share-based compensation awards are generally issued as part of its employee and non-
employee director incentive program during the second quarter of each fiscal year. The Company also issues awards associated
with business acquisitions or other off-cycle events. The majority of the Company’s share-based compensation is comprised of
stock-settled awards.
Stock-settled awards
Beginning in 2021, the Company began issuing stock-settled restricted stock units (“stock-settled RSUs”) and stock-settled
performance share units (“stock-settled PSUs”) for the majority of its share-based compensation awards. Prior to 2021, the
Company primarily awarded restricted stock awards (“RSAs”) and performance share awards (“PSAs”). The Company’s
awards are typically time-vested with stock-settled RSUs and RSAs vesting ratably in three annual installments and stock-
settled PSUs and PSAs vesting at the end of the three-year period.
Vesting for each participant is subject to restrictions, such as continuous employment, except in certain cases as set forth in
each stock agreement. Upon vesting, stock-settled RSUs and PSUs convert to shares of Class A Common Stock that are
released to participants. RSAs and PSAs are considered participating securities, and as such, are included as part of the
Company’s Class A Common Stock outstanding at the time of grant.
Compensation cost for the stock-settled RSUs, stock-settled PSUs, RSAs, and PSAs is expensed over each participant’s
required service period. Compensation cost is calculated as the fair market value of the Company’s Class A Common Stock on
the grant date multiplied by the number of units or awards granted, net of estimated forfeitures. The expected attainment of the
performance goals for the stock-settled PSUs and PSAs is reviewed at the end of each reporting period, with adjustments
recorded to compensation expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, as necessary.
The Company also issues RSAs to non-employee directors. The number of shares granted to each non-employee director is
determined by dividing the value of the annual grant by the price of a share of the Company’s Class A Common Stock. New
directors in any fiscal year earn a prorated amount. During fiscal 2023, there were 6,640 shares granted to non-employee
directors compared to 5,686 and 2,877 during fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively. The shares vest immediately upon grant.
A summary of the Company’s restricted and performance stock-settled awards for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022
and 2021 is as follows:
RSUs
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Units
Year Ended December 31, 2023
RSAs
PSUs
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Shares
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Shares
Units
PSAs
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Outstanding at
beginning of year
Granted
Released
Forfeited (1)
Outstanding at end of
year
242,732 $
336,168
(95,837)
(45,684)
404.19
260.31
412.47
332.66
105,928 $
104,620
(64)
(14,552)
406.89
258.57
482.42
313.74
46,971 $
6,640
(51,695)
(1,483)
271.92
271.77
267.66
335.98
35,246 $
—
(35,171)
(75)
245.79
—
245.82
244.97
437,379 $
299.19
195,932 $
334.59
433 $
477.74
— $
—
(1) The increase in forfeitures for RSUs and PSUs as compared to previous years was primarily due to the Company’s 2022
Productivity Plan and VRP.
65
RSUs
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Units
Year Ended December 31, 2022
RSAs
PSUs
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Shares
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Shares
Units
PSAs
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Outstanding at
beginning of year
Granted
Released
Forfeited
Outstanding at end of
year
130,009 $
181,351
(48,095)
(20,533)
518.80
359.02
518.64
463.11
37,691 $
70,777
(226)
(2,314)
482.42
367.16
482.42
410.80
154,322 $
6,122
(104,891)
(8,582)
253.54
321.03
248.36
259.93
74,032 $
—
(38,671)
(115)
225.34
—
206.62
244.62
242,732 $
404.19
105,928 $
406.89
46,971 $
271.92
35,246 $
245.79
RSUs
Year Ended December 31, 2021
RSAs
PSUs
PSAs
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Units
Units
Weighted-
Average
Grant
Date Fair
Value
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Shares
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Shares
Outstanding at
beginning of year
Granted
Released
Forfeited
Outstanding at end of
year
— $
134,419
(674)
(3,736)
—
518.39
489.16
509.58
— $
38,393
—
(702)
—
482.42
—
482.42
318,565 $
6,005
(159,702)
(10,546)
228.08
486.02
212.33
239.78
126,022 $
—
(49,236)
(2,754)
199.77
—
160.11
236.18
130,009 $
518.80
37,691 $
482.42
154,322 $
253.54
74,032 $
225.34
Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”)
SARs were previously granted primarily as part of the Company’s annual share-based compensation incentive program.
Beginning in 2021, the Company no longer included SARs in its annual share-based compensation award issuances and did not
issue any SARs during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 or 2021. The total fair value of SARs granted during the year
ended December 31, 2020 was $6 million, which was estimated on the respective dates of grant using a binomial model.
A summary of the Company’s SARs is as follows:
2023
2022
2021
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Exercise
Price
SARs
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Exercise
Price
SARs
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Exercise
Price
SARs
443,476
$
122.67
474,151
$
121.05
638,124 $
113.98
—
(42,957)
(976)
(705)
—
99.39
244.15
78.54
—
(28,659)
(1,987)
(29)
—
88.35
229.46
205.12
—
(159,035)
(4,938)
—
—
89.87
213.80
—
398,838
$
124.96
443,476
$
122.67
474,151 $
121.05
385,305
$
120.35
400,351
$
110.14
383,273 $
97.29
Outstanding at
beginning of year
Granted
Exercised
Forfeited
Expired
Outstanding at end of
year
Exercisable at end of
year
The following table summarizes information about SARs outstanding as of December 31, 2023:
66
Aggregate intrinsic value (in millions)
Weighted-average remaining contractual life (in years)
Outstanding
$
60
1.7
$
Exercisable
59
1.7
The intrinsic value of SARs exercised during fiscal 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $8 million, $8 million and $69 million,
respectively. The total fair value of SARs that vested during fiscal 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $2 million, $3 million and $5
million, respectively.
