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Cognex Corp (CGNX)
NASDAQ:CGNX
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Cognex (CGNX) AI Stock Analysis

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CGNX

Cognex

(NASDAQ:CGNX)

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Outperform 77 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:77Outperform
Price Target:
$49.00
▲(7.57% Upside)
Cognex's overall stock score reflects strong financial performance and positive technical indicators, supported by optimistic earnings guidance and strategic corporate events. However, the high valuation and challenges in certain markets temper the score.
Positive Factors
Strong Financial Health
Cognex's robust balance sheet with minimal leverage and strong cash flow management ensures financial stability and flexibility for future growth.
Product Innovation
The launch of OneVision positions Cognex for future growth by enhancing its product offerings and meeting evolving customer needs in automation.
Strategic Partnerships
The partnership in medical lab automation expands Cognex's market reach and diversifies its revenue streams, supporting long-term growth.
Negative Factors
Revenue Decline in Key Markets
Declining revenue in Greater China poses a risk to Cognex's growth, as it reflects challenges in a significant market segment.
Automotive Market Challenges
Continued weakness in the automotive sector impacts Cognex's revenue potential, highlighting industry-specific challenges.
Gross Margin Pressure
Pressure on gross margins from an unfavorable industry mix could affect profitability, necessitating strategic adjustments to maintain margins.

Cognex (CGNX) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Cognex Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionCognex Corporation provides machine vision products that capture and analyze visual information in order to automate manufacturing and distribution tasks worldwide. Its machine vision products are used to automate the manufacturing and tracking of discrete items, including mobile phones, aspirin bottles, and automobile tires by locating, identifying, inspecting, and measuring them during the manufacturing or distribution process. The company offers VisionPro software, a suite of patented vision tools for advanced programming; QuickBuild that allows customers to build vision applications with a graphical, flowchart-based programming interface; and Cognex deep learning vision software. It also provides a range of inspection tasks, including part location, identification, measurement, assembly verification, and robotic guidance; vision sensors for vision applications, such as checking the presence and size of parts; and the In-Sight product line of vision systems and sensors. In addition, the company offers DataMan, an image-based barcode readers and barcode verifiers. It sells its products to consumer electronics, automotive, consumer products, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices industries, as well as through a network of distributors and integrators. Cognex Corporation was incorporated in 1981 and is headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts.
How the Company Makes MoneyCognex generates revenue primarily through the sale of its machine vision systems and software solutions. The company has a diverse revenue model that encompasses direct sales to customers, as well as sales through a network of distributors and integrators. Key revenue streams include the sale of vision systems and sensors, which account for a significant portion of their earnings, alongside software licenses and support services. Additionally, Cognex benefits from recurring revenue through maintenance contracts and software upgrades. The company also engages in strategic partnerships with equipment manufacturers and system integrators, which enhance its market reach and contribute to its earnings by expanding its customer base and providing integrated solutions.

Cognex Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jul 31, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Oct 29, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call reflects a balanced view with strong financial performance in adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow, and growth in key segments like consumer electronics and packaging. However, challenges persist in the Greater China, automotive, and semiconductor markets, impacting revenue and gross margins.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record EBITDA Margin
Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 80 basis points year-over-year to 20.7%, the highest quarterly margin achieved in the past 2 years.
Strong Free Cash Flow Generation
Free cash flow conversion rate on a trailing 12-month basis strengthened to 130% of adjusted net income.
Organic Revenue Growth
Revenue increased by 4% year-over-year, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of organic growth.
Consumer Electronics and Packaging Growth
Strong growth in consumer electronics and packaging drove broader factory automation strength in Q2.
Positive Feedback for OneVision
The new cloud-based platform, OneVision, received positive feedback from initial adopters, indicating potential future growth.
Negative Updates
Greater China Revenue Decline
Revenue from Greater China declined by 18% year-over-year due to shifts in the consumer electronics supply chain.
Automotive Market Weakness
Automotive revenue continued to decline year-over-year, reflecting ongoing challenges in the industry.
Semi Slowdown
Revenue in the semiconductor segment declined modestly year-over-year due to trade policy uncertainty and tariffs.
Less Favorable Industry Mix Impacting Gross Margins
Adjusted gross margin declined by 230 basis points year-over-year due to a less favorable industry mix.
Company Guidance
During the Cognex Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call, the company provided guidance for Q3 with expected revenue between $245 million and $265 million, reflecting 9% year-over-year growth at the midpoint. The adjusted EBITDA margin is projected to be between 19.5% and 22.5%, indicating approximately 340 basis points of margin expansion compared to last year. Adjusted earnings per share are anticipated to be between $0.24 and $0.29, representing a 35% year-over-year EPS growth at the midpoint. The company also noted that Q4 revenue is expected to follow typical seasonal patterns with a sequential decline in the high-single-digit range, following two strong quarters driven by consumer electronics. Additionally, the recent commercial partnership in medical lab automation is expected to provide a one-time benefit to Q3 revenue, although not included in the guidance. Cognex remains focused on executing its strategic objectives for long-term profitable growth while managing risks related to macroeconomic uncertainties and tariffs.

