Document
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 
FORM 10-Q 
(Mark One)
[ X ]
Quarterly Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the quarterly period ended October 2, 2016 or
          
[    ]
Transition Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from __________ to __________
            
Commission File Number 001-34218
COGNEX CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Massachusetts
 
04-2713778
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

One Vision Drive
Natick, Massachusetts 01760-2059
(508) 650-3000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  
 
 
Yes
X
 
  
 
 
No
  
 
  
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    
 
 
Yes
X
 
  
 
 
No
  
 
  
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
X
  
Accelerated filer
 
Non-accelerated filer
 
  
Smaller reporting company
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    
 
 
Yes
 
 
  
 
 
No
X
 
  
 
As of October 2, 2016, there were 85,665,974 shares of Common Stock, $.002 par value per share, of the registrant outstanding.
 


INDEX
 
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
 
Financial Statements (interim periods unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


2


PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

COGNEX CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
Three-months Ended
 
Nine-months Ended
 
October 2, 2016
 
October 4, 2015
 
October 2, 2016
 
October 4, 2015
 
(unaudited)
 
(unaudited)
Revenue
$
147,952

 
$
107,587

 
$
391,431

 
$
352,789

Cost of revenue
32,749

 
26,319

 
88,930

 
79,171

Gross margin
115,203

 
81,268

 
302,501

 
273,618

Research, development, and engineering expenses
18,603

 
16,977

 
58,829

 
52,265

Selling, general, and administrative expenses
42,072

 
35,806

 
123,125

 
118,980

Operating income
54,528

 
28,485

 
120,547

 
102,373

Foreign currency gain (loss)
(607
)
 
(40
)
 
(377
)
 
580

Investment income
2,047

 
841

 
4,631

 
2,648

Other income (expense)
374

 
(23
)
 
803

 
(388
)
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense
56,342

 
29,263

 
125,604

 
105,213

Income tax expense on continuing operations
2,667

 
3,441

 
14,030

 
16,403

Net income from continuing operations
53,675

 
25,822

 
111,574

 
88,810

Net income (loss) from discontinued operations (Note 14)
—

 
78,290

 
(255
)
 
79,518

Net income
$
53,675

 
$
104,112

 
$
111,319

 
$
168,328

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per weighted-average common and common-equivalent share:
Net income from continuing operations
$
0.63

 
$
0.30

 
$
1.31

 
$
1.02

Net income (loss) from discontinued operations
$
—

 
$
0.91

 
$
—

 
$
0.92

Net income
$
0.63

 
$
1.21

 
$
1.31

 
$
1.94

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted earnings per weighted-average common and common-equivalent share:
Net income from continuing operations
$
0.61

 
$
0.29

 
$
1.29

 
$
1.00

Net income (loss) from discontinued operations
$
—

 
$
0.90

 
$
(0.01
)
 
$
0.90

Net income
$
0.61

 
$
1.19

 
$
1.28

 
$
1.90

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-average common and common-equivalent shares outstanding:
Basic
85,460

 
86,303

 
85,167

 
86,756

Diluted
87,346

 
87,776

 
86,805

 
88,559

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash dividends per common share
$
0.075

 
$
0.07

 
$
0.22

 
$
0.14










 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

3


COGNEX CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands)
 
 
Three-months Ended
 
Nine-months Ended
 
October 2, 2016
 
October 4, 2015
 
October 2, 2016
 
October 4, 2015
 
(unaudited)
 
(unaudited)
Net income
$
53,675

 
$
104,112

 
$
111,319

 
$
168,328

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flow hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized gain (loss), net of tax of $21 and ($3) in the three-month periods and net of tax of ($76) and ($28) in the nine-month periods, respectively
(86
)
 
(140
)
 
(965
)
 
(423
)
Reclassification of net realized (gain) loss into current operations
241

 
90

 
427

 
269

Net change related to cash flow hedges
155

 
(50
)
 
(538
)
 
(154
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized gain (loss), net of tax of ($29) and ($61) in the three-month periods and net of tax of $481 and ($55) in the nine-month periods, respectively
40

 
(666
)
 
2,672

 
(100
)
Reclassification of net realized (gain) loss into current operations
(55
)
 
(19
)
 
(183
)
 
(240
)
Net change related to available-for-sale investments
(15
)
 
(685
)
 
2,489

 
(340
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $80 and $4 in the three-month periods and net of tax of $254 and ($525) in the nine-month periods, respectively
1,125

 
620

 
3,739

 
(7,620
)
Net change related to foreign currency translation adjustments
1,125

 
620

 
3,739

 
(7,620
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
1,265

 
(115
)
 
5,690

 
(8,114
)
Total comprehensive income
$
54,940

 
$
103,997

 
$
117,009

 
$
160,214










The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

4


COGNEX CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
 
 
October 2, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
(unaudited)
 
 
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
61,145

 
$
51,975

Short-term investments
328,378

 
296,468

Accounts receivable, less reserves of $800 and $736 in 2016 and 2015, respectively
82,068

 
42,846

Unbilled revenue
10,090

 
24

Inventories
27,226

 
37,334

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
21,921

 
15,847

Total current assets
530,828

 
444,494

Long-term investments
315,927

 
273,088

Property, plant, and equipment, net
55,730

 
53,285

Goodwill
82,831

 
81,448

Intangible assets, net
4,716

 
6,315

Deferred income taxes
27,529

 
26,517

Other assets
2,526

 
2,609

Total assets
$
1,020,087

 
$
887,756

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
10,106

 
$
7,860

Accrued expenses
42,593

 
33,272

Accrued income taxes
470

 
985

Deferred revenue and customer deposits
15,905

 
11,571

Total current liabilities
69,074

 
53,688

Deferred income taxes
346

 
319

Reserve for income taxes
5,104

 
4,830

Other non-current liabilities
1,615

 
3,252

Total liabilities
76,139

 
62,089

 
 
 
 
Shareholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Common stock, $.002 par value – Authorized: 200,000 and 140,000 shares in 2016 and 2015, respectively, issued and outstanding: 85,666 and 84,856 shares in 2016 and 2015, respectively
171

 
170

Additional paid-in capital
349,981

 
311,008

Retained earnings
640,230

 
566,613

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax
(46,434
)
 
(52,124
)
Total shareholders’ equity
943,948

 
825,667

 
$
1,020,087

 
$
887,756



 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

5


COGNEX CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
 
Nine-months Ended
 
October 2, 2016
 
October 4, 2015
 
(unaudited)
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
111,319

 
$
168,328

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
(Gain) loss on sale of discontinued business
255

 
(78,290
)
Stock-based compensation expense
15,883

 
15,964

Depreciation of property, plant, and equipment
8,551

 
7,223

Amortization of intangible assets
2,581

 
3,203

Amortization of discounts or premiums on investments
288

 
536

Realized (gain) loss on sale of investments
(733
)
 
(240
)
Revaluation of contingent consideration
(463
)
 
—

Change in deferred income taxes
(1,415
)
 
(2,134
)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
(37,802
)
 
(31,380
)
Unbilled revenue
(9,986
)
 
(2,233
)
Inventories
10,780

 
(11,363
)
Accounts payable
2,089

 
(6,823
)
Accrued expenses
7,560

 
(4,010
)
Accrued income taxes
(531
)
 
18,032

Deferred revenue and customer deposits
4,071

 
6,035

Other
(5,789
)
 
1,147

Net cash provided by operating activities
106,658

 
83,995

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Purchases of investments
(598,955
)
 
(547,553
)
Maturities and sales of investments
529,207

 
521,464

Purchases of property, plant, and equipment
(10,491
)
 
(13,017
)
Cash paid for acquisition of business
(2,483
)
 
(1,023
)
Cash paid for purchased technology
—

 
(10,475
)
Net cash received (paid) from sale of discontinued business
(113
)
 
104,496

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
(82,835
)
 
53,892

Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Issuance of common stock under stock plans
23,091

 
27,440

Repurchase of common stock
(18,941
)
 
(126,351
)
Payment of dividends
(18,761
)
 
(12,137
)
Payment of contingent consideration
(337
)
 
—

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(14,948
)
 
(111,048
)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
295

 
(2,970
)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
9,170

 
23,869

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
51,975

 
55,694

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
61,145

 
$
79,563

Non-cash items related to discontinued operations:
 
 
 
Stock-based compensation expense
$
—

 
$
1,533

Depreciation and amortization expense
—

 
566

Capital expenditures
—

 
482

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

6


COGNEX CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands)
 
 
Common Stock
 
Additional
Paid-in Capital
 
Retained Earnings
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 
Total
Shareholders’
Equity
 
Shares
 
Par Value
 
 
 
 
Balance as of December 31, 2015
84,856

 
$
170

 
$
311,008

 
$
566,613

 
$
(52,124
)
 
$
825,667

Issuance of common stock under stock plans
1,224

 
1

 
23,090

 
—

 
—

 
23,091

Repurchase of common stock
(414
)
 
—

 
—

 
(18,941
)
 
—

 
(18,941
)
Stock-based compensation expense
—

 
—

 
15,883

 
—

 
—

 
15,883

Payment of dividends
—

 
—

 
—

 
(18,761
)
 
—

 
(18,761
)
Net income
—

 
—

 
—

 
111,319

 
—

 
111,319

Net unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges, net of tax of ($76)
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(965
)
 
