Cognex CGNX Form 10-Q filing Q1 FY2026

Item 1. Financial Statements (interim periods unaudited)

PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

COGNEX CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

COGNEX CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(In thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

COGNEX CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

COGNEX CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

NOTE 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

As permitted by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission applicable to Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, these notes are condensed and do not contain all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). Reference should be made to the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Cognex Corporation's ("Cognex" or the "Company") Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 for a full description of other significant accounting policies.

In the opinion of the management of the Company, the accompanying consolidated unaudited financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal, recurring adjustments and financial statement reclassifications necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of April 5, 2026, and the results of its operations for the three-month periods ended April 5, 2026 and March 30, 2025, and changes in shareholders’ equity, comprehensive income, and cash flows for the periods presented.

The results disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three-month period ended April 5, 2026 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

NOTE 2: New Pronouncements

Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2024-03, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40)

This ASU aims to enhance transparency for users of financial statements by requiring public business entities to disaggregate specific expense categories. ASU 2024-03 mandates disclosures in the notes to financial statements detailing the composition and trends of key expense categories within major income statement captions. These enhanced disclosures are intended to help investors more effectively assess the entity’s performance, understand its cost structure, and make more accurate forecasts of future cash flows. For public business entities, ASU 2024-03 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. The adoption will result in disclosure changes only. Management is currently evaluating the impact that adopting ASU 2024-03 would have on the Company's financial statement disclosures.

Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2025-06 - Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software

The amendments in this ASU update the accounting and disclosure guidance for internal-use software to better reflect modern, iterative development practices. The amendments replace the former “development stage” model with a judgment-based framework and require entities to evaluate whether significant development uncertainty exists before capitalizing costs. The ASU also incorporates website development guidance into Subtopic 350-40 and aligns disclosures for capitalized software with those for property, plant, and equipment. For public business entities, the amendments in this ASU are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, and for interim periods within those annual reporting periods, with early adoption permitted. Management is currently evaluating the impact that adopting ASU 2025-06 would have on the Company's financial statements and disclosures.

Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2025-11 - Interim Reporting (Topic 270): Narrow-Scope Improvements

The amendments in this ASU improve the navigability and clarity of interim reporting requirements without changing the fundamental nature or scope of existing disclosures. The ASU also clarifies when Topic 270 applies, specifies the form and content of interim financial statements and notes, and introduces a comprehensive list of required interim disclosures compiled from across the Codification. The ASU also adds a disclosure principle requiring entities to disclose events occurring after the most recent annual reporting period that have a material impact on the entity. For public business entities, the amendments in this ASU are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, and for interim periods within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2028, with early adoption permitted. Management is currently evaluating the impact that adopting ASU 2025-11 would have on the Company's disclosures.

Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2025-12 - Codification Improvements

The amendments in this ASU make incremental improvements to clarify, correct, and enhance the usability of the Accounting Standards Codification. The amendments address technical corrections, unintended application issues,

COGNEX CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

and minor improvements across numerous topics, and are not expected to significantly affect current accounting practice. Key areas of clarification include diluted earnings per share calculations, disclosure requirements for lease receivables, guidance on beneficial interests, methods for accounting for treasury stock retirements, and the treatment of receivables transferred from contracts with customers. For public business entities, the amendments in this ASU are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and for interim periods within those annual reporting periods, with early adoption permitted. Management is currently evaluating the impact that adopting ASU 2025-10 would have on the Company's financial statements and disclosures.

NOTE 3: Financial Instruments

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Investments

The following table summarizes the Company’s cash, cash equivalents, and investments as of April 5, 2026 (in thousands):

The following table summarizes the Company’s cash, cash equivalents, and investments as of December 31, 2025 (in thousands):

The Company’s money market instruments are reported at fair value based upon the daily market price for identical assets in active markets and are therefore classified as Level 1. Money market instruments consist of treasury bills, corporate commercial paper, and certificates of deposit that are highly liquid and mature in three months or less. Corporate bonds consist of debt securities issued by both domestic and foreign companies; treasury notes consist of debt securities issued by the U.S. government; and asset-backed securities consist of debt securities collateralized by pools of receivables or loans with credit enhancement. All of the Company's securities as of April 5, 2026 and December 31, 2025 were denominated in U.S. Dollars, with the exception of certain certificates of deposit.

