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Cognex Reports Fourth Quarter 2024 Results

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NATICK, Mass., Feb. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2024. Table 1 below shows selected financial data for Q4-24 and the full year 2024 compared with Q4-23 and the full year 2023.

“Cognex delivered strong results in the fourth quarter, with revenue at the high end of our guidance range.  Growth was driven by continued momentum in our Logistics and Semiconductor businesses, including accelerated demand late in the quarter. Across most of our other factory automation end markets, demand remains soft but stable, while Automotive remains very weak,” said Robert J. Willett, CEO.

Mr. Willett added, “Cognex continues to define the leading edge of technology in industrial machine vision. Powerful AI models are making our advanced technology easier to use, enabling us to improve our customers’ experience and address many more use cases. We recently launched VisionPro Deep Learning 4.0, Cognex’s first product to utilize next-generation AI Transformer models, and our new AI-driven DataMan series, our most powerful and easiest-to-use ID readers yet.”

In addition to Mr. Willett’s comments, Dennis Fehr, CFO, stated, “Revenue growth coupled with cost discipline and working capital efficiencies led to above-guidance adjusted EBITDA margin, with year-on-year expansion of 580 basis points, and strong free cash flow generation of $49 million. We were pleased to return $57 million in capital to shareholders during the quarter.”

Table 1

(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

 

Current
Quarter

Q4-24

Prior Year
Quarter
Q4-23

Y/Y
Change

Current
Year
2024

Prior
Year
2023

Y/Y
Change

Revenue

$230

$197

+17 %

$915

$838

+9 %

Operating Income

$31

$13

+142 %

$115

$131

-12 %

% of Revenue

13.4 %

6.5 %

+690 bps

12.6 %

15.6 %

(300) bps

Adjusted EBITDA*

$42

$25

+71 %

$156

$155

+1 %

% of Revenue

18.5 %

12.6 %

+580 bps

17.1 %

18.5 %

(140) bps

Net Income per Diluted Share

$0.16

$0.07

+153 %

$0.62

$0.65

-6 %

Adjusted EPS (Diluted)*

$0.20

$0.11

+84 %

$0.74

$0.73

0 %

Note: Numbers shown may not foot due to rounding.

*Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS (Diluted) include Non-GAAP adjustments. A reconciliation from GAAP to Non-GAAP metrics is provided in this news release.

Details of the Quarter

Statement of Operations Highlights – Fourth Quarter of 2024

Revenue grew by 17% from Q4-23. Excluding the 5 percentage point contribution to revenue growth from Moritex, revenue increased by 12%. The year-on-year increase in revenue excluding Moritex was driven by continued strength in our Logistics and Semiconductor businesses, including accelerated demand late in the quarter. This growth was partially offset by continued weakness in Automotive.Gross margin of 68.7% was flat compared to Q4-23. We recorded $2 million in amortization of intangible assets and other acquisition charges in cost of revenue in Q4-24, primarily related to the Moritex acquisition. Adjusted gross margin was 69.4% for Q4-24 compared to 70.7% for Q4-23. The year-on-year decline was primarily driven by the dilution effect from Moritex as well as negative mix, and, to a lesser extent, pricing.Operating expenses of $127 million increased by 4% from Q4-23. Adjusted operating expenses of $122 million in Q4-24 increased by 3% from Q4-23. The year-on-year increase was driven by Moritex operating expenses, investment in our sales transformation, and incentive compensation, partly offset by lower overall headcount and tight cost management.Net income of $28 million in Q4-24 increased by 152% from Q4-23. Adjusted net income of $35 million in Q4-24 increased by 84% from Q4-23. The year-on-year increase in adjusted net income was driven by revenue growth excluding Moritex, the contribution from Moritex and leverage on our operating expenses.

Details of the Year

Statement of Operations Highlights – Full Year 2024

Revenue grew by 9% in 2024, or 1% excluding Moritex. Our Logistics and Semiconductor businesses exhibited strong growth throughout the year. Factory automation businesses such as Consumer Goods and Food and Beverage stabilized, while Automotive weakened during the year, with a significant decline in the EV battery business.Gross margin was 68.4% for the full year compared to 71.8% in 2023. Adjusted gross margin of 69.3% declined from 72.5% in 2023. The year-on-year decline was due to the addition of Moritex, unfavorable revenue mix, and, to a lesser extent, pricing.Operating expenses increased 9% year-on-year. Adjusted operating expenses increased by 6% year-on-year due to the addition of Moritex and investment in our sales transformation and expansion. This was partially offset by tight cost management, with year-end headcount down 3% year-on-year.Operating margin declined to 12.6% from 15.6% in 2023. Adjusted operating margin was 14.9%, down from 16.4% in 2023. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 17.1% was down from 18.5% in 2023. The step-down was primarily due to the decline in gross margin and investment in our sales transformation.Net income and diluted earnings per share both declined by 6% year-on-year. Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share were both flat year-on-year as the contribution from Moritex offset softness in factory automation. Our effective tax rate increased to 19% from 16% in 2023, while our adjusted effective tax rate increased to 17% from 15% in 2023.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights – December 31, 2024

Cognex’s financial position as of December 31, 2024 continued to be strong, with $587 million in cash and investments and no debt.In Q4-24, Cognex generated $51 million of cash from operating activities and $49 million in free cash flow, a $37 million and $42 million improvement year-on-year, respectively.The company spent $43 million to repurchase its common stock and paid $14 million in dividends to shareholders. Cognex intends to continue to repurchase shares of its common stock pursuant to its existing stock repurchase program, subject to market conditions and other relevant factors.

