Cognex Corporation logo

Cognex Corporation(CGNX)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
2-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$50.77
11/12/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for CGNX

11/12/2026: CGNX (2-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Cognex Corporation is a technology provider specializing in machine vision systems and barcode readers that automate complex manufacturing and distribution tasks. The company has a strong reputation for high-performance software and holds a leading position in its niche. Its primary growth story revolves around the rising demand for automated logistics and AI-driven quality inspection in factories. Risks include high sensitivity to cyclical industrial spending and intense competition from larger, diversified automation providers. It is best suited for growth-oriented investors who can tolerate cyclical volatility, and it may appeal to income seekers due to its consistent dividend, though monitoring capital expenditure cycles is essential.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorStrong fitCognex operates in the high-growth automation and AI-vision sector.
Momentum investorMixed fitMomentum depends heavily on the cyclical upturn of customer capital expenditure.
Value investorMixed fitValuation often commands a premium due to the company's strong niche market position.
Dividend investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveConsistent dividends and strong cash reserves support income-focused investment.
Low-risk investorWeak fitHigh exposure to cyclical industry spending leads to stock price volatility.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMedium / highCyclical end-market demand leads to significant swings in share price.
Valuation riskMediumThe stock often trades at higher multiples due to its reputation for innovation.
Competition risk (AI competition)HighRapid AI innovation lowers barriers to entry for low-cost competitors.
Business qualityStrongCognex has a long history of high margins and a strong balance sheet.
Dividend incomeLowThe dividend yield is modest and growth is prioritized over high income.
Execution riskMediumSuccess relies on maintaining a lead in software-driven product development.

Key Highlights

Company Size Mid-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 8.71B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 36.17
1Y Target Price 71.42
Price to earnings Ratio 36.17
1Y Target Price 71.42
Volume (30-day avg) 2.2M shares
Beta 1.48
52 Weeks Range 34.45 - 72.78
Updated Date 11/11/2026
52 Weeks Range 34.45 - 72.78
Updated Date 11/11/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 0.67%
Basic EPS (TTM) 1.43

Sector & Industry Intelligence

Sector

Technology

Caution
Sentiment
Near Bearish
Momentum
Rapid Breadth Deterioration
BUY participation
30.1%
Active BUY / eligible
37 / 123
30-Day BUY Count Change
-42
Market state
Weak Bullish / Near Bearish

BUY participation is falling rapidly, suggesting elevated market vulnerability.

Industry

Scientific & Technical Instruments

BUY participation
0.0%
Active BUY / eligible
0 / 4
30-Day BUY Count Change
-2

Eligible universe: 4 stocks.

Sector signal summarizes BUY breadth conditions for the sector. It does not override this stock’s BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory.

Price Behavior

Rolling Over
PRICE PATH

Rolling Over

The price momentum is slowing down and beginning to turn downward.

Moderately Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Moderately Choppy

The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -1.99%
Avg. Invested days 39
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 11/12/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
CGNX receives a 4-star rating, supported by solid unit economics, solid company fundamentals, and strong analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
CGNX has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, solid growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, moderate earnings growth (+7.8%) and strong cash generation (FCF margin 23.8%) are partially offset by moderate revenue growth (+8.7%), very low insider ownership of 0.36%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
CGNX's financial health is supported by solid liquidity, including working-capital and asset support (WC/assets 25.5%). Profitability is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is CGNX's strongest growth driver at +76.6% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, while revenue growth (+8.7%, moderate) and earnings growth (+7.8%, moderate) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 106.3% and approximately 99.6% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership is only 0.36%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 9.50%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 6.00%
Amvescap Plc. 4.87%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 4.46%
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. 3.72%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
CGNX generates approximately $669 of gross profit, $163 of operating income, and $238 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Strong margins and strong cash conversion support the rating, although capital efficiency remains soft.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 37.40%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
CGNX has a high-quality, liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Quality TiltHigh VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Factory AutomationVision sensors used for assembly, inspection, and quality control.Selling the 'eyes' of the factory robot.
LogisticsBarcode readers and dimensioning systems for warehouses.Enabling faster e-commerce fulfillment.
Geographic SalesOperations spanning Americas, Europe, and Asia.Global economic health drives results.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

Earnings Date

Report Date 2026-11-04
When After Market
Estimate 0.51
Actual 0.53

Profitability

Profit Margin 21.5%
Operating Margin (TTM) 25.01%

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) 8.22%
Return on Equity (TTM) 15.07%

Valuation

Trailing PE 36.17
Forward PE 33.9
Enterprise Value 7.93B
Price to Sales(TTM) 7.74
Enterprise Value 7.93B
Price to Sales(TTM) 7.74
Enterprise Value to Revenue 7.04
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 25.6
Shares Outstanding 168.38M
Shares Floating 167.63M
Shares Outstanding 168.38M
Shares Floating 167.63M
Percent Insiders 0.36
Percent Institutions 106.31

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.