The Company’s debt securities are reported at fair value based on model-driven valuations in which all significant inputs are observable or can be derived from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the asset or liability and are therefore classified as Level 2. Management is responsible for estimating the fair value of these financial instruments, and in doing so, considers valuations provided by a large, third-party pricing service. This service maintains regular contact with market makers, brokers, dealers, and analysts to gather information on market movement, direction, trends, and other specific data. They use this information to structure yield curves for various types of debt securities and arrive at the daily valuations.

Accrued interest receivable is recorded in "Prepaid expenses and other current assets" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and amounted to $3,793,000 and $3,852,000 as of April 5, 2026 and December 31, 2025,

COGNEX CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

respectively.

Realized Gains (Losses) on Debt Securities

The following table summarizes the Company's gross realized gains and losses on the sale of debt securities for the three-month periods ended April 5, 2026 and March 30, 2025 (in thousands):

Realized gains and losses are included in "Investment income" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Prior to the sale of these securities, unrealized gains and losses for these debt securities, net of tax, were recorded in shareholders’ equity as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Unrealized Losses on Debt Securities

The following table summarizes the Company’s gross unrealized losses and fair values for available-for-sale investments in an unrealized loss position as of April 5, 2026 (in thousands):

The following table summarizes the Company’s gross unrealized losses and fair values for available-for-sale investments in an unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2025 (in thousands):

Management monitors debt securities that are in an unrealized loss position to determine whether a loss exists related to the credit quality of the issuer. When developing an estimate of expected credit losses, management considers all relevant information including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable forecasts of expected future cash flows. Based on this evaluation, no allowance for credit losses on debt securities was recorded as of April 5, 2026 or December 31, 2025. Management currently intends to hold these securities to full value recovery at maturity.

COGNEX CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Debt Securities Maturities

The following table presents the effective maturity dates of the Company’s available-for-sale investments as of April 5, 2026 (in thousands):

Derivative Instruments

The Company’s foreign currency risk management strategy is designed to mitigate the potential financial impact of changes in the value of transactions and balances denominated in foreign currencies resulting from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company enters into economic hedges utilizing foreign currency forward contracts with maturities of generally up to three months but not greater than one year to manage the exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates arising primarily from foreign-denominated receivables and payables. The gains and losses on these derivatives are intended to be offset by the changes in the fair value of the assets and liabilities being hedged. These economic hedges are not designated as hedging instruments for hedge accounting treatment.

The Company had the following outstanding forward contracts (in thousands):

COGNEX CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Information regarding the fair value of the outstanding forward contracts was as follows (in thousands):

The Company’s forward contracts are reported at fair value based on model-driven valuations in which all significant inputs are observable or can be derived from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the asset or liability and are therefore classified as Level 2. The Company's forward contracts are typically traded or executed in over-the-counter markets with a high degree of pricing transparency. The market participants are generally large commercial banks.

Information regarding the effect of derivative instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations was as follows (in thousands):

Activities related to derivative instruments are reflected within "Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities" on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

NOTE 4: Inventories

Inventories consisted of the following (in thousands):

COGNEX CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

NOTE 5: Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The changes in the carrying value of goodwill were as follows (in thousands):

Amortized intangible assets as of April 5, 2026 consisted of the following (in thousands):

Amortized intangible assets as of December 31, 2025 consisted of the following (in thousands):

Future amortization expense related to intangible assets as of April 5, 2026 is as follows (in thousands):

On April 1, 2026, the Company completed the divestiture of its Japan-focused trading business, which was originally acquired as part of the acquisition of Moritex Corporation in 2023. In connection with the divestiture, the Company derecognized $541,000 of goodwill and $10,636,000 of customer relationship intangible assets, representing the net carrying amounts attributable to the disposed business.