Financial Outlook – First Quarter of 2025

Cognex expects revenue to be between $200 million and $220 million. At the midpoint, this represents a similar revenue level year-on-year, driven by expected growth in Logistics and Semiconductor, offset by weaker Automotive and a $5 million FX headwind. The expected sequential step-down is driven by the acceleration in demand from customers in Q4 and an anticipated $4 million FX headwind.Adjusted gross margin1 is expected to be in the high 60 percent range.Adjusted EBITDA margin1 is expected to be between 12% and 15%. This represents a 150 basis point increase year-on-year at the midpoint driven by continued tight management of operating expenses.The adjusted effective tax rate1 is expected to be 16%.

1Cognex has provided the forward-looking non-GAAP measures of adjusted gross margin, adjusted EBITDA margin, and adjusted effective tax rate, but cannot, without unreasonable effort, forecast such items to present or provide a reconciliation to corresponding forecasted GAAP measures. These include special items such as restructuring charges, acquisition and integration charges, and amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, all of which are subject to limitations in predictability of timing, ultimate outcome and numerous conditions outside of Cognex’s control. Additionally, these items are outside of Cognex’s normal business operations and not used by management to assess Cognex’s operating results. Cognex believes these limitations would result in a range of projected values so broad as to not be meaningful to investors. For these reasons, Cognex believes that the probable significance of such information is low. Information with respect to special items for certain historical periods is included in the section entitled “Reconciliation of Selected Items From GAAP to Non-GAAP”.

Analyst Conference Call and Simultaneous Webcast

Cognex will host a conference call on February 13, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). The telephone number is (877) 704-4573 (or (201) 389-0911 if outside the United States).A real-time audio broadcast of the conference call or an archived recording, together with a slide presentation, will be accessible on the Events & Presentations page of the Cognex Investor website: www.cognex.com/investor.

 

COGNEX CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

 

December 31,
2024

December 31,
2023

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$           186,094

$           202,655

Current investments, amortized cost of $60,725 and $132,799 in 2024 and 2023, respectively, allowance for credit losses of $0 in 2024 and 2023

59,956

129,392

Accounts receivable, allowance for credit losses of $827 and $583 in 2024 and 2023, respectively

143,359

114,164

Unbilled revenue

3,055

2,402

Inventories

157,527

162,285

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

63,376

68,099

Total current assets

613,367

678,997

Non-current investments, amortized cost of $345,033 and $250,790 in 2024 and 2023, respectively, allowance for credit losses of $0 in 2024 and 2023

340,898

244,230

Property, plant, and equipment, net

98,445

105,849

Operating lease assets

67,326

75,115

Goodwill

384,937

393,181

Intangible assets, net

90,684

112,952

Deferred income taxes

392,166

400,400

Other assets

5,027

7,088

Total assets

$       1,992,850

$       2,017,812

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$             38,046

$             21,454

Accrued expenses

71,760

72,374

Accrued income taxes

25,685

16,907

Deferred revenue and customer deposits

25,035

31,525

Operating lease liabilities

8,854

9,624

Total current liabilities

169,380

151,884

Non-current operating lease liabilities

61,363

68,977

Deferred income taxes

217,155

246,877

Reserve for income taxes

26,365

26,685

Non-current accrued income taxes

18,338

Other liabilities

1,082

299

Total liabilities

475,345

513,060

Commitments and contingencies

Shareholders’ equity:

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value – Authorized: 400 shares in 2024 and 2023, respectively, no shares issued and outstanding

Common stock, $0.002 par value – Authorized: 300,000 shares in 2024 and 2023, respectively, issued and outstanding: 170,434 and 171,599 shares in 2024 and 2023, respectively

341

343

Additional paid-in capital

1,090,638

1,037,202

Retained earnings

499,303

512,543

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax

(72,777)

(45,336)

Total shareholders’ equity

1,517,505

1,504,752

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$       1,992,850

$       2,017,812

 

COGNEX CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 (In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Three-months Ended

Twelve-months Ended

December 31,
2024

September 29,
2024

December 31,
2023

December 31,
2024

December 31,
2023

Revenue

$     229,684

$      234,742

$     196,670

$     914,515

$     837,547

Cost of revenue (1)

71,825

75,343

61,626

288,721

236,306

Gross profit

157,859

159,399

135,044

625,794

601,241

Percentage of revenue

68.7 %

67.9 %

68.7 %

68.4 %

71.8 %

Research, development, and engineering expenses (1)

