By Mary Ellen Podmolik | Licolnshire-based
Zebra Technologies Corp. said it returned to profitability in the
fourth quarter due to lower restructuring, integration and asset
impairment charges.

The company reported net income of $17.6 million, or 30 cents a share,
compared with a loss of $117.3 million, or $1.88 a share, in the
comparable period a year ago. Special charges totaled $5.4 million
during the final quarter of 2009 and $165.4 million in the year-ago
period.

Fourth-quarter sales for Zebra, a manufacturer of thermal bar code label and receipt printers, dropped 4.3 percent to $222.52 million.

For the year, net income was $47.1 million, or 79 cents a share, compared with a 2008 loss of $38.4 million, or 60 cents a share. Annual sales slipped to $803.6 million, from $976.7 million in 2008.

Chief executive officer Anders Gustafsson said the company is adding salespeople in the Asia-Pacific, Latin American and other high-growth markets.