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Zebra Technologies Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 12 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 4 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 14.3% year over year: Net sales were $1,495 million, against $1,308 million a year earlier. Reported growth was 14.3%. Source
  • Connected Frontline grew 20.6%: CF net sales were $825 million, up 20.6%. Organic growth was 3.8%, and acquisitions added 14.7 points. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 23.2%: Adjusted EBITDA was $347 million, up 18.8%. Management attributed the margin gain to higher gross margin and lower adjusted operating expense as a share of sales. Source
  • Free cash flow was $163 million: Operating cash flow was $176 million and capital expenditures were $13 million, giving free cash flow of $163 million. Source
  • Repurchases of $300 million: Share repurchases were $300 million, against $125 million a year earlier, and the company repurchased $300 million in each of the past two quarters. Source
  • Second-quarter sales growth 14% to 17%: Second-quarter sales growth is expected to be between 14% and 17% compared with the prior year. Source
  • Full-year sales growth raised to 10% to 14%: Full-year sales growth is now expected between 10% and 14% compared with the prior year, up from 9% to 13% previously. Source
  • Full-year non-GAAP EPS range raised: Non-GAAP diluted EPS is now expected between $18.30 and $18.70, up from $17.70 to $18.30. Source

“Our strong first quarter results demonstrate the durability of demand for our innovative technology, with organic growth across our segments and regions, led by strength in our manufacturing end market.”

Bill Burns, Chief Executive Officer of Zebra Technologies

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales growth Sourcesecond quarter 2026between 14% and 17%New
Acquisitions and foreign currency impact Sourcesecond quarter 2026approximately 10.5 pointsNew
Adjusted EBITDA margin Sourcesecond quarter 2026slightly higher than 21%New
Non-GAAP diluted EPS Sourcesecond quarter 2026$4.20 to $4.50New
Net sales growth Sourcefull year 2026between 10% and 14%Raised from between 9% and 13%
Acquisitions and foreign currency impact Sourcefull year 2026approximately 7 pointsKept
Adjusted EBITDA margin Sourcefull year 2026approximately 22%Kept
Non-GAAP diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$18.30 to $18.70Raised from $17.70 to $18.30
Adjusted effective tax rate Sourcesecond quarter and full year 2026approximately 19%Kept
Free cash flow Sourcefull year 2026greater than $900 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year sales growth expectation raised to 10% to 14% from 9% to 13%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year non-GAAP diluted EPS expectation raised to $18.30 to $18.70 from $17.70 to $18.30. Source
  • New guidance: Second-quarter guidance given for sales growth, adjusted EBITDA margin and non-GAAP diluted EPS. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year adjusted EBITDA margin expectation kept at approximately 22%. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year free cash flow expectation kept at $900 million, now worded as greater than rather than at least. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose 14.3% year over year: Net sales were $1,495 million, against $1,308 million a year earlier. Reported growth was 14.3%. Source
  • Acquisitions and currency made up most growth: Acquisitions added 7.9 points and foreign currency 2.1 points to reported growth, leaving 4.3% organic growth. Source
  • Net income slightly lower, diluted EPS higher: Net income was $135 million, down 0.7%. Diluted EPS was $2.72, up 3.8% from $2.62. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose 18.2%: Non-GAAP net income was $235 million, up 13.0%, and non-GAAP diluted EPS was $4.75, up 18.2% from $4.02. Source

Segments and regions

  • Connected Frontline grew 20.6%: CF net sales were $825 million, up 20.6%. Organic growth was 3.8%, and acquisitions added 14.7 points. Source
  • Asset Visibility and Automation grew 7.4%: AVA net sales were $670 million, up 7.4%. Organic growth was 4.8%, with currency adding 2.2 points and acquisitions 0.4. Source
  • Both segments' gross margins rose: CF gross margin was 49.1%, up from 48.7%. AVA gross margin was 51.9%, up from 50.6%. Source
  • Segment operating income rose in both: CF operating income was $169 million, against $140 million. AVA operating income was $159 million, against $135 million. Source

“We are building on our track record of value creation for shareholders with $300 million of share repurchases in each of the past two quarters”