(965
)
Reclassification of net realized (gain) loss on cash flow hedges
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
427

 
427

Net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investments, net of tax of $481
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
2,672

 
2,672

Reclassification of net realized (gain) loss on the sale of available-for-sale investments
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(183
)
 
(183
)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax of $254
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
3,739

 
3,739

Balance as of October 2, 2016 (unaudited)
85,666

 
$
171

 
$
349,981

 
$
640,230

 
$
(46,434
)
 
$
943,948














The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

7


COGNEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
NOTE 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
As permitted by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission applicable to Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, these notes are condensed and do not contain all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Company has provided expanded disclosures related to its revenue recognition accounting policy in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. Reference should be made to the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 for a full description of significant accounting policies.
In the opinion of the management of Cognex Corporation (the “Company”), the accompanying consolidated unaudited financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal, recurring adjustments and financial statement reclassifications, including those related to the disposition of a business (more fully described in Note 14), necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of October 2, 2016, and the results of its operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended October 2, 2016 and October 4, 2015, and changes in shareholders’ equity, comprehensive income, and cash flows for the periods presented.
The results disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended October 2, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
On July 6, 2015, the Company completed the sale of its Surface Inspection Systems Division (SISD). The financial results of SISD are reported as a discontinued operation for all periods presented.
Revenue Recognition
In order to recognize revenue, the Company requires that a signed customer contract or purchase order is received, the fee from the arrangement is fixed or determinable, and the collection of the resulting receivable is probable. Assuming that these criteria have been met, product revenue is generally recognized upon delivery, revenue from maintenance and support programs is recognized ratably over the program period, and revenue from consulting and training services is recognized when the services have been provided. When customer-specified acceptance criteria exists that are substantive, product revenue is deferred, along with associated incremental direct costs, until these criteria have been met and any remaining performance obligations are inconsequential or perfunctory. 
For the majority of the Company’s revenue transactions, revenue recognition and invoicing both occur upon delivery. In certain circumstances, however, the agreement with the customer provides for invoicing terms which differ from revenue recognition criteria, resulting in either deferred revenue or unbilled revenue. Invoicing that precedes revenue recognition is common for various customers in the logistics industry where milestone billings are prevalent, resulting in deferred revenue. Conversely, the Company records unbilled revenue in connection with a material customer in the consumer electronics industry. For this arrangement, the Company recognizes revenue for all delivered products when the first production line that incorporates these products is validated, because at that point the remaining performance obligations are inconsequential or perfunctory. Invoicing for all delivered products occurs as the production lines incorporating those products are installed over a period of several weeks. The Company also has a technical support obligation related to this arrangement for which revenue is deferred and recognized over the support period of approximately six months.
Certain customers are offered pricing discounts on current sales based upon purchasing volumes or preferred pricing arrangements, for which revenue is reported net of these discounts.
NOTE 2: New Pronouncements
Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”
The amendments in ASU 2014-09 will supersede and replace all currently existing U.S. GAAP, including industry-specific revenue recognition guidance, with a single, principle-based revenue recognition framework. The concept guiding this new model is that revenue recognition will depict transfer of control to the customer in an amount that reflects consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled. The core principles supporting this framework include (1) identifying the contract with a customer, (2) identifying separate performance obligations within the contract, (3) determining the transaction price, (4) allocating the transaction price to the performance obligations, and (5) recognizing revenue. This new framework will require entities to apply significantly more judgment. This increase in management judgment will require expanded disclosure on estimation methods, inputs, and assumptions for revenue recognition.
In March 2016, ASU 2016-08, "Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)," was issued, in April 2016, ASU 2016-10, "Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing," was issued, and in May

8


2016, ASU 2016-12, "Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients" was issued. These Updates do not change the core principle of the guidance under ASU 2014-09, but rather provide implementation guidance. ASU 2015-14, "Deferral of the effective date," amended the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for public companies to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, but only beginning after December 15, 2016. The Financial Accounting Standards Board may release additional implementation guidance in future periods. Management will continue to evaluate the impact of this standard as it evolves.
Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2015-11, "Inventory - Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory"
ASU 2015-11 requires companies to measure most inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value, thereby simplifying the current guidance under which a company must measure inventory at the lower of cost or market. This ASU eliminates the need to determine replacement cost and evaluate whether said cost is within a quantitative range. This ASU also further aligns U.S. GAAP and international accounting standards. For public companies, the guidance in ASU 2015-11 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. Management does not expect ASU 2015-11 to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements and disclosures.
Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-01, "Financial Instruments - Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities"
ASU 2016-01 provides guidance related to certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. The amendments in this Update affect all entities that hold financial assets or owe financial liabilities. This ASU requires equity investments (except those accounted under the equity method) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. However, an entity may choose to measure equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values at cost minus impairment. This ASU also eliminates the requirement for public companies to disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet, and it requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements. For public companies, the guidance in ASU 2016-01 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is not permitted except for certain amendments in this Update. Management does not expect ASU 2016-01 to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements and disclosures.
Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-02, "Leases"
ASU 2016-02 creates Topic 842, Leases. The objective of this Update is to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet, and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. This ASU applies to any entity that enters into a lease, although lessees will see the most significant changes. The main difference between current U.S. GAAP and Topic 842 is the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for those leases classified as operating leases under current U.S. GAAP. Topic 842 distinguishes between finance leases and operating leases, which are substantially similar to the classification criteria for distinguishing between capital leases and operating leases under current U.S. GAAP. For public companies, the guidance in ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those annual periods. This ASU should be applied using a modified retrospective approach. Management is in the process of evaluating the impact of this Update.
Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-05, "Derivatives and Hedging - Effect of Derivative Contract Novations on Existing Hedge Accounting Relationships"
ASU 2016-05 applies to all reporting entities for which there is a change in the counterparty to a derivative instrument that has been designated as the hedging instrument. The amendments in this Update clarify that a change in the counterparty does not, in and of itself, require de-designation of that hedging relationship provided that all other hedge accounting criteria continue to be met. For public companies, the guidance in ASU 2016-05 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. This ASU should be applied on either a prospective basis or a modified retrospective basis. Management does not expect ASU 2016-05 to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements and disclosures.
Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Measurement of Credit Losses"
ASU 2016-13 applies to all reporting entities holding financial assets that are not accounted for at fair value through net income (debt securities).  The amendments in this Update eliminate the probable initial recognition threshold to recognize a credit loss under current U.S. GAAP and, instead, reflect an entity’s current estimate of all expected credit losses. In addition, this Update broadens the information an entity must consider in developing the credit loss estimate, including the use of reasonable and supportable forecasted information.  The amendments in this Update require that

9


credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down and an entity will be able to record reversals of credit losses in current period net income. For public companies, the guidance in ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those annual periods.  This ASU should be applied through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective.  Management does not expect ASU 2016-13 to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements and disclosures.
NOTE 3: Fair Value Measurements
Financial Assets and Liabilities that are Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The following table summarizes the financial assets and liabilities required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of October 2, 2016 (in thousands):
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets (Level 1)
 
Significant  Other
Observable
Inputs (Level 2)
 

Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Money market instruments
$
6,354

 
$
—

 
$
—

Corporate bonds
—

 
297,779

 
—

Treasury bills
—

 
107,307

 
—

Asset-backed securities
—

 
103,522

 
—

Sovereign bonds
—

 
53,104

 
—

Euro liquidity fund
—

 
49,586

 
—

Agency bonds
—

 
23,552

 
—

Municipal bonds
—

 
9,455

 
—

Cash flow hedge forward contracts
—

 
82

 
—

Economic hedge forward contracts
—

 
75

 
—

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flow hedge forward contracts
—

 
460

 
—

Economic hedge forward contracts
—

 
33

 
—

Contingent consideration liability
—

 
—

 
2,200

The Company’s money market instruments are reported at fair value based upon the daily market price for identical assets in active markets, and are therefore classified as Level 1.
The Company’s debt securities and forward contracts are reported at fair value based upon model-driven valuations in which all significant inputs are observable or can be derived from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the asset or liability, and are therefore classified as Level 2. Management is responsible for estimating the fair value of these financial assets and liabilities, and in doing so, considers valuations provided by a large, third-party pricing service. For debt securities, this service maintains regular contact with market makers, brokers, dealers, and analysts to gather information on market movement, direction, trends, and other specific data. They use this information to structure yield curves for various types of debt securities and arrive at the daily valuations. The Company's forward contracts are typically traded or executed in over-the-counter markets with a high degree of pricing transparency. The market participants are generally large commercial banks.
The Company did not record an other-than-temporary impairment of these financial assets during the nine-month period ended October 2, 2016.
The Company's contingent consideration liability, related to the acquisition of Manatee Works, Inc. in 2015, is reported at fair value based upon probability-adjusted present values of the consideration expected to be transferred using significant inputs that are not observable in the market, and is therefore classified as Level 3. Key assumptions used in these estimates include probability assessments with respect to the likelihood of achieving the revenue milestones and discount rates consistent with the level of risk of achievement. The contingent consideration is remeasured each reporting period with changes in fair value recorded in "Other income (expense)" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

10
COGNEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The following table summarizes the activity for the Company's liability measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs for the nine-month period ended October 2, 2016 (in thousands):
Balance as of December 31, 2015
$
3,000

Payment of contingent consideration
(337
)
Fair value adjustment to the contingent consideration
(463
)
Balance as of October 2, 2016
$
2,200