COGNEX CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

NOTE 6: Warranty Obligations

The Company records the estimated cost of fulfilling product warranties at the time of sale based upon historical costs to fulfill claims. Obligations may also be recorded subsequent to the time of sale whenever specific events or changes in circumstances impacting product quality become known that would not have been taken into account using historical data. While we engage in extensive product quality programs and processes, including actively monitoring and evaluating the quality of our component suppliers and third-party contract manufacturers, the Company’s warranty obligation is affected by product failure rates, material usage, and service delivery costs incurred in correcting a product failure. An adverse change in any of these factors may result in the need for additional warranty provisions. Warranty obligations are included in “Accrued expenses” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The changes in the warranty obligation for the three-month periods ended April 5, 2026 and March 30, 2025 were as follows (in thousands):

NOTE 7: Commitments and Contingencies

As of April 5, 2026, the Company had outstanding purchase orders totaling $50,616,000 to procure inventory from various vendors. Certain of these purchase orders may be canceled by the Company, subject to cancellation penalties. These purchase commitments relate primarily to expected sales in the next twelve months.

A significant portion of the Company's outstanding inventory purchase orders as of April 5, 2026, as well as additional preauthorized commitments to procure strategic components based on the Company's expected customer demand, are placed with the Company's primary contract manufacturer for the Company's assembled products. The Company has the obligation to purchase any non-cancelable and non-returnable components that have been purchased by the contract manufacturer with the Company's preauthorization, when these components have not been consumed within the period defined in the terms of the Company's agreement with this contract manufacturer. While the Company typically expects such purchased components to be used in future production of Cognex finished goods, these components are considered in the Company's reserve estimate for excess and obsolete inventory. Furthermore, the Company accrues for losses on commitments for the future purchase of non-cancelable and non-returnable components from this contract manufacturer at the time that circumstances, such as changes in demand, indicate that the value of the components may not be recoverable, the loss is probable, and management has the ability to reasonably estimate the amount of the loss. The Company's accrual for such losses was not material as of April 5, 2026 and March 30, 2025.

Various claims and legal proceedings generally incidental to the normal course of business are pending or threatened on behalf of or against the Company. While we cannot predict the outcome of these matters, we believe that any liability arising from them will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, liquidity, or results of operations.

COGNEX CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

NOTE 8: Stockholders' Equity

Stock Repurchase Program

In March 2022, the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") authorized a program providing for the repurchase of $500,000,000 of the Company's common stock (the "Program"). Under the Program, in addition to repurchases made in prior periods, the Company repurchased 3,047,000 shares at a total cost of $103,413,000 during the three-month period ended March 30, 2025 and 2,375,000 shares at a total cost of $98,995,000 during the three-month period ended April 5, 2026, leaving a remaining balance of $16,025,000 as of April 5, 2026. On February 11, 2026, the Board authorized the repurchase of an additional $500,000,000 of the Company's common stock upon completion of the Program. The Company may repurchase shares under these programs in future periods depending on a variety of factors, including, among other things, the impact of dilution from employee stock awards, stock price, share availability, and cash requirements. The Company is authorized to make repurchases of its common stock through open market purchases, pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, or in privately negotiated transactions.

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

The Company’s stock-based awards that result in compensation expense consist of stock options, restricted stock units ("RSUs"), and performance restricted stock units ("PRSUs").

The following table summarizes the number of stock-based awards granted by the Company and the weighted-average grant-date fair value per unit for the three-month periods ended April 5, 2026 and March 30, 2025:

During the three-month periods ended April 5, 2026 and March 30, 2025, the Company granted PRSUs that vest upon the achievement of (1) a service condition of three years of continuous employment and (2) a performance condition established by the Compensation Committee of the Board as of the grant date. The number of shares earned could range between 0% and 120% based on achievement of the performance condition, which includes certain financial targets. The fair value of these PRSUs is calculated based on the observable market price of the Company's stock on the grant date less the present value of expected future dividends. Compensation expense for these PRSUs is recognized based on the probable outcome of the performance condition with a cumulative catch-up adjustment for prior periods in the period that the probable outcome changes.

The Company stratifies its employee population into two groups: one consisting of senior management and members of the Board and another consisting of all other employees. The Company currently applies an estimated annual forfeiture rate of 12% to all stock-based awards for senior management and a rate of 13% for all other employees. Each year during the first quarter, the Company revises its forfeiture rate based on updated estimates of employee turnover. Credits of $1,576,000 and $4,789,000 were recorded in 2026 and 2025, respectively, to true up previously recorded compensation expense for this forfeiture rate revision. Additionally in the first quarter of 2026, the Company revised its forfeiture rate applied specifically to stock-based awards for its former chief executive officer to 100% due to his retirement from the Board effective March 2, 2026, resulting in credits of $5,031,000.

