Cognex Reports Record Quarterly Revenue

Cognex Reports Record Quarterly Revenue

NATICK, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cognex Corporation (NAS: CGNX) today announced its results for the second quarter of 2013. Selected financial data for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2013 is compared to the first quarter of 2013, the second quarter of 2012 and the first six months of 2012 in Table 1 below. A reconciliation of certain financial measures from GAAP to non-GAAP is shown in Exhibit 2 of this news release.

"I am happy that we set a new revenue record in the second quarter of 2013. We were also highly profitable, delivering an operating margin of 23% and a net margin of 19% even with increased investments in new product development and sales force expansion," said Dr. Robert J. Shillman, Chairman of Cognex.

"We performed well in the second quarter," said Robert J. Willett, Chief Executive Officer of Cognex. "Revenue grew year-on-year due to strong execution in ID products and in China, two areas of strategic focus. More importantly, the rate of growth appears to be accelerating, which we believe is as an indication that our investments in new products and our sales channel are paying off. Profitability was lower year-on-year because of these investments but we expect to see margins expand in the second half of 2013."

Mr. Willett continued, "Revenue for Q3 2013 is expected to increase between 2% and 5% on a sequential basis despite the seasonal slowdown typically experienced in the factory automation market during the summer months. This growth is expected as a result of large orders received late in Q2 that are scheduled for Q3 delivery, including significant orders for our ID products to be used in the distribution facilities of a major retailer."

Details of the Quarter

Statement of Operations Highlights - Second Quarter of 2013

• Revenue increased 3% from Q2 2012 and 7% from Q1 2013. On a year-on-year basis, growth came from the factory automation market, where revenue increased 9% to set a new quarterly record of $67 million. Partially offsetting this growth was lower revenue from the semiconductor and electronics capital equipment and surface vision markets. On a sequential basis, revenue grew in all three market segments, with the largest increase in absolute dollars coming from factory automation.

• Gross margin was 76% for each quarter presented.

• Research, Development & Engineering (RD&E) spending increased 15% from Q2 2012 and 5% from Q1 2013. The increase year-on-year was due to the company's investment in engineering personnel hired to accelerate the introduction of new products. The sequential increase was due to a higher bonus accrual.

• Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) spending increased 11% from Q2 2012 and 4% from Q1 2013. The increase, both year-on-year and sequentially, was due to Cognex's sales force expansion. Also contributing to the year-on-year increase was higher stock option expense and a higher bonus accrual. The sequential increase is also due to a higher bonus accrual and the timing of marketing initiatives. Partially offsetting these increases was the impact of currency exchange rates on the company's international operations.

• Investment and other income was $517,000 in Q2 2013, $1,702,000 in Q2 2012, and $509,000 in Q1 2013. The decrease year-on-year is primarily due to a one-time investment gain of $1,000,000 recognized on the sale of euro-denominated investments in Q2 2012.

• The tax rate was 19% in Q2 2013 compared to 21% in Q2 2012 and 16% in Q1 2013. Excluding discrete tax items, the tax rate was 19%, 21% and 19%, respectively (tax adjustments are summarized in Exhibit 2). The tax rate excluding tax adjustments decreased year-on-year due to a higher percentage of income being earned in lower-tax jurisdictions.

Balance Sheet Highlights - June 30, 2013

• Cognex's financial position as of June 30, 2013, was very strong, with no debt and $426,000,000 in cash and investments. During Q2 2013, Cognex spent approximately $12,000,000 to repurchase 268,000 shares of its common stock on the open market at an average price of $44.37 per share.

Financial Outlook

• Cognex expects revenue for Q3 2013 to be between $88 million and $91 million. Gross margin is expected to continue in the mid-70% range. Operating expenses are expected to increase by less than 2% on a sequential basis. The effective tax rate is expected to be 19%.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

• Exhibit 2 of this news 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, non-GAAP presentations exclude the following: (1) stock option expense 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. 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, the tax effect is estimated by applying the relevant specific tax rate or tax treatment rather than the effective tax rate.

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, August 1, 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 1613829.

• 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, timing of order shipments, customer order rates, expected areas of growth, research and development and sales 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.