CGNX
Cognex Corporation Technology - Scientific & Technical Instruments Investor Relations →
Cognex Corporation (CGNX) closed at $49.24 as of 2026-03-20, trading 17.5% above its 200-week moving average of $41.90. The stock moved further from the line this week, up from 14.6% last week. The 14-week RSI sits at 67, indicating neutral momentum.
Trading volume is running at 1.3x of its 14-week average, which is in the normal range. The balance between buying and selling volume (1.31 ratio) is neutral — neither side is clearly dominating.
Over the past 1865 weeks of data, CGNX has crossed below its 200-week moving average 24 times. On average, these episodes lasted 26 weeks. Historically, investors who bought CGNX at the start of these episodes saw an average one-year return of +45.9%.
With a market cap of $8.2 billion, CGNX is a mid-cap stock. The company generates a free cash flow yield of 2.3%. Return on equity stands at 7.6%. The stock trades at 5.5x book value.
Over the past 33.2 years, a hypothetical investment of $100 in CGNX would have grown to $4420, compared to $2683 for the S&P 500. That represents an annualized return of 12.1% vs 10.4% for the index — confirming CGNX as a market-beating investment and the kind of quality company where buying during 200-week moving average touches has historically been rewarded.
Free cash flow has been growing at a 1.9% compound annual rate, with 4 consecutive years of positive cash generation.
Business Health
Annual financials — how the underlying business has performed over the past several years.
Cash Flow Free cash flow & net income ($M)
Revenue Annual revenue ($M) — business growth proxy
Total Debt Balance sheet debt ($M)
ROIC Return on invested capital (%)
FCF Yield Free cash flow / market cap (%) — Yartseva signal
Gross Margin Pricing power & competitive moat (%)
Shares Outstanding Buybacks vs dilution (millions)
Growth of $100: CGNX vs S&P 500
Monthly data normalized to $100 at start. Vertical dashed lines mark 200-week MA touches.
What Happens After CGNX Crosses Below the Line?
Across 23 historical episodes, buying CGNX when it crossed below its 200-week moving average produced an average return of +34.4% after 12 months (median +21.0%), compared to +11.9% for the S&P 500 over the same periods. 67% of those episodes were profitable after one year. After 24 months, the average return was +38.4% vs +24.6% for the index.
Each line shows $100 invested at the moment CGNX crossed below its 200-week MA. Bold blue = stock average. Gray dashed = S&P 500 average over same periods.
Historical Touches
CGNX has crossed below its 200-week MA 24 times with an average 1-year return of +45.9% after recovery.
| Crossed Below | Recovered | Weeks | Max Depth | 1-Year Return | Return Since Touch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1990 | Oct 1990 | 1 | 5.2% | +217.1% | +10601.6% |
| Apr 1992 | Nov 1992 | 30 | 34.3% | +49.2% | +6355.0% |
| Sep 1996 | Sep 1996 | 1 | 0.8% | +156.0% | +1765.4% |
| Oct 1996 | Nov 1996 | 3 | 8.5% | +131.8% | +1748.5% |
| May 1998 | Jan 1999 | 32 | 50.9% | +41.4% | +1237.7% |
| Oct 2000 | May 2001 | 28 | 40.2% | -30.5% | +805.7% |
| Jun 2001 | Jul 2001 | 7 | 15.6% | -23.1% | +771.0% |
| Aug 2001 | Aug 2003 | 107 | 53.2% | -44.2% | +809.7% |
| Sep 2003 | Sep 2003 | 3 | 9.1% | -1.4% | +782.2% |
| Oct 2003 | Dec 2003 | 10 | 10.1% | -2.0% | +885.8% |
| Oct 2004 | Oct 2004 | 2 | 1.9% | +21.4% | +924.7% |
| Jan 2005 | Jan 2005 | 3 | 4.2% | +31.3% | +910.4% |
| Mar 2005 | Mar 2005 | 1 | 1.0% | +16.0% | +907.9% |
| Apr 2005 | May 2005 | 5 | 12.4% | +23.5% | +972.3% |
| May 2006 | Apr 2008 | 102 | 39.9% | -6.4% | +863.3% |
| Jun 2008 | Feb 2010 | 86 | 55.1% | -36.1% | +929.2% |
| May 2010 | Jun 2010 | 2 | 3.4% | +91.8% | +1161.0% |
| Jun 2010 | Jul 2010 | 3 | 6.5% | +112.5% | +1227.4% |
| Jan 2016 | Feb 2016 | 5 | 9.2% | +123.8% | +275.1% |
| Dec 2018 | Dec 2018 | 1 | 0.7% | +55.1% | +47.3% |
| Feb 2020 | Apr 2020 | 6 | 10.5% | +91.2% | +17.7% |
| May 2022 | Sep 2025 | 176 | 53.0% | -8.2% | -6.8% |
| Oct 2025 | Oct 2025 | 1 | 8.8% | N/A | +21.2% |
| Oct 2025 | Feb 2026 | 14 | 17.7% | N/A | +19.4% |
| Average | 26 | — | +45.9% | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CGNX below its 200-week moving average?
No. Cognex Corporation (CGNX) is currently 17.5% above its 200-week moving average of $41.90. It would need to fall to $41.90 to cross below the line.
What is CGNX's 200-week moving average price?
Cognex Corporation's 200-week moving average is $41.90 as of 2026-03-20. This is the average weekly closing price over roughly the last 4 years, and it acts as a long-term trend line. When a stock drops below this level, it can signal that the price has fallen far enough from the long-term trend to attract value-oriented investors.
What happens when CGNX drops below its 200-week moving average?
CGNX has crossed below its 200-week moving average 24 times in our data. On average, buying at that moment produced a one-year return of +45.9%. These dips have historically been decent entry points. These episodes lasted 26 weeks on average.
Is CGNX a good value right now?
Here's what our data says about CGNX as of 2026-03-20: The stock is above its 200-week moving average, so it doesn't currently meet our primary signal. The 14-week RSI is 67. Free cash flow yield is 2.3%. Return on equity is 7.6%. Price-to-book is 5.5x. This is not a buy or sell recommendation — always do your own research.
How does CGNX compare to the S&P 500?
Over the past 33.2 years, $100 invested in CGNX would have grown to $4420, compared to $2683 for the S&P 500. That's 12.1% annualized vs 10.4% for the index. CGNX has outperformed the broader market over this period.
Does CGNX pay a dividend?
Yes. Cognex Corporation currently pays a dividend yield of 67.00%.
Not financial advice. This is an educational tool. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Do your own research before making investment decisions.
Data as of week of 2026-03-20