Financial Assets that are Measured at Fair Value on a Non-recurring Basis
The Company has an interest in a limited partnership, which is accounted for using the cost method. During the third quarter of 2016, the Company received a distribution from the Partnership that was accounted for as a return of capital and reduced the carrying value of this investment to zero. Accordingly, the Company is no longer required to measure this investment at fair value on a non-recurring basis.
Non-financial Assets that are Measured at Fair Value on a Non-recurring Basis
Non-financial assets such as property, plant and equipment, goodwill, and intangible assets are required to be measured at fair value only when an impairment loss is recognized. The Company did not record an impairment charge related to these assets during the nine-month period ended October 2, 2016.
NOTE 4: Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Investments
Cash, cash equivalents, and investments consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
October 2, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Cash
$
54,791

 
$
45,951

Money market instruments
6,354

 
6,024

Cash and cash equivalents
61,145

 
51,975

Corporate bonds
134,245

 
54,376

Asset-backed securities
64,740

 
61,994

Euro liquidity fund
49,586

 
47,730

Treasury bills
36,728

 
109,360

Sovereign bonds
28,720

 
21,440

Municipal bonds
9,455

 
590

Agency bonds
4,904

 
978

Short-term investments
328,378

 
296,468

Corporate bonds
163,534

 
176,575

Treasury bills
70,579

 
44,437

Asset-backed securities
38,782

 
24,582

Sovereign bonds
24,384

 
13,503

Agency bonds
18,648

 
8,180

Municipal bonds
—

 
4,869

Limited partnership interest (accounted for using cost method)
—

 
942

Long-term investments
315,927

 
273,088

 
$
705,450

 
$
621,531

Corporate bonds consist of debt securities issued by both domestic and foreign companies; asset-backed securities consist of debt securities collateralized by pools of receivables or loans with credit enhancement; the Euro liquidity fund invests in a portfolio of investment-grade bonds; treasury bills consist of debt securities issued by the U.S. government; sovereign bonds consist of direct debt issued by foreign governments; municipal bonds consist of debt securities issued by state and local government entities; and agency bonds consist of domestic or foreign obligations of government agencies and government sponsored enterprises that have government backing. The Euro liquidity fund is denominated in Euros, and the remaining securities are denominated in U.S. Dollars.

11
COGNEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The following table summarizes the Company’s available-for-sale investments as of October 2, 2016 (in thousands):
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
Short-term:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate bonds
$
134,232

 
$
56

 
$
(43
)
 
$
134,245

Asset-backed securities
64,696

 
49

 
(5
)
 
64,740

Euro liquidity fund
49,256

 
330

 
—

 
49,586

Treasury bills
36,704

 
27

 
(3
)
 
36,728

Sovereign bonds
28,719

 
5

 
(4
)
 
28,720

Municipal bonds
9,443

 
12

 
—

 
9,455

Agency bonds
4,900

 
4

 
—

 
4,904

Long-term:
 
 
 
 
 
 


Corporate bonds
162,826

 
773

 
(65
)
 
163,534

Treasury bills
70,535

 
60

 
(16
)
 
70,579

Asset-backed securities
38,716

 
72

 
(6
)
 
38,782

Sovereign bonds
24,362

 
31

 
(9
)
 
24,384

Agency bonds
18,610

 
38

 
—

 
18,648

 
$
642,999

 
$
1,457

 
$
(151
)
 
$
644,305

The following table summarizes the Company’s gross unrealized losses and fair values for available-for-sale investments in an unrealized loss position as of October 2, 2016 (in thousands):
 
Unrealized Loss Position For:
 
 
 
Less than 12 Months
 
12 Months or Greater
 
Total
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
Corporate bonds
$
55,613

 
$
(50
)
 
$
24,991

 
$
(58
)
 
$
80,604

 
$
(108
)
Treasury bills
44,714

 
(19
)
 
—

 
—

 
44,714

 
(19
)
Asset-backed securities
7,074

 
(2
)
 
13,580

 
(9
)
 
20,654

 
(11
)
Sovereign bonds
16,414

 
(11
)
 
3,398

 
(2
)
 
19,812

 
(13
)
 
$
123,815


$
(82
)

$
41,969


$
(69
)

$
165,784


$
(151
)
As of October 2, 2016, the Company did not recognize any other-than-temporary impairment of these investments. In its evaluation, management considered the type of security, the credit rating of the security, the length of time the security has been in a loss position, the size of the loss position, the Company's intent and ability to hold the security to expected recovery of value, and other meaningful information. The Company does not intend to sell, and is unlikely to be required to sell, any of these available-for-sale investments before its effective maturity or market price recovery.
The Company recorded gross realized gains and gross realized losses on the sale of debt securities totaling $55,000 and $0, respectively, during the three-month period ended October 2, 2016 and $26,000 and $7,000, respectively, during the three-month period ended October 4, 2015. The Company recorded gross realized gains and gross realized losses on the sale of debt securities totaling $280,000 and $97,000, respectively, during the nine-month period ended October 2, 2016 and $434,000 and $194,000, respectively, during the nine-month period ended October 4, 2015. These gains and losses are included in "Investment income" on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Prior to the sale of these securities, unrealized gains and losses for these debt securities, net of tax, are recorded in shareholders’ equity as other comprehensive income (loss).

12
COGNEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The following table presents the effective maturity dates of the Company’s available-for-sale investments as of October 2, 2016 (in thousands):
 
<1 year
 
1-2 Years
 
2-3 Years
 
3-4 Years
 
4-5 Years
 
Total
Corporate bonds
$
134,245

 
$
71,977

 
$
84,825

 
$
2,212

 
$
4,520

 
$
297,779

Asset-backed securities
64,740

 
20,212

 
8,722

 
9,689

 
159

 
103,522

Treasury bills
36,728

 
70,579

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
107,307

Sovereign bonds
28,720

 
19,749

 
4,635

 
—

 
—

 
53,104

Euro liquidity fund
49,586

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
49,586

Agency bonds
4,904

 
15,930

 
2,718

 
—

 
—

 
23,552

Municipal bonds
9,455

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
9,455

 
$
328,378


$
198,447


$
100,900


$
11,901


$
4,679


$
644,305

The Company is a Limited Partner in Venrock Associates III, L.P. (Venrock), a venture capital fund. The Company has committed to a total investment in the limited partnership of up to $20,500,000, with an expiration date of December 31, 2017. The Company does not have the right to withdraw from the partnership prior to this date. As of October 2, 2016, the Company contributed $19,886,000 to the partnership.  The remaining commitment of $614,000 can be called by Venrock at any time before December 31, 2017. Contributions and distributions are at the discretion of Venrock’s management. No contributions were made during the nine-month period ended October 2, 2016. The Company received a cash distribution of $1,492,000 during the third quarter of 2016, of which $942,000 was accounted for as a return of capital, reducing the carrying value of this investment to zero, with the remaining $550,000 recorded as investment income.
NOTE 5: Inventories
Inventories consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
October 2, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Raw materials
$
19,427

 
$
27,301

Work-in-process
2,293

 
3,136

Finished goods
5,506

 
6,897

 
$
27,226

 
$
37,334

NOTE 6: Warranty Obligations
The Company records the estimated cost of fulfilling product warranties at the time of sale based upon historical costs to fulfill claims. Obligations may also be recorded subsequent to the time of sale whenever specific events or circumstances impacting product quality become known that would not have been taken into account using historical data. While we engage in extensive product quality programs and processes, including actively monitoring and evaluating the quality of our component suppliers and third-party contract manufacturers, the Company’s warranty obligation is affected by product failure rates, material usage, and service delivery costs incurred in correcting a product failure. An adverse change in any of these factors may result in the need for additional warranty provisions. Warranty obligations are included in “Accrued expenses” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The changes in the warranty obligation were as follows (in thousands):
Balance as of December 31, 2015
$
4,174

Provisions for warranties issued during the period
2,292

Fulfillment of warranty obligations
(2,056
)
Foreign exchange rate changes
134

Balance as of October 2, 2016
$
4,544

NOTE 7: Contingencies
Various claims and legal proceedings generally incidental to the normal course of business are pending or threatened on behalf of or against the Company. While we cannot predict the outcome of these matters, we believe that any liability arising from them will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, liquidity, or results of operations.

