Cognex Reports First Quarter 2024 Results

NATICK, Mass., May 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX) today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2024. Table 1 below shows selected financial data for Q1-24 compared with Q1-23 and Q4-23.

“Our first quarter results reflected a challenging, yet stable business environment,” said Robert J. Willett, CEO of Cognex. “Revenue across most of our factory automation end markets was down year-on-year in the quarter. Revenue improved sequentially as we are seeing early indications of recovery in certain end markets.”

Mr. Willett continued, “We recently launched the industry’s first AI-enabled 3D vision system, and we continue to advance our Emerging Customer initiative. We believe the progress we are making on our strategic initiatives keeps us well-positioned to capitalize on exciting industry trends as the operating environment begins to improve.”

Details of the Quarter

Statement of Operations Highlights – First Quarter of 2024

• Revenue increased by 5% from Q1-23. Excluding the 8% contribution of Moritex and 1% negative impact of FX, revenue declined by 3%. The slight year-on-year decline in revenue was driven primarily by the continued softness across our factory automation business, partially offset by growth in Logistics and Semi. Sequentially, revenue increased by 7% from Q4-23, or 2% excluding the contribution of Moritex and FX, with slight growth across most end markets.
• Gross margin was 67.3% for Q1-24 compared to 71.5% for Q1-23 and 68.7% for Q4-23. We recorded $3 million in acquisition charges and amortization of intangible assets in cost of revenue in the quarter, primarily related to the Moritex acquisition. Adjusted gross margin was 68.8% for Q1-24 compared to 71.8% for Q1-23 and 70.7% for Q4-23, in line with our prior guidance. The year-on-year stepdown was driven by an approximately 2 percentage point dilution effect from a full quarter of Moritex, and a 1.6 percentage point impact from one-time events in the quarter, primarily a strategic logistics project completed in the quarter that is expected to drive longer-term, high-margin subscription revenue.
• Operating expenses increased by 5% from Q1-23 and increased by 4% from Q4-23. We recorded $3 million in acquisition charges and amortization of intangible assets in operating expenses in the quarter, primarily related to the Moritex acquisition. Adjusted operating expenses increased by 3% from Q1-23 and increased by 5% from Q4-23, in line with expectations. The year-on-year increase was primarily driven by incremental costs related to Moritex and our investment in the Emerging Customer initiative, partly offset by lower headcount excluding these investments.
• Net Income declined by 53% from Q1-23 and increased by 7% from Q4-23. Adjusted Net Income declined by 15% from Q1-23 and increased by 2% from Q4-23. The year-on-year decline in Adjusted Net Income was primarily driven by the above-mentioned gross margin effects and investment in our Emerging Customer initiative.
• The effective tax rate was 32% in Q1-24 and 2% in Q1-23. Excluding discrete tax items and the tax impact of non-GAAP adjustments, the adjusted effective tax rate was 16% in both periods. 

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights – March 31, 2024

• Cognex’s financial position as of March 31, 2024 continued to be strong, with $557 million in cash and investments and no debt. In Q1-24, Cognex generated $14 million in cash from operations. In addition, the company spent $9 million to repurchase its common stock and paid $13 million in dividends to shareholders. Cognex intends to continue to repurchase shares of its common stock pursuant to its existing stock repurchase program, subject to market conditions and other relevant factors.

Financial Outlook – Q2 2024

• Cognex expects revenue to be between $230 million and $245 million. This range represents a sequential increase in revenue from Q1-24 to Q2-24 due to typical seasonality of consumer electronics revenue.
• Adjusted gross margin¹ is expected to be slightly above 70%, an increase from 68.8% in Q1-24 as we move beyond the one-time events in the first quarter.
• Adjusted operating expense¹ is expected to increase by low- to mid-single digits on a sequential basis as we expect additional investment in the company’s Emerging Customer initiative.
• The adjusted effective tax rate¹ is expected to be 16%. 

¹Cognex has provided the forward-looking non-GAAP measures of adjusted gross margin, adjusted operating expense, and adjusted effective tax rate, but cannot, without unreasonable effort, forecast such items to present or provide a reconciliation to corresponding forecasted GAAP measures. These include special items such as restructuring charges, acquisition and integration charges, and amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, all of which are subject to limitations in predictability of timing, ultimate outcome and numerous conditions outside of Cognex’s control. Additionally, these items are outside of Cognex’s normal business operations and not used by management to assess Cognex’s operating results. Cognex believes these limitations would result in a range of projected values so broad as to not be meaningful to investors. For these reasons, Cognex believes that the probable significance of such information is low. Information with respect to special items for certain historical periods is included in the section entitled “Reconciliation of Selected Items From GAAP to Non-GAAP”.