32,538

35,210

34,693

139,815

139,400

Percentage of revenue

14.2 %

15.0 %

17.6 %

15.3 %

16.6 %

Selling, general, and administrative expenses (1)

94,481

92,625

90,372

370,914

339,139

Percentage of revenue

41.1 %

39.5 %

46.0 %

40.6 %

40.5 %

Loss (recovery) from fire

(2,750)

(8,000)

Operating income

30,840

31,564

12,729

115,065

130,702

Percentage of revenue

13.4 %

13.4 %

6.5 %

12.6 %

15.6 %

Foreign currency gain (loss)

445

1,221

(129)

1,531

(10,039)

Investment income

4,174

3,561

1,520

13,971

14,093

Other income (expense)

341

209

234

922

592

Income before income tax expense

35,800

36,555

14,354

131,489

135,348

Income tax expense

7,454

6,964

3,125

25,318

22,114

Net income

$       28,346

$        29,591

$       11,229

$     106,171

$     113,234

Percentage of revenue

12.3 %

12.6 %

5.7 %

11.6 %

13.5 %

Net income per weighted-average common and common-equivalent share:

Basic

$            0.17

$             0.17

$            0.07

$            0.62

$            0.66

Diluted

$            0.16

$             0.17

$            0.07

$            0.62

$            0.65

Weighted-average common and common-equivalent shares outstanding:

Basic

171,282

171,519

171,771

171,438

172,249

Diluted

172,508

172,753

172,571

172,611

173,399

Cash dividends per common share

$          0.080

$           0.075

$          0.075

$          0.305

$          0.286

(1) Amounts include stock-based compensation expense, as follows:

Cost of revenue

$             506

$              442

$             482

$          1,966

$          1,979

Research, development, and engineering

2,992

3,707

3,823

14,628

16,480

Selling, general, and administrative

9,578

8,952

8,945

35,849

36,309

Total stock-based compensation expense

$       13,076

$        13,101

$       13,250

$       52,443

$       54,768

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted gross margin, adjusted operating expense, adjusted operating income, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share of common stock, diluted, adjusted effective tax rate, and free cash flow. Cognex defines its non-GAAP metrics as follows:

Adjusted gross margin: Gross margin adjusted for amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, as well as, if applicable, restructuring charges, reorganization charges, acquisition and integration costs and one-time discrete events, such as loss or recovery related to a fire.Adjusted operating expense: Operating expense adjusted for amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, as well as, if applicable, restructuring charges, reorganization charges, acquisition and integration costs and one-time discrete events, such as loss or recovery related to a fire.Adjusted operating income: Operating income adjusted for amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, as well as, if applicable, restructuring charges, reorganization charges, acquisition and integration costs and one-time discrete events, such as loss or recovery related to a fire.Adjusted EBITDA: Operating income adjusted for amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets and depreciation, as well as, if applicable, restructuring charges, reorganization charges, acquisition and integration costs and one-time discrete events, such as loss or recovery related to a fire.Adjusted net income: Net income adjusted for amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, as well as, if applicable, restructuring charges, reorganization charges, acquisition and integration costs, discrete tax items, and one-time discrete events, such as loss or recovery related to a fire or a foreign currency (gain) loss on a forward contract to hedge the Moritex purchase price.Adjusted earnings per share of common stock, diluted: Adjusted net income divided by diluted weighted average common and common-equivalent shares.Adjusted effective tax rate: Effective tax rate adjusted for discrete tax items and the net impact of the other non-GAAP adjustments.Free cash flow: Cash provided by operating activities less cash for capital expenditures.

Cognex may disclose results on a constant-currency basis as one measure to evaluate its performance and compare results between periods as if the exchange rates had remained constant period-over-period.

Cognex believes these non-GAAP financial measures are helpful because they allow investors to more accurately compare results over multiple periods using the same methodology that management employs in its budgeting process, in its review of operating results, and for forecasting and planning for future periods. Cognex’s definitions may differ from the definitions used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. In addition, other companies may not publish these or similar metrics. Furthermore, these measures have certain limitations in that they do not include the impact of certain non-recurring expenses that are reflected in our consolidated statement of operations that are necessary to run our business. Thus, our non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as substitutes for, or in isolation from, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Please see the section “Reconciliation of Selected Items from GAAP to Non-GAAP” below for more detailed information regarding non-GAAP financial measures herein, including the items reflected in our adjusted financial metrics and a description of these adjustments.

