Investing in the Hidden Winners of AI
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
0mins
Source: Fool
- Cognex Developments: In 2026, Cognex launched the In-Sight Vision Controller powered by Nvidia, enabling compute-intensive inspection tasks directly on the camera unit, enhancing factory robots' vision capabilities and likely solidifying its dominance in the machine vision market.
- Growing Market Demand: Cognex's OneVision platform is now generally available to manufacturers, with over 100 customers building AI-powered inspection applications in beta, indicating a rapid increase in demand for efficient automation solutions that could significantly boost future revenues.
- Zebra Technology Innovations: Zebra Technologies showcased Frontline AI Blueprints at Automate 2026, which are pre-built AI frameworks that can be deployed directly into manufacturing and retail operations, expected to significantly improve operational efficiency and reduce labor costs, enhancing its competitive edge.
- Expanding Customer Base: Zebra's installed base spans over 10,000 customers across 100 countries, providing a recurring revenue stream, and as physical AI expands, Zebra stands to benefit at the infrastructure level, reinforcing its position in the industry.
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Analyst Views on CGNX
Wall Street analysts forecast CGNX stock price to fall
6 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
2 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 63.960
Low
35.00
Averages
45.33
High
54.00
Current: 63.960
Low
35.00
Averages
45.33
High
54.00
About CGNX
Cognex Corporation is a global technology company in industrial machine vision systems that seeks to improve efficiency and help solve critical manufacturing and distribution challenges, providing support across a diverse set of industrial end markets. The Company operates through the machine vision technology segment. Its solutions blend hardware and software to capture and analyze visual information, aiding the automation of manufacturing and distribution tasks for customers worldwide. Machine vision products are used to automate the manufacturing and distribution of discrete items, such as mobile phones, automotive components, and consumer goods, by locating, identifying, inspecting, and measuring them. Machine vision is important for applications in which human vision is inadequate to meet requirements for size, accuracy, or speed, or in instances where substantial cost savings or quality improvements are maintained.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Investing in the Hidden Winners of AI
- Cognex Developments: In 2026, Cognex launched the In-Sight Vision Controller powered by Nvidia, enabling compute-intensive inspection tasks directly on the camera unit, enhancing factory robots' vision capabilities and likely solidifying its dominance in the machine vision market.
- Growing Market Demand: Cognex's OneVision platform is now generally available to manufacturers, with over 100 customers building AI-powered inspection applications in beta, indicating a rapid increase in demand for efficient automation solutions that could significantly boost future revenues.
- Zebra Technology Innovations: Zebra Technologies showcased Frontline AI Blueprints at Automate 2026, which are pre-built AI frameworks that can be deployed directly into manufacturing and retail operations, expected to significantly improve operational efficiency and reduce labor costs, enhancing its competitive edge.
- Expanding Customer Base: Zebra's installed base spans over 10,000 customers across 100 countries, providing a recurring revenue stream, and as physical AI expands, Zebra stands to benefit at the infrastructure level, reinforcing its position in the industry.
See More
Investment Opportunities in Cognex and Zebra Technologies for AI Growth
- Cognex Product Launch: In April 2026, Cognex launched the In-Sight Vision Controller powered by Nvidia, enabling compute-intensive inspection tasks directly on the camera unit, which enhances production efficiency and reduces reliance on external PCs.
- Growing Market Demand: The rapid adoption of Cognex's OneVision platform, with over 100 customers testing it post-launch, indicates strong demand from manufacturers for AI-driven inspection applications that operate without data scientist support, further solidifying its market leadership.
- Zebra's Infrastructure Advantage: Zebra Technologies enhanced its data capture infrastructure through the 2025 acquisition of Photoneo, providing 3D vision systems for robotic guidance in warehouses and logistics centers, which improves operational efficiency and addresses item alignment challenges.
- Practical AI Framework Applications: At the Automate 2026 conference, Zebra showcased Frontline AI Blueprints, pre-built AI frameworks that can be directly deployed in manufacturing and retail operations, significantly improving real-time accuracy in inventory management and automating manual tasks.
See More
Financial Analysis of Cognex and Power Integrations
- Cognex Financial Performance: In FY 2025, Cognex reported nearly $994.4 million in revenue, reflecting an 8.7% year-over-year growth, with net income around $114.4 million and a net margin of approximately 11.5%, indicating a steady recovery in industrial demand and ongoing adoption of automated inspection tools.
- Power Integrations Revenue Growth: Power Integrations generated approximately $443.5 million in revenue for FY 2025, marking a 5.9% increase year-over-year, although its net margin decreased to about 5.0%, highlighting the importance of its high-voltage analog integrated circuits in power conversion.
- Risk Analysis: Cognex faces significant risks from technological obsolescence, particularly in integrating AI into its systems, while Power Integrations is subject to the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and its reliance on third-party foundries, which could impact order fulfillment.
