Zebra Technologies's biggest risks in the FY2024 10-K
- Rapid technology, security, customer, and distribution changes could make Zebra’s offerings obsolete or costly to adapt.
- AI competitors and new rules, including the EU AI Act, could raise development and compliance costs.
- Sole-source components, supply disruptions, customer-demand changes, and debt obligations could pressure cash flow and results.
The risks most specific to Zebra Technologies
- General Business and Industry Risks
The Company may not be able to continue to develop offerings to address user needs effectively. To be successful, we must adapt to rapidly changing technological and application needs by continually improving our offerings, as well as introducing new offerings to address user demands
Zebra may fail to keep products aligned with changing industry standards, security protocols, distribution channels, and demand for customized offerings.
- General Business and Industry Risks
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
Competitors may respond faster to emerging technology and customer requirements in Zebra’s rapidly evolving, highly competitive markets.
- Operational Risks
We also face competition from other companies that are developing their own AI technologies. Other companies may develop AI technologies that are similar or superior to our technologies or are more cost-effective to develop and deploy
Other companies could develop superior or cheaper AI, while laws such as the EU AI Act impose new compliance obligations.
- Operational Risks
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
Supplier disruptions, higher supply and transportation costs, or reliance on sole-source suppliers could prevent Zebra from meeting customer demand.
- Financial and Market Risks
Any or all of the above events or factors could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. The risks that we face based on our outstanding indebtedness may intensify if we incur additional indebtedness or financing obligations in the future
Zebra relies on operating cash flow and customer collections to fund expenses and repay debt, leaving performance vulnerable to financial and economic conditions.
Risk factor headings as read
Headings as the filing states them, in filing order.
General Business and Industry Risks
- 01The Company may not be able to continue to develop offerings to address user needs effectively. To be successful, we must adapt to rapidly changing technological and application needs by continually improving our offerings, as well as introducing new offerings to address user demands
- 02Future 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
Operational Risks
- 03We also face competition from other companies that are developing their own AI technologies. Other companies may develop AI technologies that are similar or superior to our technologies or are more cost-effective to develop and deploy
- 04Our 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
Financial and Market Risks
- 05Any or all of the above events or factors could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. The risks that we face based on our outstanding indebtedness may intensify if we incur additional indebtedness or financing obligations in the future
Other Zebra Technologies 10-Ks
- FY2025 10-K risk factorsRisk factors section under review
Supply-chain disruption, component availability, supplier pricing, and transportation-cost risk was dropped.
Filed Feb 12, 2026
About this page
The headings are the filing's own. The one-line readings and the overview are automated and can be wrong: read Item 1A of the 10-K for the exact wording.