COGNEX CORPORATION

RECONCILIATION OF SELECTED ITEMS FROM GAAP TO NON-GAAP

Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts (Unaudited)

 

Three-months Ended

Twelve-months Ended

December 31,
2024

September 29,
2024

December 31,
2023

December 31,
2024

December 31,
2023

Gross profit (GAAP)

$ 157,859

$ 159,399

$ 135,044

$ 625,794

$ 601,241

Acquisition and integration costs

213

281

2,882

2,295

2,882

Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets

1,360

1,640

1,126

5,817

2,975

Reorganization charges

18

18

Adjusted gross profit

$ 159,450

$ 161,320

$ 139,052

$ 633,924

$ 607,098

GAAP gross margin

68.7 %

67.9 %

68.7 %

68.4 %

71.8 %

Adjusted gross margin

69.4 %

68.7 %

70.7 %

69.3 %

72.5 %

Operating expense (GAAP)

$ 127,019

$ 127,835

$ 122,315

$ 510,729

$ 470,539

(Loss) recovery from fire

2,750

8,000

Acquisition and integration costs

(761)

(962)

(5,101)

(4,229)

(7,080)

Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets

(1,132)

(1,746)

(1,053)

(5,601)

(1,635)

Reorganization charges

(2,972)

(2,972)

Adjusted operating expense

$ 122,154

$ 125,127

$ 118,911

$ 497,927

$ 469,824

Operating income (GAAP)

$   30,840

$   31,564

$   12,729

$ 115,065

$ 130,702

Loss (recovery) from fire

(2,750)

(8,000)

Acquisition and integration costs

974

1,243

7,983

6,524

9,962

Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets

2,492

3,386

2,179

11,418

4,610

Reorganization charges

2,990

2,990

Adjusted operating income

$   37,296

$   36,193

$   20,141

$ 135,997

$ 137,274

GAAP operating margin

13.4 %

13.4 %

6.5 %

12.6 %

15.6 %

Adjusted operating margin

16.2 %

15.4 %

10.2 %

14.9 %

16.4 %

Depreciation (adjusted for amounts included in Acquisition and integration costs)

5,139

5,027

4,713

20,393

17,270

Adjusted EBITDA

$   42,435

$   41,220

$   24,854

$ 156,390

$ 154,544

Adjusted EBITDA margin

18.5 %

17.6 %

12.6 %

17.1 %

18.5 %

Net income (GAAP)

$   28,346

$   29,591

$   11,229

$ 106,171

$ 113,234

Loss (recovery) from fire

(2,750)

(8,000)

Acquisition and integration costs

974

1,243

7,983

6,524

9,962

Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets

2,492

3,386

2,179

11,418

4,610

Foreign currency (gain) loss on forward contract

8,456

Reorganization charges

2,990

2,990

Discrete tax (benefit) expense

2,220

889

1,498

5,731

2,338

Tax impact of reconciling items

(2,008)

(1,176)

(1,134)

(5,571)

(3,207)

Adjusted net income

$   35,014

$   33,933

$   19,006

$ 127,263

$ 127,393

Earnings per share of common stock, diluted (GAAP)

$       0.16

$       0.17

$       0.07

$       0.62

$       0.65

Loss (recovery) from fire

(0.02)

(0.05)

Acquisition and integration costs

0.01

0.01

0.05

0.04

0.06

Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets

0.01

0.02

0.01

0.07

0.03

Foreign currency (gain) loss on forward contract

0.05

Reorganization charges

0.02

0.02

Discrete tax (benefit) expense

0.01

0.01

0.01

0.03

0.01

Tax impact of reconciling items

(0.01)

(0.01)

(0.01)

(0.03)

(0.02)

Adjusted earnings per share of common stock, diluted

$       0.20

$       0.20

$       0.11

$       0.74

$       0.73

Effective tax rate (GAAP)

20.8 %

19.1 %

21.8 %

19.3 %

16.3 %

Discrete tax benefit (expense)

(6.2) %

(2.4) %

(10.4) %

(4.4) %

(1.7) %

Net impact of other reconciling items

2.5 %

1.0 %

1.4 %

1.6 %

0.7 %

Adjusted effective tax rate

17.1 %

17.6 %

12.7 %

16.5 %

15.3 %

Cash provided by operating activities (GAAP)

$   51,404

$   56,271

$   14,491

$ 149,081

$ 112,916

Capital expenditures

(2,073)

(4,399)

(7,015)

(15,043)

(23,077)

Free cash flow

$   49,331

$   51,872

$     7,476

$ 134,038

$   89,839

Description of adjustments:

In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company also provides various non-GAAP measures that incorporate adjustments for the impacts of special items. Adjustments incorporated in the preparation of these non-GAAP measures for the periods presented include the items described below:

Depreciation:

The company incurs expense related to its normal use of property, plant and equipment.

Loss (recovery) from fire:

On June 7, 2022, the Company’s primary contract manufacturer experienced a fire at its plant in Indonesia. During the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded recoveries related to the fire of $8,000,000 consisting of $2,500,000 for proceeds received from the Company’s insurance carrier in relation to a business interruption claim and $5,500,000 for proceeds received as part of a financial settlement for lost inventory and other losses incurred as a result of the fire. Management does not anticipate additional recoveries.

Acquisition and integration costs:

The Company has incurred charges related to the purchase and integration of acquired businesses. During the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2024, these costs were primarily related to the ongoing integration of Moritex Corporation.

Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets:

The Company excludes the amortization of acquired intangible assets from non-GAAP expense and income measures. These items are inconsistent in amount and frequency and are significantly impacted by the timing and size of acquisitions, and include the amortization of customer relationships, completed technologies, and trademarks that originated from prior acquisitions. The largest driver of intangible asset amortization was the acquisition of Moritex Corporation.

Reorganization charges:

The Company has incurred charges related to the reorganization of its employees. During the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2024, these costs consisted primarily of severance.

Discrete tax (benefit) expense:

Items unrelated to current period ordinary income or (loss) that generally relate to changes in tax laws, adjustments to prior period’s actual liability determined upon filing tax returns, adjustments to previously recorded reserves for uncertain tax positions, and establishments and adjustments of valuation allowances.We estimate the tax effect of items identified in the reconciliation by applying the statutory tax rate to the pre-tax amount.

Certain statements made in this report, as well as oral statements made by the Company from time to time, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Readers can identify these forward-looking statements by our use of the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “potential,” “believes,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “may,” “shall,” “could,” “should,” “opportunity,” “goal” and similar words and other statements of a similar sense. These statements are based on our current estimates and expectations as to prospective events and circumstances, which may or may not be in our control and as to which there can be no firm assurances given. These forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding business and market trends, future financial performance and financial targets, customer demand and order rates and timing of related revenue, future product or revenue mix, research and development activities, sales and marketing activities, new product offerings, innovation and product development activities, customer acceptance of our products, capital expenditures, cost and working capital management activities, investments, liquidity, dividends and stock repurchases, strategic and growth plans and opportunities, acquisitions, and estimated tax benefits and expenses and other tax matters, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such risks and uncertainties include: (1) the technological obsolescence of current products and the inability to develop new products; (2) the impact of competitive pressures; (3) the inability to attract and retain skilled employees, effectively plan for succession, and maintain our unique corporate culture; (4) the failure to properly manage the distribution of products and services; (5) economic, political, and other risks associated with international sales and operations, including the impact of trade disputes on the economic climate in China; (6) the challenges in integrating and achieving expected results from acquired businesses; (7) uncertainty surrounding our future capital needs; (8)  information security breaches; (9) the failure to comply with laws or regulations relating to data privacy or data protection; (10) the inability to protect our proprietary technology and intellectual property; (11) the failure to manufacture and deliver products in a timely manner; (12) the inability to obtain, or the delay in obtaining, components for our products at reasonable prices; (13) the inability to design and manufacture high-quality products; (14) the loss of, or curtailment of purchases by, large customers in the logistics, consumer electronics, or automotive industries; (15) challenges in accurately forecasting our financial results due to seasonal and cyclical variations in customer purchasing patterns; (16) potential impairment charges with respect to our investments or acquired intangible assets; (17) exposure to additional tax liabilities, increases and fluctuations in our effective tax rate, and other tax matters; (18) fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and the use of derivative instruments; (19) unfavorable global economic conditions, including increases in interest rates and elevated inflation rates; (20) business disruptions from natural or man-made disasters, public health crises, or other events outside our control; (21) exposure to potential liabilities, increased costs, reputational harm, and other adverse effects associated with expectations relating to environmental, social, and governance considerations; (22) stock price volatility; and (23) our involvement in time-consuming and costly litigation or activist shareholder activities. The foregoing list should not be construed as exhaustive and we encourage readers to refer to the detailed discussion of risk factors included in Part I – Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company disclaims any obligation to subsequently revise forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date such statements are made.

About Cognex Corporation

Cognex Corporation (“the Company” or “Cognex”) invents and commercializes technologies that address some of the most critical manufacturing and distribution challenges. We are a leading global provider of machine vision products and solutions that improve efficiency and quality in high-growth-potential businesses across attractive industrial end markets. Our solutions blend physical products and software to capture and analyze visual information, allowing for the automation of manufacturing and distribution tasks for customers worldwide. Machine vision products are used to automate the manufacturing or distribution and tracking of discrete items, such as mobile phones, electric vehicle batteries and e-commerce packages, by locating, identifying, inspecting, and measuring them. Machine vision is important for applications in which human vision is inadequate to meet requirements for size, accuracy, or speed, or in instances where substantial cost savings or quality improvements are maintained.

Cognex is the world’s leader in the machine vision industry, having shipped more than 4.5 million image-based products, representing over $11 billion in cumulative revenue, since the company’s founding in 1981. Headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, USA, Cognex has offices and distributors located throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. For details, visit Cognex online at www.cognex.com.

Investor Contacts:
Nathan McCurren – Head of Investor Relations and Treasurer
Jordan Bertier – Sr. Manager, Investor Relations
Cognex Corporation
ir@cognex.com

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Verda and Compal Announce Partnership to Accelerate AI Infrastructure Development and Expansion

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TAIPEI, May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Compal Electronics (Compal; TWSE: 2324) and Verda, the Helsinki-headquartered European AI cloud provider, purpose-built for the demands of frontier model training and agentic inference, today announced a strategic partnership under which Compal will supply next-generation GPU server systems to accelerate the build-out of its next-generation AI infrastructure across Europe and the APAC region.

