ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
ZBHBusiness Summary
Zimmer Biomet is a global medical technology leader that designs, manufactures and markets orthopedic reconstructive products; sports medicine, biologics, extremities and trauma products; craniomaxillofacial and thoracic products; bone cement; surgical products; and a suite of integrated digital and robotic technologies that leverage data, data analytics and artificial intelligence. The company operates in the orthopedics and broader musculoskeletal care industry, which is described as highly competitive. The company's primary customers include orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and other specialists, healthcare institutions, stocking distributors, healthcare dealers and healthcare purchasing organizations or buying groups. Consignment sales represented approximately 85 percent of net sales in 2025.
In the global markets for its knees, hips, and S.E.T. products, the company's major competitors include Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Stryker Corporation and Smith & Nephew plc. There are smaller competitors in these product categories as well that focus on smaller subsegments of the industry. Competition within the industry is primarily based on technology, innovation, quality, reputation, customer service and pricing. A key factor in the company's continuing success in the future will be its ability to develop new products and technologies and improve existing products and technologies.
The company generates revenue through the design, manufacture and marketing of its products, which are sold through two principal channels: direct to healthcare institutions such as hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers, and through stocking distributors and healthcare dealers. With direct channel accounts and some healthcare dealers, inventory is generally consigned to sales agents or customers. Consignment sales represented approximately 85 percent of net sales in 2025. No individual customer accounted for more than 2 percent of net sales for 2025.
The company's product categories include Knees, Hips, S.E.T. (Sports Medicine, Extremities, Trauma, Craniomaxillofacial and Thoracic), and Technology & Data, Bone Cement and Surgical. For the year ended December 31, 2025, Knees net sales were $3,322.3 million 1, Hips net sales were $2,093.5 million 2, S.E.T. net sales were $2,150.2 million 3, and Technology & Data, Bone Cement and Surgical net sales were $665.6 million 4. Within the S.E.T. category, sports medicine products represented 12 percent of S.E.T. net sales in 2025 5, biologics products represented 5 percent 6, foot and ankle products represented 12 percent 7, upper extremities products represented 30 percent 8, trauma products represented 20 percent 9, and CMFT products represented 21 percent 10. Significant knee brands include the Persona Knee, NexGen Knee Implants, Vanguard Knee, and Oxford Partial Knee. Significant hip brands include the Taperloc Hip System, Avenir Complete Hip System, Z1 Hip Implant, Arcos Modular Hip System, and G7 Acetabular System. The ROSA Robot is utilized in knee, hip, and shoulder procedures. The ZBEdge Platform connects robotic and digital technologies together to collect data before, during and after surgery.
On April 21, 2025, the company completed the acquisition of Paragon 28, Inc. 11. On October 7, 2025, the company completed the acquisition of Monogram Technologies Inc. 12. In 2025, the company executed share repurchases under its repurchase program in an aggregate amount of $487.0 million 13. In February, May, August and December 2025, the Board of Directors declared cash dividends of $0.24 per share 14. The company issued senior notes for proceeds of $2,492.1 million 15 and redeemed $1,463.0 million of senior notes 16. In December 2025, management decided on a plan to discontinue selling certain products by 2032 and recognized a charge of approximately $170 million 17 to reduce inventory and instruments to their net realizable value.
For the year ended December 31, 2025, net sales increased 7.2 percent 18 when compared to 2024. Net earnings were $705.1 million 19 in 2025 compared to $903.8 million 20 in 2024. The Paragon 28 acquisition had a positive impact on net sales growth of 2.5 percent 21 in 2025. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had a positive effect of 0.8 percent 22 on year-over-year sales in 2025. Operating profit was $1,098.1 million 23 in 2025 compared to $1,285.7 million 24 in 2024. Cash flows provided by operating activities were $1,697.1 million 25 in 2025.
Business Outlook
Management expects year-over-year net sales growth of 2.5 percent to 4.5 percent 26 in 2026, to be driven by a combination of market growth, new product introductions, the Paragon 28 acquisition and positive effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, partially offset by the expected impact from changes to the go-to-market strategy and execution in the U.S. and certain other international markets, as well as price declines. The company estimates that the Paragon 28 acquisition will contribute an additional 1.0 percent 27 to the year-over-year net sales growth until it eclipses the one year anniversary of deal closing in April 2026. Based on foreign currency exchange rates at the end of 2025, the company expects foreign currency to have a 0.5 percent 28 positive impact on year-over-year net sales growth.