As of April 5, 2026, total unrecognized compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, related to non-vested equity awards, including stock options, RSUs, and PRSUs, was $68,857,000, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years.

COGNEX CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The following table presents the stock-based compensation expense by caption for each period presented on the Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands):

No compensation expense was capitalized as of April 5, 2026 or December 31, 2025.

NOTE 9: Revenue Recognition

The following table summarizes disaggregated revenue information by geographic area based upon the customer's country of domicile (in thousands):

The following table summarizes disaggregated revenue information by revenue type (in thousands):

Costs to Fulfill a Contract

Costs to fulfill a contract are included in "Prepaid expenses and other current assets" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and amounted to $17,224,000 and $10,592,000 as of April 5, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively.

Accounts Receivable, Contract Assets, and Contract Liabilities

Accounts receivable represent amounts billed and currently due from customers which are reported at their net estimated realizable value. The Company maintains an allowance against its accounts receivable for credit losses. Contract assets consist of unbilled revenue which arises when revenue is recognized in advance of billing for certain application-specific customer solutions contracts. Contract liabilities consist of deferred revenue and customer deposits which arise when amounts are billed to or collected from customers in advance of revenue recognition.

COGNEX CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The following table summarizes the deferred revenue and customer deposits activity for the three-month periods ended April 5, 2026 and March 30, 2025 (in thousands):

As a practical expedient, the Company has elected not to disclose the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations for our contracts that have an original expected duration of less than one year. The remaining unsatisfied performance obligations for our contracts that have an original expected duration of more than one year, primarily related to extended warranties, are not material.

NOTE 10: Income Taxes

The Company's effective tax rate was 16% and 15% for the three-month periods ended April 5, 2026 and March 30, 2025, respectively.

The Company has defined its major tax jurisdictions as the United States, Ireland, China, Japan, and Korea, and within the United States, Massachusetts. The statutory tax rate is 12.5% in Ireland, 25% in China, 34.7% in Japan, and 22% in Korea, compared to the U.S. federal statutory corporate tax rate of 21%. These foreign tax rate differences resulted in a favorable impact to the effective tax rate for both the three-month periods ended April 5, 2026 and March 30, 2025.

For the three-month period ended April 5, 2026, the Company recorded a net discrete tax benefit of $1,179,000, primarily driven by excess tax benefits related to stock‑based compensation. For the three-month period ended March 30, 2025, the Company recorded a net discrete tax benefit of $307,000, primarily driven by deferred tax adjustments partially offset by excess tax liabilities related to stock‑based compensation.

The Company’s reserve for income taxes, including gross interest and penalties, was $24,195,000 as of April 5, 2026, of which $21,336,000 was classified as a non-current liability and $2,859,000 was classified as an offset to deferred tax assets. If the Company’s tax positions were sustained or the statutes of limitations related to certain positions expired, these reserves would be released and income tax expense would be reduced in a future period.

Within the United States, the tax years 2022 through 2025 remain open to examination by the Internal Revenue Service, and 2021 through 2025 remain open to examination by various state tax authorities. The tax years 2017 through 2025 remain open to examination by various international taxing authorities in other jurisdictions in which the Company operates.

COGNEX CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ("OECD") provided model rules for a 15% global minimum tax, known as Pillar Two. Pillar Two has now been enacted by most key non-United States jurisdictions where the Company operates. From 2024 to 2025, the Company met at least one of the tests under the transitional safe harbor exception for all jurisdictions except for the United States. During 2024 and 2025, the Company had favorable treatment under a safe harbor that exempted U.S. multinational entity exposure to top-up tax under Pillar Two, which expired at the end of 2025. In 2026, OECD released the framework for a side-by-side system, providing a permanent solution for multinational entities headquartered in jurisdictions that had not fully adopted the Pillar Two Model Rules into domestic law but have current domestic tax regimes meeting certain requirements, including a high statutory tax rates (at least 20%) that had not fully adopted the Pillar Two Model Rules into domestic law. However, uncertainty remains related to the implementation of this arrangement across the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates, and the Company is now subject to top-up tax effective January 1, 2026. This minimum tax is treated as a period cost but did not have a material impact on the Company's financial results of operations for the three-month period ended April 5, 2026. The Company continues to monitor legislative developments.

