Cognex's revenue rose from $216.0M in 2025Q1 to $313.4M in 2026Q3 while operating margin widened from 12.1% to 32.2%, and free cash flow reached $103.8M, suggesting a strong operating recovery on software-embedded vision systems with a gross margin near 70.8%.
Price trend, volume and key moving averages
Start with the evidence for owning the stock and the risks that can break the thesis.
Revenue expansion and operating leverage from a 12.1% to 32.2% operating margin suggest strong fixed-cost absorption, though the 27.1% net margin in 2026Q3 versus 6.4% in 2025Q3 indicates earnings quality remains volatile.
Cognex is showcasing advanced AI-powered vision systems like In-Sight® 3900 and OneVision™, combining edge AI with centralized development for smarter automation solutions.
Wall Street analysts project an 8.4% upside potential with a $70.92 consensus price target, reflecting confidence in Cognex's growth trajectory.
JPMorgan upgraded Cognex to Overweight, citing progress in AI-powered machine vision solutions and an evolving sales strategy as key growth drivers.
Trailing total returns as of 11/7/2026, which may include dividends or other distributions. Benchmark is S&P 500 (^GSPC).
Check whether operating performance supports the current valuation.
Recent results and news deserve attention only when they alter the forward view.
| Quarter | EPS (Act vs Est) | Revenue (Act vs Est) |
|---|---|---|
Q4 2026Latest Nov 4, 2026 | $0.53+2.3% vs $0.52 | $313M-0.1% vs $314M |
Q3 2026 Aug 5, 2026 | $0.45+6.2% vs $0.42 | $291M-0.3% vs $292M |
Q2 2026 May 6, 2026 | $0.34+36.9% vs $0.25 | $268M+9.1% vs $246M |
Q1 2026 Feb 11, 2026 | $0.27+22.7% vs $0.22 | $252M+5.6% vs $239M |
Cognex beats Q3 earnings estimates, raises its 2026 outlook and targets further margin expansion as logistics demand strengthens and RealSense adds growth opportunities.
Cognex Corporation ( CGNX ) Q3 2026 Earnings Call November 5, 2026 8:30 AM EST Company Participants Greer Aviv - Head of Investor Relations Matt Moschner - President, CEO & Director Dennis Fehr - Senior VP of Finance & CFO Conference Call Participants Tomohiko Sano - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division Andrew Buscaglia - BNP Paribas, Research Division Pratap Singh - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division Thomas Moll - Stephens Inc., Research Division Guy Drummond Hardwick - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division Robert Jamieson - Needham & Company, LLC, Research Division Christopher Grenga - TD Cowen, Research Division Piyush Avasthy - Citigroup Inc., Research Division Presentation Operator Greetings, and welcome to Cognex Corporation Third Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] As a reminder, this conference is being recorded.
CGNX beats Q3 earnings estimates as strong automation demand, margin expansion and cost discipline drive growth, prompting a higher 2026 outlook.
Cognex NASDAQ: CGNX reported record third-quarter revenue and raised its full-year 2026 outlook, citing broad-based demand, stronger logistics growth and cost controls. The machine vision company also said it expects its acquisition of RealSense to close in the fourth quarter.
Benchmark CGNX against direct peers instead of judging its metrics in isolation.
Key metrics vs top competitors for Cognex Corporation (CGNX)
| Company | Price | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | Rev Growth (1Y) | Net Margin | ROE | Div Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $47.78 | $7.95B | 70.26 | 8.73% | 11.51% | 7.61% | 0.68% | |
| $271.85 | $46.46B | 55.71 | 7.95% | 19.08% | 20.11% | — | |
| $38.49 | $1.82B | -24.21 | 12.74% | -3.97% | -2.9% | — | |
| $28.47 | $7.02B | 189.80 | 8.39% | -2% | -3.16% | — | |
| $135.15 | $4.81B | 91.94 | 3.3% | 6% | 4.9% | — | |
| $64.01 | $3.35B | 9999.00 | -7.38% | 12.18% | 13.55% | 1.59% |
Cognex Corporation (CGNX) vs competitors — business, growth, and fundamentals comparison against the closest industry rivals.
Verify the primary filings, follow material updates, and answer the remaining questions.
Cognex Corporation (CGNX) SEC filings — annual & quarterly reports (10-K, 10-Q)
Aug 5, 2026·SEC
May 6, 2026·SEC
Apr 30, 2026·SEC
Get notified when CGNX posts new earnings or crosses analyst targets
Free. No account needed. Unsubscribe any time.
Cognex Corporation (CGNX) stock FAQ — growth, dividends, profitability & financials explained
Cognex Corporation (CGNX) reported $1.09B in revenue over the trailing twelve months. Revenue was $994.4M in fiscal year 2025. That is 710% more than the $122.8M of fiscal year 1996.
Cognex Corporation (CGNX) grew revenue by 8.7% in fiscal year 2025, compared with the prior fiscal year.
Yes. Cognex Corporation (CGNX) earned $174.8M in net income over the trailing twelve months (a 16.1% net margin).
Yes. Cognex Corporation (CGNX) pays a dividend that yields 0.68% at the current price, a small yield.
Cognex Corporation (CGNX) had a return on equity (ROE) of 7.6% in fiscal year 2025. That is below the market's typical 10-15%.
Cognex Corporation (CGNX) generated $268.3M in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months.
