Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ:CGNX) Reinforces Growth Path Amid Elevated Valuation

Cognex enters the near term showing operational momentum across margins and cash flow while market multiples remain stretched relative to fundamentals.

Recent News

On June 16, 2026, Cognex announced CEO Matt Moschner will participate in the opening keynote at Automate 2026, emphasizing automation leadership and the role of AI in vision systems. On July 16, 2026, the company set the dates for its second-quarter 2026 earnings release and conference call. On August 5, 2026, Cognex published its second-quarter 2026 results in a press release and accompanying SEC filing.

Technical Analysis

Directional indicators show mixed short-term bias: DI+ registers 24.02 and notes an increasing trend, which signals bullish pressure, while DI- at 28.46 displays a dip-and-reversal that now reads as bearish; ADX at 11.42 indicates no strong established trend. That combination implies limited directional conviction and a near-term tug-of-war between buyers and sellers, increasing the likelihood of rangebound action unless trend strength rises.

MACD sits negative at -1.0 with a peak-and-reversal pattern and the MACD below its signal line (-0.8), indicating declining momentum and a bearish momentum posture that weighs on upside continuation in the immediate horizon.

MRO stands at 9.79 and reached a peak before reversing; the positive MRO suggests price currently sits above the model target and carries downward pressure potential if momentum remains negative, reinforcing the caution signaled by the MACD.

RSI at 47.72 has also peak-and-reversal characteristics, consistent with waning bullish momentum and supporting a neutral-to-slightly-bearish short-term bias that aligns with the technical momentum indicators.

Price relationships add nuance: the last close at $59.94 sits below the 20-day average ($61.50) and the 50-day average ($64.06) yet above the 200-day average ($53.22), indicating short-term weakening inside a longer-term uptrend. The 12-day EMA and 26-day EMA show peak-and-reversal behavior and trade above the close, which increases the probability of continued short-term pressure. Ichimoku components (Senkou A/B near $65) place the price below the cloud, adding a bearish tilt to the short-term technical picture. Elevated short-term beta (42-day 2.60) suggests outsized volatility that could amplify moves in either direction.

 


Fundamental Analysis

Revenue totaled $291,263,000 with revenue growth quarter-over-quarter strong at 33.28% but down year-over-year by 44.43%, reflecting substantial sequential recovery following a weak prior-year comparison. EPS came in at $0.45 versus an estimate of $0.42, producing an EPS surprise of 7.14%.

Operating performance shows strength: operating (EBIT) margin equals 29.36% and operating income of $85,517,000. That operating margin sits above the industry peer mean (14.36%), median (16.49%), and above the industry peer range high (26.40%), indicating margin outperformance versus peers.

Liquidity and balance-sheet health remain robust. Cash equals $302,521,000 and cash plus short-term investments equals $404,370,000; current ratio stands at 3.93, quick ratio 3.27, and cash ratio 1.87, signaling ample short-term coverage. Leverage stays low: total debt $72,477,000, debt-to-assets 3.33%, and debt-to-equity 4.45%.

Free cash flow measures $67,621,000 with a free cash flow yield of 0.64% and free cash growth year-over-year showing strong expansion. Cash conversion cycle sits at 151 days, longer than the industry peer mean (104.55 days) and median (93.30 days), which points to working-capital intensity compared with peers even as margins remain elevated.

Valuation context: price multiples appear extended. Trailing P/E registers 139.45x and forward P/E 121.18x; price-to-sales at 36.24x and price-to-book 6.48x. WMDST values the stock as over-valued given the combination of high multiples relative to earnings and price-based ratios despite margin and cash-flow strengths.

MOST-RECENT QUARTERLY REPORT
REPORT PERIOD ENDING: 2026-06-30
REPORT DATE: 2026-08-05
NEXT REPORT DATE: 2026-11-04
CASH FLOW  Begin Period Cash Flow 237.3 M
 Operating Cash Flow 69.2 M
 Capital Expenditures -1.53 M
 Change In Working Capital -22.52 M
 Dividends Paid -14.26 M
 Cash Flow Delta 65.2 M
 End Period Cash Flow 302.5 M
 
INCOME STATEMENT REVENUE
 Total Revenue 291.3 M
 Forward Revenue 85.2 M
COSTS
 Cost Of Revenue 85.5 M
 Depreciation 4.6 M
 Depreciation and Amortization 6.9 M
 Research and Development 32.4 M
 Total Operating Expenses 205.7 M
PROFITABILITY
 Gross Profit 205.8 M
 EBITDA 92.4 M
 EBIT 85.5 M
 Operating Income 85.5 M
 Interest Income
 Interest Expense
 Net Interest Income
 Income Before Tax 89.3 M
 Tax Provision 16.5 M
 Tax Rate 18.526 %
 Net Income 72.8 M
 Net Income From Continuing Operations 72.8 M
EARNINGS
 EPS Estimate 0.42
 EPS Actual 0.45
 EPS Difference 0.03
 EPS Surprise 7.143 %
 Forward EPS 0.51
 