13
COGNEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

NOTE 8: Indemnification Provisions
Except as limited by Massachusetts law, the by-laws of the Company require it to indemnify certain current or former directors, officers, and employees of the Company against expenses incurred by them in connection with each proceeding in which he or she is involved as a result of serving or having served in certain capacities. Indemnification is not available with respect to a proceeding as to which it has been adjudicated that the person did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief that the action was in the best interests of the Company. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these provisions is unlimited. The Company has never incurred significant costs related to these indemnification provisions. As a result, the Company believes the estimated fair value of these provisions is not material.
In the ordinary course of business, the Company may accept standard limited indemnification provisions in connection with the sale of its products, whereby it indemnifies its customers for certain direct damages incurred in connection with third-party patent or other intellectual property infringement claims with respect to the use of the Company’s products. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these provisions is generally subject to fixed monetary limits. The Company has never incurred significant costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to these indemnification provisions. As a result, the Company believes the estimated fair value of these provisions is not material.
In the ordinary course of business, the Company also accepts limited indemnification provisions from time to time, whereby it indemnifies customers for certain direct damages incurred in connection with bodily injury and property damage arising from the installation of the Company’s products. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these provisions is generally limited and is likely recoverable under the Company’s insurance policies. As a result of this coverage, and the fact that the Company has never incurred significant costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to these indemnification provisions, the Company believes the estimated fair value of these provisions is not material.
Under the terms of the Company’s sale of its Surface Inspection Systems Division (SISD) to AMETEK, Inc., the Company has agreed to retain certain liabilities in connection with its business dealings occurring prior to the transaction closing date of July 6, 2015, and to indemnify AMETEK, Inc. in connection with these retained liabilities and for any breach of the representations and warranties made by the Company to AMETEK, Inc. in connection with the sale agreement itself, as is usual and customary in such transactions. A binding arbitration was concluded in the second quarter of 2016 with respect to certain product performance claims made by an SISD customer, for which the Company remained responsible under the indemnity provisions of the sale transaction. In that proceeding, the tribunal ordered the Company to pay the customer approximately $326,000, primarily representing a refund of the product purchase price. The tribunal also ordered the customer to pay the Company approximately $45,000, primarily representing reimbursement of legal fees. The net settlement of $281,000 was recorded in discontinued operations in the second quarter of 2016.
NOTE 9: Derivative Instruments
The Company’s foreign currency risk management strategy is principally designed to mitigate the potential financial impact of changes in the value of transactions and balances denominated in foreign currencies resulting from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Currently, the Company enters into two types of hedges to manage this risk. The first are economic hedges which utilize foreign currency forward contracts with maturities of up to 45 days to manage the exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates arising primarily from foreign-denominated receivables and payables. The gains and losses on these derivatives are intended to be offset by the changes in the fair value of the assets and liabilities being hedged. These economic hedges are not designated as hedging instruments for hedge accounting treatment. The second are cash flow hedges which utilize foreign currency forward contracts with maturities of up to 18 months to hedge specific forecasted transactions of the Company's foreign subsidiaries with the goal of protecting our budgeted revenues and expenses against foreign currency exchange rate changes compared to our budgeted rates. These cash flow hedges are designated as hedging instruments for hedge accounting treatment.

14
COGNEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The Company had the following outstanding forward contracts (in thousands):
 
October 2, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Currency
Notional
Value
 
USD
Equivalent
 
Notional
Value
 
USD
Equivalent
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States Dollar
5,225

 
$
5,225

 
16,720

 
$
16,720

Japanese Yen
547,500

 
4,961

 
942,500

 
7,605

Hungarian Forint
117,000

 
414

 
547,000

 
1,893

Singapore Dollar
428

 
302

 
2,063

 
1,425

Canadian Dollar
—

 
—

 
41

 
37

British Pound
—

 
—

 
25

 
34

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
 
 
 
 
Japanese Yen
775,000

 
$
7,700

 
700,000

 
$
5,800

British Pound
1,525

 
1,985

 
1,650

 
2,441

Korean Won
1,750,000

 
1,595

 
1,400,000

 
1,187

Hungarian Forint
355,000

 
1,269

 
250,000

 
857

Singapore Dollar
1,575

 
1,252

 
1,525

 
1,074

Taiwanese Dollar
27,225

 
1,249

 
26,425

 
800

Information regarding the fair value of the outstanding forward contracts was as follows (in thousands):
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
 
Balance
 
Fair Value
 
Balance
 
Fair Value
 
Sheet
Location
 
October 2, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
Sheet
Location
 
October 2, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flow hedge forward contracts
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
$
82

 
$
441

 
Accrued
expenses
 
$
460

 
$
201

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Economic hedge forward contracts
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
$
75

 
$
9

 
Accrued expenses
 
$
33

 
$
43


The following table presents the gross activity for all derivative assets and liabilities which were presented on a net basis on the Consolidated Balance Sheets due to the right of offset with each counterparty (in thousands):
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
 
 
October 2, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
 
October 2, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Gross amounts of recognized assets
 
$
157

 
$
479

 
Gross amounts of recognized liabilities
 
$
507

 
$
279

Gross amounts offset
 
—

 
(29
)
 
Gross amounts offset
 
(14
)
 
(35
)
Net amount of assets presented
 
$
157

 
$
450

 
Net amount of liabilities presented
 
$
493

 
$
244



15
COGNEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Information regarding the effect of derivative instruments on the consolidated financial statements was as follows (in thousands):
 
Location in Financial Statements
 
Three-months Ended
 
Nine-months Ended
 
 
October 2, 2016
 
October 4, 2015
 
October 2, 2016
 
October 4, 2015
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:
 
 
 
Gains (losses) recorded in shareholders' equity (effective portion)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
 
$
(332
)
 
$
(122
)
 
$
(332
)
 
$
(122
)
Gains (losses) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into current operations (effective portion)
Revenue
 
$
(250
)
 
$
(125
)
 
$
(453
)
 
$
(436
)
 
Research, development, and engineering expenses
 
1

 
(3
)
 
5

 
16

 
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
 
8

 
38

 
21

 
151

 
Total gains (losses) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into current operations
 
$
(241
)
 
$
(90
)
 
$
(427
)
 
$
(269
)
Gains (losses) recognized in current operations (ineffective portion and discontinued derivatives)
Foreign currency gain (loss)
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
 
 
 
Gains (losses) recognized in current operations
Foreign currency gain (loss)
 
$
24

 
$
(322
)
 
$
(1,089
)
 
$
20

The following table provides the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, related to derivative instruments (in thousands):
Balance as of December 31, 2015
 
$
206

Reclassification of net realized loss on cash flow hedges into current operations
 
427

Net unrealized loss on cash flow hedges
 
(965
)
Balance as of October 2, 2016
 
$
(332
)
Net losses expected to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, into current operations within the next twelve months are $332,000.
NOTE 10: Stock-Based Compensation Expense
The Company’s share-based payments that result in compensation expense consist of stock option grants and restricted stock awards. As of October 2, 2016, the Company had 8,234,451 shares available for grant. Stock options are granted with an exercise price equal to the market value of the Company’s common stock at the grant date and generally vest over four years based upon continuous service and expire ten years from the grant date. Restricted stock awards are granted with an exercise price equal to the market value of the Company's common stock at the time of grant. Conditions of the award may be based on continuing employment and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives. Vesting for performance-based restricted stock awards and time-based restricted stock awards must be greater than one year and three years, respectively.

16
COGNEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option activity for the nine-month period ended October 2, 2016:
 
Shares
(in thousands)
 
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
 
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (in years)
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(in thousands)
Outstanding as of December 31, 2015
6,644

 
$
28.27

 
 
 
 
Granted
1,751

 
34.10

 
 
 
 
Exercised
(1,224
)
 
18.87

 
 
 
 
Forfeited or expired
(141
)
 
36.97

 
 
 
 
Outstanding as of October 2, 2016
7,030

 
$
31.18

 
7.4
 
$
152,398

Exercisable as of October 2, 2016
2,700

 
$
23.01

 
5.6
 
$
80,589

Options vested or expected to vest as of October 2, 2016 (1)
6,391

 
$
30.59

 
7.2
 
$
142,335

 (1) In addition to the vested options, the Company expects a portion of the unvested options to vest at some point in the future. Options expected to vest are calculated by applying an estimated forfeiture rate to the unvested options.
The fair values of stock options granted in each period presented were estimated using the following weighted-average assumptions:
 
Three-months Ended
 
Nine-months Ended
 
October 2, 2016
 
October 4, 2015
 
October 2, 2016
 
October 4, 2015
Risk-free rate
1.7
%
 
2.1
%
 
1.7
%
 
2.1
%
Expected dividend yield
0.84
%
 
1.25
%
 
0.84
%
 
1.25
%
Expected volatility
41
%
 
40
%
 
41
%
 
40
%
Expected term (in years)
5.5

 
5.4

 
5.5

 
5.4

Risk-free rate
The risk-free rate was based upon a treasury instrument whose term was consistent with the contractual term of the option.
Expected dividend yield
Generally, the current dividend yield is calculated by annualizing the cash dividend declared by the Company’s Board of Directors and dividing that result by the closing stock price on the grant date. 
Expected volatility
The expected volatility was based upon a combination of historical volatility of the Company’s common stock over the contractual term of the option and implied volatility for traded options of the Company’s stock.
Expected term
The expected term was derived from the binomial lattice model from the impact of events that trigger exercises over time.
The Company stratifies its employee population into two groups: one consisting of senior management and another consisting of all other employees. The Company currently expects that approximately 77% of its stock options granted to senior management and 72% of its options granted to all other employees will actually vest. Therefore, the Company currently applies an estimated annual forfeiture rate of 9% to all unvested options for senior management and a rate of 11% for all other employees. The Company revised its estimated forfeiture rates in the first quarters of 2016 and 2015, resulting in an increase to compensation expense of $334,000 and $461,000, respectively.
The weighted-average grant-date fair values of stock options granted during the three-month periods ended October 2, 2016 and October 4, 2015 were $12.34 and $14.36, respectively. The weighted-average grant-date fair values of stock options granted during the nine-month periods ended October 2, 2016 and October 4, 2015 were $12.25 and $14.35, respectively.

