News Details

NATICK, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX) today announced that the company set new annual records for revenue and net income in 2013. Selected financial data for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2013 is compared to the third quarter of 2013, the fourth quarter of 2012 and the year ended December 31, 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.

Table 1

										Net Income per
				Revenue			Net Income			Diluted Share*
Quarterly Comparisons
Current quarter: Q4-13				$95,696,000			$20,443,000			$0.23
Prior year's quarter: Q4-12				$82,168,000			$16,244,000			$0.19
Change from Q4-12 to Q4-13				16%			26%			23%
Prior quarter: Q3-13				$90,788,000			$20,727,000			$0.23
Change from Q3-13 to Q4-13				5%			(1%)			0%
Year-to-Date Comparisons
Year ended December 31, 2013				$353,886,000			$73,573,000			$0.83
Year ended December 31, 2012				$324,279,000			$68,098,000			$0.78
Change from 2012 to 2013				9%			8%			6%

*Adjusted for the two-for-one stock split effective September 16, 2013.

"Cognex reported outstanding financial results for 2013 tonight, setting new annual records for revenue, net income and earnings per share," said Dr. Robert J. Shillman, Chairman of Cognex.

"We are pleased with our strong execution in 2013," said Robert J. Willett, Chief Executive Officer of Cognex. "Our product development and sales initiatives drove higher revenue from the factory automation market, where we set a new record for annual revenue. Our efforts really began to deliver in the second half of the year, when factory automation revenue growth was in excess of our 20% long-term target, and we reported higher operating margins than in the first half."

Details of the Quarter

Statement of Operations Highlights - Fourth Quarter of 2013

• Revenue was a record $95.7 million in Q4 2013, an increase of 16% from Q4 2012 and 5% from Q3 2013. Growth came from the factory automation market, where revenue increased 28% year-on-year and 11% sequentially to set a new quarterly record of $80 million. The increase in factory automation revenue came from a variety of industries.
• Gross margin was 77% for Q4 2013 as compared to 75% in Q4 2012 and 76% in Q3 2013 due to a higher percentage of revenue coming from modular vision systems, which have higher product margins than surface inspection systems.
• Research, Development & Engineering (RD&E) spending increased 17% from Q4 2012 and 4% from Q3 2013. The increase year-on-year and sequentially was due to the company's investment in new product development. Also contributing to the sequential increase was a lower level of employee vacation taken than in Q3.
• Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) spending increased 18% from Q4 2012 and 6% from Q3 2013. The increase year-on-year was due to Cognex's sales force expansion, higher commissions related to the revenue increase, and higher employee-related costs. The increase on a sequential basis was also due to higher commissions, the timing of marketing initiatives and the impact of foreign exchange rates on the company's international operations.
• The tax rate was 18% in Q4 2013 compared to 24% in Q4 2012 and 13% in Q3 2013. Excluding tax adjustments, the tax rate for these periods 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 - December 31, 2013

• Cognex's financial position as of December 31, 2013, was very strong, with no debt and $455,000,000 in cash and investments. In 2013, Cognex spent approximately $48,000,000 to repurchase 1,719,000 shares of its common stock on the open market at an average split-adjusted price of $27.87 per share. The repurchase of these shares offset the potential dilution from 2013 employee stock options awards, which the company believes are instrumental to its ability to recruit, retain and motivate the highest caliber employees. The company intends to continue to repurchase shares of its common stock in 2014, subject to market conditions and other relevant factors.