NOTE 11: Earnings per Share

The following table shows the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three-month periods ended April 5, 2026 and March 30, 2025 (in thousands, except per share amounts):

The computation of diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding excludes the following weighted average anti-dilutive stock-based awards outstanding for the three-month periods ended April 5, 2026 and March 30, 2025 (in thousands):

NOTE 12: Segment Information

The Company operates in one segment, machine vision technology. The Company has a single, company-wide management team that administers operations as a whole rather than as discrete operating segments. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is the chief executive officer, who assesses performance and allocates resources at the corporate level, as compared to the geography, product line, or end market levels. The Company offers a variety of machine vision products that have similar economic characteristics and are distributed by the same sales channels to the same types of customers.

COGNEX CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The measure of segment profit or loss for the Company's single segment is net income. Segment expenses were disaggregated based on the information the chief operating decision maker uses to assess performance and allocate resources considering both quantitative and qualitative factors. The following table summarizes significant segment expenses, which represents the difference between segment revenue and segment net income (in thousands):

(1) Cost of revenue includes depreciation and amortization expense (including amortization of acquired technologies) of $3,067,000 and $3,018,000 for the three-month periods ended April 5, 2026 and March 30, 2025, respectively.

(2) Incentive compensation includes company bonus and sales commissions.

(3) Other segment expenses include outside services, prototyping materials, sales demonstration equipment, travel and entertainment, marketing programs, rent, and reorganization charges, among other less significant expenses.

Segment assets amounted to $2,005,618,000 and $2,016,555,000 as of April 5, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively.

COGNEX CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

NOTE 13: Business Disposal

On April 1, 2026, the Company completed the divestiture of its Japan-focused trading business, which was originally acquired as part of the acquisition of Moritex Corporation ("Moritex") in 2023. The disposal group met the definition of a business under ASC 805 as it included inputs and substantive processes that together significantly contributed to the ability to create outputs. The transaction resulted in gross proceeds received from the buyer of ¥1,882,688,000 Japanese Yen ($12,049,000 U.S. Dollars based on the closing-date foreign exchange rate).

Carrying amounts of major assets and liabilities included as part of the disposal group were as follows (in thousands):

The Company recognized a pre-tax loss of ¥240,445,000 Japanese Yen ($1,539,000 U.S. Dollars based on the closing-date foreign exchange rate), which includes direct costs associated with the divestiture incurred during the three-month period ended April 5, 2026 of ¥82,895,000 Japanese Yen ($530,000 U.S. Dollars based on the closing-date foreign exchange rate) and is presented within “Other income (expense)” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three-month period ended April 5, 2026. The transaction did not have a material impact on the Company’s income tax expense or tax position.

The divested business was not considered core to the Company’s operations and its sale does not represent a strategic shift that would have a major effect on the Company’s operations or financial results. For the year ended December 31, 2025, the divested business accounted for approximately 2% of the Company’s overall revenue. Accordingly, the transaction does not meet the criteria for discontinued operations presentation and as a result, the results of operations of the disposal group are presented within continued operations for the three-month period ended April 5, 2026. The business was not a reportable segment and was included within the Company’s single operating segment as described in Note 13, Segment Information.

The Company allocated ¥1,661,888,000 Japanese Yen ($10,636,000 U.S. Dollars based on the closing-date foreign exchange rate) of net customer relationships to the disposal group based on the relative fair value attributable to the disposal group using an income approach, which the Company determined to be the most appropriate basis for allocation as it best reflects the economic benefits and expected future cash flows associated with these relationships. The income approach is consistent with the valuation methodology used in the original acquisition‑date valuation and incorporates management’s best estimates and assumptions that a market participant would consider.

The Company allocated ¥84,563,000 Japanese Yen ($541,000 U.S. Dollars based on the closing-date foreign exchange rate) of goodwill to the disposal group based on its relative fair value compared to the Company’s total fair value. Following the divestiture, the remaining goodwill associated with the continuing reporting unit was supported by a substantial excess of fair value of the reporting unit over its carrying value, and therefore no impairment charge was recognized.