17
COGNEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The total intrinsic values of stock options exercised for the three-month periods ended October 2, 2016 and October 4, 2015 were $23,139,000 and $4,506,000, respectively. The total intrinsic values of stock options exercised for the nine-month periods ended October 2, 2016 and October 4, 2015 were $32,514,000 and $43,737,000, respectively. The total fair values of stock options vested for the three-month periods ended October 2, 2016 and October 4, 2015 were $679,000 and $565,000, respectively. The total fair values of stock options vested for the nine-month periods ended October 2, 2016 and October 4, 2015 were $16,724,000 and $14,984,000, respectively.
As of October 2, 2016, total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock options was $22,193,000, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.64 years.
The following table summarizes the Company's restricted stock activity for the nine-month period ended October 2, 2016:
 
Shares (in thousands)
 
Weighted-Average Grant Fair Value
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)(1)
Nonvested as of December 31, 2015
20

 
$
34.05

 
 
Granted
—

 
—

 
 
Vested
—

 
—

 
 
Forfeited or expired
—

 
—

 
 
Nonvested as of October 2, 2016
20

 
$
34.05

 
$
1,057

(1) Fair market value as of October 2, 2016.
The fair values of restricted stock awards granted were determined based upon the market value of the Company's common stock at the time of grant. The initial cost is then amortized over the period of vesting until the restrictions lapse. These restricted shares will be fully vested in 2018. Participants are entitled to dividends on restricted stock awards, but only receive those amounts if the shares vest. The sale or transfer of these shares is restricted during the vesting period.
The total stock-based compensation expense and the related income tax benefit recognized for the three-month period ended October 2, 2016 were $4,622,000 and $1,520,000, respectively, and for the three-month period ended October 4, 2015 were $5,493,000 and $1,865,000, respectively. The total stock-based compensation expense and the related income tax benefit recognized for the nine-month period ended October 2, 2016 were $15,883,000 and $5,210,000, respectively, and for the nine-month period ended October 4, 2015 were $17,070,000 and $5,734,000, respectively. No compensation expense was capitalized as of October 2, 2016 or December 31, 2015.
The following table presents the stock-based compensation expense by caption for each period presented on the Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands):
 
Three-months Ended
 
Nine-months Ended
 
October 2, 2016
 
October 4, 2015
 
October 2, 2016
 
October 4, 2015
Cost of revenue
$
273

 
$
351

 
$
795

 
$
1,167

Research, development, and engineering
1,366

 
1,130

 
4,942

 
4,097

Selling, general, and administrative
2,983

 
2,906

 
10,146

 
10,273

Discontinued operations
—

 
1,106

 
—

 
1,533

 
$
4,622

 
$
5,493

 
$
15,883

 
$
17,070

NOTE 11: Stock Repurchase Program
In August 2015, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $100,000,000 of the Company's common stock. As of October 2, 2016, the Company repurchased 2,666,000 shares at a cost of $100,000,000 under this program, including 355,000 shares at a cost of $16,064,000 during the nine-month period ended October 2, 2016. In November 2015, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of an additional $100,000,000 of the Company's common stock. Purchases under this November 2015 program commenced during the third quarter of 2016. As of October 2, 2016, the Company repurchased 59,000 shares at a cost of $2,877,000 under this program. The Company may repurchase shares under the November 2015 program in future periods depending upon a variety of factors, including, among other things, the impact of dilution from employee stock options, stock price, share availability, and cash requirements.

18
COGNEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

NOTE 12: Taxes
A reconciliation of the United States federal statutory corporate tax rate to the Company’s income tax expense on continuing operations, or effective tax rate, was as follows:
 
Three-months Ended
 
Nine-months Ended
 
October 2, 2016
 
October 4, 2015
 
October 2, 2016
 
October 4, 2015
Income tax provision at federal statutory corporate tax rate
35
 %
 
35
 %
 
35
 %
 
35
 %
State income taxes, net of federal benefit
1
 %
 
1
 %
 
1
 %
 
1
 %
Foreign tax rate differential
(17
)%
 
(19
)%
 
(17
)%
 
(19
)%
Tax credit
(1
)%
 
—
 %
 
(1
)%
 
—
 %
Discrete tax events
(13
)%
 
(5
)%
 
(7
)%
 
(2
)%
Income tax provision on continuing operations
5
 %

12
 %
 
11
 %
 
15
 %
In the first quarter of 2016, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-09, "Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting," which was issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board in March 2016. This Update requires excess tax benefits to be recognized as an income tax benefit in the income statement. Previous guidance required excess tax benefits to be recognized as additional paid-in-capital in shareholders' equity on the balance sheet. This provision is required to be applied prospectively and therefore, prior periods were not restated. Additionally, this ASU also requires excess tax benefits to be classified along with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity in the statement of cash flows. In order to improve comparability, the Company applied this provision of the amendment retrospectively. For the nine-month period ended October 4, 2015, the Company reclassified a tax benefit of $9,937,000 from cash flows provided by financing activities to cash flows provided by operating activities on the consolidated statement of cash flows.
The effective tax rate for 2016 included the impact of the following discrete tax events: (1) a decrease in tax expense of $463,000 in the first quarter of 2016, $745,000 in the second quarter of 2016, and $6,038,000 in the third quarter of 2016 from the excess tax benefit arising from the difference between the deduction for tax purposes and the compensation cost recognized for financial reporting purposes from stock option exercises, (2) an increase in tax expense of $104,000 recorded in the second quarter of 2016 and a decrease in tax expense of $543,000 recorded in the third quarter of 2016 from the final true-up of the prior year's tax accrual upon filing the actual tax returns, and (3) a decrease in tax expense of $893,000 recorded in the third quarter of 2016 from the expiration of the statutes of limitations for certain reserves for income tax uncertainties. These discrete events decreased the effective tax rate on continuing operations from a provision of 18% to a provision of 5% and 11% for the three-month and nine-month periods ended October 2, 2016, respectively.
The effective tax rate for 2015 included the impact of the following discrete tax events: (1) a decrease in tax expense of $364,000 recorded in the first quarter of 2015 from the expiration of the statutes of limitations for certain reserves for income tax uncertainties, (2) a decrease in tax expense of $112,000 recorded in the second quarter of 2015 from the final true-up of the prior year's tax accrual upon filing the actual tax returns, (3) an increase in tax expense of $65,000 recorded in the second quarter of 2015 from the write down of a deferred tax asset, (4) a decrease in tax expense of $993,000 recorded in the third quarter of 2015 for the final true-up of the prior year's tax accrual upon filing the actual tax returns, and (5) a decrease in tax expense of $611,000 recorded in the third quarter of 2015 from the expiration of the statutes of limitations for certain reserves for income tax uncertainties. These discrete events decreased the effective tax rate on continuing operations from a provision of 17% to a provision of 12% and 15% for the three-month and nine-month periods ended October 4, 2015.
In the first quarter of 2016, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2015-17, "Income Taxes - Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes." This ASU requires that deferred tax assets and liabilities be classified as non-current in a classified balance sheet. In order to improve comparability, the Company applied the amendments in this Update retrospectively to all periods presented. As of December 31, 2015, the Company reclassified current deferred income tax assets and liabilities of $7,104,000 and $319,000, respectively, to non-current on the consolidated balance sheet.
During the nine-month period ended October 2, 2016, the Company recorded a $281,000 increase in reserves for income taxes, net of deferred tax benefit. Estimated interest and penalties included in these amounts totaled $47,000 for the nine-month period ended October 2, 2016.

19
COGNEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The Company’s reserve for income taxes, including gross interest and penalties, was $6,131,000 as of October 2, 2016, which included $5,104,000 classified as a non-current liability and $1,027,000 recorded as a reduction to non-current deferred tax assets. The amount of gross interest and penalties included in these balances was $610,000. If the Company’s tax positions were sustained or the statutes of limitations related to certain positions expired, these reserves would be released and income tax expense would be reduced in a future period. As a result of the expiration of certain statutes of limitations, there is a potential that a portion of these reserves could be released, which would decrease income tax expense by approximately $950,000 to $1,050,000 over the next twelve months.
The Company has defined its major tax jurisdictions as the United States, Ireland, China, and Japan, and within the United States, Massachusetts and California. Within the United States, the tax years 2013 through 2015 remain open to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and various state tax authorities. The tax years 2012 through 2015 remain open to examination by various taxing authorities in other jurisdictions in which the Company operates.
NOTE 13: Weighted-Average Shares
Weighted-average shares were calculated as follows (in thousands):
 
Three-months Ended
 
Nine-months Ended
 
October 2, 2016
 
October 4, 2015
 
October 2, 2016
 
October 4, 2015
Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding
85,460

 
86,303

 
85,167

 
86,756

Effect of dilutive stock options
1,886

 
1,473

 
1,638

 
1,803

Weighted-average common and common-equivalent shares outstanding
87,346

 
87,776

 
86,805

 
88,559

Stock options to purchase 491,375 and 3,641,279 shares of common stock, on a weighted-average basis, were outstanding during the three-month and nine-month periods ended October 2, 2016, respectively, and 3,251,000 and 2,049,000 for the same periods in 2015, but were not included in the calculation of dilutive net income per share because they were anti-dilutive.
NOTE 14: Discontinued Operations
On July 6, 2015, the Company completed the sale of its Surface Inspection Systems Division (SISD). The financial results of SISD are reported as a discontinued operation for the three-month and nine-month periods ended October 2, 2016 and October 4, 2015.
A binding arbitration was concluded in the second quarter of 2016 with respect to certain product performance claims made by an SISD customer, for which the Company remained responsible under the indemnity provisions of the sale transaction. In that proceeding, the tribunal ordered the Company to pay the customer approximately $326,000, primarily representing a refund of the product purchase price. The tribunal also ordered the customer to pay the Company approximately $45,000, primarily representing reimbursement of legal fees. The net settlement of $281,000 was recorded in discontinued operations in the second quarter of 2016, along with $123,000 of legal fees. The tax benefit related to this expense was $149,000, resulting in a net loss from discontinued operations of $255,000.


