CGNX
Cognex Corporation
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
Market Cap$10.40B
5Y Perf.+9.7%
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
CGNX vs KEYS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
KEYS
Keysight Technologies, Inc.
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
Market Cap$62.89B
5Y Perf.+239.1%
CGNX vs KEYS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CGNX | KEYS |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Hardware, Equipment & Parts | Hardware, Equipment & Parts |
| Market Cap | $10.40B | $62.89B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $994M | $5.68B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $114M | $958M |
| Gross Margin | 66.9% | 61.9% |
| Operating Margin | 16.3% | 16.0% |
| Forward P/E | 50.1x | 41.2x |
| Total Debt | $77M | $2.97B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $263M | $1.87B |
CGNX vs KEYS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CGNX
KEYS
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cognex Corporation (CGNX) | 100 | 109.7 | +9.7% |
| Keysight Technologi… (KEYS) | 100 | 339.1 | +239.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CGNX vs KEYS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: KEYS leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Cognex Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CGNX
Cognex Corporation
The Income Pick
CGNX is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 1.50, yield 0.5%
- Rev growth 8.7%, EPS growth 9.7%, 3Y rev CAGR -0.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.50, Low D/E 5.1%, current ratio 3.80x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
KEYS
Keysight Technologies, Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
KEYS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for long-term compounding.
- 13.1% 10Y total return vs CGNX's 228.2%
- Lower P/E (41.2x vs 50.1x)
- 16.9% margin vs CGNX's 11.5%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CGNX | 8.7% revenue growth vs KEYS's 8.0% |
| Value | KEYS | Lower P/E (41.2x vs 50.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | KEYS | 16.9% margin vs CGNX's 11.5% |
| Stability / Safety | CGNX | Beta 1.50 vs KEYS's 1.71, lower leverage |
| Dividends | CGNX | 0.5% yield; 4-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | KEYS | +150.2% vs CGNX's +124.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | KEYS | 8.3% ROA vs CGNX's 5.8%, ROIC 11.5% vs 9.0% |
CGNX vs KEYS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2024
CGNX vs KEYS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLKEYSLAGGINGCGNX
CGNXCognex Corporation
0leads
KEYSKeysight Technologies…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CGNXMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
KEYS4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
Tied
—
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
KEYS6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
KEYS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
KEYS is the larger business by revenue, generating $5.7B annually — 5.7x CGNX's $994M. KEYS is the more profitable business, keeping 16.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CGNX's 11.5%. On growth, KEYS holds the edge at +23.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CGNXCognex Corporation | KEYSKeysight Technolo… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $994M | $5.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $193M | $1.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $114M | $958M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $237M | $1.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +66.9% | +61.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +16.3% | +16.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.5% | +16.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +23.8% | +25.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.9% | +23.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +18.8% | +68.0% |
KEYS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — CGNX and KEYS each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 75.1x trailing earnings, KEYS trades at a 18% valuation discount to CGNX's 91.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, KEYS's 52.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CGNX's 52.8x.
