Cognex (MEX:CGNX) Moat Score: 7/10 (As of Aug. 22, 2026)

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MEX:CGNX Cognex Corp MEX:CGNX
72 GF Score
Price MXN1,055.00
GF Value MXN918.72
Valuation Modestly Overvalued
! 4 Warning Signs
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What is Cognex Moat Score?

Cognex MEX:CGNX 72 Moat Score is 7 as of Aug. 22, 2026. GuruFocus rates MEX:CGNX with a GF Score™ of 72/100 and a GF Value™ of MXN918.72 (Modestly Overvalued). The stock has 4 warning signs investors should review. Among 2,464 Hardware companies, Cognex ranks better than 99.76% on this metric.

Cognex has the Moat Score of 7, which implies that the company might have Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages.

Cognex has Wide Moat: Cognex Corp possesses a wide moat with strong intellectual property, economies of scale, and a leading market position in machine vision systems. Its innovation and R&D capabilities, along with customer loyalty, provide durable competitive advantages.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes Cognex might have Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages.


Cognex  (MEX:CGNX) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

Cognex Moat Score Related Terms


MEX:CGNX vs ESE, TRMB, ST: Moat Score Comparison

For the Scientific & Technical Instruments subindustry, Cognex's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.


Cognex Moat Score vs Hardware Industry

For the Hardware industry and Technology sector, Cognex's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Cognex's Moat Score falls into.


MEX:CGNX
72GF Score
Cognex Corp MEX:CGNX
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 7 mean?
Cognex (MEX:CGNX) has a Moat Score of 7 as of Aug. 22, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, Cognex ranks #6 out of 2464 companies in the Hardware industry, placing it in the top 0.2%.
Is Cognex's Moat Score too high?
Cognex's current Moat Score is 7. Based on the distribution chart, Cognex ranks #6 out of 2464 companies in the Hardware industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Cognex has a GF Score™ of 72/100 and is considered Modestly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Cognex's Moat Score compare to ESE and TRMB?
According to the Hardware industry distribution chart, Cognex ranks #6 out of 2464 companies for Moat Score. This places Cognex in the top 0% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for a Hardware company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Hardware industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. Cognex's current Moat Score is 7. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Cognex stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Cognex (MEX:CGNX) is currently considered Modestly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is MXN918.72, compared to a current price of MXN1,055.00 — trading 14.8% above its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 7. Cognex's overall GF Score™ is 72/100 with 4 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Cognex (MEX:CGNX), the current Moat Score is 7 as of Aug. 22, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Cognex (MEX:CGNX) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Cognex stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of MXN1,055.00 is trading 14.8% above its estimated GF Value™ of MXN918.72. GuruFocus considers Cognex to be Modestly Overvalued.

Key valuation signals for MEX:CGNX:

  • Moat Score: 7
  • GF Value™: MXN918.72 vs. price of MXN1,055.00 (14.8% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 72/100 with 4 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the MEX:CGNX stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


Cognex Business Description

Address One Vision Drive, Natick, MA, USA, 01760-2059
Cognex Corp provides machine vision products that help automate manufacturing processes. The firm's products include vision software, vision systems, vision sensors, and ID products. Vision software combines vision tools with a customer's cameras and peripheral equipment and can help with several vision tasks, including part location, identification, measurement, and robotic guidance. Vision systems combine a camera, processor, and vision software into a single package. Vision sensors deliver simple, low-cost solutions for common vision applications, such as checking the size of parts. Geographically, it operates in United states, Europe, Greater China and others. Cognex generates the maximum proportion of its sales in the United States and Europe.
72GF Score

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Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

MXN1,055.00
Price
MXN918.72
GF Value