YOU vs CGNX

For growth investors, Clear Secure, Inc.

(YOU) is the stronger pick with 16. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 7% for Cognex Corporation (CGNX). Clear Secure, Inc. (YOU) offers the better valuation at 54. 4x trailing P/E (41. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Clear Secure, Inc. (YOU) a "Buy" — based on 9 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Clear Secure, Inc.

(YOU) is the cheapest at 54. 4x versus Cognex Corporation at 91. 6x. On forward P/E, Clear Secure, Inc. is actually cheaper at 41. 3x.

Over the past 5 years, Clear Secure, Inc.

(YOU) delivered a total return of +59. 9%, compared to -19. 2% for Cognex Corporation (CGNX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CGNX returned +228. 2% versus YOU's +59. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Clear Secure, Inc.

(YOU) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 01β versus Cognex Corporation's 1. 50β — meaning CGNX is approximately 49% more volatile than YOU relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Clear Secure, Inc.

(YOU) is pulling ahead at 16. 9% versus 8. 7% for Cognex Corporation (CGNX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cognex Corporation grew EPS 9. 7% year-over-year, compared to -28. 2% for Clear Secure, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, YOU leads at 27. 2% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Clear Secure, Inc.

(YOU) is the more profitable company, earning 12. 1% net margin versus 11. 5% for Cognex Corporation — meaning it keeps 12. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: YOU leads at 20. 7% versus 16. 3% for CGNX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — YOU leads at 85. 8%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Clear Secure, Inc.

(YOU) trades at 41. 3x forward P/E versus 50. 1x for Cognex Corporation — 8. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for YOU: -2. 0% to $59. 75.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Clear Secure, Inc. (YOU) offers the highest yield at 1. 6%, versus 0. 5% for Cognex Corporation (CGNX).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Clear Secure, Inc.

(YOU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 01), 1. 6% yield). Cognex Corporation (CGNX) carries a higher beta of 1. 50 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (YOU: +59. 9%, CGNX: +228. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: YOU is a small-cap high-growth stock; CGNX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.