BALANCE SHEET ASSETS
 Total Assets 2.2 B
 Intangible Assets 445.8 M
 Net Tangible Assets 1.2 B
 Total Current Assets 849.9 M
 Cash and Short-Term Investments 404.4 M
 Cash 302.5 M
 Net Receivables 216.2 M
 Inventory 142.8 M
 Long-Term Investments 4.5 M
LIABILITIES
 Accounts Payable 65.1 M
 Short-Term Debt
 Total Current Liabilities 216.0 M
 Net Debt
 Total Debt 72.5 M
 Total Liabilities 549.1 M
EQUITY
 Total Equity 1.6 B
 Retained Earnings 397.1 M
VALUATION & PER-SHARE METRICS EQUITY & PER-SHARE METRICS
 Book Value Per-Share 9.69
 Shares Outstanding 168.217 M
 Revenue Per-Share 1.73
VALUATION
 Market Capitalization 10.6 B
 Enterprise Value 10.2 B
 Enterprise Multiple 110.654
Enterprise Multiple QoQ -10.377 %
Enterprise Multiple YoY -7.748 %
Enterprise Multiple IPRWA high: 262.761
CGNX: 110.654
mean: 105.134
median: 97.5
low: -146.873
 EV/R 35.103
CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Asset To Equity 1.337
 Asset To Liability 3.968
 Debt To Capital 0.043
 Debt To Assets 0.033
Debt To Assets QoQ -9.837 %
Debt To Assets YoY -19.87 %
Debt To Assets IPRWA high: 0.705
median: 0.25
mean: 0.214
CGNX: 0.033
low: 0.006
 Debt To Equity 0.044
Debt To Equity QoQ -11.129 %
Debt To Equity YoY -19.464 %
Debt To Equity IPRWA high: 2.204
median: 0.57
mean: 0.538
CGNX: 0.044
low: -0.8
PRICE-BASED VALUATION
 Price To Book (P/B) 6.478
Price To Book QoQ 12.602 %
Price To Book YoY 54.509 %
Price To Book IPRWA high: 17.779
median: 12.106
mean: 9.857
CGNX: 6.478
low: -2.382
 Price To Earnings (P/E) 139.449
Price To Earnings QoQ -7.203 %
Price To Earnings YoY 9.247 %
Price To Earnings IPRWA high: 454.629
mean: 167.333
CGNX: 139.449
median: 111.92
low: -148.034
 PE/G Ratio 4.31
 Price To Sales (P/S) 36.242
Price To Sales QoQ 14.344 %
Price To Sales YoY 42.974 %
Price To Sales IPRWA high: 91.147
CGNX: 36.242
median: 31.03
mean: 27.449
low: 0.798
FORWARD MULTIPLES
Forward P/E 121.177
Forward PE/G 3.745
Forward P/S 125.569
EFFICIENCY OPERATIONAL
 Operating Leverage 5.037
ASSET & SALES
 Asset Turnover Ratio 0.139
Asset Turnover Ratio QoQ 4.3 %
Asset Turnover Ratio YoY 9.994 %
Asset Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 0.547
mean: 0.202
median: 0.148
CGNX: 0.139
low: 0.003
 Receivables Turnover 1.505
Receivables Turnover Ratio QoQ -10.99 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio YoY 4.292 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 2.33
mean: 1.607
median: 1.607
CGNX: 1.505
low: 0.626
 Inventory Turnover 0.614
Inventory Turnover Ratio QoQ 8.352 %
Inventory Turnover Ratio YoY 12.181 %
Inventory Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 2.694
mean: 0.928
median: 0.858
CGNX: 0.614
low: 0.165
 Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) 60.614
CASH CYCLE
 Cash Conversion Cycle Days (CCC) 151.147
Cash Conversion Cycle Days QoQ 7.689 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days YoY -23.482 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days IPRWA high: 389.683
CGNX: 151.147
mean: 104.551
median: 93.299
low: -166.342
CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT
 Cash Conversion Ratio 0.46
 CapEx To Revenue -0.005
 CapEx To Depreciation -0.334
 