Analyst Conference Call and Simultaneous Webcast

• Cognex will host a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The telephone number is (877) 704-4573 (or (201) 389-0911 if outside the United States).
• A real-time audio broadcast of the conference call or an archived recording will be accessible on the Events & Presentations page of the Cognex Investor website: https://www.cognex.com/investor. 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted gross margin, adjusted operating expense, adjusted operating income, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share of common stock, diluted, adjusted effective tax rate, and free cash flow. Cognex defines its non-GAAP metrics as follows:

• Adjusted gross margin: Gross margin adjusted for amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, as well as, if applicable, restructuring charges, acquisition and integration costs and other one-time discrete events, such as loss or recovery related to a fire.
• Adjusted operating expense: Operating expense adjusted for amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, as well as, if applicable, restructuring charges, acquisition and integration costs and other one-time discrete events, such as loss or recovery related to a fire.
• Adjusted operating income: Operating income adjusted for amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, as well as, if applicable, restructuring charges, acquisition and integration costs and other one-time discrete events, such as loss or recovery related to a fire.
• Adjusted EBITDA: Operating income adjusted for amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets and depreciation, as well as, if applicable, restructuring charges, acquisition and integration costs and other one-time discrete events, such as loss or recovery related to a fire.
• Adjusted net income: Net income adjusted for amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, as well as, if applicable, restructuring charges, acquisition and integration costs and other one-time discrete events, such as loss or recovery related to a fire or a foreign currency (gain) loss on a forward contract to hedge the Moritex purchase price.
• Adjusted effective tax rate: Effective tax rate adjusted for discrete tax items and the net impact of the other non-GAAP adjustments.
• Free cash flow: Cash provided by operating activities less cash for capital expenditures.

Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2023, we updated the calculation of our non-GAAP measures to exclude acquisition and integration costs and amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets. These changes have been applied retrospectively to the first quarter of 2023.  Cognex also uses results on a constant-currency basis as one measure to evaluate its performance and compares results between periods as if the exchange rates had remained constant period-over-period.

Cognex believes these non-GAAP financial measures are helpful because they allow investors to more accurately compare results over multiple periods using the same methodology that management employs in its budgeting process, in its review of operating results, and for forecasting and planning for future periods. Cognex’s definitions may differ from the definitions used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. In addition, other companies may not publish these or similar metrics. Furthermore, these measures have certain limitations in that they do not include the impact of certain non-recurring expenses that are reflected in our consolidated statement of operations that are necessary to run our business. Thus, our non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as substitutes for, or in isolation from, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Please see the section “Reconciliation of Selected Items from GAAP to Non-GAAP” below for more detailed information regarding non-GAAP financial measures herein, including the items reflected in our adjusted financial metrics and a description of these adjustments.

Description of adjustments:

In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company also provides various non-GAAP measures that incorporate adjustments for the impacts of special items. Adjustments incorporated in the preparation of these non-GAAP measures for the periods presented include the items described below:

Loss (recovery) from fire:

• On June 7, 2022, the Company’s primary contract manufacturer experienced a fire at its plant in Indonesia. In the fourth quarter of 2023 the Company recorded a recovery of $2,750,000 for proceeds received as part of a financial settlement for lost inventory and other losses incurred as a result of the fire. Management does not anticipate additional recoveries.

Acquisition and integration costs:

• The Company has incurred charges related to the purchase and integration of acquired businesses. In the first quarter of 2024, these costs were primarily related to the ongoing integration of Moritex Corporation.

Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets:

• The Company excludes the amortization of acquired intangible assets from non-GAAP expense and income measures. These items are inconsistent in amount and frequency and are significantly impacted by the timing and size of acquisitions, and include the amortization of customer relationships, completed technologies, and trademarks that originated from prior acquisitions. The largest driver of intangible asset amortization was the acquisition of Moritex Corporation.

Discrete tax (benefit) expense:

• Items unrelated to current period ordinary income or (loss) that generally relate to changes in tax laws, adjustments to prior period’s actual liability determined upon filing tax returns, adjustments to previously recorded reserves for uncertain tax positions, and initially recording or fully reversing valuation allowances.

