Cognex [CGNX] vs Esco Technologies [ESE] Detailed Stock Comparison

TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary

Based on 21 vital metrics comparison: Cognex Corporation wins in 8 metrics, Esco Technologies Inc. wins in 13 metrics, with 0 ties. Esco Technologies Inc. appears stronger overall.

View Metrics Details

Vital Metrics Comparison

Metric Cognex Corporation Esco Technologies Inc. Better
P/E Ratio (TTM) 79.79 65.31 Esco Technologies Inc.
Price-to-Book Ratio 6.07 5.21 Esco Technologies Inc.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 5.13 13.53 Cognex Corporation
PEG Ratio 4.52 3.00 Esco Technologies Inc.
EV/EBITDA 45.15 30.23 Esco Technologies Inc.
Profit Margin (TTM) 11.51% 26.01% Esco Technologies Inc.
Operating Margin (TTM) 13.98% 13.25% Cognex Corporation
EBITDA Margin (TTM) 13.98% 13.25% Cognex Corporation
Return on Equity 7.61% 8.91% Esco Technologies Inc.
Return on Assets (TTM) 5.07% 5.49% Esco Technologies Inc.
Free Cash Flow (TTM) $236.77M $189.77M Cognex Corporation
Dividend Yield 0.74% 0.16% Cognex Corporation
1-Year Return 119.72% 61.06% Cognex Corporation
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) 9.11 6.95 Esco Technologies Inc.
Enterprise Value $8.73B $8.24B Cognex Corporation
EV/Revenue Ratio 8.78 7.04 Esco Technologies Inc.
Gross Profit Margin (TTM) 65.75% 41.40% Cognex Corporation
Revenue per Share (TTM) $6 $45 Esco Technologies Inc.
Earnings per Share (Diluted) $0.68 $4.81 Esco Technologies Inc.
Beta (Stock Volatility) 1.47 1.14 Esco Technologies Inc.
Short % of Float 3.11% 1.95% Esco Technologies Inc.

Cognex Corporation vs Esco Technologies Inc. Stock Performance Analysis

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Performance Comparison

Short-term Returns

Stock1D1W1M3M6MYTD
Cognex Corporation0.00%-3.29%17.37%22.76%73.03%78.93%
Esco Technologies Inc.1.26%-4.43%-11.01%2.02%42.91%47.54%

Long-term Returns

Stock1Y3Y5Y10Y15Y20Y
Cognex Corporation119.72%15.79%-17.17%197.69%668.38%914.64%
Esco Technologies Inc.61.06%204.09%217.42%617.02%723.18%458.87%

Performance & Financial Health Analysis: Cognex Corporation vs Esco Technologies Inc.

MetricCGNXESE
Market Information
Market Cap i$9.06B$8.26B
Market Cap CategoryMid capMid cap
10 Day Avg. Volume i1,495,076390,506
90 Day Avg. Volume i1,698,755343,335
Last Close$66.08$295.24
52 Week Range$29.22 - $71.90$174.92 - $346.20
% from 52W High-8.09%-14.72%
All-Time High$101.82 (Feb 08, 2021)$340.33 (May 05, 2026)
% from All-Time High-35.10%-13.25%
Growth Metrics
Quarterly Revenue Growth0.10%0.35%
Quarterly Earnings Growth0.15%0.22%
Financial Health
Profit Margin (TTM) i0.12%0.26%
Operating Margin (TTM) i0.14%0.13%
Return on Equity (TTM) i0.08%0.09%
Debt to Equity (MRQ) i5.1313.53
Cash & Liquidity
Book Value per Share (MRQ)$8.93$60.28
Cash per Share (MRQ)$2.03$4.01
Operating Cash Flow (TTM) i$245.51M$276.63M
Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) i$190.51M$339.68M
Dividends
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i0.74%0.16%
Last 12-Month Dividend i$0.42$0.32

Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: Cognex Corporation vs Esco Technologies Inc.

MetricCGNX (Apr 26, 2026)ESE (Apr 24, 2026)
Price Ratios
P/E Ratio (TTM) i79.7965.31
Forward P/E i35.2934.34
PEG Ratio i4.523.00
Price to Sales (TTM) i9.116.95
Price to Book (MRQ) i6.075.21
Market Capitalization
Market Capitalization i$9.06B$8.26B
Enterprise Value i$8.73B$8.24B
Enterprise Value Metrics
Enterprise to Revenue i8.787.04
Enterprise to EBITDA i45.1530.23
Risk & Other Metrics
Beta i1.471.14
Book Value per Share (MRQ) i$8.93$60.28

Financial Statements Comparison: Cognex Corporation vs Esco Technologies Inc.

Financial Metrics

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Revenue

Operating Margin

Profit Margin

Long Term Debt

Income Flow Analysis

Financial Statements Comparison

Income Statement

MetricCGNX (2025)ESE (2025)
Revenue/Sales i994.36M1.10B
Cost of Goods Sold i328.97M634.30M
COGS % of Revenue i33.1%57.9%
Gross Profit i665.39M461.09M
Gross Margin i66.9%42.1%
Research & Development i138.97MN/A
Operating Income (EBIT) i162.57M173.13M
Operating Margin i16.3%15.8%
EBITDA i180.49M245.38M
EBITDA Margin i18.2%22.4%
Pre-Tax Income i182.80M152.85M
Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue i18.4%14.0%
Income Tax i68.36M36.55M
Income Tax % of Revenue i6.9%3.3%
Net Income (Profit) i114.44M299.22M
Profit Margin i11.5%27.3%

Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics

MetricCGNX (2025)ESE (2025)
Cash & Equivalents i262.93M101.35M
Total Current Assets i697.25M688.51M
Total Current Assets % of Revenue i70.1%62.9%
Total Current Liabilities i183.55M508.15M
Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue i18.5%46.4%
Long-Term Debt i64.87M210.40M
Long-Term Debt % of Revenue i6.5%19.2%
Total Shareholders Equity i1.49B1.54B
Retained Earnings i406.36M1.37B
Retained Earnings % of Revenue i40.9%125.4%
Property, Plant & Equipment i121.78M47.71M

Cash Flow Statement Comparison

MetricCGNX (2025)ESE (2025)
Operating Cash Flow i246.48M191.01M
Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue i24.8%17.4%
Capital Expenditures i-2.04MN/A
Free Cash Flow i236.77M189.77M
FCF Margin i23.8%17.3%
Debt Repayment iN/A-597.00M
Common Stock Repurchase i-151.23M0

Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis

MetricCGNXESE
Shares Short i4.61M368,530
Short Ratio i2.551.32
Short % of Float i3.11%1.95%
Shares Outstanding i167.00M25.90M
Float Shares i158.08M25.75M
% Held by Insiders i0.36%0.38%
% Held by Institutions i102.31%100.51%
% Held by Public i-2.67%-0.89%

Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: Cognex Corporation vs Esco Technologies Inc.

MetricCGNXESE
Last 12-Month Dividend i$0.42$0.32
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i0.74%0.16%
3-Year Avg Annual Dividend i$0.33$0.35
3-Year Avg Dividend Yield i0.19%0.07%
3-Year Total Dividends i$0.99$1.04
Ex-Dividend DateFeb 26, 2026Jan 02, 2026