Financial Outlook

• Cognex expects revenue for Q1 2014 to be between $88 million and $91 million. This is a decrease of 5% to 8% from Q4 2013 due to the typical decline in factory automation revenue that Cognex experiences from Q4 to Q1.
• Gross margin is expected to continue in the mid-70% range.
• Operating expenses are expected to be relatively flat 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 that management employs 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 Sunday, February 16, 2014. 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 1631607.
• 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 975,000 vision-based products, representing over $3.5 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 and other statements of a similar sense. These forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding business and market trends, future financial performance, customer order rates, expected areas of growth, research and development and sales activities, stock repurchases, 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 or consumer electronics industries; (4) the inability to penetrate new markets; (5) the inability to achieve significant international revenue; (6) fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and the use of derivative instruments; (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 our 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 our proprietary technology and intellectual property; (15) our 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 our investments or for acquired intangible assets or goodwill; (19) exposure to additional tax liabilities; (20) information security breaches or business system 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, 2013. 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.

Exhibit 1
COGNEX CORPORATION
Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts
				Three-months Ended															Twelve-months Ended
				Dec. 31,					Sept. 29,					Dec. 31,					Dec. 31,					Dec. 31,
				2013					2013					2012					2013					2012
Revenue				$	95,696				$	90,788				$	82,168				$	353,886				$	324,279
Cost of revenue (1)					22,159					21,348					20,382					84,080					79,495
Gross margin					73,537					69,440					61,786					269,806					244,784
Percentage of revenue					77	%				76	%				75	%				76	%				75	%
Research, development, and engineering expenses (1)					12,695					12,184					10,886					48,087					41,549
Percentage of revenue					13	%				13	%				13	%				14	%				13	%
Selling, general, and administrative expenses (1)					36,007					33,877					30,387					135,351					119,828
Percentage of revenue					38	%				37	%				37	%				38	%				37	%
Operating income					24,835					23,379					20,513					86,368					83,407
Percentage of revenue					26	%				26	%				25	%				24	%				26	%
Foreign currency gain (loss)					(343	)				(442	)				197					(646	)				(880	)
Investment and other income					367					771					734					2,164					4,103
Income before income tax expense					24,859					23,708					21,444					87,886					86,630
Income tax expense					4,416					2,981					5,200					14,313					18,532
Net income				$	20,443				$	20,727				$	16,244				$	73,573				$	68,098
Percentage of revenue					21	%				23	%				20	%				21	%				21	%
Earnings per weighted-average common and common-equivalent share (2):
Basic				$	0.23				$	0.24				$	0.19				$	0.85				$	0.79
Diluted				$	0.23				$	0.23				$	0.19				$	0.83				$	0.78
Weighted-average common and common-equivalent shares outstanding (2):
Basic					87,096					87,339					85,996					86,946					85,666
Diluted					89,265					89,359					87,458					88,901					87,280
Cash dividends per common share (2)				$	-				$	-				$	0.61				$	-				$	0.77
Cash and investments per common share (2)				$	5.24				$	5.08				$	4.51				$	5.24				$	4.51
Book value per common share (2)				$	7.42				$	7.31				$	6.65				$	7.42				$	6.65
(1) Amounts include stock option expense, as follows:
Cost of revenue				$	217				$	193				$	134				$	924				$	742
Research, development, and engineering					576					546					414					2,585					2,149
Selling, general, and administrative					1,528					1,481					1,177					7,111					5,629
Total stock option expense				$	2,321				$	2,220				$	1,725				$	10,620				$	8,520
(2) Prior period share and per share amounts have been adjusted to reflect the 2-for-1 stock split of the Company's common stock that occurred in Q3 of 2013.