Under this collaboration, Compal will supply high-density, liquid-cooled AI server platforms. The platforms are engineered for the workloads defining the next wave of AI: agentic applications that process extensive context and operate at high concurrency, while maintaining the thermal efficiency required for Verda’s sustainable cloud deployments.

The partnership underlines the growing global traction for Verda’s services as well as Compal’s growing role as an infrastructure partner to neocloud operators addressing rising demand for localized AI compute. As enterprises and governments increasingly prioritize data residency, security, and regulatory compliance, neocloud providers like Verda are emerging as key enablers of Sovereign AI strategies.

“Verda’s platform reflects where AI infrastructure demand is heading—toward regional, high-performance, and energy-efficient deployments,” said Alan Chang, Vice President, Infrastructure Solutions Business Group (ISBG) at Compal. “This collaboration demonstrates our ability to deliver advanced AI systems at scale for customers building the next generation of AI clouds.”

“Our mission is to build the next generation of cloud infrastructure for AI and empower pioneering teams across the globe. Working with Compal helps us deliver with world-class quality and reliability, and is an important step in our plans to expand our presence in the APAC region. We’re excited about what’s ahead,” said Jorge Santos, Chief Operating Officer at Verda.

Compal brings deep engineering expertise in accelerated computing, advanced thermal design, and system integration, enabling customers to deploy AI infrastructure efficiently while managing power density and operational complexity. To support global AI deployments, Compal continues to expand its manufacturing footprint across Taiwan, Vietnam, and the United States, strengthening supply-chain resilience and aligning production capacity with regional customer requirements.

About Compal
Established in 1984, Compal has grown into a leading global manufacturer of computers and smart devices, partnering with top-tier brands worldwide. Compal was recognized by CommonWealth Magazine as one of Taiwan’s top 7 manufacturers and has consistently ranked among the Forbes Global 2000 companies. Compal has actively expanded into new growth areas, including cloud servers, automotive electronics, smart medical and healthcare, and advanced communication solutions. Headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, Compal operates design and production facilities in the United States, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Mexico, Brazil, and Poland. Learn more at https://www.compal.com

About Verda
Verda (formerly DataCrunch) is a European AI cloud provider operating high-density GPU data centers across Europe, delivering on-demand compute for training and inference at scale. Headquartered in Finland, Verda runs infrastructure powered by renewable energy and serves frontier AI labs, research teams and startups building the next generation of models. Learn more at https://verda.com

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SOURCE COMPAL ELECTRONICS,INC.

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Mastercard and Yellow Card Partner to Unlock Stablecoin Payment Innovation Across EEMEA

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The two companies will explore innovative real-world use cases for stablecoin-enabled payments including strengthening digital asset payment security with Mastercard Crypto Credential

JOHANNESBURG and NEW YORK, May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mastercard and Yellow Card, a licensed stablecoin infrastructure provider operating primarily across Africa, with additional capabilities in select emerging markets, have announced a strategic partnership to accelerate stablecoin-enabled payment innovation across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA), with plans for global expansion.

The collaboration will explore breakthrough applications for stablecoin payments across four key verticals: cross-border remittances, B2B settlement, digital loyalty ecosystems, and treasury management. Both companies will work with banks, financial institutions, and regulatory bodies to pilot secure, compliant stablecoin solutions that enhance payment efficiency and reduce costs for businesses and consumers.

The alliance will establish joint working groups to identify high-impact use cases, and create interoperable solutions for banks and financial institutions in the Mastercard network that bridge traditional finance with blockchain-powered payments. Initial focus markets include Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.

“Emerging markets represent the greatest opportunity for payment innovation, but success requires deep local expertise and regulatory navigation,” said Chris Maurice, CEO of Yellow Card. “We bring years of experience building compliant stablecoin infrastructure where traditional banking falls short. Mastercard’s global network amplifies these capabilities, allowing us to serve businesses and consumers who need better, more affordable ways to move money across borders,” added Mr. Maurice.

Stablecoins are an exciting and useful option for some payments, and we look forward to working on additional use cases with Yellow Card, while continuing to leverage Mastercard’s expertise to make stablecoins seamless and secure. Together we look forward to taking digital finance into a new sphere, unlocking new efficiencies in cross-border trade, business-to-business settlements, and digital asset security, to generate a wide-ranging positive impact across the financial ecosystem,” said Mete Güney, Executive Vice President, Market Development, EEMEA, Mastercard.

The partnership builds on Mastercard’s expanding blockchain ecosystem and Yellow Card’s proven track record as one of Africa’s leading licensed stablecoin operators, reinforcing both companies’ commitment to utility-focused digital asset innovation. As stablecoins gain regulatory clarity and institutional adoption across emerging markets, the collaboration positions both partners at the forefront of secure, scalable digital payment solutions that bridge traditional finance with blockchain technology.