Cash-settled awards
The Company also issues cash-settled share-based compensation awards, including cash-settled stock appreciation rights, cash-
settled restricted stock units and cash-settled performance stock units that are classified as liability awards. These awards are
expensed over the vesting period of the related award, which is typically three years. Compensation cost is calculated as the fair
value on grant date multiplied by the number of share-equivalents granted. The expected attainment of the performance goals
for the cash-settled performance stock units is reviewed at the end of each reporting period, with adjustments recorded to
compensation expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, as necessary. Cash settlement is based on the fair value of
share equivalents at the time of vesting, which was $9 million, $5 million and $11 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Share-equivalents issued under these programs totaled 45,460, 66,923 and 11,644 in fiscal 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Eligible Zebra employees may purchase common stock at 95% of the fair market value at the date of purchase pursuant to the
Zebra Technologies Corporation 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“2020 ESPP”). Employees may make purchases by cash
or payroll deductions up to certain limits. The aggregate number of shares that may be purchased under the 2020 ESPP is
1,500,000 shares. As of December 31, 2023, 1,342,239 shares remained available for future purchase.
Note 16 Income Taxes
The geographical sources of income (loss) before income taxes were as follows (in millions):
U.S.
Outside U.S.
Total
2023
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
$
$
167
167
334
$
$
(69) $
613
544
$
Income tax expense (benefit) consisted of the following (in millions):
Current:
Federal
State
Foreign
Total current
Deferred:
Federal
State
Foreign
Total deferred
Total
2023
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
$
$
$
$
2
8
63
73
$
$
(5)
(7)
(23)
(35) $
$
38
141
22
126
289
$
$
(168)
(22)
(18)
(208) $
$
81
328
640
968
63
12
124
199
(48)
(12)
(8)
(68)
131
The Company’s effective tax rates were 11.4%, 14.9% and 13.5% for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021,
respectively.
67
A reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to our actual income tax rate is provided below:
2023
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
Provision computed at statutory rate
Remeasurement of deferred taxes
Change in valuation allowance
U.S. impact of Enterprise acquisition
Change in contingent income tax reserves
Foreign earnings subject to U.S. taxation
Foreign rate differential
State income tax, net of federal tax benefit
Tax credits
Equity compensation deductions
Return to provision and other true ups
Settlements with tax authorities
Permanent differences and other
Provision for income taxes
21.0 %
(2.4)
2.3
0.3
0.4
(5.3)
(0.1)
0.5
(5.5)
0.4
(1.8)
0.3
1.3
11.4 %
21.0 %
(0.4)
0.1
0.4
(0.3)
(3.5)
(3.4)
(0.5)
(3.1)
(0.1)
1.5
2.0
1.2
14.9 %
21.0 %
(1.0)
(0.1)
0.3
(0.2)
(2.0)
(1.7)
0.3
(2.0)
(2.4)
(0.9)
0.0
2.2
13.5 %
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company’s effective tax rate was lower than the federal statutory rate of 21%
primarily due to the tax benefit related to foreign earnings subject to U.S. taxation, remeasurements of deferred taxes, and the
generation of tax credits. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company’s effective tax rate was lower than the federal
statutory rate of 21% due to lower tax rates in foreign jurisdictions, the generation of tax credits and the favorable impacts of
foreign earnings subject to U.S. taxation. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company’s effective tax rate was lower
than the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to lower tax rates in foreign jurisdictions, the generation of tax credits and
the favorable impacts of share-based compensation benefits.
In December of 2021, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”) released Pillar Two Model
Rules defining the global minimum tax rules, which contemplate a global minimum tax rate of 15%. Several member countries
have enacted Pillar Two provisions that are effective in 2024. The Company believes it will qualify for safe harbor exemptions
in many of these jurisdictions and any remaining impact to future effective tax rates and corporate tax liability will be minimal.
The Company earns a significant amount of its operating income outside of the U.S. that is taxed at rates different than the U.S.
federal statutory rate. The Company’s principal foreign jurisdictions that provide sources of operating income are the U.K. and
Singapore. The Company had an incentivized tax rate from the Singapore Economic Development Board, which reduced the
income tax rate in that jurisdiction effective for calendar years 2019 to 2023. The Company has not renewed the incentivized
tax rate for future years, which did not have a significant impact on our current year effective tax rate nor is it expected to have
a significant impact on future year effective tax rates.
