Cognex Reports Third Quarter 2022 Results

Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX) today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2022. Table 1 below shows selected financial data for Q3-22 compared with Q3-21 and Q2-22, and for the nine months of 2022 compared with the same period in 2021.

“We expected the third quarter would be difficult for Cognex,” said Robert J. Willett, Chief Executive Officer of Cognex. “Two challenges in the business―the June fire at our primary contract manufacturer’s site that destroyed a large amount of our component inventory and the slowdown in capacity expansion for e-commerce fulfillment by certain customers—lowered revenue significantly on both a year-on-year and sequential basis.”

Mr. Willett continued, “While we believe that overcapacity in logistics will dampen our results again in Q4, we replenished our inventory positions following the fire more quickly than we anticipated, and we believe that business disruption is behind us. The leadership team and I are grateful for the perseverance demonstrated by Cognoids and our suppliers as we worked through a difficult situation.”

Details of the Quarter

Statement of Operations Highlights – Third Quarter of 2022

• Revenue decreased by 26% from Q3-21 and by 24% from Q2-22 (revenue decreased by 21% and 22%, respectively, in constant currency). The decline both year-on-year and sequentially in constant currency was due to the slowing of large customer projects in logistics for new fulfillment centers. In addition, the business disruption caused by the June fire that destroyed a large portion of the company’s component inventory reduced revenue broadly across end markets in Q3-22.
• Gross margin was 73% for Q3-22 compared to 70% for Q3-21 and 72% for Q2-22. The increase in gross margin year-on-year was due to a more favorable revenue mix in Q3-22, partially offset by the unfavorable impact of currency exchange rates on revenue.
• Research, Development, & Engineering (RD&E) expenses decreased by 2% from Q3-21 and were flat with Q2-22. Incentive compensation in Q3-22 was lower on both a year-on-year and sequential basis, reflecting the reduced revenue level. The company also benefited from a favorable impact of currency exchange rates. The lower expenses were partially offset by the company’s investment in engineering resources and higher stock-based compensation.
• Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) expenses decreased by 2% from Q3-21 and 6% from Q2-22. As with RD&E, the company benefited in Q3-22 from lower incentive compensation and a favorable impact of currency exchange rates. These savings were partially offset by higher personnel-related costs (including additional sales headcount and stock-based compensation) and travel expenses.
• Cognex recorded pre-tax charges of $2.9 million and $17.4 million in Q3-22 and Q2-22, respectively, related to the June 2022 fire at the company’s primary contract manufacturer. In particular, the charge in Q2-22 consisted of gross losses totaling $44.9 million for the write-off of company assets that were destroyed or abandoned in the fire less estimated insurance recoveries of $27.5 million. Insurance proceeds received by Cognex in Q4-22 were slightly higher at $27.6 million.
• The effective tax rate was 14% in Q3-22, 11% in Q3-21, and 9% in Q2-22. All periods presented include varying discrete tax benefits or expenses, which are summarized in Exhibit 2. Excluding these discrete tax items, the effective tax rate was 16% in Q3-22 and Q2-22 compared to 18% in Q3-21. The decrease year-on-year was due to more of the company’s profits being earned and taxed in lower-tax jurisdictions in 2022 and lower state taxes.

Balance Sheet Highlights – October 2, 2022

• Cognex’s financial position as of October 2, 2022 continued to be strong, with $818 million in cash and investments and no debt (following significant cash outflows to replenish inventory destroyed in the June fire). In the first nine months of 2022, Cognex generated $177 million in cash from operations. During the nine-month period, the company spent $178 million to repurchase its common stock and paid $34 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.
• Accounts receivable decreased by $34 million, or 26% from the end of 2021, and reflected the lower revenue level in Q3-22.

Financial Outlook – Q4 2022

• Cognex expects revenue for Q4-22 will be between $235 million and $255 million. At the mid-point, this range represents an increase sequentially due to improved production lead times relative to Q3-22. On a year-on-year basis, the company expects revenue will be roughly flat at the mid-point due to growth from the broader market being offset by lower spending on large projects in logistics and a roughly 10-basis point unfavorable impact of currency exchange rates.
• Gross margin for Q4-22 is expected to be in the low-70% range and reflect the significant premiums the company has been paying to procure components previously destroyed by the fire.
• The combined total of expenses for RD&E and SG&A, which excludes the loss from the fire, is expected to increase by low-single digits on a sequential basis due to higher incentive compensation as compared to Q3-22.
• The effective tax rate is expected to be 16%, excluding discrete tax items.

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 results over multiple periods using the same methodology that management employs in its budgeting process and in its review of operating results. Non-GAAP presentations exclude certain one-time discrete events, such as a fire loss and discrete tax adjustments (because these costs are outside of Cognex’s normal business operations and not used by management to assess Cognex’s operating results). 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 does not intend for non-GAAP financial measures to be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for financial information provided in accordance with GAAP.
• 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.

Analyst Conference Call and Simultaneous Webcast

• Cognex will host a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The telephone number is (877) 704-4573 (or (201) 389-0911 if outside the United States). A replay will begin at 8:00 p.m. EDT today and will be available until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, November 6, 2022. The telephone number for the replay is (877) 660-6853 (or (201) 612-7415 if outside the United States). The access code for both the live call and the replay is 13733415.
• 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.

About Cognex Corporation

Cognex Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and markets a wide range of image-based products, all of which use artificial intelligence (AI) techniques that give them the human-like ability to make decisions on what they see. Cognex products include machine vision systems, machine vision sensors, and barcode readers that are used in factories and distribution centers around the world where they eliminate production and shipping errors.

Cognex is the world's leader in the machine vision industry, having shipped more than 3 million image-based products, representing over $9 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.

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 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, future financial performance and financial targets, the expected impact of the fire at our primary contract manufacturer's warehouse on our assets, business and results of operations and related insurance recoveries, customer demand and order rates and timing of related revenue, managing supply shortages, delivery lead times, future product mix, research and development activities, sales and marketing activities, new product offerings and product development activities, capital expenditures, investments, liquidity, dividends and stock repurchases, strategic and growth plans, 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 reliance on key suppliers such as our primary contract manufacturer to manufacture and deliver quality products; (2) delays in the delivery of our products, the failure to meet delivery schedules, and resulting customer dissatisfaction or loss of sales; (3) the inability to obtain, or the delay in obtaining, components for our products at reasonable prices; (4) the failure to effectively manage product transitions or accurately forecast customer demand; (5) the inability to manage disruptions to our distribution centers or to our key suppliers; (6) the inability to design and manufacture high-quality products; (7) the impact, duration, and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the availability and effectiveness of vaccines as well as government lockdowns; (8) the loss of, or curtailment of purchases by, large customers in the logistics or consumer electronics industries; (9) information security breaches; (10) the inability to protect our proprietary technology and intellectual property; (11) the inability to attract and retain skilled employees and maintain our unique corporate culture; (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, including the management of lead times and delivery dates; (14) the impact of competitive pressures; (15) the challenges in integrating and achieving expected results from acquired businesses; (16) potential disruptions in our business systems; (17) potential impairment charges with respect to our investments or acquired intangible assets; (18) exposure to additional tax liabilities; (19) fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and the use of derivative instruments; (20) unfavorable global economic conditions, including increases in interest rates and high inflation rates; (21) business disruptions from natural or man-made disasters, such as fire, or public health issues; (22) economic, political, and other risks associated with international sales and operations, including the impact of the war in Ukraine; and (23) our involvement in time-consuming and costly litigation; and the other risks detailed in Cognex reports filed with the SEC, including its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended October 2, 2022. 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.

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