About Mastercard
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a resilient economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

www.mastercard.com

About Yellow Card
Yellow Card is one of the largest licensed stablecoin-based infrastructure providers with capabilities in 20 African countries and major emerging markets. From Stablecoin payment infrastructure to fiat settlement rails, wallet services, and custom local Stablecoin issuance, Yellow Card provides the complete à-la-carte infrastructure businesses need to manage Stablecoins, payments, and operations across emerging markets.

https://yellowcard.io/

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Chunghwa Telecom Reports Un-Audited Consolidated Operating Results for the First Quarter of 2026

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TAIPEI, May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. (TAIEX: 2412, NYSE: CHT) (“Chunghwa” or “the Company”) today reported its un-audited operating results for the first quarter of 2026. All figures were prepared in accordance with Taiwan-International Financial Reporting Standards (“T-IFRSs”) on a consolidated basis.

(Comparisons throughout the press release, unless otherwise stated, are made with regard to the prior year period.)

First Quarter 2026 Financial Highlights

Total revenue increased by 7.5% to NT$ 59.99 billion.Consumer Business Group revenue increased by 6.2% to NT$ 36.73 billion.Enterprise Business Group revenue increased by 8.5% to NT$ 18.81 billion.International Business Group revenue increased by 10.7% to NT$ 2.70 billion.Total operating costs and expenses increased by 8.3% to NT$ 46.89 billion.Operating income increased by 4.6% to NT$ 13.10 billion.EBITDA increased by 3.4% to NT$ 23.30 billion.Net income attributable to stockholders of the parent increased by 3.2% to NT$ 10.11 billion.Basic earnings per share (EPS) was NT$1.30.Total revenue, operating income, net income attributable to stockholders of the parent, and EPS all exceeded the high-end target of quarterly guidance.

“We began 2026 with a strong start, delivering financial performance across revenue, operating income, net income attributable to stockholders of the parent and EPS all exceeding our quarterly forecasts. Moreover, revenue reached a first-quarter record, the highest since 2012. These results reflect the continued strength of our business momentum,” said Mr. Chih‑Cheng Chien, Chairman and CEO of Chunghwa Telecom.

“This performance was primarily driven by robust growth in our ICT business, where both recurring revenue and order intake reached new highs. Our ICT revenue grew significantly year over year, supported by strong demand across key areas such as IDC, cloud, and AIoT services, underscoring our success in capturing emerging digital and AI-driven opportunities,” said Mr. Rong-Shy Lin, President of Chunghwa Telecom.

“Our mobile and broadband businesses also continued to deliver stable growth, benefiting from escalating 5G penetration and ongoing improvements in ARPU. Notably, our four value-added services all exceeded their remarkable million-subscriber thresholds, demonstrating our success in delivering value to users. These results reflect not only the resilience of our core operations, but also the effectiveness of our long-term strategy to balance stable cash-generating businesses with high-growth digital initiatives,” Mr. Lin continued.

“We are committed to advancing our 6G transition and AI-powered future. Our phased 5G standalone deployment is strengthening networking founding by targeting services in select verticals and high-traffic commercial districts for the 6G era,” Mr. Lin added. “Meanwhile, by building ‘CHT AI Factory platform’ to integrate our DeepFlow solutions, compute power, AI models and agents, we offer AI-enabled applications to customers and accelerate AI-related revenue growth in 2026. Alongside our technology advancements, ESG remains a core pillar of our long‑term strategy. We are confident in our ability to achieve sustainable growth and create long‑term value for our shareholders.”

Revenue

Chunghwa Telecom’s total revenues for the first quarter of 2026 increased by 7.5% to NT$ 59.99 billion.

Consumer Business Group’s revenue for the first quarter of 2026 increased by 6.2% Year-over-year to NT$ 36.73 billion and income before tax increased by 5.3% year-over-year, supported by steady increases in core telecom business and strong iPhone demands.

Enterprise Business Group’s revenue for the first quarter of 2026 increased 8.5% year-over-year to NT$ 18.81 billion, driven by robust ICT growth, while pre-tax profit declined 2.7% due to fixed voice service decrease. Notably, ICT order intake hit a quarterly record-high, led by network resilience, anti-fraud initiatives, and large projects for national fiscal and public surveillance systems, underpinning future growth momentum.

International Business Group’s revenue for the first quarter of 2026 increased by 10.7% to NT$ 2.70 billion and income before tax increased by 1.6% year-over-year, driven by rising demand for ICT services and stronger roaming revenue. In addition, we expanded investment in the AUG-East submarine cable this quarter, boosting Taiwan to Japan and Taiwan to Singapore bandwidth to 18+ Tbps, supporting international business growth.

Operating Costs and Expenses

Total operating costs and expenses for the first quarter of 2026 increased by 8.3% to NT$ 46.89 billion, mainly due to higher costs associated with growth in sales and ICT project revenue, as well as an increase in personnel expenses.

Operating Income and Net Income

Operating income for the first quarter of 2026 increased by 4.6% to NT$ 13.10 billion. The operating margin was 21.75%, as compared to 22.44% in the same period of 2025. Net income attributable to stockholders of the parent increased by 3.2% to NT$ 10.11 billion. Basic earnings per share was NT$1.30.