68
Tax effects of temporary differences that resulted in deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in millions):
December 31,
2023
2022
Deferred tax assets:
Capitalized research expenditures
Deferred revenue
Tax credits
Net operating loss carryforwards
Other accruals
Inventory items
Sales return/rebate reserve
Share-based compensation expense
Legal accrual
Lease liabilities
Valuation allowance
Total deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation and amortization
Unrealized gains and losses on securities and investments
Undistributed earnings
Right of use lease assets
Other
Total deferred tax liabilities
Net deferred tax assets
$
$
$
$
225
76
43
435
38
23
42
15
13
23
(422)
511
103
11
2
19
5
140
371
$
$
$
$
138
93
32
432
31
21
81
14
55
23
(420)
500
127
12
2
20
7
168
332
For tax years beginning in 2022, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 imposed a requirement that all R&D expenses be
capitalized and amortized for U.S. tax purposes. The effect of this new provision is an increase of approximately $100 million
and $130 million to deferred tax assets for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, with corresponding
increases to the current tax liabilities.
The Company’s valuation allowance primarily relates to Luxembourg reorganization activities in 2019, which had resulted in
the realization of deferred tax liabilities and a corresponding increase in valuation allowances related to depreciation and
amortization. The Company’s valuation allowance also consists of certain net operating loss (“NOL”) and credit carryforwards
for which the Company believes it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized. With respect to all other
deferred tax assets, the Company believes it is more likely than not that the results of future operations will generate sufficient
taxable income to realize a tax benefit. There were no significant adjustments to the Company’s valuation allowance during the
year ended December 31, 2023.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $435 million (tax effected) of “NOLs” and $43 million of credit
carryforwards. Approximately $171 million of NOLs will expire beginning in 2024 through 2039, and $34 million of credits
will expire beginning in 2024 through 2041, with the remaining amounts of NOLs and credit carryforwards having no
expiration dates.
The Company is subject to the GILTI, BEAT and FDII provisions, for which we recorded an income tax benefit of $16 million,
$19 million and $20 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. These impacts are included
in the calculation of the Company’s effective tax rate.
The Company is not permanently reinvested with respect to its U.S. directly-owned foreign subsidiaries. The Company is
subject to U.S. income tax on substantially all foreign earnings under GILTI, while any remaining foreign earnings are eligible
for a dividends received deduction. As a result, future repatriation of earnings will not be subject to additional U.S. federal
income tax but may be subject to currency translation gains or losses. Where required, the Company has recorded a deferred tax
liability for foreign withholding taxes on current earnings. Additionally, gains and losses on any future taxable dispositions of
U.S.-owned foreign affiliates continue to be subject to U.S. income tax.
69
The Company has not recognized deferred tax liabilities in the U.S. with respect to its outside basis differences in its directly-
owned foreign affiliates. It is not practicable to determine the amount of unrecognized deferred tax liabilities on these
indefinitely reinvested earnings.
Unrecognized tax benefits
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in millions):
Year ended December 31,
2023
2022
Balance at beginning of year
Additions for tax positions related to the current year
Additions for tax positions related to prior years
Settlements for tax positions
Lapse of statutes
Balance at end of year
$
$
7
11
—
—
(1)
17
$
$
7
—
3
(2)
(1)
7
As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were $9 million and $7 million of unrecognized tax benefits that, if
recognized, would affect the annual effective tax rate. Additionally, fiscal years 2009 through 2023 remain open to examination
by multiple foreign and U.S. state taxing jurisdictions.
As of December 31, 2023, no significant uncertain tax positions are expected to be settled within the next twelve months. Due
to uncertainties in any tax audit or litigation outcome, the Company’s estimates of the ultimate settlements of uncertain tax
positions may change and the actual tax benefits may differ significantly from estimates.
The Company recognized less than $1 million of net tax benefit associated with interest and penalties related to income tax
matters during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. The Company recognized no expense or benefit for interest and
penalties during the year ended December 31, 2021. The expense or benefit associated with interest and penalties is reflected
within Income tax expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company has included $4 million and $5 million
of estimated interest and penalty obligations within Other long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets each as of
December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Note 17 Earnings Per Share
Basic net earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares
outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of
diluted common shares outstanding. Diluted common shares outstanding is computed using the Treasury Stock method and, in
periods of income, reflects the additional shares that would be outstanding if dilutive share-based compensation awards were
converted into common shares during the period.
Earnings per share (in millions, except share data):
Basic:
Net income
Weighted-average shares outstanding
Basic earnings per share
Diluted:
Net income
Weighted-average shares outstanding
Dilutive shares
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding
Diluted earnings per share
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2023
2021
$
$
$
$
296
51,378,051
5.75
296
51,378,051
332,911
51,710,962
5.72
$
$
$
$
463
52,207,903
8.86
463
52,207,903
350,809
52,558,712
8.80
$
$
$
$
837
53,446,399
15.66
837
53,446,399
456,031
53,902,430
15.52
Anti-dilutive share-based compensation awards are excluded from diluted earnings per share calculations. There were 129,856,
173,519 and 8,000 shares that were anti-dilutive for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
70
Note 18 Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Stockholders’ equity includes certain items classified as AOCI, including:
•
•
Unrealized (loss) gain on anticipated sales hedging transactions relates to derivative instruments used to hedge the
exposure related to currency exchange rates for forecasted Euro sales. These hedges are designated as cash flow
hedges, and the Company defers income statement recognition of gains and losses until the hedged transaction occurs.
See Note 11, Derivative Instruments for more details.