COGNEX CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

NOTE 14: Subsequent Events

On May 6, 2026, the Board declared a cash dividend of $0.085 per share. The dividend is payable on June 4, 2026 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 21, 2026.

Additionally, on April 29, 2026, the shareholders of the Company approved an amendment to the Cognex Corporation 2023 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “2023 Plan”) to increase the maximum amount of shares of common stock available to be issued under the plan by 4,600,000 shares.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

ITEM 2: MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Executive Overview

Cognex makes advanced machine vision easy, paving the way for manufacturing and distribution companies to become faster, smarter, and more efficient through automation. We are a global technology leader in industrial machine vision systems that seek to improve efficiency and help solve critical manufacturing and distribution challenges, providing support across a diverse set of industrial end markets. In addition to revenue derived from the sale of machine vision products, the Company also generates revenue by providing maintenance and support, consulting, and training services to its customers; however, service revenue accounted for less than 10% of total

revenue for all periods presented.

Machine vision is used in a variety of end markets where technology is widely recognized as an important component of automated production, distribution, and quality assurance. Virtually every manufacturer or distributor can achieve better quality and efficiency by using machine vision. This results in a broad base of potential customers across a variety of end markets, including logistics, consumer electronics, automotive, packaging, and semiconductor.

Revenue for the first quarter of 2026 totaled $268,437,000, representing an increase of 24% over the first quarter of 2025 due to broad-based strength across our major end markets, as well as the favorable impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes on revenue. Gross margin as a percentage of revenue was 71% for the first quarter of 2026 as compared to 67% for the first quarter of 2025 due to a more favorable end-market mix and increased cost efficiencies from higher sales volume. Operating expenses for the first quarter of 2026 increased 11% from the first quarter of 2025. The impact of higher incentive compensation accruals due to stronger business performance, the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates on expenses, and higher reorganization charges incurred to further drive efficiencies across the organization were partially offset by savings from continued cost management activities.

Operating income increased to 22% of revenue for the first quarter of 2026 as compared to 12% of revenue for the first quarter of 2025 due to operating leverage achieved from revenue growth. Net income increased to 19% of revenue, or $0.31 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2026, as compared to 11% of revenue, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2025.

Results of Operations

As foreign currency exchange rates are a factor in understanding period-to-period comparisons, we believe the presentation of our results on a constant-currency basis in addition to reported results improves investors’ ability to understand our operating results and evaluate our performance in comparison to prior periods. We also use results on a constant-currency basis as one measure to evaluate our performance. Constant-currency information compares results between periods as if exchange rates had remained constant period-over-period. We generally refer to such amounts calculated on a constant-currency basis as excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes. Results on a constant-currency basis are not in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP") and should be considered in addition to, and not a substitute for, results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Revenue

Revenue increased by $52,401,000, or 24%, for the three-month period in 2026 as compared to the same period in 2025. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates resulted in a higher level of reported revenue in 2026 as compared to 2025. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes, revenue increased by 21% over the prior year. The increase was due to broad-based demand across our major end markets, including revenue growth across our consumer electronics customer base, higher revenue from semiconductor and packaging customers, and continued growth with large logistics customers.

The following table sets forth our disaggregated revenue information by geographic area based upon the customer's country of domicile (in thousands) for the three-month periods ended April 5, 2026 and March 30, 2025.

Changes in revenue from a geographic perspective were as follows:

• Revenue from customers based in the Americas increased by 22% for the three-month period in 2026 as compared to the same period in 2025 due to stronger performance across our major end markets.
• Revenue from customers based in Europe increased by 36% for the three-month period in 2026 as compared to the same period in 2025. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates resulted in a higher level of reported revenue in the first quarter of 2026 as compared to the same period in 2025, as the U.S. Dollar was weaker on average versus the Euro and sales denominated in Euros were translated into U.S. Dollars at a higher rate. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes, revenue from customers based in Europe increased by 23% for the three-month period in 2026 due to stronger performance across our major end markets, with the exception of ongoing softness in the automotive end market.
• Revenue from customers based in Greater China increased by 40% for the three-month period in 2026 as compared to the same period in 2025. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates resulted in a higher level of reported revenue in 2026, driven by a weaker U.S. Dollar versus the Chinese Renminbi as compared to the prior year. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes, revenue from customers based in Greater China increased by 36% for the three-month period in 2026 primarily due to higher revenue from customers in the consumer electronics and semiconductor end markets.
• Revenue from customers based in other countries in Asia increased by 6% for the three-month period in 2026 as compared to the same period in 2025. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates did not have a material impact on revenue for the three-month period in 2026. The increase was primarily due to higher revenue from customers in the consumer electronics and semiconductor end markets.

Gross Profit

The following table sets forth our gross profit (in thousands) for the three-month periods ended April 5, 2026 and March 30, 2025.

Gross margin was 71% for the three-month period in 2026 as compared to 67% for the same period in 2025. The increase was primarily due to more favorable end-market mix and increased cost efficiencies from higher sales volume, slightly offset by the impact of tariffs.

Operating Expenses

The following table sets forth our operating expenses (in thousands) for the three-month periods ended April 5, 2026 and March 30, 2025.

Research, Development, and Engineering Expenses

Research, development, and engineering (RD&E) expenses increased by $2,298,000, or 7%, for the three-month period in 2026 as compared to the same period in 2025. The impact of higher incentive compensation accruals due to stronger business performance and the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates were partially offset by savings from continued cost management activities.

RD&E expenses as a percentage of revenue was 14% for the three-month period in 2026 as compared to 16% for the same period in 2025. We believe that a continued commitment to RD&E activities is essential to maintain or achieve product leadership with our existing products and to provide innovative new product offerings, as well as to provide engineering support for large customers. These percentages are impacted by revenue levels and investment cycles.

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased by $10,537,000, or 13%, for the three-month period in 2026 as compared to the same period in 2025. The impact of higher incentive compensation accruals due to stronger business performance, the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates, higher stock-based compensation, and higher reorganization charges incurred to further drive efficiencies across the organization were partially offset by savings from continued cost management activities.

Non-operating Income (Expense)

The following table sets forth our non-operating income (expense) (in thousands) for the three-month periods ended April 5, 2026 and March 30, 2025.

The Company recorded foreign currency losses of $1,345,000 and $2,453,000 for the three-month periods in 2026 and 2025, respectively. Foreign currency gains and losses in each period resulted primarily from the revaluation and settlement of assets and liabilities that are denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the Company, which is the U.S. Dollar, or its subsidiaries.

Investment income increased by $846,000, or 21%, for the three-month period in 2026 as compared to the same period in 2025 primarily due to a higher invested balance.

The Company recorded other expense of $1,607,000 for the three-month period in 2026 and other income of $169,000 for the three-month period in 2025. Other expense for the three-month period in 2026 included a pre-tax loss of $1,539,000 related to the divestiture of the Company's Japan-focused trading business (refer to Note 13 of the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Income Tax Expense

The following table sets forth income tax information (in thousands) for the three-month periods ended April 5, 2026 and March 30, 2025.

The Company’s effective tax rate was 16% for the three-month period in 2026 and 15% for the same period in 2025. The Company recorded net discrete tax benefits of $1,179,000 and $307,000 for the three-month periods in 2026 and 2025, respectively.

Excluding the impact of discrete tax items, the Company's effective tax rate was 18% for the three-month period in 2026 and 16% for the same period in 2025. The increase was primarily due to a greater portion of Company's pre-tax income being earned in higher tax rate jurisdictions.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company has historically been able to generate positive cash flow from operations, which has funded its operating activities and other cash requirements and resulted in an accumulated cash and investment balance of $621,942,000 as of April 5, 2026. The Company has established guidelines relative to credit ratings, diversification, and maturities of its investments to maintain liquidity and safety of its investment portfolio.

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $45,093,000 for the three-month period in 2026 as compared to $40,502,000 for the same period in 2025. The increase in operating cash inflow from the prior year was primarily driven by stronger business performance, partially offset by higher Company bonus payments that are made in the first quarter of each year.