| Metric | CGNXCognex Corporation | KEYSKeysight Technolo… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $10.4B | $62.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $10.2B | $64.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 91.56x | 75.14x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 50.11x | 41.17x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 9.38x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 52.81x | 52.32x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 10.46x | 11.70x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 7.07x | 10.79x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 43.92x | 49.10x |
Evenly matched — CGNX and KEYS each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — CGNX and KEYS each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
KEYS delivers a 15.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $8 for CGNX. CGNX carries lower financial leverage with a 0.05x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to KEYS's 0.51x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CGNX scores 7/9 vs KEYS's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CGNXCognex Corporation | KEYSKeysight Technolo… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.7% | +15.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.8% | +8.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.0% | +11.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +8.9% | +11.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.05x | 0.51x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$186M | $1.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $263M | $1.9B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $77M | $3.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 11.03x |
Evenly matched — CGNX and KEYS each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
KEYS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in KEYS five years ago would be worth $25,676 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,076 for CGNX. Over the past 12 months, KEYS leads with a +150.2% total return vs CGNX's +124.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors KEYS at 36.8% vs CGNX's 8.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CGNXCognex Corporation | KEYSKeysight Technolo… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +68.8% | +77.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +124.9% | +150.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +27.4% | +156.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -19.2% | +156.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +228.2% | +1311.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +8.4% | +36.8% |
KEYS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — CGNX and KEYS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CGNX is the less volatile stock with a 1.50 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than KEYS's 1.71 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | CGNXCognex Corporation | KEYSKeysight Technolo… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.50x | 1.71x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $63.01 | $366.74 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $27.61 | $145.51 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.8% | +100.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 69.8 | 71.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.9M | 1.3M |
Evenly matched — CGNX and KEYS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CGNX as "Hold" and KEYS as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply -3.3% upside for CGNX (target: $60) vs -21.1% for KEYS (target: $289). CGNX is the only dividend payer here at 0.52% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | CGNXCognex Corporation | KEYSKeysight Technolo… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $60.22 | $289.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 31 | 15 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.5% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.32 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.5% | +0.6% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
KEYS leads in 2 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Total Returns. 3 categories are tied.
Best OverallKeysight Technologies, Inc. (KEYS)Leads 2 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
CGNX vs KEYS: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CGNX or KEYS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Cognex Corporation (CGNX) is the stronger pick with 8.
7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 0% for Keysight Technologies, Inc. (KEYS). Keysight Technologies, Inc. (KEYS) offers the better valuation at 75. 1x trailing P/E (41. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Keysight Technologies, Inc. (KEYS) a "Buy" — based on 15 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.
02Which has the better valuation — CGNX or KEYS?
On trailing P/E, Keysight Technologies, Inc.
(KEYS) is the cheapest at 75. 1x versus Cognex Corporation at 91. 6x. On forward P/E, Keysight Technologies, Inc. is actually cheaper at 41. 2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CGNX or KEYS?
Over the past 5 years, Keysight Technologies, Inc.
(KEYS) delivered a total return of +156. 8%, compared to -19. 2% for Cognex Corporation (CGNX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KEYS returned +1311% versus CGNX's +228. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — CGNX or KEYS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Cognex Corporation (CGNX) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
50β versus Keysight Technologies, Inc. 's 1. 71β — meaning KEYS is approximately 14% more volatile than CGNX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cognex Corporation (CGNX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 51% for Keysight Technologies, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CGNX or KEYS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cognex Corporation (CGNX) is pulling ahead at 8.
7% versus 8. 0% for Keysight Technologies, Inc. (KEYS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Keysight Technologies, Inc. grew EPS 39. 0% year-over-year, compared to 9. 7% for Cognex Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, KEYS leads at -0. 3% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — CGNX or KEYS?
Keysight Technologies, Inc.
(KEYS) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 7% net margin versus 11. 5% for Cognex Corporation — meaning it keeps 15. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KEYS leads at 17. 6% versus 16. 3% for CGNX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CGNX leads at 66. 9%, 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.
07Is CGNX or KEYS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Keysight Technologies, Inc.
(KEYS) trades at 41. 2x forward P/E versus 50. 1x for Cognex Corporation — 8. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CGNX: -3. 3% to $60. 22.
08Which pays a better dividend — CGNX or KEYS?
In this comparison, CGNX (0.
5% yield) pays a dividend. KEYS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is CGNX or KEYS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Keysight Technologies, Inc.
(KEYS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1311% 10Y return). 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 (KEYS: +1311%, 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.
10What are the main differences between CGNX and KEYS?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
CGNX pays a dividend while KEYS does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
Revenue Growth>
%
(CGNX: 9.9% · KEYS: 23.3%)Net Margin>
%
(CGNX: 11.5% · KEYS: 16.9%)P/E Ratio<
x
(CGNX: 91.6x · KEYS: 75.1x)You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.