20
COGNEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The major classes of revenue and expense included in discontinued operations were as follows (in thousands):
 
Three-months Ended
 
Nine-months Ended
 
October 2, 2016
 
October 4, 2015
 
October 2, 2016
 
October 4, 2015
Revenue
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
23,248

Cost of revenue
—

 
—

 
—

 
(11,291
)
Research, development, and engineering expenses
—

 
—

 
—

 
(2,126
)
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
—

 
—

 
—

 
(7,800
)
Foreign currency gain (loss)
—

 
—

 
—

 
(177
)
Operating income from discontinued operations
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,854

Gain (loss) on sale of discontinued operations
—

 
125,465

 
(404
)
 
125,465

Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income tax expense (benefit)
—

 
125,465

 
(404
)
 
127,319

Income tax expense (benefit) on discontinued operations
—

 
47,175

 
(149
)
 
47,801

Net income (loss) from discontinued operations
$
—

 
$
78,290

 
$
(255
)
 
$
79,518


Significant non-cash items related to the discontinued business were as follows (in thousands):
 
Three-months Ended
 
Nine-months Ended
 
October 2, 2016
 
October 4, 2015
 
October 2, 2016
 
October 4, 2015
Stock-based compensation expense
$
—

 
$
1,106

 
$
—

 
$
1,533

Capital expenditures
—

 
—

 
—

 
482

Depreciation expense
—

 
—

 
—

 
401

Amortization expense
—

 
—

 
—

 
165

NOTE 15: Acquisitions
AQSense, S.L.
On August 30, 2016, the Company acquired selected assets and assumed selected liabilities of AQSense, S.L., a privately-held 3D machine vision software provider based in Spain. This transaction has been accounted for as a business combination. The Company paid €2,200,000 ($2,483,000) in cash upon closing. There are no contingent payments. The purchase price was subject to a working capital adjustment of €32,000 ($36,000), which was paid in October 2016, thereby increasing the purchase price to €2,232,000 ($2,519,000).
Under this transaction, in addition to customer relationships and completed technology, the Company acquired a 3D vision tool library and a team of software engineers that are expected to help the Company accelerate the development of future 3D vision products. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed have been recorded at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date.
The purchase price was allocated as follows (in thousands):
Accounts receivable
$
168

Customer relationships
598

Completed technology
384

Goodwill
1,383

Accrued expenses
(14
)
Purchase price
$
2,519

The customer relationships and completed technology are included in "intangible assets" on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The customer relationships will be amortized to selling, general and administrative expenses, and the completed technology will be amortized to cost of revenue, both on a straight-line basis over five years. The acquired goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes. Transaction costs were immaterial and were expensed as incurred.

21
COGNEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

EnShape GmbH
On October 27, 2016, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of EnShape GmbH, a privately-held developer of 3D sensors based in Germany, for a purchase price of €7,000,000.
Given the timing of the acquisition, the Company is in the process of completing the purchase price allocation, which will be recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016. Transaction costs are immaterial and are being expensed as incurred.
Pro-forma information for these acquisitions has not been presented because they are not material, either individually or in the aggregate.
NOTE 16: Subsequent Events
On October 31, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.075 per share. The dividend is payable December 16, 2016 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 2, 2016.



22


ITEM 2: MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Forward-Looking Statements
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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Readers can identify these forward-looking statements by our use of the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “may,” “shall,” “could,” “should,” and similar words and other statements of a similar sense. These statements are based upon 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, customer order rates, the timing for recognition of revenue, expected areas of growth, research and development activities, product mix, investments, and strategic plans, 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 loss of a large customer; (2) current and future conditions in the global economy; (3) the reliance on revenue from the consumer electronics or automotive industries; (4) the inability to penetrate new markets; (5) the inability to achieve significant international revenue; (6) fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and the use of derivative instruments; (7) information security breaches or business system disruptions; (8) the inability to attract and retain skilled employees; (9) the reliance upon key suppliers to manufacture and deliver critical components for our products; (10) the failure to effectively manage product transitions or accurately forecast customer demand; (11) the inability to design and manufacture high-quality products; (12) the technological obsolescence of current products and the inability to develop new products; (13) the failure to properly manage the distribution of products and services; (14) the inability to protect our proprietary technology and intellectual property; (15) our involvement in time-consuming and costly litigation; (16) the impact of competitive pressures; (17) the challenges in integrating and achieving expected results from acquired businesses; (18) potential impairment charges with respect to our investments or for acquired intangible assets or goodwill; and (19) exposure to additional tax liabilities. 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 the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and undue reliance should not be placed on these statements. We disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein after the date of this Quarterly Report.

Executive Overview
Cognex Corporation is a leading worldwide provider of machine vision products that capture and analyze visual information in order to automate tasks, primarily in manufacturing processes, where vision is required. On July 6, 2015, the Company completed the sale of its Surface Inspection Systems Division (SISD) that specialized in machine vision products that inspected the surfaces of materials processed in a continuous fashion. The financial results of SISD are reported as a discontinued operation for all periods presented.
In addition to product revenue derived from the sale of machine vision products, the Company also generates revenue by providing maintenance and support, consulting, and training services to its customers; however, service revenue accounted for less than 10% of total revenue for all periods presented.
The Company’s customers are predominantly in the factory automation market. Factory automation customers purchase Cognex products and incorporate them into their manufacturing processes. Virtually every manufacturer can achieve better quality and manufacturing efficiency by using machine vision, and therefore, this market includes a broad base of customers across a variety of industries, including consumer electronics, automotive, consumer products, food and beverage, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. Factory automation customers also purchase Cognex products for use outside of the manufacturing process, such as using ID products in logistics automation for package sorting and distribution. Sales to factory automation customers represented 96% of total revenue for the third quarter of 2016 compared to 95% of total revenue for the third quarter of 2015.
A small percentage of the Company’s customers are in the semiconductor and electronics capital equipment market. These customers purchase Cognex products and integrate them into the automation equipment that they manufacture and then sell to their customers to either make semiconductor chips or assemble printed circuit boards. Demand from these customers has been relatively flat on an annual basis for the past several years. Sales to semiconductor and electronics capital equipment manufacturers represented only 4% of total revenue for the third quarter of 2016 compared to 5% of total revenue for the third quarter of 2015.

23


Revenue for the third quarter of 2016 totaled $147,952,000, representing an increase of $40,365,000, or 38%, from the third quarter of 2015. Although the majority of this increase came from a material customer in the consumer electronics industry, revenue from other customers also increased from the prior year by 11%. Gross margin was 78% of revenue in the third quarter of 2016 compared to 76% of revenue in the third quarter of 2015 due primarily to the mix of products and services sold to this customer in each period. Operating expenses increased by $7,892,000, or 15%, from the third quarter of 2015 due principally to higher achievement on bonus plans tied to the Company's operating income margin. Operating income was $54,528,000, or 37% of revenue, in the third quarter of 2016 compared to $28,485,000, or 26% of revenue, in the third quarter of 2015; net income from continuing operations was $53,675,000, or 36% of revenue, in the third quarter of 2016 compared to $25,822,000, or 24% of revenue, in the third quarter of 2015; and net income from continuing operations per diluted share was $0.61 in the third quarter of 2016 compared to $0.29 in the third quarter of 2015.
Results of Operations
As foreign currency exchange rates are a factor in understanding period-to-period comparisons, we believe the presentation of results on a constant-currency basis in addition to reported results helps improve investors’ ability to understand our operating results and evaluate our performance in comparison to prior periods. We also use results on a constant-currency basis as one measure to evaluate our performance. Constant-currency information compares results between periods as if exchange rates had remained constant period-over-period. We generally refer to such amounts calculated on a constant-currency basis as excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes. Results on a constant-currency basis are not in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Revenue
Revenue increased by $40,365,000, or 38%, for the three-month period and increased by $38,642,000, or 11%, for the nine-month period. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates did not have a material impact on revenue in either period. Revenue from factory automation customers increased by $39,651,000 for the three-month period and increased by $39,190,000 for the nine-month period, while revenue from semiconductor and electronics capital equipment manufacturers, which represented only 4% and 5% of total revenue for the three-month and nine-month periods in 2016, respectively, increased by $714,000 for the three-month period and decreased by $548,000 for the nine-month period.
Higher revenue from a material customer in the consumer electronics industry represented a significant portion of the increase in factory automation revenue for the three-month period due largely to the timing of when orders were recognized as revenue in each year. In 2015, the majority of revenue from this customer was recognized in the second quarter with a still large, but lesser, amount recognized in the third quarter. In 2016, revenue from this customer was recognized more evenly between the second and third quarters. Revenue from this customer has historically not been significant in either the first or fourth quarters of the year. Future seasonality will depend on a number of items, including that customer's product introduction cycles.
Revenue from other factory automation customers increased by 11% for both the three-month and nine-month periods. These increases were driven by a higher volume of products sold in the Company's largest three regions, the Americas, Europe, and Greater China, with the largest percentage growth coming from Greater China. The increased volume in the Americas for the nine-month period was largely driven by higher revenue from customers in the logistics industry. The Company reported its highest level of revenue in the logistics industry in the second quarter of 2016. Excluding the material customer noted in the preceding paragraph, we experienced a sequential decline in factory automation revenue from the second quarter to the third quarter of 2016 due to lower logistics revenue from the particularly high second quarter level, as well as a seasonal slowdown in the broader factory automation market that we typically experience during the summer months, particularly in Europe.
Gross Margin
Gross margin as a percentage of revenue was 78% and 77% for the three-month and nine-month periods in 2016, respectively, compared to 76% and 78% for the same periods in 2015. The decrease for the nine-month period was due to a trend toward higher hardware content in our product sales as we move away from software-only solutions, higher inventory charges, and an increased level of logistics projects that require installation services with relatively lower margins. The second quarter of 2016 included an inventory charge that reduced gross margin for the nine-month period by approximately 40 basis points resulting from changes in product development plans that are not expected to recur for the remainder of the year. These decreases were partially offset by the favorable impact of material cost reductions and volume purchasing, as well as manufacturing efficiencies achieved from higher revenue levels as fixed manufacturing costs were spread over a larger revenue base.

