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Cognex Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Financial Results

February 13, 2020 4:06 PM

NATICK, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX) today reported financial results for 2019. Table 1 below shows selected financial data for Q4-19 compared with Q4-18 and Q3-19, and the year ended December 31, 2019 compared with the year ended December 31, 2018. Notably, Cognex recorded discrete tax items in Q4-19 that together resulted in a tax benefit of $61 million, or $0.35 per share.

Table 1

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Revenue

Net Income

Net Income
per Diluted
Share

Non-GAAP

Net Income

per Diluted
Share*

Quarterly Comparisons

Current quarter: Q4-19

$169,769

$80,327

$0.46

$0.11

Prior year’s quarter: Q4-18

$193,286

$45,418

$0.26

$0.26

Change: Q4-18 to Q4-19

(12%)

77%

77%

(58%)

Prior quarter: Q3-19

$183,325

$41,685

$0.24

$0.23

Change: Q3-19 to Q4-19

(7%)

93%

92%

(52%)

Yearly Comparisons

Year ended December 31, 2019

$725,625

$203,865

$1.16

$0.78

Year ended December 31, 2018

$806,338

$219,267

$1.24

$1.13

Change: 2018 to 2019

(10%)

(7%)

(6%)

(31%)

*Non-GAAP net income per diluted share excludes tax adjustments. A reconciliation from GAAP to Non-GAAP is shown in Exhibit 2 of this news release.

“Our fourth-quarter and full-year results reflect the serious challenges we faced in 2019 due to the deterioration of business conditions in the industrial markets that Cognex serves,” said Dr. Robert J. Shillman, Founder and Chairman of Cognex. “Given the strong long-term potential we see for Cognex, it is frustrating to report a decline in both revenue and profitability.”

“Difficult comparisons notwithstanding, we made major progress in 2019,” said Robert J. Willett, Chief Executive Officer of Cognex. “Revenue from specific areas that we have been prioritizing is growing nicely, and the scope of applications our technology can address continues to broaden. There is a lot to be positive about for Cognex and machine vision.”

Summary of the Year

Cognex revenue and profitability declined in 2019 due to delayed and reduced spending by customers in the company’s two largest markets (consumer electronics and automotive) amid weaker general manufacturing confidence and heightened uncertainty around global trade. Partially offsetting the shortfall was growth in logistics, a market that is in the early stages of adopting machine vision. Also, revenue nearly doubled from deep learning, an emerging technology that is expanding the boundaries of what machine vision can do. Following market acceptance of its deep learning techniques, Cognex further advanced its leadership in this area with the acquisition in Q4-19 of Korea-based deep learning developer Sualab Co., Ltd. (Sualab). Together with logistics, Cognex expects deep learning will be a major contributor to the company’s growth in the coming decade.

Details of the Quarter

Statement of Operations Highlights – Fourth Quarter of 2019

Balance Sheet Highlights – December 31, 2019

Financial Outlook – Q1 2020

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Analyst Conference Call and Simultaneous Webcast

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 2 million image-based products, representing over $7 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 forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding business and market conditions and trends, future financial performance, customer order rates and the timing of related revenue, expected areas of growth, emerging markets, future product mix, research and development activities, investments, strategic plans, expected benefits from acquisitions, dividends, stock repurchases, and 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) current and future conditions in the global economy, including the imposition of tariffs or export controls and the impact of the coronavirus outbreak; (2) the loss of, or curtailment of purchases by, a large customer; (3) the reliance on revenue from the consumer electronics or automotive industries; (4) the inability to penetrate the logistics industry and other new markets; (5) the inability to achieve significant international revenue; (6) fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and the use of derivative instruments; (7) information security breaches or business system disruptions; (8) the inability to attract and retain skilled employees; (9) the failure to effectively manage our growth; (10) the reliance upon key suppliers to manufacture and deliver critical components for our products; (11) the failure to effectively manage product transitions or accurately forecast customer demand; (12) the inability to design and manufacture high-quality products; (13) the technological obsolescence of current products and the inability to develop new products; (14) the failure to properly manage the distribution of products and services; (15) the inability to protect our proprietary technology and intellectual property; (16) our involvement in time-consuming and costly litigation; (17) the impact of competitive pressures; (18) the challenges in integrating and achieving expected results from acquired businesses, including the recent acquisition of Sualab; (19) potential impairment charges with respect to our investments or for acquired intangible assets or goodwill; (20) exposure to additional tax liabilities; and the other risks detailed in Cognex reports filed with the SEC, including its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. 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.

COGNEX CORPORATION

Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts

Three-months Ended

Twelve-months Ended

December 31,
2019

September 29,
2019

December 31,
2018

December 31,
2019

December 31,
2018

Revenue

$

169,769

$

183,325

$

193,286

$

725,625

$

806,338

Cost of revenue (1)

44,871

47,632

52,825

189,754

206,052

Gross margin

124,898

135,693

140,461

535,871

600,286

Percentage of revenue

74

%

74

%

73

%

74

%

74

%

Research, development, and engineering

expenses (1)

32,991

28,115

28,781

119,427

116,445

Percentage of revenue

19

%

15

%

15

%

16

%

14

%

Selling, general, and administrative expenses (1)

74,300

64,486

66,433

273,842

262,699

Percentage of revenue

44

%

35

%

34

%

38

%

33

%

Operating income

17,607

43,092

45,247

142,602

221,142

Percentage of revenue

10%

24

%

23

%

20

%

27

%

Foreign currency gain (loss)

894

(1,295

)

(356

)

(509

)

(1,064

)

Investment and other income

4,420

5,570

3,858

20,901

14,496

Income before income tax expense

22,921

47,367

48,749

162,994

234,574

Income tax expense (benefit)