Foreign currency translation adjustments relate to the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiary companies that have
designated a functional currency other than the U.S. Dollar. The Company translates the subsidiary functional currency
financial statements to U.S. Dollars using a combination of historical, period-end, and average foreign exchange rates.
This combination of rates creates the foreign currency translation adjustment component of AOCI.
The changes in each component of AOCI during the three years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 were as follows (in
millions):
Balance at December 31, 2020
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
Amounts reclassified from AOCI(1)
Tax effect
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Balance at December 31, 2021
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
Amounts reclassified from AOCI(1)
Tax effect
Other comprehensive (loss), net of tax
Balance at December 31, 2022
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications
Amounts reclassified from AOCI(1)
Tax effect
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
Balance at December 31, 2023
Unrealized
(loss) gain on
sales hedging
Foreign
currency
translation
adjustments
$
(28) $
55
(41) $
(6)
Total
2
(11)
46
18
50
(87)
8
(29)
(11)
(7)
15
(2)
6
—
—
(6)
(47)
(8)
—
—
(8)
(55)
6
—
—
6
$
(5) $
(49) $
(69)
49
2
(11)
40
(29)
42
(87)
8
(37)
(66)
(1)
15
(2)
12
(54)
(1) See Note 11, Derivative Instruments regarding timing of reclassifications to operating results.
Note 19 Accounts Receivable Factoring
The Company has Receivables Factoring arrangements, pursuant to which certain receivables are sold to banks without
recourse in exchange for cash. Transactions under the Receivables Factoring arrangements are accounted for as sales under
ASC 860, Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets, with the sold receivables removed from the Company’s balance sheet.
Under these Receivables Factoring arrangements, the Company does not maintain any beneficial interest in the receivables sold.
The banks’ purchase of eligible receivables is subject to a maximum amount of uncollected receivables. The Company services
the receivables on behalf of the banks, but otherwise maintains no significant continuing involvement with respect to the
receivables. Sale proceeds that are representative of the fair value of factored receivables, less a factoring fee, are reflected in
Cash flows from operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, while sale proceeds in excess of the fair
value of factored receivables are reflected in Cash flows from financing activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash
Flows.
71
The Company has two Receivables Factoring arrangements. One arrangement allows for the factoring of up to €150 million of
uncollected receivables originated from the EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions. In the third quarter, the Company amended its
second arrangement to allow the factoring of uncollected receivables originated from the EMEA region from up to $25 million
to $50 million. Otherwise, the amendment did not substantially change the terms of the arrangement.
The Company may be required to maintain a portion of sales proceeds as deposits in a restricted cash account that is released to
the Company as it satisfies its obligations as servicer of sold receivables, which totaled $1 million and $12 million as of
December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, and is classified within Prepaid expenses and other current assets on
the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company received cash proceeds of $1,404 million, $1,496
million and $1,504 million, respectively, from the sales of accounts receivables under its factoring arrangements. As of
December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were a total of $56 million and $61 million, respectively, of uncollected receivables that
had been sold and removed from the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
As servicer of sold receivables, the Company had $112 million and $130 million of obligations that were not yet remitted to
banks as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. These obligations are included within Accrued liabilities on the
Consolidated Balance Sheets, with changes in such obligations reflected within Net cash provided by (used in) financing
activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Fees incurred in connection with these arrangements are included within Other expense, net on the Consolidated Statements of
Operations and were $11 million, $5 million and $3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021,
respectively.
Note 20 Segment Information & Geographic Data
Segment results
The Company’s operations consist of two reportable segments: Asset Intelligence & Tracking (“AIT”) and Enterprise Visibility
& Mobility (“EVM”). The reportable segments have been identified based on the financial data utilized by the Company’s
Chief Executive Officer (the chief operating decision maker or “CODM”) to assess segment performance and allocate resources
among the Company’s segments. The CODM reviews adjusted operating income to assess segment profitability. To the extent
applicable, segment operating income excludes business acquisition purchase accounting adjustments, amortization of
intangible assets, acquisition and integration costs, impairment of goodwill and other intangibles, exit and restructuring costs, as
well as certain other non-recurring costs (such as the Settlement costs in the prior year). Segment assets are not reviewed by the
Company’s CODM and therefore are not disclosed below.
In the second quarter of 2023, our advanced location technology solutions business, which is primarily comprised of RFID
devices and RTLS offerings, moved from our EVM segment into our AIT segment contemporaneous with a change in our
organizational structure and management of the business. We have reported our segment results reflecting this change,
including historical periods, on a comparable basis. This change does not have an impact on the Consolidated Financial
Statements.
72
Financial information by segment is presented as follows (in millions):
Net sales:
AIT
EVM
Total segment Net sales
Corporate (1)
Total Net sales
Operating income:
AIT(2)
EVM(2)
Total segment operating income
Corporate (1)
Total Operating income
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2023
2021
$
$
$
$
1,651
2,933
4,584
—
4,584
346
343
689
(208)
481
$
$
$
$
1,837
3,944
5,781
—
5,781
361
711
1,072
(543)
529
$
$
$
$
1,734
3,899
5,633
(6)
5,627
386
746
1,132
(153)
979
(1) To the extent applicable, amounts included in Corporate consist of business acquisition purchase accounting adjustments,
amortization of intangible assets, acquisition and integration costs, impairment of goodwill and other intangibles, exit and
restructuring costs, as well as certain other non-recurring costs (such as the Settlement costs in the prior year).