Nathan Winters, Chief Financial Officer of Zebra Technologies

Margins and costs

  • Gross margin up 30 basis points: Gross margin was 49.6%, up from 49.3%. Management attributed the increase mainly to favorable foreign currency exchange, business mix and productivity initiatives. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin reached 50.4%: Adjusted gross margin was 50.4%, up from 49.6%, on the company's non-GAAP basis that excludes share-based compensation and purchase accounting adjustments. Source
  • Operating expenses rose on acquisitions: Operating expenses were $527 million, up from $450 million, mainly from acquired businesses and their intangible amortization. Adjusted operating expenses were $425 million, up from $374 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 23.2%: Adjusted EBITDA was $347 million, up 18.8%. Management attributed the margin gain to higher gross margin and lower adjusted operating expense as a share of sales. Source
  • Restructuring and amortization sat in costs: Operating expenses included $8 million of exit and restructuring costs, $37 million of intangible amortization and $1 million of acquisition and integration costs. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Manufacturing led organic growth: Management named manufacturing as the end market leading organic growth across segments and regions. Source
  • E-commerce and Physical AI trends cited: Management said e-commerce, automation and Physical AI trends are accelerating, and that the company is positioned to drive profitable growth. Source
  • Confidence in serving customer demand: Management said it remains confident in its ability to support customer demand while delivering consistent performance in a dynamic environment. Source

“We are seeing continued momentum into the second quarter, supporting our increased outlook for the full year.”

Bill Burns, Chief Executive Officer of Zebra Technologies

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Free cash flow was $163 million: Operating cash flow was $176 million and capital expenditures were $13 million, giving free cash flow of $163 million. Source
  • Cash lower, total debt at $2.66 billion: At April 4, 2026, cash was $114 million and total debt was $2,660 million, against cash of $125 million at year-end. Source
  • Debt issued and repaid in quarter: Debt proceeds were $186 million and debt payments were $37 million. The current portion of long-term debt rose to $264 million from $141 million. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Repurchases of $300 million: Share repurchases were $300 million, against $125 million a year earlier, and the company repurchased $300 million in each of the past two quarters. Source
  • Treasury shares increased in quarter: Treasury shares were 23,768,847 at April 4, 2026, up from 22,558,911 at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Diluted share count fell year over year: Diluted weighted average shares were 49,428,337 in the quarter, against 51,806,550 a year earlier. Source

Strategy and Elo Touch

  • Elo Touch synergies beginning: Management said Elo Touch contributed profitable growth as the company begins to drive synergies. Source
  • Integrated portfolio as key differentiator: Management described its integrated portfolio of solutions as a key differentiator, connecting data, assets and workflows to drive visibility and productivity. Source
  • Goodwill and intangibles on balance sheet: Goodwill was $4,709 million and other intangibles, net, were $765 million at April 4, 2026, against $4,727 million and $809 million at year-end. Source

Second-quarter guidance

  • Second-quarter sales growth 14% to 17%: Second-quarter sales growth is expected to be between 14% and 17% compared with the prior year. Source
  • Second-quarter EBITDA margin above 21%: Adjusted EBITDA margin for the second quarter is expected to be slightly higher than 21%. Source
  • Second-quarter non-GAAP EPS $4.20 to $4.50: Non-GAAP diluted EPS is expected between $4.20 and $4.50 for the second quarter. Source

Full-year guidance

  • Full-year sales growth raised to 10% to 14%: Full-year sales growth is now expected between 10% and 14% compared with the prior year, up from 9% to 13% previously. Source
  • Full-year non-GAAP EPS range raised: Non-GAAP diluted EPS is now expected between $18.30 and $18.70, up from $17.70 to $18.30. Source
  • Full-year EBITDA margin held near 22%: Full-year adjusted EBITDA margin is expected at approximately 22%, the same as the prior expectation. Source
  • Full-year free cash flow above $900 million: Free cash flow is now expected to be greater than $900 million for the full year, against at least $900 million previously. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said the company has begun to drive synergies from the Elo Touch acquisition. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release cited $303 million of repurchases toward a previously announced $500 million 12-month commitment.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.