Cognex (CGNX) vs Vicor (VICR)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Vicor (VICR) has outperformed Cognex (CGNX) over the past year, gaining 409.4% versus a gain of 30.3%. Over five years, VICR leads with a +77.0% price change compared with -27.8% for CGNX. Vicor is the larger company by market cap ($12.09 billion vs $10.25 billion), about 1.2 times the size.
On valuation, Cognex trades at a lower forward P/E (30.0x vs 42.9x for Vicor). Cognex pays a dividend yielding 0.55%, while Vicor does not currently pay one. Vicor converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 26.2% versus 11.5%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CGNX | VICR |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $60.91 | $262.32 |
| Market cap | $10.25B | $12.09B |
| 1-day change | -0.49% | -7.24% |
| YTD return | +69.29% | +139.34% |
| 1-year return | +30.29% | +409.36% |
| 5-year return | -27.84% | +76.99% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 58.57 | 83.81 |
| Forward P/E | 30.04 | 42.86 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.04 | $3.13 |
| Dividend yield | 0.55% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.335 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $994.36M | $452.70M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.73% | +26.08% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $114.44M | $118.56M |
| Gross margin | 66.92% | 57.31% |
| Operating margin | 16.35% | 18.08% |
| Net margin | 11.51% | 26.19% |
| 52-week high | $72.88 | $382.65 |
| 52-week low | $34.60 | $48.53 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -16.42% | -31.45% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +29.88% | +50.10% |
| Average volume | 1.89M | 872.51K |
| Shares outstanding | 168.22M | 34.39M |
| Employees | 2,745 | 1,092 |
| Sector | Industrials | Technology |
| Industry | Industrial Machinery/Components | Industrial Machinery/Components |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- VICR has outperformed CGNX by 379.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Vicor trades at a higher earnings multiple (83.8x vs 58.6x trailing P/E).
- Vicor is more profitable, keeping 26.2 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 11.5 cents for Cognex.
- Vicor grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+26.08% vs +8.73%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Cognex in Industrials and Vicor in Technology.
About Cognex
CGNX stock →Cognex Corporation provides machine vision products that capture and analyze visual information to automate manufacturing and distribution tasks in the United States, Europe, Greater China, and internationally. Its machine vision products are used to automate the manufacture and distribution of discrete items, such as mobile phones, automotive components, and e-commerce packages, by locating, identifying, inspecting, and measuring them.
Industrials · Industrial Machinery/Components · 2,745 employees
About Vicor
VICR stock →Vicor Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and markets modular power components and power systems for converting electrical power for use in electrically powered devices in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company offers a range of brick-format DC-DC converters; complementary components that provide AC line rectification, input filtering, power factor correction, and transient protection; and input and output voltage, and output power products, as well as sells electrical and mechanical accessories.
Technology · Industrial Machinery/Components · 1,092 employees
CGNX vs VICR FAQ
Which is bigger, Cognex or Vicor?
Vicor (VICR) is larger, with a market capitalization of $12.09B compared with $10.25B for Cognex (CGNX).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CGNX or VICR?
VICR returned +409.36% over the past 12 months, compared with +30.29% for CGNX (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CGNX or VICR?
CGNX has the lower trailing P/E at 58.6, versus 83.8 for VICR. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Cognex or Vicor?
Cognex pays a dividend yielding 0.55%, while Vicor does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Cognex and Vicor in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Industrial Machinery/Components industry within the Industrials sector.