24


The increase in gross margin for the three-month period was due in part to higher margins on sales to a material customer in the consumer electronics industry. Although this customer, which receives preferred pricing, represented a greater percentage of total revenue in the third quarter of 2016 compared to the third quarter of 2015, the mix of products and on-site support services sold to this customer in 2016 compared to 2015 had a favorable impact on the gross margin for the three-month period. The increase for the three-month period was also due to the favorable impact of material cost reductions and volume purchasing.
Operating Expenses
Research, Development, and Engineering Expenses increased by $1,626,000, or 10%, for the three-month period and increased by $6,564,000, or 13%, for the nine-month period as detailed in the table below (in thousands).
 
Three-month period
 
Nine-month period
RD&E expenses in 2015
$
16,977

 
$
52,265

Company bonus accruals
2,086

 
2,830

Personnel-related costs
362

 
2,558

Stock-based compensation expense
245

 
853

Outsourced engineering costs
(898
)
 
(304
)
Other
(169
)
 
627

RD&E expenses in 2016
$
18,603

 
$
58,829

RD&E expenses increased due to higher personnel-related costs resulting primarily from headcount additions to support new product introductions and the higher business level. Higher company bonus accruals were recorded in 2016 as a result of higher achievement levels on plans that were set at the beginning of the year. In addition, stock-based compensation expense was higher than the prior year. These increases were partially offset by lower outsourced engineering costs. Personnel-related costs and outsourced engineering costs were both particularly high in the first quarter of each year due to the development of engineering prototypes for customer orders that were received later in the year.
RD&E expenses as a percentage of revenue were 13% and 15% for the three-month and nine-month periods in 2016, respectively, compared to 16% and 15% for the same periods in 2015. We believe that a continued commitment to RD&E activities is essential in order to maintain or achieve product leadership with our existing products and to provide innovative new product offerings, as well as to provide engineering support for large customers. In addition, we consider our ability to accelerate time to market for new products to be critical to our revenue growth. Therefore, we expect to continue to make significant RD&E investments in the future. Although we target our RD&E spending to be between 10% and 15% of revenue, this percentage is impacted by revenue levels and investment cycles.
Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased by $6,266,000, or 17%, for the three-month period and increased by $4,145,000, or 3%, for the nine-month period as detailed in the table below (in thousands).
 
Three-month period
 
Nine-month period
SG&A expenses in 2015
$
35,806

 
$
118,980

Company bonus accruals
2,583

 
3,403

Personnel-related costs
439

 
2,694

Sales commissions
963

 
910

Sales demonstration equipment
650

 
203

Microscan legal fees and settlement
—

 
(5,023
)
Other
1,631

 
1,958

SG&A expenses in 2016
$
42,072

 
$
123,125

SG&A expenses increased from the prior year due to higher personnel-related costs resulting primarily from headcount additions, principally sales personnel. Higher company bonus accruals and sales commissions were recorded in 2016 as a result of higher achievement levels on plans that were set at the beginning of the year. In addition, the Company increased its spending on sales demonstration equipment related to new products. Offsetting these increases was the settlement of patent litigation actions with Microscan Systems, Inc. in the second quarter of 2015. The Company

25


incurred legal fees related to these actions totaling $3,190,000 in the nine-month period in 2015 and recorded a settlement expense of $1,833,000 in the second quarter of 2015.
Non-operating Income (Expense)
The Company recorded foreign currency losses of $607,000 and $377,000 for the three-month and nine-month periods in 2016, respectively, compared to losses of $40,000 for the three-month period in 2015 and gains of $580,000 for the nine-month period in 2015. The foreign currency gains and losses in each period resulted primarily from the revaluation and settlement of accounts receivable, accounts payable, and intercompany balances that are reported in one currency and collected in another.
Investment income increased by $1,206,000, or 143%, for the three-month period and increased $1,983,000, or 75%, for the nine-month period. In the third quarter of 2016, the Company received a $1,492,000 cash distribution from its limited partnership investment, of which $942,000 was accounted for as a return of capital, reducing the carrying value of this investment to zero, with the remaining $550,000 recorded as investment income. Future distributions will be recorded as investment income. The remaining increase in investment income was due primarily to increased funds available for investment.
The Company recorded other income of $374,000 and $803,000 for the three-month and nine-month periods in 2016, respectively, compared to other expense of $23,000 and $388,000 for the same periods in 2015. Other income for the nine-month period in 2016 included a $463,000 benefit resulting from a decrease in the fair value of the contingent consideration liability that arose from a business acquisition completed in the third quarter of 2015. In addition, the Company received a foreign government subsidy in the amount of $422,000 that was recorded as other income in the third quarter of 2016. Other income (expense) also includes rental income, net of associated expenses, from leasing space in buildings adjacent to the Company’s corporate headquarters.
Income Tax Expense
The Company’s effective tax rate was 5% and 11% of the Company’s pre-tax income for the three-month and nine-month periods in 2016, respectively, compared to 12% and 15% for the same periods in 2015.
The effective tax rate for 2016 included a decrease in tax expense of $463,000 in the first quarter of 2016, $745,000 in the second quarter of 2016, and $6,038,000 in the third quarter of 2016 from the excess tax benefit arising from the difference between the deduction for tax purposes and the compensation cost recognized for financial reporting purposes from stock option exercises. In the first quarter of 2016, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, "Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting," which was issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board in March 2016. This Update requires excess tax benefits to be recognized as an income tax benefit in the income statement. Previous guidance required excess tax benefits to be recognized as additional paid-in-capital in shareholders' equity on the balance sheet. The effective tax rate for 2016 also included an increase in tax expense of $104,000 recorded in the second quarter of 2016 and a decrease in tax expense of $543,000 recorded in the third quarter of 2016 from the final true-up of the prior year's tax accrual upon filing the actual tax returns, as well as a decrease in tax expense of $893,000 recorded in the third quarter of 2016 from the expiration of the statutes of limitations for certain reserves for income tax uncertainties.
The effective tax rate for 2015 included a decrease in tax expense of $364,000 recorded in the first quarter of 2015 from the expiration of the statutes of limitations for certain reserves for income tax uncertainties, a decrease in tax expense of $112,000 recorded in the second quarter of 2015 from the final true-up of the prior year's tax accrual upon filing the actual tax returns, an increase in tax expense of $65,000 recorded in the second quarter of 2015 from the write down of a deferred tax asset, a decrease in tax expense of $993,000 recorded in the third quarter of 2015 for the final true-up of the prior year's tax accrual upon filing the actual tax returns, and a decrease in tax expense of $611,000 recorded in the third quarter of 2015 from the expiration of statutes of limitations for certain reserves for income tax uncertainties.
Excluding the impact of these discrete tax events, the Company’s effective tax rate was approximately 18% for all periods presented. The majority of income earned outside of the United States is permanently reinvested to provide funds for international expansion. The Company is tax resident in numerous jurisdictions around the world and has identified its major tax jurisdictions as the United States, Ireland and China. The statutory tax rate is 12.5% in Ireland and 25% in China. International rights to certain of the Company’s intellectual property are held by a subsidiary whose legal jurisdiction does not tax this income, resulting in a foreign effective tax rate lower than the above mentioned statutory rates.