The company is converting substantial portions of its U.S. sales force from independent distributors and sales representatives to its employees in a multi-year initiative. The company is also increasing product category specialization and focus across its U.S. sales force. Additionally, the company is making certain changes to its sales force and go-to-market models in certain other countries in an effort to optimize commercial strategies and improve performance on a consistent basis in those markets. The company expects revenue performance to be inconsistent throughout the transition to this new model in certain emerging markets.
Management estimates operating profit will increase in 2026 when compared to 2025 due to higher net sales, leverage from fixed operating expenses, ongoing savings from restructuring plans, non-recurrence of inventory and instrument charges related to certain product lines expected to be discontinued and lower employee termination and other charges from restructuring plans. However, the company expects that these favorable items may be partially offset by the impact from inflation, investments in the U.S. commercial sales channel, higher net interest expense and a higher estimated effective tax rate due to favorable 2025 adjustments that are not expected to recur.
The company is executing on a 2025 Restructuring Plan, 2023 Restructuring Plan, 2021 Restructuring Plan and a 2019 Restructuring Plan. The 2025 Restructuring Plan is expected to result in total pre-tax charges of approximately $155 million 29 by the end of 2027, of which approximately $137 million 30 was incurred through December 31, 2025. The company expects to reduce gross annual pre-tax operating expenses by approximately $175 million 31 relative to the 2024 baseline expenses by the end of 2027 as program benefits under the 2025 Restructuring Plan are realized. The 2023 Restructuring Plan resulted in total pre-tax charges of $115 million 32 and the company estimates gross annual pre-tax operating expenses were reduced by $175 million to $200 million 33 relative to the 2023 baseline expenses by the end of 2025. The 2021 Restructuring Plan resulted in $169 million 34 of total pre-tax charges and the company estimates gross annual pre-tax operating expenses were reduced by approximately $190 million 35 relative to the 2021 baseline expenses by the end of 2024. The 2019 Restructuring Plan resulted in total pre-tax restructuring charges of $393 million 36 and the company estimates the program resulted in a reduction of gross annual pre-tax operating expenses of approximately $180 million 37 relative to the 2019 baseline expenses by the end of 2025.
The company expects to continue paying cash dividends on a quarterly basis; however, future dividends are subject to approval of the Board of Directors and may be adjusted as business needs or market conditions change. In May 2024, the Board of Directors authorized a $2.0 billion 38 share repurchase program effective May 29, 2024, with no expiration date. As of December 31, 2025, $770.2 million 39 remained authorized under this program. On February 9, 2026, the Board of Directors authorized a $1.5 billion 40 share repurchase program effective February 9, 2026, with no expiration date, and terminated the existing May 2024 share repurchase program.
The company expects that favorable items for 2026 may be partially offset by the impact from inflation, investments in the U.S. commercial sales channel, higher net interest expense and a higher estimated effective tax rate due to favorable 2025 adjustments that are not expected to recur. The company expects year-over-year net sales growth of 2.5 percent to 4.5 percent 41 in 2026 to be partially offset by the expected impact from changes to the go-to-market strategy and execution in the U.S. and certain other international markets, as well as price declines. These expected impacts, combined with the uncertain timing of incentivized stocking orders and capital sales, could cause fluctuations in quarterly results.
Risk Factors
The company faces significant risks from its multi-year initiative to convert substantial portions of its U.S. sales force from independent distributors and sales representatives to employees, which could result in operational disruptions, increased costs, reduced sales, and loss of key sales personnel to competitors. The company's substantial indebtedness of $7.5 billion 42 at December 31, 2025, with debt service principal obligations of $0.6 billion 43 during the next 12 months, could require a large portion of cash flow from operations for debt servicing, limiting funds for other corporate requirements. The company is subject to risks from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, as a sensitivity analysis indicated that if the U.S. Dollar uniformly strengthened or weakened by 10 percent relative to all currencies, the fair value of foreign currency exchange forward contracts would affect earnings in a range of a decrease of approximately $109 million 44 to an increase of approximately $107 million 45 before income taxes. The company also faces risks from the potential for material impairment of its $9.9 billion 46 in goodwill and $4.7 billion 47 of intangible assets, as any write-off of a material portion would negatively affect operating results. Additionally, the company is exposed to risks from the potential characterization of its independent agents and distributors as employees, which could result in substantial additional tax and other liabilities.
