Cognex (Nasdaq: CGNX) reported earnings on Feb. 9. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Cognex beat expectations on revenues and missed expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue contracted slightly and GAAP earnings per share shrank.

Gross margins increased, operating margins shrank, net margins contracted.

Revenue details
Cognex booked revenue of $84.0 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $81.5 million. GAAP sales were 1.0% lower than the prior-year quarter's $84.9 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.40. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.41 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.44 for Q4 were 6.4% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.47 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 74.8%, 310 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 25.6%, 140 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 22.7%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $79.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.35.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $351.0 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.76.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 280 members out of 311 rating the stock outperform, and 31 members rating it underperform. Among 104 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 93 give Cognex a green thumbs-up, and 11 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Cognex is hold, with an average price target of $34.00.

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