We estimate the tax effect of items identified in the reconciliation by applying the effective tax rate to the pre-tax amount. However, if a specific tax rate or tax treatment is required because of the nature of the item and/or the tax jurisdiction where the item was recorded, we estimate the tax effect by applying the relevant specific tax rate or tax treatment, rather than the effective tax rate.

Certain statements made in this release, as well as oral statements made by the Company from time to time, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Readers can identify these forward-looking statements by our use of the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “potential,” “believes,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “may,” “shall,” “could,” “should,” “opportunity,” “goal” and similar words and other statements of a similar sense. These statements are based on our current estimates and expectations as to prospective events and circumstances, which may or may not be in our control and as to which there can be no firm assurances given. These forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding business and market trends, growth opportunities, future financial performance and financial targets, customer demand and order rates and timing of related revenue, delivery lead times, future product mix, research and development activities, sales and marketing activities (including our Emerging Customer Program), new product offerings and product development activities, customer acceptance of our products, the potential effects of emerging technologies, capital expenditures, cost management activities, investments, liquidity, dividends and stock repurchases, strategic initiatives and growth plans, our ability to maintain and grow key relationships, acquisitions, and estimated tax benefits and expenses and other tax matters, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such risks and uncertainties include: (1) the technological obsolescence of current products and the inability to develop new products, particularly in connection with emerging artificial intelligence technologies; (2) the impact of competitive pressures; (3) the inability to attract and retain skilled employees and maintain our unique corporate culture; (4) the failure to properly manage the distribution of products and services; (5) economic, political, and other risks associated with international sales and operations, including the impact of trade disputes, the economic climate in China, and the wars in Ukraine and Israel; (6) the challenges in integrating and achieving expected results from acquired businesses, including our acquisition of Moritex Corporation; (7) information security breaches; (8) the failure to comply with laws or regulations relating to data privacy or data protection; (9) the inability to protect our proprietary technology and intellectual property; (10) the failure to manufacture and deliver products in a timely manner; (11) the inability to obtain, or the delay in obtaining, components for our products at reasonable prices; (12) the failure to effectively manage product transitions or accurately forecast customer demand; (13) the inability to manage disruptions to our distribution centers or to our key suppliers; (14) the inability to design and manufacture high-quality products; (15) the loss of, or curtailment of purchases by, large customers in the logistics, consumer electronics, or automotive industries; (16) potential impairment charges with respect to our investments or acquired intangible assets; (17) exposure to additional tax liabilities, increases and fluctuations in our effective tax rate, and other tax matters; (18) fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and the use of derivative instruments; (19) unfavorable global economic conditions, including high interest rates and fluctuating inflation rates; (20) business disruptions from natural or man-made disasters, such as fire, or public health issues; (21) exposure to potential liabilities, increased costs, reputational harm, and other adverse effects associated with expectations relating to environmental, social, and governance considerations; (22) stock price volatility; and (23) our involvement in time-consuming and costly litigation or activist shareholder activities. The foregoing list should not be construed as exhaustive and we encourage readers to refer to the detailed discussion of risk factors included in Part I – Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other risks detailed in reports filed by the Company with the SEC. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company disclaims any obligation to subsequently revise forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date such statements are made.

About Cognex Corporation

Cognex Corporation (“the Company” or “Cognex”) invents and commercializes technologies that address some of the most critical manufacturing and distribution challenges. We are a leading global provider of machine vision products and solutions that improve efficiency and quality in high-growth-potential businesses across attractive industrial end markets. Our solutions blend physical products and software to capture and analyze visual information, allowing for the automation of manufacturing and distribution tasks for customers worldwide. Machine vision products are used to automate the manufacturing or distribution and tracking of discrete items, such as mobile phones, electric vehicle batteries and e-commerce packages, by locating, identifying, inspecting, and measuring them. Machine vision is important for applications in which human vision is inadequate to meet requirements for size, accuracy, or speed, or in instances where substantial cost savings or quality improvements are maintained.

Cognex is the world’s leader in the machine vision industry, having shipped more than 4.5 million image-based products, representing over $11 billion in cumulative revenue, since the company’s founding in 1981. Headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, USA, Cognex has offices and distributors located throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. For details, visit Cognex online at www.cognex.com.

Investor Contacts:
Nathan McCurren – Head of Investor Relations

Jordan Bertier – Sr. Manager, Investor Relations

Cognex Corporation

[email protected]

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