CGNX
Cognex Corporation
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
Market Cap$11.01B
5Y Perf.+16.2%
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
CGNX vs VIAV
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
VIAV
Viavi Solutions Inc.
Communication Equipment
Market Cap$11.81B
5Y Perf.+340.5%
CGNX vs VIAV — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CGNX | VIAV |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Hardware, Equipment & Parts | Communication Equipment |
| Market Cap | $11.01B | $11.81B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.05B | $1.37B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $143M | $-55M |
| Gross Margin | 68.0% | 55.7% |
| Operating Margin | 18.8% | 8.2% |
| Forward P/E | 53.0x | 55.2x |
| Total Debt | $77M | $692M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $263M | $424M |
CGNX vs VIAV — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CGNX
VIAV
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cognex Corporation (CGNX) | 100 | 116.2 | +16.2% |
| Viavi Solutions Inc. (VIAV) | 100 | 440.5 | +340.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CGNX vs VIAV
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CGNX leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Viavi Solutions Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CGNX
Cognex Corporation
The Income Pick
CGNX carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for 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
VIAV
Viavi Solutions Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
VIAV is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 7.2% 10Y total return vs CGNX's 249.6%
- +466.6% vs CGNX's +133.1%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CGNX | 8.7% revenue growth vs VIAV's 8.4% |
| Value | CGNX | Lower P/E (53.0x vs 55.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | CGNX | 13.6% margin vs VIAV's -4.0% |
| Stability / Safety | CGNX | Beta 1.50 vs VIAV's 1.54, lower leverage |
| Dividends | CGNX | 0.5% yield; 4-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | VIAV | +466.6% vs CGNX's +133.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CGNX | 7.1% ROA vs VIAV's -2.3%, ROIC 9.0% vs 5.5% |
CGNX vs VIAV — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
CGNX vs VIAV — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCGNXLAGGINGVIAV
VIAVViavi Solutions Inc.
1leads
CGNXCognex Corporation
5leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs VIAVMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CGNX5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CGNX5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CGNX8/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
VIAV6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
CGNX2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
CGNX1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CGNX leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
VIAV and CGNX operate at a comparable scale, with $1.4B and $1.0B in trailing revenue. CGNX is the more profitable business, keeping 13.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to VIAV's -4.0%. On growth, VIAV holds the edge at +42.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CGNXCognex Corporation | VIAVViavi Solutions I… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.0B | $1.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $219M | $207M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $143M | -$55M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $241M | $46M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +68.0% | +55.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +18.8% | +8.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +13.6% | -4.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +23.0% | +3.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +24.3% | +42.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +121.4% | -70.2% |
CGNX leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CGNX leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 96.9x trailing earnings, CGNX trades at a 72% valuation discount to VIAV's 340.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CGNX's 56.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than VIAV's 90.4x.
| Metric | CGNXCognex Corporation | VIAVViavi Solutions I… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $11.0B | $11.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $10.8B | $12.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 96.92x | 340.33x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 53.05x | 55.18x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 74.57x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 55.96x | 90.43x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 11.07x | 10.89x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 7.48x | 14.77x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 46.49x | 190.52x |
CGNX leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CGNX leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CGNX delivers a 9.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $-7 for VIAV. CGNX carries lower financial leverage with a 0.05x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to VIAV's 0.89x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CGNX scores 7/9 vs VIAV's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CGNXCognex Corporation | VIAVViavi Solutions I… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.6% | -6.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.1% | -2.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.0% | +5.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +8.9% | +4.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.05x | 0.89x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$186M | $269M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $263M | $424M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $77M | $692M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 2.70x |
CGNX leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
VIAV leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in VIAV five years ago would be worth $31,204 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,682 for CGNX. Over the past 12 months, VIAV leads with a +466.6% total return vs CGNX's +133.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors VIAV at 77.7% vs CGNX's 10.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CGNXCognex Corporation | VIAVViavi Solutions I… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +78.7% | +181.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +133.1% | +466.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +34.7% | +461.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -13.2% | +212.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +249.6% | +715.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +10.4% | +77.7% |
VIAV leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CGNX leads this category, winning 2 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 VIAV's 1.54 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CGNX currently trades 91.7% from its 52-week high vs VIAV's 84.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CGNXCognex Corporation | VIAVViavi Solutions I… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.50x | 1.54x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $71.90 | $60.43 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $27.82 | $8.87 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +91.7% | +84.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 76.3 | 66.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.0M | 6.3M |
CGNX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
CGNX leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CGNX as "Hold" and VIAV as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply -8.6% upside for CGNX (target: $60) vs -36.8% for VIAV (target: $32). CGNX is the only dividend payer here at 0.49% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | CGNXCognex Corporation | VIAVViavi Solutions I… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $60.22 | $32.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 31 | 19 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.5% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.32 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.4% | +0.1% |
CGNX leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
CGNX leads in 5 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). VIAV leads in 1 (Total Returns).
Best OverallCognex Corporation (CGNX)Leads 5 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
CGNX vs VIAV: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CGNX or VIAV 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. 4% for Viavi Solutions Inc. (VIAV). Cognex Corporation (CGNX) offers the better valuation at 96. 9x trailing P/E (53. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Viavi Solutions Inc. (VIAV) a "Buy" — based on 19 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 VIAV?
On trailing P/E, Cognex Corporation (CGNX) is the cheapest at 96.
9x versus Viavi Solutions Inc. at 340. 3x. On forward P/E, Cognex Corporation is actually cheaper at 53. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CGNX or VIAV?
Over the past 5 years, Viavi Solutions Inc.
(VIAV) delivered a total return of +212. 0%, compared to -13. 2% for Cognex Corporation (CGNX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VIAV returned +715. 5% versus CGNX's +249. 6%. 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 VIAV?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Cognex Corporation (CGNX) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
50β versus Viavi Solutions Inc. 's 1. 54β — meaning VIAV is approximately 3% 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 89% for Viavi Solutions Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CGNX or VIAV?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cognex Corporation (CGNX) is pulling ahead at 8.
7% versus 8. 4% for Viavi Solutions Inc. (VIAV). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Viavi Solutions Inc. grew EPS 225. 0% year-over-year, compared to 9. 7% for Cognex Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CGNX leads at -0. 4% 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 VIAV?
Cognex Corporation (CGNX) is the more profitable company, earning 11.
5% net margin versus 3. 2% for Viavi Solutions Inc. — meaning it keeps 11. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CGNX leads at 16. 3% versus 6. 5% for VIAV. 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 VIAV more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Cognex Corporation (CGNX) trades at 53.
0x forward P/E versus 55. 2x for Viavi Solutions Inc. — 2. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CGNX: -8. 6% to $60. 22.
08Which pays a better dividend — CGNX or VIAV?
In this comparison, CGNX (0.
5% yield) pays a dividend. VIAV does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is CGNX or VIAV better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Viavi Solutions Inc.
(VIAV) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+715. 5% 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 (VIAV: +715. 5%, CGNX: +249. 6%), 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 VIAV?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
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: 24.3% · VIAV: 42.8%)P/E Ratio<
x
(CGNX: 96.9x · VIAV: 340.3x)You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.