(2) AIT and EVM segment operating income includes depreciation and share-based compensation expense. The amounts of
depreciation and share-based compensation expense are proportionate to each segment’s Net sales.
Sales to significant customers
The Company has three customers, who are distributors of the Company’s products and solutions, that individually accounted
for more than 10% of total Company Net sales during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. The approximate
percentage of our segment and Company total Net sales to these customers were as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2023
EVM
13 %
6 %
8 %
AIT
5 %
8 %
4 %
Total
AIT
18 %
14 %
12 %
7 %
6 %
4 %
2022
EVM
14 %
9 %
9 %
Total
AIT
21 %
15 %
13 %
7 %
5 %
3 %
2021
EVM
15 %
9 %
10 %
Total
22 %
14 %
13 %
Customer A
Customer B
Customer C
These customers accounted for 22%, 10% and 17%, respectively, of accounts receivable as of December 31, 2023, and 22%,
20% and 18%, respectively, of accounts receivable as of December 31, 2022. No other customer accounted for more than 10%
of total Net sales during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 or 2021, or more than 10% of outstanding accounts
receivable as of December 31, 2023 or 2022.
Geographic data
Information regarding the Company’s operations by geographic area is contained in the following tables. Net sales amounts are
attributed to geographic area based on customer location.
Net sales by region were as follows (in millions):
North America
EMEA
Asia-Pacific
Latin America
Total Net sales
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2023
2021
$
$
2,405
1,414
481
284
4,584
$
$
2,919
1,920
609
333
5,781
$
$
2,819
1,976
543
289
5,627
73
The U.S. and Germany were the only countries that accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s net sales in 2023, 2022 and
2021. Net sales during these years were as follows (in millions):
U.S.
Germany
Other
Total Net sales
Geographic data for long-lived assets is as follows (in millions):
North America
EMEA
Asia-Pacific
Latin America
Total long-lived assets
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
2021
2,330
682
1,572
4,584
$
$
2,840
949
1,992
5,781
$
$
2,784
901
1,942
5,627
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2023
2021
338
61
73
6
478
$
$
336
58
35
5
434
$
$
290
68
39
6
403
$
$
$
$
Long-lived assets are defined by the Company as property, plant and equipment and ROU assets. Primarily all of the
Company’s long-lived assets in the North America region are located in the U.S.
74
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure
Item 9.
None.
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the
period covered by this Form 10-K. The evaluation was conducted under the supervision of our Disclosure Committee, and with
the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Based on that evaluation,
our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were
effective to provide reasonable assurance that (i) the information required to be disclosed by us in this Form 10-K was recorded,
processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (ii) information
required to be disclosed by us in our reports that we file or furnish under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated
to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions,
as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in
Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles. Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023.
In making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission in Internal Control-Integrated Framework as released in 2013. Based on this assessment and those
criteria, our management believes that, as of December 31, 2023, our internal control over financial reporting is effective.
Our independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, has issued an attestation report on Zebra’s internal
control over financial reporting. Ernst & Young LLP’s report is included in the latter portion of this Item 9A.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of 2023, which were
identified in connection with management’s evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the
Exchange Act, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over
financial reporting.
Inherent Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls
Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure
controls and procedures or our internal controls will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how
well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are
met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls
must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls
can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of
fraud, if any, within Zebra have been prevented or detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in
decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Controls can also be
circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the
controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and
there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.
Projections of any evaluation of controls effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become
inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.
75
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Zebra Technologies Corporation
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited Zebra Technologies Corporation and subsidiaries internal control over financial reporting as of December 31,
2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Zebra Technologies
Corporation (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2023, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
(PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Zebra Technologies Corporation as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the
related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows, for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes, and our report dated February 15, 2024 expressed an
unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report
on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control
over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be
independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all
material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material
weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and
performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures
that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and
dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and
expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the
company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or
disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also,
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Chicago, Illinois
February 15, 2024
76
Item 9B.
Other Information
None of our directors or executive officers had in effect, adopted or terminated a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or non-Rule
10b5-1 trading arrangement (as defined in Item 408(c) of Regulation S-K) during the fourth quarter of 2023.
Item 9C.
Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not applicable.
77
PART III
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
We have adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers (“Code of Ethics”) that applies to Zebra’s Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer. The Code of Ethics is posted on the Investor Relations –
Governance Documents page of Zebra’s Internet web site, www.zebra.com under “Investors-Governance-Governance
Documents”, and is available for download. Any waiver from the Code of Ethics and any amendment to the Code of Ethics will
be disclosed on such page of Zebra’s web site.
All other information in response to this item is incorporated by reference from the Proxy Statement sections entitled
“Corporate Governance,” “Election of Directors,” “Committees of the Board,” “Executive Officers,” and “Delinquent
Section 16(a) Reports.”
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
The information in response to this item is incorporated by reference from the Proxy Statement sections entitled “Compensation
Discussion and Analysis,” “Executive Compensation,” “Director Compensation,” “Executive Compensation – Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “Compensation Committee Report.”
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters
The information in response to this item is incorporated by reference from the Proxy Statement sections entitled “Ownership of
our Common Stock” and “Executive Compensation – Equity Compensation Plan Information.”
