Cognex Reports Record Revenue for 2012

Cognex Reports Record Revenue for 2012

NATICK, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cognex Corporation (NAS: CGNX) today announced that the company set a new record for annual revenue in 2012. Selected financial data for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2012, are compared to the fourth quarter of 2011, the third quarter of 2012, and the year ended December 31, 2011 in the table below.

A reconciliation of certain financial measures from GAAP to non-GAAP is shown in Exhibit 2.

"Our financial results for 2012 were quite good," said Dr. Robert J. Shillman, Chairman of Cognex. "We set a new record for annual revenue despite downturns in certain end markets, unfavorable currency exchange rates and weaker macroeconomic conditions. And we were highly profitable, delivering an operating margin of 26% and a net margin of 21%, even with the significant investments we made in new product development and the expansion of our sales team."

"We executed well in 2012," said Robert J. Willett, Chief Executive Officer of Cognex. "We brought outstanding products to market and strengthened our position in fast-growing markets for machine vision. We also made significant progress in new product development and have an exciting schedule of product launches lined up. We believe that these achievements combined with better than expected results for the fourth quarter of 2012 give us good forward momentum heading into 2013."

Details of the Quarter

Statement of Operations Highlights - Fourth Quarter of 2012

• Revenue decreased 2% from Q4 2011 and increased 3% from Q3 2012. The year-on-year decrease was due to lower surface inspection revenue compared to the record level realized in Q4 2011 and unfavorable currency exchange rates. On a sequential basis, revenue increased in both surface inspection and factory automation. These increases were partially offset by a further decline in the semiconductor and electronics capital equipment market.

• Gross margin was 75%, which was essentially flat with Q4 2011 and Q3 2012.

• Research, Development & Engineering (RD&E) spending increased 5% from Q4 2011 and 9% from Q3 2012. Both the year-on-year and sequential increases were due to the company's investment in engineering personnel to accelerate the introduction of new products. The year-on-year increase was partially offset by a lower bonus accrual. The sequential increase also includes higher spending on outside services for products under development.

• Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) spending decreased 2% compared to Q4 2011 and increased 6% from Q3 2012. Higher spending year-on-year on Cognex's sales force expansion, primarily in China, was more than offset by a lower bonus accrual, lower stock option expense, the timing of professional fees and the impact of currency exchange rates on the company's international operations. On a sequential basis, SG&A increased due to higher personnel-related costs, the timing of marketing initiatives and currency exchange rates.

• The quarterly tax rate was 24% compared to 12% in Q4 2011 and 19% in Q3 2012. The tax rate was 21%, 20% and 21%, respectively, excluding the tax adjustments detailed in Exhibit 2. The year-on-year increase was due to a higher percentage of income being earned in higher-tax jurisdictions.

Balance Sheet Highlights - December 31, 2012

• Cognex's financial position as of December 31, 2012, was very strong, with no debt and $388,520,000 in cash and investments. In Q4 2012, Cognex paid out $52,507,000 in dividends, which consisted of an $0.11 per share dividend which was scheduled to be paid in Q4 2012, an accelerated dividend of $0.11 per share that would normally be paid in Q1 2013, and a special dividend of $1.00 per share that prepays dividends for the eight quarters thereafter.

Financial Outlook

• Cognex expects revenue for Q1 2013 to be between $78 million and $81 million. Gross margin is expected to continue in the mid-70% range. Operating expenses are expected to increase by approximately 5% on a sequential basis. The effective tax rate is expected to be 19% before recording a tax benefit of $555,000 related to the retroactive reinstatement of the U.S. research and development tax credit for 2012.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

• Exhibit 2 of this press release includes a reconciliation of certain financial measures from GAAP to non-GAAP. Cognex believes these non-GAAP financial measures are helpful because they allow investors to more accurately compare Cognex results over multiple periods using the same methodology used by management in its budgeting process and in its review of Cognex's operating results. In particular, our non-GAAP presentations exclude the following: (1) stock option expenses for the purpose of calculating non-GAAP adjusted operating income, non-GAAP adjusted net income and non-GAAP adjusted net income per share (because these expenses have no current effect on cash or the future uses of cash, and they fluctuate as a result of changes in Cognex's stock price), (2) the impact of currency exchange rate fluctuations from non-GAAP revenue (because period-to-period comparisons are better understood by assuming constant exchange rates), and (3) certain one-time discrete events, such as tax adjustments. Cognex does not intend for non-GAAP financial measures to be considered in isolation, nor as a substitute for financial information provided in accordance with GAAP.

• The tax effect of items identified in the reconciliation is estimated by applying the effective tax rate to the pre-tax amount, unless the nature of the item and/or the tax jurisdiction in which the item has been recorded requires application of a specific tax rate or tax treatment. In that case, the tax effect of such items is estimated by applying such specific tax rate or tax treatment.

Analyst Conference Call and Simultaneous Webcast

• Cognex will host a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. eastern time. The telephone number is (866) 256-9239 (or (703) 639-1213 if outside the United States). A replay will begin at 8:00 p.m. eastern time today and will run continuously until 11:59 p.m. eastern time on Thursday, February 14, 2013. The telephone number for the replay is (888) 266-2081 (or (703) 925-2533 if outside the United States). The access code for both the live call and the replay is 1599412.

• Internet users can listen to a real-time audio broadcast of the conference call, or an archived recording, on the Cognex Investor Relations website: http://www.cognex.com/Investor.

About Cognex Corporation

Cognex Corporation designs, develops, manufactures and markets a range of products that incorporate sophisticated machine vision technology that gives them the ability to "see." Cognex products include barcode readers, machine vision sensors and machine vision systems that are used in factories, warehouses and distribution centers around the world to guide, gauge, inspect, identify and assure the quality of items during the manufacturing and distribution process. Cognex is the world's leader in the machine vision industry, having shipped more than 850,000 vision-based products, representing over $3 billion in cumulative revenue, since the company's founding in 1981. Headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, USA, Cognex has regional offices and distributors located throughout North America, Japan, Europe, Asia and Latin America. For details visit Cognex online at http://www.cognex.com.

Certain statements made in this news release, which do not relate solely to historical matters, are forward-looking statements.These statements can be identified by use of the words "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "believes," "projects," "intends," "plans," "will," "may," "shall," "could," "should," and similar words.These forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding business and market trends, future financial performance, expected areas of growth, product development activities, and strategic plans, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected.Such risks and uncertainties include: (1) current and future conditions in the global economy; (2) the cyclicality of the semiconductor and electronics industries; (3) the reliance on revenue from the automotive industry; (4) the inability to penetrate new markets; (5) the inability to achieve significant international revenue; (6) fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; (7) the loss of a large customer; (8) the inability to attract and retain skilled employees; (9) the reliance upon key suppliers to manufacture and deliver critical components for Cognex products; (10) the failure to effectively manage product transitions or accurately forecast customer demand; (11) the inability to design and manufacture high-quality products; (12) the technological obsolescence of current products and the inability to develop new products; (13) the failure to properly manage the distribution of products and services; (14) the inability to protect Cognex proprietary technology and intellectual property; (15) involvement in time-consuming and costly litigation; (16) the impact of competitive pressures; (17) the challenges in integrating and achieving expected results from acquired businesses; (18) potential impairment charges with respect to Cognex's investments or for acquired intangible assets or goodwill; (19) exposure to additional tax liabilities; (20) information security breaches or business systems disruptions; and (21) the other risks detailed in Cognex reports filed with the SEC, including its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.You should not place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Cognex disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking statements after the date of such statements.