(57,406

)

5,682

3,331

(40,871

)

15,307

Net income

$

80,327

$

41,685

$

45,418

$

203,865

$

219,267

Percentage of revenue

47

%

23

%

23

%

28

%

27

%

Net income per weighted-average common and common-equivalent share:

Basic

$

0.47

$

0.24

$

0.26

$

1.19

$

1.27

Diluted

$

0.46

$

0.24

$

0.26

$

1.16

$

1.24

Weighted-average common and common-equivalent shares outstanding:

Basic

171,607

170,744

171,501

171,194

172,333

Diluted

175,500

174,449

175,527

175,269

177,406

Cash dividends per common share

$

0.055

$

0.050

$

0.050

$

0.205

$

0.185

Cash and investments per common share

$

4.90

$

5.37

$

4.67

$

4.90

$

4.67

Book value per common share

$

7.86

$

7.25

$

6.65

$

7.86

$

6.65

(1) Amounts include stock option expense, as follows:

Cost of revenue

$

390

$

334

$

549

$

1,504

$

2,447

Research, development, and engineering

4,115

3,616

3,412

15,748

14,578

Selling, general, and administrative

7,642

6,244

5,790

28,337

24,065

Total stock option expense

$

12,147

$

10,194

$

9,751

$

45,589

$

41,090

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

December 31,
2019

September 29,
2019

December 31,
2018

December 31,
2019

December 31,
2018

Adjustment for stock option expense and tax benefit for stock option exercises

Operating income (GAAP)

$

17,607

$

43,092

$

45,247

$

142,602

$

221,142

Stock option expense

12,147

10,194

9,751

45,589

41,090

Operating income (Non-GAAP)

$

29,754

$

53,286

$

54,998

$

188,191

$

262,232

Percentage of revenue (Non-GAAP)

18%

29

%

28

%

26

%

33

%

Net income (GAAP)

$

80,327

$

41,685

$

45,418

$

203,865

$

219,267

Stock option expense

12,147

10,194

9,751

45,589

41,090

Tax effect on stock option expense

(1,917

)

(1,804

)

(1,709

)

(7,756

)

(7,317

)

Discrete tax benefit related to employee stock options

(1,925

)

(569

)

(88

)

(6,472

)

(8,488

)

Net income (Non-GAAP)

$

88,632

$

49,506

$

53,372

$

235,226

$

244,552

Percentage of revenue (Non-GAAP)

52

%

27

%

28

%

32

%

30

%

Net income per diluted weighted-average common and common-equivalent share (GAAP)

$

0.46

$

0.24

$

0.26

$

1.16

$

1.24

Per share impact of non-GAAP adjustments identified above

0.05

0.04

0.04

0.18

0.14

Net income per diluted weighted-average common and common-equivalent share (Non-GAAP)

$

0.51

$

0.28

$

0.30

$

1.34

$

1.38

Diluted weighted-average common and common-equivalent shares outstanding (GAAP)

175,500

174,449

175,527

175,269

177,406

Exclusion of tax adjustments

Income before income tax expense (GAAP)

$

22,921

$

47,367

$

48,749

$

162,994

$

234,574

Income tax expense (benefit) (GAAP)

$

(57,406

)

$

5,682

$

3,331

$

(40,871

)

$

15,307

Effective tax rate (GAAP)

(250

)%

12

%

7

%

(25

)%

7

%

Tax adjustments:

Discrete tax benefit related to employee stock options

1,925

569

88

6,472

8,488

Discrete tax benefit related to Tax Act

89

7,788

Discrete tax expense related to migration of acquired IP

(28,528

)

(28,528

)

Discrete tax benefit related to change in tax structure

87,500

87,500

Other discrete tax events

602

1,327

190

1,932

1,847

Income tax expense excluding tax adjustments (Non-GAAP)

$

4,093

$

7,578

$

3,698

$

26,505

$

33,430

Effective tax rate (Non-GAAP)

18

%

16

%

8

%

16

%

14

%

Net income excluding tax adjustments (Non-GAAP)

$

18,828

$

39,789

$

45,051

$

136,489

$

201,144

Percentage of revenue (Non-GAAP)

11%

22

%

23

%

19

%

25

%

Net income per diluted weighted-average common and common-equivalent share (GAAP)

$

0.46

$

0.24

$

0.26

$

1.16

$

1.24

Per share impact of non-GAAP adjustments identified above

(0.35

)

(0.01

)

(0.38

)

(0.11

)

Net income per diluted weighted-average common and common-equivalent share (Non-GAAP)

$

0.11

$

0.23

$

0.26

$

0.78

$

1.13

Diluted weighted-average common and common-equivalent shares outstanding (GAAP)

175,500

174,449

175,527

175,269

177,406

COGNEX CORPORATION

Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

Dollars in thousands

December 31,
2019

December 31,
2018

Assets

Cash and investments

$

845,353

$

797,599

Accounts receivable

103,447

119,172

Inventories

60,261

83,282

Property, plant, and equipment

89,443

91,396

Operating lease assets

17,522

Goodwill and intangible assets

282,935

123,321

Deferred tax assets

449,519

28,660

Other assets

37,455

46,237

Total assets

$

1,885,935

$

1,289,667

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$

70,065

$

76,450

Deferred revenue and customer deposits

14,432

9,845

Operating lease liabilities

17,973

Income taxes

93,009

63,281

Deferred tax liabilities

332,344

962

Other liabilities

2,402

3,866

Shareholders' equity

1,355,710

1,135,263

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$

1,885,935

$

1,289,667

Susan Conway

Senior Director of Investor Relations

Cognex Corporation

Phone: (508) 650-3353

Email: [email protected]

Source: Cognex Corporation

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