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information in response to this item is incorporated by reference from the Proxy Statement sections entitled “Corporate
Governance – Related Party Transactions,” “Corporate Governance – Director Independence,” “Election of Directors,” and
“Committees of the Board.”
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The information in response to this item is incorporated by reference from the Proxy Statement section entitled “Fees of
Independent Auditors.”
78
PART IV
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 42)
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
PAGE
40
42
43
44
45
46
47
Index to Financial Statement Schedules
Schedules are omitted because the information is not required or because the information required is included in the
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Index to Exhibits
Exhibit
Number Exhibit Description
3.1(i)
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
3.1(ii)
4.1
4.2
10.1
10.2
10.3
10.4
10.5
10.6
10.7
10.8
10.9
10.10
10.11
Amended and Restated By-laws of Zebra Technologies
Corporation, as amended as of December 5, 2022
Specimen stock certificate representing Class A Common
Stock.
Description of Securities Registered Under Section 12 of the
Securities Exchange Act
Employee Agreement between Nathan Winters and the
Company Dated January 11, 2021. +
Form of indemnification agreement between Zebra
Technologies Corporation and each director and executive
officer.
2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Amended and Restated as of
May 15, 2014). +
2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan. +
2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan. +
2005 Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and
restated as of January 1, 2022. +
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between
Zebra Technologies Corporation and Anders Gustafsson dated
as of May 6, 2010. +
Letter Agreement between Zebra Technologies Corporation
and Anders Gustafsson dated as of May 6, 2010. +
Letter Agreement between Zebra Technologies Corporation
and Anders Gustafsson dated as of March 1, 2023 +
Employment Agreement between Zebra Technologies
Corporation and William Burns dated as of March 1, 2023 +
Form of 2013-16 time-vested stock appreciation rights
agreement for employees other than CEO. +
79
Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit
Number
3.1(i)
Filing Date or
Period End Date
August 6, 2012
Filed or
Furnished
Within
Form
8-K
8-K
10-K
10-K
3.1
4.1
4.2
10-K
10.1
10-K
10.6
December 8,
2022
December 31,
2017
December 31,
2019
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2016
10-Q
10.1
June 28, 2014
10-K
10.11
S-8
10-K
4.1
10.6
10-Q
10.10
December 31,
2017
June 1, 2018
December 31,
2021
April 3, 2010
10-Q
10.11
April 3, 2010
8-K
8-K
10.2
10.1
10-Q
10.1
December 8,
2022
December 8,
2022
March 30, 2013
10.12
10.13
10.14
10.15
10.16
10.17
10.18
10.19
10.20
10.21
10.22
10.23
10.24
10.25
10.26
10.27
10.28
10.29
10.30
10.31
10.32
10.33
10.34
10.35
10.36
Form of 2017 time-vested stock appreciation rights agreement
for employees other than CEO. +
Form of 2018 stock appreciation rights agreement for
employees other than the CEO. +
Form of 2019 stock appreciation rights agreement for
employees other than the CEO. +
Form of 2020 stock appreciation rights agreement for
employees other than the CEO. +
Form of 2021 stock settled stock appreciation rights
agreement for employees other than the CEO. +
Form of 2022 stock appreciation rights agreement for
employees other than the CEO +
Form of 2023 stock-settled stock appreciation rights
agreement for employees (including the CEO). +
Form of 2013-16 time-vested stock appreciation rights
agreement for CEO. +
Form of 2017 time-vested stock appreciation rights agreement
for CEO. +
Form of 2018 stock appreciation rights agreement for CEO. +
Form of 2019 stock appreciation rights agreement for CEO. +
Form of 2020 stock appreciation rights agreement for CEO. +
Form of 2021 time-vested restricted stock unit agreement for
employees other than the CEO. +
Form of 2022 time-vested restricted stock unit agreement for
employees other than the CEO. +
Form of 2023 time-restricted stock unit agreement for all
employees (including the CEO). +
Form of 2021 performance-vested restricted stock unit
agreement for employees other than the CEO. +
Form of 2022 performance-vested restricted stock unit
agreement for employees other than CEO +
Form of 2023 performance-vested restricted stock unit
agreement for all employees (including the CEO). +
Form of 2021 time-vested restricted stock unit agreement for
CEO. +
Form of 2022 time-vested restricted stock unit agreement for
CEO +
Form of 2021 performance-vested restricted stock unit
agreement for CEO. +
Form of 2022 performance-vested restricted stock unit
agreement for CEO+
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated July 26, 2017
(originally dated as of October 27, 2014), by and among
Zebra, the lenders and issuing banks party thereto, JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc.
Amendment No. 1, dated May 31, 2018, to the Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement of July 26, 2017 (originally dated
as of October 27, 2014), by and among Zebra, the lenders and
issuing banks party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and
Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc.
