ZBRA
Zebra Technologies Corporation
Communication Equipment
Market Cap$11.12B
5Y Perf.-13.5%
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Stock Comparison
ZBRA vs TRMB
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
TRMB
Trimble Inc.
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
Market Cap$14.40B
5Y Perf.+55.4%
ZBRA vs TRMB — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ZBRA | TRMB |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Communication Equipment | Hardware, Equipment & Parts |
| Market Cap | $11.12B | $14.40B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $5.40B | $3.69B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $419M | $456M |
| Gross Margin | 47.3% | 68.1% |
| Operating Margin | 14.5% | 17.8% |
| Forward P/E | 12.7x | 19.7x |
| Total Debt | $2.82B | $1.39B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $125M | $253M |
ZBRA vs TRMB — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ZBRA
TRMB
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zebra Technologies … (ZBRA) | 100 | 86.5 | -13.5% |
| Trimble Inc. (TRMB) | 100 | 155.4 | +55.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ZBRA vs TRMB
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: TRMB leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. Zebra Technologies Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ZBRA
Zebra Technologies Corporation
The Growth Play
ZBRA is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 8.3%, EPS growth -19.6%, 3Y rev CAGR -2.3%
- 261.2% 10Y total return vs TRMB's 162.2%
- 8.3% revenue growth vs TRMB's -2.6%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
TRMB
Trimble Inc.
The Income Pick
TRMB carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 1.35
- Lower volatility, beta 1.35, Low D/E 23.9%, current ratio 1.09x
- Beta 1.35, current ratio 1.09x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ZBRA | 8.3% revenue growth vs TRMB's -2.6% |
| Value | ZBRA | Lower P/E (12.7x vs 19.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | TRMB | 12.4% margin vs ZBRA's 7.8% |
| Stability / Safety | TRMB | Beta 1.35 vs ZBRA's 1.84, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | TRMB | -9.8% vs ZBRA's -14.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | TRMB | 5.0% ROA vs ZBRA's 4.9%, ROIC 6.8% vs 10.6% |
ZBRA vs TRMB — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
ZBRA vs TRMB — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLTRMBLAGGINGZBRA
ZBRAZebra Technologies Co…
1leads
TRMBTrimble Inc.
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ZBRAMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
TRMB5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ZBRA5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
TRMB5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
TRMB4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
TRMB2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
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Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TRMB leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ZBRA and TRMB operate at a comparable scale, with $5.4B and $3.7B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 12.4% (TRMB) to 7.8% (ZBRA).
| Metric | ZBRAZebra Technologie… | TRMBTrimble Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.4B | $3.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $968M | $843M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $419M | $456M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $831M | $253M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +47.3% | +68.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.5% | +17.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.8% | +12.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.4% | +6.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +10.6% | +11.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -55.7% | +55.6% |
TRMB leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ZBRA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 27.6x trailing earnings, ZBRA trades at a 20% valuation discount to TRMB's 34.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ZBRA's 14.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than TRMB's 19.7x.
| Metric | ZBRAZebra Technologie… | TRMBTrimble Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $11.1B | $14.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $13.8B | $15.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 27.63x | 34.73x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.68x | 19.67x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 14.14x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.02x | 19.73x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.06x | 4.01x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.23x | 2.50x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.38x | 108.10x |
ZBRA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
TRMB leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ZBRA delivers a 11.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $8 for TRMB. TRMB carries lower financial leverage with a 0.24x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ZBRA's 0.78x.
| Metric | ZBRAZebra Technologie… | TRMBTrimble Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.7% | +8.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.9% | +5.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.6% | +6.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.4% | +7.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.78x | 0.24x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.7B | $1.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $125M | $253M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.8B | $1.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 4.17x | 8.03x |
TRMB leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
TRMB leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in TRMB five years ago would be worth $7,818 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,670 for ZBRA. Over the past 12 months, TRMB leads with a -9.8% total return vs ZBRA's -14.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors TRMB at 8.5% vs ZBRA's -6.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ZBRAZebra Technologie… | TRMBTrimble Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -9.0% | -22.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -14.8% | -9.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -18.7% | +27.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -53.3% | -21.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +261.2% | +162.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -6.7% | +8.5% |
TRMB leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
TRMB leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
TRMB is the less volatile stock with a 1.35 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ZBRA's 1.84 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. TRMB currently trades 69.5% from its 52-week high vs ZBRA's 64.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ZBRAZebra Technologie… | TRMBTrimble Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.84x | 1.35x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $352.66 | $87.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $199.05 | $59.84 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +64.1% | +69.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 54.8 | 33.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 710K | 1.8M |
TRMB leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ZBRA as "Buy" and TRMB as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 53.8% upside for TRMB (target: $94) vs 37.6% for ZBRA (target: $311).
| Metric | ZBRAZebra Technologie… | TRMBTrimble Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $311.00 | $93.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 25 | 28 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +5.3% | +6.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
TRMB leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). ZBRA leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Best OverallTrimble Inc. (TRMB)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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ZBRA vs TRMB: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ZBRA or TRMB a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Zebra Technologies Corporation (ZBRA) is the stronger pick with 8.
3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 6% for Trimble Inc. (TRMB). Zebra Technologies Corporation (ZBRA) offers the better valuation at 27. 6x trailing P/E (12. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Zebra Technologies Corporation (ZBRA) a "Buy" — based on 25 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — ZBRA or TRMB?
On trailing P/E, Zebra Technologies Corporation (ZBRA) is the cheapest at 27.
6x versus Trimble Inc. at 34. 7x. On forward P/E, Zebra Technologies Corporation is actually cheaper at 12. 7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ZBRA or TRMB?
Over the past 5 years, Trimble Inc.
(TRMB) delivered a total return of -21. 8%, compared to -53. 3% for Zebra Technologies Corporation (ZBRA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ZBRA returned +261. 2% versus TRMB's +162. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — ZBRA or TRMB?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Trimble Inc.
(TRMB) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 35β versus Zebra Technologies Corporation's 1. 84β — meaning ZBRA is approximately 36% more volatile than TRMB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Trimble Inc. (TRMB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 24% versus 78% for Zebra Technologies Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ZBRA or TRMB?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Zebra Technologies Corporation (ZBRA) is pulling ahead at 8.
3% versus -2. 6% for Trimble Inc. (TRMB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Zebra Technologies Corporation grew EPS -19. 6% year-over-year, compared to -71. 3% for Trimble Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, TRMB leads at -0. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — ZBRA or TRMB?
Trimble Inc.
(TRMB) is the more profitable company, earning 11. 8% net margin versus 7. 8% for Zebra Technologies Corporation — meaning it keeps 11. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TRMB leads at 16. 9% versus 14. 8% for ZBRA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TRMB leads at 68. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is ZBRA or TRMB more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Zebra Technologies Corporation (ZBRA) trades at 12.
7x forward P/E versus 19. 7x for Trimble Inc. — 7. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TRMB: 53. 8% to $93. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — ZBRA or TRMB?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
09Is ZBRA or TRMB better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Trimble Inc.
(TRMB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+162. 2% 10Y return). Zebra Technologies Corporation (ZBRA) carries a higher beta of 1. 84 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (TRMB: +162. 2%, ZBRA: +261. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between ZBRA and TRMB?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(ZBRA: 10.6% · TRMB: 11.8%)Net Margin>
%
(ZBRA: 7.8% · TRMB: 12.4%)P/E Ratio<
x
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