Investing Activities

Net cash provided by investing activities totaled $791,000 for the three-month period in 2026 as compared to $33,087,000 for the same period in 2025. The decrease in investing cash inflow from the prior year was due to a higher level of investment maturities during the three-month period in 2025 to provide liquidity for our stock repurchase program.

Investing activities for the three-month period in 2026 included net proceeds of $11,519,000 from the divestiture of the Company's Japan-focused trading business (refer to Note 13 of the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Investing activities also included capital expenditures that totaled $2,757,000 for the three-month period in 2026 as compared to $2,501,000 for the same period in 2025. Capital expenditures in each period consisted primarily of investments in business systems, manufacturing test equipment related to new product introductions, and building and leasehold improvements.

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities totaled $68,901,000 for the three-month period in 2026 and $118,370,000 for the same period in 2025. The decrease in financing cash outflow from the prior year was due to higher proceeds from stock option exercises during the three-month period in 2026 that partially offset the impact of the Company's stock repurchase and dividend programs.

In March 2022, the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") authorized a program providing for the repurchase of $500,000,000 of the Company's common stock (the "Program"). Under the Program, in addition to repurchases made in other periods, the Company repurchased 2,375,000 shares at a total cost of $98,995,000 during the three-month period in 2026, leaving a remaining balance of $16,025,000 as of April 5, 2026. On February 11, 2026, the Board authorized the repurchase of an additional $500,000,000 of the Company's common stock upon completion of the Program. The Company may repurchase shares under these programs in future periods depending on a variety of factors, including, among other things, the impact of dilution from employee stock awards, stock price, share availability, and cash requirements. The Company is authorized to make repurchases of its common stock through open market purchases, pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, or in privately negotiated transactions.

The Board declared and paid cash dividends of $0.085 per share in the three-month period ended April 5, 2026, totaling $14,196,000. Future dividends will be declared at the discretion of the Board and will depend on such factors as the Board deems relevant, including, among other things, the Company's ability to generate positive cash flow from operations.

Future Cash Requirements

As of April 5, 2026, the Company had inventory purchase commitments of $50,616,000, with the majority payable within twelve months, and lease payment obligations of $90,537,000, with $16,482,000 payable within twelve months.

We believe that the Company's existing cash and investment balances, together with cash flow from operations, will be sufficient to meet its operating, investing, and financing activities for the next twelve months. In addition, the Company has no long-term debt. We believe that our strong cash position has put us in a relatively good position with respect to anticipated longer-term liquidity needs.

New Pronouncements

Refer to Part I - Note 2 within this Quarterly Report, for a full description of recently issued accounting pronouncements including the expected dates of adoption and the expected impact on the financial position and results of operations of the Company.

ITEM 3: QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

There have been no material changes to the Company’s exposures to market risk since December 31, 2025 as disclosed in Part II, Item 7A. "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" in the Annual Report.

ITEM 4: CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the Exchange Act, the Company has evaluated, with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in such rules) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of that date.

There were no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended April 5, 2026 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting. The Company continues to review its disclosure controls and procedures, including its internal control over financial reporting, and may from time to time make changes aimed at enhancing their effectiveness and to ensure that the Company’s systems evolve with its business.

PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Various claims and legal proceedings generally incidental to the normal course of business are pending or threatened on behalf of or against the Company. While we cannot predict the outcome of these matters, we believe that any liability arising from them will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, liquidity, or results of operations.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

For a list of factors that could affect the Company’s business, results of operations, and financial condition, see the risk factors discussion provided in Part I—Item 1A of the Annual Report. There have been no material changes to the risk factors included in the Annual Report.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

The following table sets forth information with respect to purchases by the Company of shares of its common stock during the three-month period ended April 5, 2026:

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

During the quarter ended April 5, 2026, none of the Company's directors or officers (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 16a-1(f)) adopted, terminated or modified a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement (as such terms are defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K).

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

| Exhibit Number | |

31.1 Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934* 31.2 Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934* 32.1 Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002** 32.2 Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002** 101.SCH Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document* 101.CAL Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document* 101.LAB Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document* 101.PRE Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document* 101.DEF Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document* (104) Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL with applicable taxonomy extension information contained in Exhibits 101.*)

• Filed herewith ** Furnished herewith