Exhibit 2
COGNEX CORPORATION
Reconciliation of Selected Items from GAAP to Non-GAAP
(Unaudited)
Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts
				Three-months Ended																Twelve-months Ended
				Dec. 31,					Sept. 29,					Dec. 31,						Dec. 31,					Dec. 31,
				2013					2013					2012						2013					2012
Adjustment for stock option expense
Operating income (GAAP)				$	24,835				$	23,379				$	20,513					$	86,368				$	83,407
Stock option expense					2,321					2,220					1,725						10,620					8,520
Operating income (Non-GAAP)				$	27,156				$	25,599				$	22,238					$	96,988				$	91,927
Percentage of revenue (Non-GAAP)					28	%				28	%				27	%					27	%				28	%
Net income (GAAP)				$	20,443				$	20,727				$	16,244					$	73,573				$	68,098
Stock option expense					2,321					2,220					1,725						10,620					8,520
Tax effect on stock options					(756	)				(721	)				(560	)					(3,482	)				(2,772	)
Net income (Non-GAAP)				$	22,008				$	22,226				$	17,409					$	80,711				$	73,846
Percentage of revenue (Non-GAAP)					23	%				24	%				21	%					23	%				23	%
Net income per diluted share (GAAP) (1)				$	0.23				$	0.23				$	0.19					$	0.83				$	0.78
Stock option expense per diluted share					0.03					0.03					0.01						0.12					0.10
Tax effect on stock options					(0.01	)				(0.01	)				-						(0.05	)				(0.03	)
Net income per diluted share excluding stock option expense (Non-GAAP)				$	0.25				$	0.25				$	0.20					$	0.90				$	0.85
(1) Prior period per share amounts have been adjusted to reflect the 2-for-1 stock split of the Company's common stock that occurred in Q3 of 2013.
Exclusion of tax adjustments
Income before income tax expense (GAAP)				$	24,859				$	23,708				$	21,444					$	87,886				$	86,630
Income tax expense (GAAP)				$	4,416				$	2,981				$	5,200					$	14,313				$	18,532
Effective tax rate (GAAP)					18	%				13	%				24	%					16	%				21	%
Tax adjustments:
True up of annual tax rate					(307	)				-					595						-					-
Discrete tax events					-					(1,523	)				101						(2,078	)				(256	)
					(307	)				(1,523	)				696						(2,078	)				(256	)
Income tax expense excluding tax adjustments (Non-GAAP)				$	4,723				$	4,504				$	4,504					$	16,391				$	18,788
Effective tax rate (Non-GAAP)					19	%				19	%				21	%					19	%				21	%

Exhibit 3
COGNEX CORPORATION
Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
In thousands
				December 31,				December 31,
				2013				2012
Assets
Cash and investments				$	455,121			$	388,520
Accounts receivable					53,015				42,387
Inventories					25,694				26,182
Property, plant, and equipment					37,136				34,820
Goodwill and intangible assets					96,412				96,459
Other assets					42,321				39,237
Total assets				$	709,699			$	627,605
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities				$	43,818			$	36,405
Income taxes					6,028				6,225
Deferred revenue and customer deposits					15,941				12,690
Shareholders' equity					643,912				572,285
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity				$	709,699			$	627,605

Exhibit 4
COGNEX CORPORATION
Additional Information Schedule
(Unaudited)
Dollars in thousands
				Three-months Ended																Twelve-months Ended
				Dec. 31,					Sept. 29,					Dec. 31,						Dec. 31,					Dec. 31,
				2013					2013					2012						2013					2012
Revenue				$	95,696				$	90,788				$	82,168					$	353,886				$	324,279
Revenue by division:
Modular Vision Systems Division					89	%				86	%				82	%					87	%				84	%
Surface Inspection Systems Division					11	%				14	%				18	%					13	%				16	%
Total					100	%				100	%				100	%					100	%				100	%
Revenue by geography:
Americas					42	%				37	%				38	%					37	%				36	%
Europe					32	%				31	%				32	%					31	%				31	%
Asia					17	%				22	%				18	%					21	%				20	%
Japan					9	%				10	%				12	%					11	%				13	%
Total					100	%				100	%				100	%					100	%				100	%
Revenue by market:
Factory automation					84	%				80	%				76	%					80	%				75	%
Web and surface inspection					11	%				14	%				18	%					13	%				16	%
Semiconductor and electronics capital equipment					5	%				6	%				6	%					7	%				9	%
Total					100	%				100	%				100	%					100	%				100	%

Cognex Corporation
Susan Conway, 508-650-3353
Director of Investor Relations
susan.conway@cognex.com

Source: Cognex Corporation

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