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

TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary

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

View Metrics Details

Vital Metrics Comparison

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

Esco Technologies Inc. vs Cognex Corporation Stock Performance Analysis

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Performance Comparison

Short-term Returns

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

Long-term Returns

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

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

MetricESECGNX
Market Information
Market Cap i$8.26B$9.06B
Market Cap CategoryMid capMid cap
10 Day Avg. Volume i390,5061,495,076
90 Day Avg. Volume i343,3351,698,755
Last Close$295.24$66.08
52 Week Range$174.92 - $346.20$29.22 - $71.90
% from 52W High-14.72%-8.09%
All-Time High$340.33 (May 05, 2026)$101.82 (Feb 08, 2021)
% from All-Time High-13.25%-35.10%
Growth Metrics
Quarterly Revenue Growth0.35%0.10%
Quarterly Earnings Growth0.22%0.15%
Financial Health
Profit Margin (TTM) i0.26%0.12%
Operating Margin (TTM) i0.13%0.14%
Return on Equity (TTM) i0.09%0.08%
Debt to Equity (MRQ) i13.535.13
Cash & Liquidity
Book Value per Share (MRQ)$60.28$8.93
Cash per Share (MRQ)$4.01$2.03
Operating Cash Flow (TTM) i$276.63M$245.51M
Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) i$339.68M$190.51M
Dividends
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i0.16%0.74%
Last 12-Month Dividend i$0.32$0.42

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

MetricESE (Apr 24, 2026)CGNX (Apr 26, 2026)
Price Ratios
P/E Ratio (TTM) i65.3179.79
Forward P/E i34.3435.29
PEG Ratio i3.004.52
Price to Sales (TTM) i6.959.11
Price to Book (MRQ) i5.216.07
Market Capitalization
Market Capitalization i$8.26B$9.06B
Enterprise Value i$8.24B$8.73B
Enterprise Value Metrics
Enterprise to Revenue i7.048.78
Enterprise to EBITDA i30.2345.15
Risk & Other Metrics
Beta i1.141.47
Book Value per Share (MRQ) i$60.28$8.93

Financial Statements Comparison: Esco Technologies Inc. vs Cognex Corporation

Financial Metrics

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Revenue

Operating Margin

Profit Margin

Long Term Debt

Income Flow Analysis

Financial Statements Comparison

Income Statement

MetricESE (2025)CGNX (2025)
Revenue/Sales i1.10B994.36M
Cost of Goods Sold i634.30M328.97M
COGS % of Revenue i57.9%33.1%
Gross Profit i461.09M665.39M
Gross Margin i42.1%66.9%
Research & Development iN/A138.97M
Operating Income (EBIT) i173.13M162.57M
Operating Margin i15.8%16.3%
EBITDA i245.38M180.49M
EBITDA Margin i22.4%18.2%
Pre-Tax Income i152.85M182.80M
Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue i14.0%18.4%
Income Tax i36.55M68.36M
Income Tax % of Revenue i3.3%6.9%
Net Income (Profit) i299.22M114.44M
Profit Margin i27.3%11.5%

Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics

MetricESE (2025)CGNX (2025)
Cash & Equivalents i101.35M262.93M
Total Current Assets i688.51M697.25M
Total Current Assets % of Revenue i62.9%70.1%
Total Current Liabilities i508.15M183.55M
Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue i46.4%18.5%
Long-Term Debt i210.40M64.87M
Long-Term Debt % of Revenue i19.2%6.5%
Total Shareholders Equity i1.54B1.49B
Retained Earnings i1.37B406.36M
Retained Earnings % of Revenue i125.4%40.9%
Property, Plant & Equipment i47.71M121.78M

Cash Flow Statement Comparison

MetricESE (2025)CGNX (2025)
Operating Cash Flow i191.01M246.48M
Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue i17.4%24.8%
Capital Expenditures iN/A-2.04M
Free Cash Flow i189.77M236.77M
FCF Margin i17.3%23.8%
Debt Repayment i-597.00MN/A
Common Stock Repurchase i0-151.23M

Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis

MetricESECGNX
Shares Short i368,5304.61M
Short Ratio i1.322.55
Short % of Float i1.95%3.11%
Shares Outstanding i25.90M167.00M
Float Shares i25.75M158.08M
% Held by Insiders i0.38%0.36%
% Held by Institutions i100.51%102.31%
% Held by Public i-0.89%-2.67%

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

MetricESECGNX
Last 12-Month Dividend i$0.32$0.42
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i0.16%0.74%
3-Year Avg Annual Dividend i$0.35$0.33
3-Year Avg Dividend Yield i0.07%0.19%
3-Year Total Dividends i$1.04$0.99
Ex-Dividend DateJan 02, 2026Feb 26, 2026