Management Priorities
Management's message emphasizes that the company expects year-over-year net sales growth of 2.5 percent to 4.5 percent 48 in 2026, driven by market growth, new product introductions, the Paragon 28 acquisition and positive effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, partially offset by the expected impact from changes to the go-to-market strategy and execution in the U.S. and certain other international markets, as well as price declines. Management estimates operating profit will increase in 2026 when compared to 2025 due to higher net sales, leverage from fixed operating expenses, ongoing savings from restructuring plans, non-recurrence of inventory and instrument charges related to certain product lines expected to be discontinued and lower employee termination and other charges from restructuring plans. The strategic priorities emphasized include executing on the multi-year initiative to convert substantial portions of the U.S. sales force from independent distributors and sales representatives to employees, rationalizing the product portfolio to streamline operations and enhance focus on strategic offerings, and continuing to pursue growth opportunities through acquisitions such as Paragon 28 and Monogram Technologies Inc.
View Source Annual Report on SEC.gov ↗
References
- [1] Item 7, MD&A — Net Sales by Product Category
- [2] Item 7, MD&A — Net Sales by Product Category
- [3] Item 7, MD&A — Net Sales by Product Category
- [4] Item 7, MD&A — Net Sales by Product Category
- [5] Item 1, Business — S.E.T.
- [6] Item 1, Business — S.E.T.
- [7] Item 1, Business — S.E.T.
- [8] Item 1, Business — S.E.T.
- [9] Item 1, Business — S.E.T.
- [10] Item 1, Business — S.E.T.
- [11] Item 7, MD&A — Executive Level Overview
- [12] Item 7, MD&A — Executive Level Overview
- [13] Item 7, MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources
- [14] Item 7, MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources
- [15] Item 7, MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources
- [16] Item 7, MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources
- [17] Item 7, MD&A — Critical Accounting Estimates
- [18] Item 7, MD&A — Executive Level Overview
- [19] Item 8, Consolidated Statements of Earnings
- [20] Item 8, Consolidated Statements of Earnings
- [21] Item 7, MD&A — Executive Level Overview
- [22] Item 7, MD&A — Foreign Currency Exchange Rates
- [23] Item 8, Consolidated Statements of Earnings
- [24] Item 8, Consolidated Statements of Earnings
- [25] Item 7, MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources
- [26] Item 7, MD&A — 2026 Outlook
- [27] Item 7, MD&A — 2026 Outlook
- [28] Item 7, MD&A — 2026 Outlook
- [29] Item 7, MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources
- [30] Item 7, MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources
- [31] Item 7, MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources
- [32] Item 7, MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources
- [33] Item 7, MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources
- [34] Item 7, MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources
- [35] Item 7, MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources
- [36] Item 7, MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources
- [37] Item 7, MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources
- [38] Item 7, MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources
- [39] Item 7, MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources
- [40] Item 7, MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources
- [41] Item 7, MD&A — 2026 Outlook
- [42] Item 1A, Risk Factors — Financial, Credit and Liquidity Risks
- [43] Item 1A, Risk Factors — Financial, Credit and Liquidity Risks
- [44] Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk — Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
- [45] Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk — Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
- [46] Item 1A, Risk Factors — Financial, Credit and Liquidity Risks
- [47] Item 1A, Risk Factors — Financial, Credit and Liquidity Risks
- [48] Item 7, MD&A — 2026 Outlook
- [49] Item 8, Consolidated Statements of Earnings
- [50] Item 8, Consolidated Statements of Earnings
- [51] Item 8, Consolidated Statements of Earnings
- [52] Item 8, Consolidated Statements of Earnings
- [53] Item 8, Consolidated Statements of Earnings
- [54] Item 8, Consolidated Statements of Earnings
- [55] Item 8, Consolidated Statements of Earnings
- [56] Item 8, Consolidated Statements of Earnings
- [57] Item 7, MD&A — Other Income (Expense), net, Interest Expense, net, and Income Taxes
- [58] Item 7, MD&A — Other Income (Expense), net, Interest Expense, net, and Income Taxes
- [59] Item 7, MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources
- [60] Item 7, MD&A — Liquidity and Capital Resources
- [61] Item 1A, Risk Factors — Financial, Credit and Liquidity Risks
- [62] Item 8, Consolidated Balance Sheets
- [63] Item 7, MD&A — Critical Accounting Estimates
- [64] Item 7, MD&A — Segment Operating Profit
- [65] Item 7, MD&A — Segment Operating Profit
- [66] Item 7, MD&A — Segment Operating Profit
Analysis on 6/22/2026