- Valuation Comparison: Cognex trades at a forward P/E of 33.9, slightly above the sector benchmark, while Power Integrations has a P/S ratio of 9.4, indicating differences in market valuation, with Cognex expected to achieve a 12% revenue growth in 2026.
See More
Financial Analysis of Cognex and Power Integrations
- Cognex Financial Performance: In FY 2025, Cognex reported revenue of nearly $994.4 million, reflecting an 8.7% year-over-year growth, with net income around $114.4 million and a net margin of approximately 11.5%, indicating a steady recovery in industrial demand and ongoing adoption of automated inspection tools.
- Power Integrations Revenue Growth: During the same period, Power Integrations generated approximately $443.5 million in revenue, marking a 5.9% increase year-over-year, although its net margin decreased to about 5.0%; however, its debt-free status and a current ratio of 6.5x demonstrate strong short-term liquidity.
- Market Competition Risks: Cognex faces intense competition from large tech firms and niche providers, particularly regarding the risk of technological obsolescence in AI integration, with 67% of its revenue derived from international markets, making it highly sensitive to trade tensions.
- Future Growth Expectations: Cognex anticipates a 12% revenue increase in 2026 to about $1.1 billion, with net income projected to more than double to $240 million, showcasing its growth potential driven by a strong customer base, despite cautious market sentiment regarding its future valuation.
See More
Investment Analysis: Cognex vs Power Integrations
- Cognex Financial Performance: In FY 2025, Cognex reported revenue of nearly $994.4 million, reflecting an 8.7% year-over-year growth, with a net income of approximately $114.4 million and a net margin of about 11.5%, indicating a steady recovery in industrial demand and ongoing adoption of automated inspection tools.
- Power Integrations Market Risks: Power Integrations generated approximately $443.5 million in revenue for FY 2025, a 5.9% increase, but its net margin fell to 5.0%, primarily due to fluctuations in the semiconductor market, with its top ten customers accounting for 80% of revenue, adding significant business risk.
- Technological Integration Challenges: Cognex faces risks of technological obsolescence, particularly in integrating artificial intelligence into its systems, which could impact its market position if it fails to keep pace with competitors, while Power Integrations must navigate the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry, which can lead to sharp demand drops.
- Future Growth Expectations: Cognex anticipates a 12% revenue increase in 2026 to about $1.1 billion, with net income expected to more than double to $240 million, showcasing strong performance across its customer base, while Power Integrations needs to identify new growth avenues in a competitive market.
See More
Aeva vs. Cognex: A Comparative Analysis of Computer Vision Market Strategies
- Aeva's Growth Potential: Aeva's revenue reached $18.1 million in FY 2025, marking a 99.4% increase despite a net loss of approximately $145.4 million, indicating rapid expansion in automated driving and robotics, although a customer concentration of 64% adds significant business risk.
- Cognex's Steady Performance: Cognex achieved approximately $994.4 million in revenue for FY 2025, an 8.7% increase, with a net income of about $114.4 million and a net margin of 11.5%, showcasing its stable profitability and leadership in the industrial automation sector.
- Risk Profile Comparison: Aeva faces significant risks due to high customer concentration, which could severely impact financial performance if major clients withdraw, while Cognex contends with market pressures from low-cost competitors and international trade risks, particularly as 67% of its revenue comes from overseas markets.
- Valuation Discrepancy: Aeva's P/S ratio stands at 80.2x, reflecting its high valuation in the early growth stage, whereas Cognex's Forward P/E is 41.0x, indicating a mature profit model and relatively stable financial condition, prompting investors to choose based on their risk appetite.
See More
Investing in the Hidden Winners of AI
- Cognex Developments: In 2026, Cognex launched the In-Sight Vision Controller powered by Nvidia, enabling compute-intensive inspection tasks directly on the camera unit, enhancing factory robots' vision capabilities and likely solidifying its dominance in the machine vision market.
- Growing Market Demand: Cognex's OneVision platform is now generally available to manufacturers, with over 100 customers building AI-powered inspection applications in beta, indicating a rapid increase in demand for efficient automation solutions that could significantly boost future revenues.
- Zebra Technology Innovations: Zebra Technologies showcased Frontline AI Blueprints at Automate 2026, which are pre-built AI frameworks that can be deployed directly into manufacturing and retail operations, expected to significantly improve operational efficiency and reduce labor costs, enhancing its competitive edge.
- Expanding Customer Base: Zebra's installed base spans over 10,000 customers across 100 countries, providing a recurring revenue stream, and as physical AI expands, Zebra stands to benefit at the infrastructure level, reinforcing its position in the industry.
See More
Investment Opportunities in Cognex and Zebra Technologies for AI Growth
- Cognex Product Launch: In April 2026, Cognex launched the In-Sight Vision Controller powered by Nvidia, enabling compute-intensive inspection tasks directly on the camera unit, which enhances production efficiency and reduces reliance on external PCs.
- Growing Market Demand: The rapid adoption of Cognex's OneVision platform, with over 100 customers testing it post-launch, indicates strong demand from manufacturers for AI-driven inspection applications that operate without data scientist support, further solidifying its market leadership.