Cognex Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Cognex demonstrates strong financial health with solid profitability, minimal leverage, and effective cash flow management. The company's stability is reinforced by a strong equity base and robust margins, though revenue growth is moderate, and cash flow growth presents some variability.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Cognex has demonstrated strong profitability with a high gross profit margin of 67.7% and a net profit margin of 13.1% in the TTM period. While revenue growth shows a modest upward trend of 1.6% compared to the previous year, the company has managed to maintain solid EBIT and EBITDA margins at 14.2% and 17.4%, respectively. This indicates stable operational efficiency despite slight fluctuations in revenue.
Balance Sheet
80
Positive
The balance sheet is robust with a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06, signifying minimal leverage and strong equity standing. The return on equity stands at 8.1%, reflecting reasonable profitability relative to shareholder investment. An equity ratio of 75.2% further emphasizes Cognex's strong capital structure and financial stability.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
Cognex exhibits healthy cash flow management with a free cash flow to net income ratio of 1.47 in the TTM period, indicating efficient conversion of earnings into cash. Operating cash flow to net income remains strong at 1.56, though free cash flow growth is slightly tempered at 34.0%, suggesting some variability in capital expenditures.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue929.55M914.51M837.55M1.01B1.04B811.02M
Gross Profit629.46M625.79M601.24M721.90M759.83M604.60M
EBITDA166.13M147.75M144.58M288.29M335.38M232.53M
Net Income122.05M106.17M113.23M215.53M279.88M176.19M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets2.00B1.99B2.02B1.96B2.00B1.80B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments228.20M246.05M332.05M400.13M323.62M372.31M
Total Debt83.19M70.22M78.60M39.75M25.58M26.23M
Total Liabilities497.48M475.35M513.06M519.75M573.57M538.50M
Stockholders Equity1.51B1.52B1.50B1.44B1.43B1.26B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow179.63M134.04M89.84M223.74M298.61M229.10M
Operating Cash Flow190.80M149.08M112.92M243.41M314.06M242.40M
Investing Cash Flow3.94M-38.97M32.27M-4.45M-252.54M169.44M
Financing Cash Flow-202.54M-118.42M-125.61M-240.37M-141.62M-316.87M

Cognex Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price45.55
Price Trends
50DMA
42.20
Positive
100DMA
36.69
Positive
200DMA
34.79
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.98
Positive
RSI
58.99
Neutral
STOCH
48.37
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CGNX, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 45.55 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 45.00, above the 50-day MA of 42.20, and above the 200-day MA of 34.79, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.98 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 58.99 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 48.37 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for CGNX.

Cognex Risk Analysis

Cognex disclosed 23 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Cognex reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Cognex Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
$7.69B64.098.10%0.70%10.14%57.53%
76
Outperform
$5.30B46.218.66%0.16%10.65%15.22%
76
Outperform
$6.18B16.0632.88%0.24%1.16%0.98%
74
Outperform
$8.18B30.9610.42%0.72%4.47%2887.37%
73
Outperform
$5.67B21.1816.73%3.90%44.95%
65
Neutral
$3.63B59.497.66%6.34%-1.57%
61
Neutral
$37.18B12.37-10.20%1.83%8.50%-7.62%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CGNX
Cognex
45.55
6.20
15.76%
BMI
Badger Meter
177.03
-39.46
-18.23%
ITRI
Itron
124.16
19.08
18.16%
MKSI
MKS
122.14
18.53
17.88%
SANM
Sanmina-Sci
113.59
46.71
69.84%
VNT
Vontier
41.76
8.34
24.96%

Cognex Corporate Events

DividendsBusiness Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Cognex Announces Dividend Amid Strong Q2 Growth
Positive
Jul 30, 2025

On July 30, 2025, Cognex Corporation announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share, payable on August 28, 2025. The company reported a 4% revenue growth year-over-year for the second quarter of 2025, with significant contributions from logistics and factory automation sectors. Operating expenses decreased by 3%, and the adjusted EBITDA margin exceeded 20% for the first time since 2023, reflecting strong financial discipline and cash flow generation. Cognex also launched OneVision, a cloud platform for AI-powered machine vision, and entered a commercial partnership to enhance its presence in medical lab automation.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Aug 19, 2025