Apple (And China) Taking Another Bite Out Of Cognex

Given the multiples and elevated growth expectations, I think you could argue that the market has actually been somewhat restrained in its negative reaction to Cognex’s (CGNX) challenging 2018 and a weaker outlook for 2019. Granted, the shares are down about a third over the past year (much worse than machine vision rival Keyence (OTCPK:KYCCF) ), but we’re still talking about a company trading at a forward EV/EBITDA in the low-to-mid 20’s.

I don’t think Cognex has necessarily seen the worst of the slowdown, and I do have some concerns that growth expectations and mulitples could have further to fall. By the same token, though, Cognex is a rare high-quality, high-growth asset in industrial automation and a significant player in a key enabling technology. Whether on its own or as part of a larger automation company, I believe Cognex’s business will be significantly larger 10 years from now, and that leads me to lean in favor of not getting too cute trying to time the bottom of this recent downturn.

Continue here:
Apple (And China) Taking Another Bite Out Of Cognex