Cognex vs Sensata Technologies
CGNX and ST side by side, both in laboratory apparatus and analytical, optical, measuring, and controlling instruments. Figures are trailing twelve months unless noted, from SEC filings and end-of-day prices.
How CGNX and ST compare
Cognex is the larger company, worth 1.5 times as much as Sensata Technologies ($8.4B against $5.6B).
On earnings, Sensata Technologies is cheaper: it trades at 15.4× trailing earnings, against 35.0× for Cognex.
Cognex grew revenue faster over the last twelve months (15.8% versus 4.1% for Sensata Technologies).
Cognex keeps more of each dollar of sales as profit, with a net margin of 21.5% compared with 9.5% at Sensata Technologies.
Both pay dividends: Cognex yields 0.51% and Sensata Technologies 0.93%.
Cognex scores higher on the StockData Score (20 against 16 for Sensata Technologies), which adds up 30 checks on valuation, growth, past performance, financial health and dividends.
Key numbers
A dot marks the better figure where higher or lower is clearly better.
| Metric | CGNX | ST |
|---|---|---|
| Size and price | ||
| Market cap | $8.4B | $5.6B |
| Share price | $50.01 | $38.56 |
| Change, 1 year | 31.0% | 21.5% |
| Change, 5 years | −37.5% | −35.6% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.30 | 1.20 |
| Employees | 2,267 | 21K |
| StockData Score | ||
| Total score | 20 (better) | 16 |
| Valuation score | 4 | 6 (better) |
| Growth score | 3 (better) | 1 |
| Performance score | 4 (better) | 3 |
| Health score | 6 (better) | 3 |
| Dividend score | 3 | 3 |
| Valuation | ||
| P/E | 35.0× | 15.4× (better) |
| P/S | 7.5× | 1.5× (better) |
| P/B | 4.9× | 1.8× (better) |
| EV/EBITDA | 27.4× | 9.3× (better) |
| P/FCF | 29.4× | 8.8× (better) |
| FCF yield | 3.4% | 11.4% (better) |
| Fair value | $57.10 | $72.37 |
| Margin of safety | 12.4% | 46.7% (better) |
| Growth | ||
| Revenue growth (TTM) | 15.8% (better) | 4.1% |
| Revenue growth, 5Y average | 4.2% (better) | 4.0% |
| Net income growth (TTM) | 120% | – |
| EPS growth (TTM) | 123% | – |
| EPS growth, 5Y average | −7.4% (better) | −27.4% |
| Profitability | ||
| Gross margin | 69.7% (better) | 30.8% |
| Operating margin | 25.0% (better) | 15.1% |
| Net margin | 21.5% (better) | 9.5% |
| FCF margin | 25.4% (better) | 16.7% |
| Return on equity | 15.1% (better) | 12.7% |
| Return on invested capital | 20.6% (better) | 8.9% |
| Financial health | ||
| Debt / equity | 0.00 | 0.78 (better) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | – | 2.30 |
| Interest coverage | – | 4.4× |
| Current ratio | 5.04 (better) | 2.39 |
| Altman Z-score | 10.77 (better) | 2.53 |
| Piotroski F-score | 8 (better) | 6 |
| Dividends and buybacks | ||
| Dividend yield | 0.51% | 0.93% (better) |
| Payout ratio | 23.5% | 19.1% |
| Years of dividend growth | 4 | – |
| Dividend growth, 5Y average | −31.9% | – |
| Buyback yield | 1.5% (better) | 0.45% |
| Shareholder yield | 2.1% (better) | 1.4% |
| Ownership | ||
| Held by institutions | 104% | 106% |
| Held by insiders | 0.38% | 1.0% |
| Insider net buying, 12 months | −$34.8M | −$216K (better) |
| Short interest, % of float | 3.9% | 5.1% |
Go deeper
- CGNX stock overview
- CGNX income statement
- CGNX valuation and score
- ST stock overview
- ST income statement
- ST valuation and score
Other comparisons
For information only, not investment advice. Check the source filings before relying on any figure.