Cash Flow and EBITDA

Cash flow from operating activities, as of March 31st, 2026, decreased by 13.6% year over year to NT$ 11.19 billion.

Cash and cash equivalents, as of March 31st, 2026, increased by 20.8% to NT$ 35.10 billion as compared to that as of March 31st, 2025.

EBITDA for the first quarter of 2026 was NT$ 23.30 billion, increased by 3.4% year over year. EBITDA margin was 38.85%, as compared to 40.37% in the same period of 2025.

Business Highlights

Mobile

As of March 31st, 2026, Chunghwa Telecom had 13.34 million mobile subscribers, representing a 1.7% year-over-year increase. In the first quarter, total mobile service revenue increased by 4.4% to NT$ 17.70 billion, while mobile post-paid ARPU excluding IoT SIMs grew 3.6% year over year to NT$ 573.

Fixed Broadband/HiNet

As of March 31st, 2026, the number of broadband subscribers slightly increased by 0.5% to 4.45 million. The number of HiNet broadband subscribers increased by 1.4% to 3.80 million. In the first quarter, total fixed broadband revenue grew 3.0% year over year to NT$ 11.81 billion, while ARPU increased 2.5% to NT$ 818.

Fixed line

As of March 31st, 2026, the number of fixed-line subscribers was 8.57 million.

Financial Statements

Financial statements and additional operational data can be found on the Company’s website at http://www.cht.com.tw/en/home/cht/investors/financials/quarterly-earnings

NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Chunghwa’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Investors are cautioned that actual events and results could differ materially from those statements as a result of a number of factors including, but not limited to the risks outlined in Chunghwa’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms F-1, F-3, 6-K and 20-F, in each case as amended. The forward-looking statements in this press release reflect the current belief of Chunghwa as of the date of this press release and Chunghwa undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements for events or circumstances that occur subsequent to such date, except as required under applicable law.

This press release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. Any public offering of securities to be made in the United States will be made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from the issuer or selling security holder and that will contain detailed information about the company and management, as well as financial statements.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

To supplement the Company’s consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards pursuant to the requirements of the Financial Supervisory Commission, or T-IFRSs, Chunghwa Telecom also provides EBITDA, which is a “non-GAAP financial measure”. EBITDA is defined as consolidated net income (loss) excluding (i) depreciation and amortization, (ii) total net comprehensive financing cost (which is comprised of net interest expense, exchange gain or loss, monetary position gain or loss and other financing costs and derivative transactions), (iii) other income, net, (iv) income tax, (v) (income) loss from discontinued operations.

In managing the Company’s business, Chunghwa Telecom relies on EBITDA as a means of assessing its operating performance because it excludes the effect of (i) depreciation and amortization, which represents a non-cash charge to earnings, (ii) certain financing costs, which are significantly affected by external factors, including interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and inflation rates, which have little or no bearing on our operating performance, (iii) income tax (iv) other expenses or income not related to the operation of the business. 

CAUTIONS ON USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

In addition to the consolidated financial results prepared under T-IFRSs, Chunghwa Telecom also provide non-GAAP financial measures, including “EBITDA”. The Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with another method for assessing its operating results in a manner that is focused on the performance of its ongoing operations.

Chunghwa Telecom’s management believes investors will benefit from greater transparency in referring to these non-GAAP financial measures when assessing the Company’s operating results, as well as when forecasting and analyzing future periods. However, the Company recognizes that:

these non-GAAP financial measures are limited in their usefulness and should be considered only as a supplement to the Company’s T-IFRSs financial measures;these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, the Company’s T-IFRSs financial measures;these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered to be superior to the Company’s T-IFRSs financial measures; andthese non-GAAP financial measures were not prepared in accordance with T-IFRSs and investors should not assume that the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this earnings release were prepared under a comprehensive set of rules or principle.             

Further, these non-GAAP financial measures may be unique to Chunghwa Telecom, as they may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. As such, this presentation of non-GAAP financial measures may not enhance the comparability of the Company’s results to the results of other companies. Readers are cautioned not to view non-GAAP results as a substitute for results under T-IFRSs, or as being comparable to results reported or forecasted by other companies.

About Chunghwa Telecom

Chunghwa Telecom (TAIEX 2412, NYSE: CHT) (“Chunghwa” or “the Company”) is Taiwan’s largest integrated telecommunications services company that provides fixed-line, mobile, broadband, and internet services. The Company also provides information and communication technology services to corporate customers with its big data, information security, cloud computing and IDC capabilities, and is expanding its business into innovative technology services such as IoT, AI, etc. Chunghwa has been actively and continuously implemented environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives with the goal to achieve sustainability and has won numerous international and domestic awards and recognitions for its ESG commitments and best practices. For more information, please visit our website at www.cht.com.tw

Contact:          Angela Tsai
Phone:            +886 2 2344 5488
Email:              chtir@cht.com.tw

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