Amendment No. 2, dated August 9, 2019, to the Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement of July 26, 2017 (originally dated
as of October 27, 2014 and amended by Amendment No. 1
dated May 31, 2018), by and among, Zebra, the lenders party
thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
10-Q
10.1
April 1, 2017
10-Q
10.2
June 30, 2018
10-Q
10.2
June 29, 2019
10-Q
10.2
June 27, 2020
10-Q
10.3
July 3, 2021
10-Q
10.3
July 2, 2022
10-Q
10.3
July 1, 2023
10-Q
10.4
March 30, 2013
10-Q
10.2
April 1, 2017
10-Q
10-Q
10-Q
10-Q
10.5
10.5
10.5
10.2
June 30, 2018
June 29, 2019
June 27, 2020
July 3, 2021
10-Q
10.2
July 2, 2022
10-Q
10.2
July 1, 2023
10-Q
10.1
July 3, 2021
10-Q
10.1
July 2, 2022
10-Q
10.1
July 1, 2023
10-Q
10.5
July 3, 2021
10-Q
10.5
July 2, 2022
10-Q
10.4
July 3, 2021
10-Q
10.4
July 2, 2022
10-Q
10.1
July 1, 2017
10-Q
10.7
June 30, 2018
10-Q
10.1
September 28,
2019
80
10.37
10.38
10.39
10.40
10.41
10.42
10.43
10.44
10.45
10.46
10.47
10.48
10.49
10.50
Conformed Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated
July 26, 2017 (originally dated as of October 27, 2014 and
amended by Amendment No. 1 dated May 31, 2018,
Amendment No. 2 dated August 9, 2019, and Amendment
No. 3 dated May 25, 2022), by and among, Zebra, the lenders
party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Conformed Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated
July 26, 2017 (originally dated as of October 27, 2014 and
amended by Amendment No. 1 dated May 31, 2018 and
Amendment No. 2 dated August 9, 2019), by and among
Zebra, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
364-Day Credit Agreement dated September 1, 2020, by and
among, Zebra, the lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase
Bank, N.A.
Office Lease dated November 14, 2013 between Griffin
Capital Corporation (as assignee from Northwestern Mutual
Life Insurance Company) and Zebra Technologies
Corporation.
First Amendment to Lease dated June 6, 2014 between Griffin
Capital Corporation (as assignee from Northwestern Mutual
Life Insurance Company) and Zebra Technologies
Corporation.
Second Amendment to Lease dated as of June 1, 2022
between Griffin Capital Corporation (as assignee from
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company) and Zebra
Technologies Corporation.
Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of December 1,
2017 among Zebra Technologies International, LLC, as the
Originator, and Zebra Technologies RSC, LLC, as Buyer.
Receivables Financing Agreement, dated as of December 1,
2017, by and among Zebra Technologies RSC, LLC, the
lenders from time to time party thereto, PNC Bank, National
Association, Zebra Technologies, LLC, and PNC Capital
Markets, LLC.
Second Amendment to Receivables Financing Agreement,
dated as of March 19, 2021 by and among Zebra
Technologies RSC, LLC, the lenders from time to time party
thereto, PNC Bank, National Association, Zebra
Technologies, LLC, and PNC Capital Markets, LLC
Master Accounts Receivable Purchase Agreement dated
December 19, 2018 among Zebra Technologies Europe
Limited, Zebra Technologies Corporation, and MUFG Bank,
Ltd.
Master Framework Agreement dated April 29, 2020 among
Zebra Technologies Europe Limited, Zebra Technologies
Asia Pacific PTE.LTD., Zebra Technologies Corporation,
Ester Finance Titrisation, Credit Agricole Corporate &
Investment Bank and Credit Agricole Leasing & Factoring
First Deed of Amendment relating to the Master Framework
Agreement dated April 29, 2020 among Zebra Technologies
Europe Limited, Zebra Technologies Asia Pacific PTE.LTD.,
Zebra Technologies Corporation, Ester Finance Titrisation,
Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank and Credit
Agricole Leasing & Factoring
English Receivables Purchase Agreement dated April 29,
2020 Zebra Technologies Europe Limited, Zebra
Technologies Corporation, Credit Agricole Corporate &
Investment Bank, Credit Agricole Leasing & Factoring, and
Ester Finance Titrisation
Singapore Receivables Purchase Agreement dated April 29,
2020 Zebra Technologies Asia Pacific PTE.LTD., Zebra
Technologies Corporation, Credit Agricole Corporate &
Investment Bank, Credit Agricole Leasing & Factoring, and
Ester Finance Titrisation
81
10-Q
10.7
July 2, 2022
10-Q
10.2
September 28,
2019
10-Q
10
10-K
10.34
September 26,
2020
December 31,
2017
10-K
10.35
December 31,
2017
10-Q
10.6
July 2, 2022
10-K
10.36
10-K
10.37
December 31,
2017
December 31,
2017
10-Q
10
April 3, 2021
10-K
10.43
December 31,
2018
10-Q
10.7
June 27, 2020
10-K
10.50
December 31,
2020
10-Q
10.8
June 27, 2020
10-Q
10.9
June 27, 2020
21
23
31.1
31.2
32.1
32.2
97
101
104
Subsidiaries of the Company.
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered
public accounting firm.
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive
Officer.
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial
Officer.
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18
U.S.C Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18
U.S.C Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Accounting Restatement Clawback Policy
The following financial information from Zebra Technologies
Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended
December 31, 2023, formatted in Inline XBRL: (i) the
Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) the Consolidated Statements
of Operations; (iii) the Consolidated Statements of
Comprehensive Income; (iv) the Consolidated Statements of
Stockholders’ Equity; (v) the Consolidated Statements of
Cash Flows; and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements. The instance document does not appear in the
interactive data file because Inline XBRL tags are embedded
in the iXBRL document.
