Belden (BDC) vs Zebra Technologies (ZBRA)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Zebra Technologies (ZBRA) has outperformed Belden (BDC) over the past year, gaining 30.3% versus a loss of 5.3%. Over five years, BDC leads with a +80.4% price change compared with -25.1% for ZBRA. Zebra Technologies is the larger company by market cap ($18.26 billion vs $4.28 billion), about 4.3 times the size, while Belden is growing revenue faster (+10.3% vs +8.3%).
On valuation, Belden trades at a lower forward P/E (10.9x vs 17.4x for Zebra Technologies). Belden pays a dividend yielding 0.18%, while Zebra Technologies does not currently pay one. Belden converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 8.7% versus 7.8%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | BDC | ZBRA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $109.41 | $386.05 |
| Market cap | $4.28B | $18.26B |
| 1-day change | -3.36% | +0.07% |
| YTD return | -6.22% | +59.17% |
| 1-year return | -5.29% | +30.29% |
| 5-year return | +80.39% | -25.07% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 17.79 | 35.38 |
| Forward P/E | 10.90 | 17.39 |
| EPS (TTM) | $6.15 | $10.91 |
| Dividend yield | 0.18% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.20 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $2.72B | $5.40B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +10.33% | +8.33% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $237.52M | $419.00M |
| Gross margin | 37.98% | 48.05% |
| Operating margin | 11.63% | 12.97% |
| Net margin | 8.75% | 7.77% |
| 52-week high | $159.99 | $390.80 |
| 52-week low | $98.00 | $199.05 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -31.61% | -1.22% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +40.02% | +7.20% |
| Average volume | 453.39K | 666.56K |
| Shares outstanding | 39.08M | 47.31M |
| Employees | 8,000 | 10,700 |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Telecommunications Equipment | Industrial Machinery/Components |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Zebra Technologies is about 4.3 times larger than Belden by market value ($18.26B vs $4.28B).
- ZBRA has outperformed BDC by 35.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Zebra Technologies trades at a higher earnings multiple (35.4x vs 17.8x trailing P/E).
About Belden
BDC stock →Belden Inc. provides connection solutions to bring data infrastructure into alignment to unlock new possibilities for its customers.
Industrials · Telecommunications Equipment · 8,000 employees
About Zebra Technologies
ZBRA stock →Zebra Technologies Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates in the automatic identification and data capture solutions industry worldwide. It operates in two segments, Connected Frontline, and Asset Visibility and Automation.
Industrials · Industrial Machinery/Components · 10,700 employees
BDC vs ZBRA FAQ
Which is bigger, Belden or Zebra Technologies?
Zebra Technologies (ZBRA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $18.26B compared with $4.28B for Belden (BDC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BDC or ZBRA?
ZBRA returned +30.29% over the past 12 months, compared with -5.29% for BDC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BDC or ZBRA?
BDC has the lower trailing P/E at 17.8, versus 35.4 for ZBRA. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Belden or Zebra Technologies?
Belden pays a dividend yielding 0.18%, while Zebra Technologies does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Belden and Zebra Technologies in the same industry?
Both are in the Industrials sector, but in different industries: Telecommunications Equipment for Belden and Industrial Machinery/Components for Zebra Technologies.