- Zebra's Infrastructure Advantage: Zebra Technologies enhanced its data capture infrastructure through the 2025 acquisition of Photoneo, providing 3D vision systems for robotic guidance in warehouses and logistics centers, which improves operational efficiency and addresses item alignment challenges.
- Practical AI Framework Applications: At the Automate 2026 conference, Zebra showcased Frontline AI Blueprints, pre-built AI frameworks that can be directly deployed in manufacturing and retail operations, significantly improving real-time accuracy in inventory management and automating manual tasks.
See More
Financial Analysis of Cognex and Power Integrations
- Cognex Financial Performance: In FY 2025, Cognex reported nearly $994.4 million in revenue, reflecting an 8.7% year-over-year growth, with net income around $114.4 million and a net margin of approximately 11.5%, indicating a steady recovery in industrial demand and ongoing adoption of automated inspection tools.
- Power Integrations Revenue Growth: Power Integrations generated approximately $443.5 million in revenue for FY 2025, marking a 5.9% increase year-over-year, although its net margin decreased to about 5.0%, highlighting the importance of its high-voltage analog integrated circuits in power conversion.
- Risk Analysis: Cognex faces significant risks from technological obsolescence, particularly in integrating AI into its systems, while Power Integrations is subject to the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and its reliance on third-party foundries, which could impact order fulfillment.
- Valuation Comparison: Cognex trades at a forward P/E of 33.9, slightly above the sector benchmark, while Power Integrations has a P/S ratio of 9.4, indicating differences in market valuation, with Cognex expected to achieve a 12% revenue growth in 2026.
See More
Financial Analysis of Cognex and Power Integrations
- Cognex Financial Performance: In FY 2025, Cognex reported revenue of nearly $994.4 million, reflecting an 8.7% year-over-year growth, with net income around $114.4 million and a net margin of approximately 11.5%, indicating a steady recovery in industrial demand and ongoing adoption of automated inspection tools.
- Power Integrations Revenue Growth: During the same period, Power Integrations generated approximately $443.5 million in revenue, marking a 5.9% increase year-over-year, although its net margin decreased to about 5.0%; however, its debt-free status and a current ratio of 6.5x demonstrate strong short-term liquidity.
- Market Competition Risks: Cognex faces intense competition from large tech firms and niche providers, particularly regarding the risk of technological obsolescence in AI integration, with 67% of its revenue derived from international markets, making it highly sensitive to trade tensions.
- Future Growth Expectations: Cognex anticipates a 12% revenue increase in 2026 to about $1.1 billion, with net income projected to more than double to $240 million, showcasing its growth potential driven by a strong customer base, despite cautious market sentiment regarding its future valuation.
See More
Investment Analysis: Cognex vs Power Integrations
- Cognex Financial Performance: In FY 2025, Cognex reported revenue of nearly $994.4 million, reflecting an 8.7% year-over-year growth, with a net income of approximately $114.4 million and a net margin of about 11.5%, indicating a steady recovery in industrial demand and ongoing adoption of automated inspection tools.
- Power Integrations Market Risks: Power Integrations generated approximately $443.5 million in revenue for FY 2025, a 5.9% increase, but its net margin fell to 5.0%, primarily due to fluctuations in the semiconductor market, with its top ten customers accounting for 80% of revenue, adding significant business risk.
- Technological Integration Challenges: Cognex faces risks of technological obsolescence, particularly in integrating artificial intelligence into its systems, which could impact its market position if it fails to keep pace with competitors, while Power Integrations must navigate the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry, which can lead to sharp demand drops.
- Future Growth Expectations: Cognex anticipates a 12% revenue increase in 2026 to about $1.1 billion, with net income expected to more than double to $240 million, showcasing strong performance across its customer base, while Power Integrations needs to identify new growth avenues in a competitive market.
See More
Aeva vs. Cognex: A Comparative Analysis of Computer Vision Market Strategies
- Aeva's Growth Potential: Aeva's revenue reached $18.1 million in FY 2025, marking a 99.4% increase despite a net loss of approximately $145.4 million, indicating rapid expansion in automated driving and robotics, although a customer concentration of 64% adds significant business risk.
- Cognex's Steady Performance: Cognex achieved approximately $994.4 million in revenue for FY 2025, an 8.7% increase, with a net income of about $114.4 million and a net margin of 11.5%, showcasing its stable profitability and leadership in the industrial automation sector.
- Risk Profile Comparison: Aeva faces significant risks due to high customer concentration, which could severely impact financial performance if major clients withdraw, while Cognex contends with market pressures from low-cost competitors and international trade risks, particularly as 67% of its revenue comes from overseas markets.
- Valuation Discrepancy: Aeva's P/S ratio stands at 80.2x, reflecting its high valuation in the early growth stage, whereas Cognex's Forward P/E is 41.0x, indicating a mature profit model and relatively stable financial condition, prompting investors to choose based on their risk appetite.
See More