The cover page from the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, formatted in
Inline XBRL (included in Exhibit 101).
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
+
Form 10-K.
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit to this Annual Report on
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
82
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this
report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 15th day of February 2024.
SIGNATURES
ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
By: /s/ William J. Burns
William J. Burns
Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following
persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
/s/ William J. Burns
William J. Burns
/s/ Nathan Winters
Nathan Winters
Title
Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Colleen M. O’Sullivan
Colleen M. O’Sullivan
Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Anders Gustafsson
Anders Gustafsson
/s/ Michael A. Smith
Michael A. Smith
/s/ Linda M. Connly
Linda M. Connly
/s/ Nelda J. Connors
Nelda J. Connors
/s/ Satish Dhanasekaran
Satish Dhanasekaran
/s/ Richard L. Keyser
Richard L. Keyser
/s/ Ross W. Manire
Ross W. Manire
/s/ Frank B. Modruson
Frank B. Modruson
/s/ Janice M. Roberts
Janice M. Roberts
Executive Chair
Lead Independent Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Date
February 15, 2024
February 15, 2024
February 15, 2024
February 15, 2024
February 15, 2024
February 15, 2024
February 15, 2024
February 15, 2024
February 15, 2024
February 15, 2024
February 15, 2024
February 15, 2024
83
Board of Directors
Anders Gustafsson
Executive Chair of the Board
Zebra Technologies Corporation
Michael Smith2,3
Lead Independent Director of
Zebra Technologies Corporation
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
FireVision, LLC
William Burns
Chief Executive Officer
Zebra Technologies Corporation
Linda Connly1
Expert Partner
Bain & Company
Executive Officers
Anders Gustafsson
Executive Chair of the Board
William Burns
Chief Executive Officer
Nathan Winters
Chief Financial Officer
Robert Armstrong
Chief Marketing Officer
Stockholder Information
Global Corporate Headquarters
Zebra Technologies Corporation
Three Overlook Point
Lincolnshire, Illinois 60069
U. S. A. Phone: +1 847 634-6700
Fax +1 847 913-8766
Annual Meeting
Zebra’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders
will be held on May 9, 2024,
at 10:30 a.m. Central Time
Independent Auditors
Ernst & Young LLP
Chicago, Illinois
Investor Relations
Investors are invited to learn more
about Zebra Technologies Corporation
by accessing the company’s website at
investors.zebra.com, by sending an email
to InvestorRelations@zebra.com or by
calling +1 847 518-6432.
Nelda Connors1
Founder, Chairwoman and CEO
Pine Grove Holdings, LLC
Satish Dhanasekaran2
President and
Chief Executive Officer
Keysight Technologies
Richard Keyser 2,3
Cheif Exectutive Officer and
Chairman (Retired)
W. W. Grainger, Inc.
Ross Manire 1,3
President and
Chief Executive Officer (Retired)
ExteNet Systems, Inc.
Michael Cho
Chief Strategy Officer
Tamara Froese
Chief Supply Chain Officer
Richard Hudson
Chief Revenue Officer
Cristen Kogl
Chief Legal Officer,
General Counsel and
Corporate Secretary
Transfer Agent and Registrar
Computershare
P.O. Box 43006
Providence, RI 02940-3006
Overnight Delivery:
Computershare
150 Royall St., Suite 101
Canton, MA 02021
Telephone:
+1 800 522-6645 or +1 201 680-6578
TDD for hearing impaired:
+1 800 231-5469 or +1 201 680-6610
Website:
www.computershare.com/investor
Frank Modruson 1, 3
President of Modruson & Associates, LLC
and Chief Information Officer
(Retired) Accenture
Janice Roberts 2
Partner
Benhamou Global Ventures
1 - Member of Audit Committee
2 - Member of Compensation and Culture Committee
3 - Member of Nominating and
Governance Committee
Colleen O’Sullivan
SVP, Chief Accounting Officer
Jeffrey Schmitz
Chief People Officer
Joe White
Chief Product & Solutions Officer
Form 10-K
The Zebra Technologies Corporation Form
10-K Report filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission is incorporated
in this annual report. Our Code of Ethics
for Senior Financial Officers is available
for download on the Company’s Investor
Relations website at investors.zebra.com
under the Governance tab, within the
Governance Documents section. Please
contact the Investor Relations Department
at the Corporate Headquarters for
additional copies of the Form 10-K, or visit
our website to view an online version of
the Form 10-K, or the Code of Ethics for
Senior Financial Officers.
Equal Employment Opportunities/
Affirmative Action
It is the policy of Zebra Technologies
Corporation to provide equal opportunities
and affirmative action in all areas of its
employment practices without regard to
race, color, religion, national origin, sex,
age, ancestry, citizenship, disability, veteran
status, marital status, sexual orientation or
any other reason prohibited by law.
Corporate Headquarters
+1 847 634 6700
For more information
visit www. zebra.com
ZEBRA and the stylized Zebra head are trademarks
of Zebra Technologies Corp., registered in many
jurisdictions worldwide. All other trademarks are
the property of their respective owners. ©2024
Zebra Technologies Corp. and/or its affiliates.