CAPITAL, LIQUIDITY & COVERAGE CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Total Capital 1.6 B
 Net Invested Capital 1.6 B
 Invested Capital 1.6 B
 Net Tangible Assets 1.2 B
 Net Working Capital 633.8 M
LIQUIDITY
 Cash Ratio 1.872
 Current Ratio 3.934
Current Ratio QoQ 7.981 %
Current Ratio YoY 19.732 %
Current Ratio IPRWA high: 13.249
CGNX: 3.934
mean: 2.429
median: 1.813
low: 0.516
 Quick Ratio 3.273
Quick Ratio QoQ 11.781 %
Quick Ratio YoY 29.539 %
Quick Ratio IPRWA high: 12.292
CGNX: 3.273
mean: 1.859
median: 1.244
low: 0.332
COVERAGE & LEVERAGE
 Debt To EBITDA 0.784
 Cost Of Debt 4.509 %
 Interest Coverage Ratio 21.094
Interest Coverage Ratio QoQ 42.831 %
Interest Coverage Ratio YoY 96.894 %
Interest Coverage Ratio IPRWA high: 109.8
CGNX: 21.094
mean: 11.692
median: 7.904
low: -65.527
 Operating Cash Flow Ratio 0.15
TIMING / LIQUIDITY
 Days Payables Outstanding (DPO) 73.362
DIVIDENDS
 Dividend Coverage Ratio 5.103
 Dividend Payout Ratio 0.196
 Dividend Rate 0.08
 Dividend Yield 0.001
PERFORMANCE GROWTH
 Asset Growth Rate 8.627 %
 Revenue Growth 8.503 %
Revenue Growth QoQ 33.276 %
Revenue Growth YoY -44.432 %
Revenue Growth IPRWA high: 57.54 %
mean: 9.969 %
median: 8.711 %
CGNX: 8.503 %
low: -22.909 %
 Earnings Growth 32.353 %
Earnings Growth QoQ 24.79 %
Earnings Growth YoY -42.484 %
Earnings Growth IPRWA high: 200.0 %
CGNX: 32.353 %
mean: 8.625 %
median: 7.527 %
low: -200.0 %
MARGINS
 Gross Margin 70.649 %
Gross Margin QoQ -0.676 %
Gross Margin YoY 4.828 %
Gross Margin IPRWA high: 86.78 %
CGNX: 70.649 %
mean: 38.272 %
median: 36.138 %
low: -8.541 %
 EBIT Margin 29.361 %
EBIT Margin QoQ 31.64 %
EBIT Margin YoY 68.393 %
EBIT Margin IPRWA CGNX: 29.361 %
high: 26.399 %
median: 16.493 %
mean: 14.359 %
low: -101.864 %
 Return On Sales (ROS) 29.361 %
Return On Sales QoQ 31.64 %
Return On Sales YoY 68.393 %
Return On Sales IPRWA CGNX: 29.361 %
high: 26.399 %
median: 15.494 %
mean: 13.622 %
low: -101.864 %
CASH FLOW
 Free Cash Flow (FCF) 67.6 M
 Free Cash Flow Yield 0.641 %
Free Cash Flow Yield QoQ 28.715 %
Free Cash Flow Yield YoY 0.156 %
Free Cash Flow Yield IPRWA high: 2.95 %
median: 0.852 %
CGNX: 0.641 %
mean: 0.577 %
low: -7.33 %
 Free Cash Growth 59.725 %
Free Cash Growth QoQ -244.093 %
Free Cash Growth YoY 833.933 %
Free Cash Growth IPRWA high: 230.113 %
CGNX: 59.725 %
median: 15.971 %
mean: -33.279 %
low: -359.143 %
 Free Cash To Net Income 0.929
 Cash Flow Margin 11.105 %
 Cash Flow To Earnings 0.445
VALUE & RETURNS
 Economic Value Added 0.04
 Return On Assets (ROA) 3.478 %
Return On Assets QoQ 35.278 %
Return On Assets YoY 68.999 %
Return On Assets IPRWA high: 5.859 %
CGNX: 3.478 %
mean: 2.007 %
median: 1.741 %
low: -15.317 %
 Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) 4.357 %
 Return On Equity (ROE) 0.045
Return On Equity QoQ 27.717 %
Return On Equity YoY 65.985 %
Return On Equity IPRWA high: 0.149
mean: 0.05
CGNX: 0.045
median: 0.045
low: -0.189
 DuPont ROE 4.681 %
 Return On Invested Capital (ROIC) 4.276 %
Return On Invested Capital QoQ 26.173 %
Return On Invested Capital YoY 75.895 %
Return On Invested Capital IPRWA CGNX: 4.276 %
high: 4.218 %
median: 3.323 %
mean: 2.854 %
low: -4.912 %

Six-Week Outlook

Expect a near-term range with a slight downside bias unless momentum indicators reverse. Mixed directional signals from DI+/DI- and a negative MACD combine with price sitting under short-term averages to favor consolidation between the mid-$50s and low-$60s. Elevated short-term volatility increases the likelihood of sharp intrarange moves around news events or earnings cadence. Strong margins and cash balances provide fundamental support for rallies, but stretched multiples and negative YoY revenue imply limited upside extension without renewed revenue growth evidence.

About Cognex Corporation

Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ:CGNX) develops advanced machine vision systems, enabling automation and quality assurance across various industries. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, Cognex delivers innovative solutions that capture and analyze visual data to optimize manufacturing and distribution processes. The company’s product portfolio includes VisionPro software, offering proprietary vision tools for complex programming, and QuickBuild, a graphical interface for creating vision applications with ease. Cognex enhances machine vision capabilities with deep learning software, facilitating more sophisticated visual inspections. Its product line features vision sensors and the In-Sight series, essential for tasks such as part inspection, identification, measurement, and robotic guidance. Additionally, Cognex’s DataMan series provides advanced image-based barcode readers and verifiers, vital for logistics and inventory management efficiency. Serving industries such as automotive, consumer electronics, logistics, and food and beverage, Cognex ensures precision and reliability in its offerings. A strong network of distributors and integrators supports Cognex’s mission to enhance operational efficiency and accuracy for businesses globally.



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