26


Discontinued Operations
On July 6, 2015, the Company completed the sale of its Surface Inspection Systems Division (SISD) that specializes in machine vision products that inspect the surfaces of materials processed in a continuous fashion. Net loss from discontinued operations was $255,000 for the nine-month period in 2016, compared to net income of $78,290,000 for the three-month period in 2015 and net income of $79,518,000 for the nine-month period in 2015. Net income from discontinued operations in the prior year represents the operating results of SISD for periods prior to the sale transaction closing date.
A binding arbitration was concluded in the second quarter of 2016 with respect to certain product performance claims made by an SISD customer, for which the Company remained responsible under the indemnity provisions of the sale transaction. In that proceeding, the tribunal ordered the Company to pay the customer approximately $326,000, primarily representing a refund of the product purchase price. The tribunal also ordered the customer to pay the Company approximately $45,000, primarily representing reimbursement of legal fees. The net settlement of $281,000 was recorded in discontinued operations in the second quarter of 2016, along with $123,000 of legal fees. The tax benefit related to this expense was $149,000, resulting in a net loss from discontinued operations of $255,000.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company has historically been able to generate positive cash flow from operations, which has funded its operating activities and other cash requirements and has resulted in an accumulated cash, cash equivalent, and investment balance of $705,450,000 as of October 2, 2016. The Company has established guidelines relative to credit ratings, diversification, and maturities of its investments that maintain liquidity.
The Company’s cash requirements during the nine-month period in 2016 were met with positive cash flows from operations, investment maturities, and the proceeds from stock option exercises. Cash requirements consisted of operating activities, investment purchases, the payment of dividends, the repurchase of common stock, and capital expenditures. Cash flows from operating activities included a significant increase in accounts receivable and unbilled revenue related to a material customer in the consumer electronics industry that the Company expects to bill and collect before year end. Capital expenditures for the nine-month period in 2016 totaled $10,491,000 and consisted primarily of computer hardware, computer software, manufacturing test equipment related to new product introductions, and improvements made to the Company's headquarters building in Natick, Massachusetts.
On August 21, 2015, the Company acquired selected assets of Manatee Works, Inc. The Company paid $1,023,000 in cash upon closing and $337,000 in cash during the second quarter of 2016 that was contingent upon reaching a milestone revenue level. Future contingent payments, which are also based upon reaching milestone revenue levels, had an estimated fair value of $2,200,000 as of October 2, 2016, with $800,000 to be paid if earned in the third quarter of 2017 and $1,400,000 to be paid if earned in the third quarter of 2018.
On August 30, 2016, the Company acquired selected assets and assumed selected liabilities of AQSense, S.L. The Company paid $2,483,000 in cash upon closing and $36,000 in cash in October 2016 representing a working capital adjustment. There are no contingent payments related to this transaction.
The Company’s Board of Directors declared and paid a cash dividend of $0.07 per share in the second, third, and fourth quarters of 2015, as well as in the first quarter of 2016. The cash dividend was increased to $0.075 per share in the second and third quarters of 2016. Dividends paid during the nine-month period in 2016 amounted to $18,761,000. The dividend in the second quarter of 2015 was the first dividend declared and paid since the fourth quarter of 2012 when the Company's Board of Directors accelerated dividends in advance of an increase in the federal tax on dividends paid after December 31, 2012. Due to these accelerated payments, no dividends were declared or paid in 2013, 2014, or the first quarter of 2015. Future dividends will be declared at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and will depend upon such factors as the Board deems relevant including, among other things, the Company’s ability to generate positive cash flows from operations.
In August 2015, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $100,000,000 of the Company's common stock. As of October 2, 2016, the Company repurchased 2,666,000 shares at a cost of $100,000,000 under this program, including 355,000 shares at a cost of $16,064,000 during the nine-month period ended October 2, 2016. In November 2015, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of an additional $100,000,000 of the Company's common stock. Purchases under this November 2015 program commenced during the third quarter of 2016. As of October 2, 2016, the Company repurchased 59,000 shares at a cost of $2,877,000 under this program. The Company may repurchase shares under the November 2015 program in future periods depending upon a variety of factors, including, among other things, the impact of dilution from employee stock options, stock price, share availability, and cash requirements.

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The Company believes that its existing cash, cash equivalent, and investment balances, together with cash flow from operations, will be sufficient to meet its operating, investing, and financing activities for the next twelve months. As of October 2, 2016, the Company had $705,450,000 million in cash, cash equivalents, and debt securities that could be converted into cash. In addition, the Company has no debt and does not anticipate needing debt financing in the near future. We believe that our strong cash position has put us in a relatively good position with respect to our longer-term liquidity needs.

New Pronouncements
Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”
The amendments in ASU 2014-09 will supersede and replace all currently existing U.S. GAAP, including industry-specific revenue recognition guidance, with a single, principle-based revenue recognition framework. The concept guiding this new model is that revenue recognition will depict transfer of control to the customer in an amount that reflects consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled. The core principles supporting this framework include (1) identifying the contract with a customer, (2) identifying separate performance obligations within the contract, (3) determining the transaction price, (4) allocating the transaction price to the performance obligations, and (5) recognizing revenue. This new framework will require entities to apply significantly more judgment. This increase in management judgment will require expanded disclosure on estimation methods, inputs, and assumptions for revenue recognition.
In March 2016, ASU 2016-08, "Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)," was issued, in April 2016, ASU 2016-10, "Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing," was issued, and in May 2016, ASU 2016-12, "Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients" was issued. These Updates do not change the core principle of the guidance under ASU 2014-09, but rather provide implementation guidance. ASU 2015-14, "Deferral of the effective date," amended the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for public companies to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, but only beginning after December 15, 2016. The Financial Accounting Standards Board may release additional implementation guidance in future periods. Management will continue to evaluate the impact of this standard as it evolves.
Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2015-11, "Inventory - Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory"
ASU 2015-11 requires companies to measure most inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value, thereby simplifying the current guidance under which a company must measure inventory at the lower of cost or market. This ASU eliminates the need to determine replacement cost and evaluate whether said cost is within a quantitative range. This ASU also further aligns U.S. GAAP and international accounting standards. For public companies, the guidance in ASU 2015-11 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. Management does not expect ASU 2015-11 to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements and disclosures.
Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-01, "Financial Instruments - Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities"
ASU 2016-01 provides guidance related to certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. The amendments in this Update affect all entities that hold financial assets or owe financial liabilities. This ASU requires equity investments (except those accounted under the equity method) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. However, an entity may choose to measure equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values at cost minus impairment. This ASU also eliminates the requirement for public companies to disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet, and it requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements. For public companies, the guidance in ASU 2016-01 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is not permitted except for certain amendments in this Update. Management does not expect ASU 2016-01 to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements and disclosures.
Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-02, "Leases"
ASU 2016-02 creates Topic 842, Leases. The objective of this Update is to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet, and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. This ASU applies to any entity that enters into a lease, although lessees will see the most significant changes. The main difference between current U.S. GAAP and Topic 842 is the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for those leases classified as operating leases under current U.S. GAAP. Topic 842 distinguishes between finance leases and operating leases, which are substantially similar to

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the classification criteria for distinguishing between capital leases and operating leases under current U.S. GAAP. For public companies, the guidance in ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those annual periods. This ASU should be applied using a modified retrospective approach. Management is in the process of evaluating the impact of this Update.
Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-05, "Derivatives and Hedging - Effect of Derivative Contract Novations on Existing Hedge Accounting Relationships"
ASU 2016-05 applies to all reporting entities for which there is a change in the counterparty to a derivative instrument that has been designated as the hedging instrument. The amendments in this Update clarify that a change in the counterparty does not, in and of itself, require de-designation of that hedging relationship provided that all other hedge accounting criteria continue to be met. For public companies, the guidance in ASU 2016-05 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. This ASU should be applied on either a prospective basis or a modified retrospective basis. Management does not expect ASU 2016-05 to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements and disclosures.
Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Measurement of Credit Losses"
ASU 2016-13 applies to all reporting entities holding financial assets that are not accounted for at fair value through net income (debt securities).  The amendments in this Update eliminate the probable initial recognition threshold to recognize a credit loss under current U.S. GAAP and, instead, reflect an entity’s current estimate of all expected credit losses. In addition, this Update broadens the information an entity must consider in developing the credit loss estimate, including the use of reasonable and supportable forecasted information.  The amendments in this Update require that credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down and an entity will be able to record reversals of credit losses in current period net income. For public companies, the guidance in ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those annual periods.  This ASU should be applied through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective.  Management does not expect ASU 2016-13 to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements and disclosures.
ITEM 3: QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
There have been no material changes to the Company’s exposures to market risk since December 31, 2015.
ITEM 4: CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has evaluated, with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in such rules) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of that date. From time to time, the Company reviews its disclosure controls and procedures, and may from time to time make changes aimed at enhancing their effectiveness and to ensure that the Company’s systems evolve with its business. There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended October 2, 2016 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II: OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Various claims and legal proceedings generally incidental to the normal course of business are pending or threatened on behalf of or against the Company. While we cannot predict the outcome of these matters, we believe that any liability arising from them will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, liquidity, or results of operations.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
For a complete list of factors that could affect the Company’s business, results of operations, and financial condition, see the risk factors discussion provided in Part I—Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
The following table sets forth information with respect to purchases by the Company of shares of its common stock during the three-month period ended October 2, 2016:
 
Total
Number
of Shares
Purchased
 
Average
Price Paid
per Share
 
Total Number of
Shares
Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs (1)
 
Approximate
Dollar Value
of Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the
Plans or
Programs
July 4 - July 31, 2016
—

 
$
—

 
—

 
$
107,346,000

August 1 - August 28, 2016
97,500

 
49.69

 
97,500

 
102,501,000

August 29 - October 2, 2016
108,400

 
49.61

 
108,400

 
97,123,000

Total
205,900

 
$
49.65

 
205,900

 
$
97,123,000

(1) In August 2015, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $100,000,000 of the Company's common stock. Purchases under this program commenced in the third quarter of 2015. In November 2015, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of an additional $100,000,000 of the Company's common stock. Purchases under this program commenced once the August 2015 program was completed in September 2016.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None.

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 ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number

 
 
31.1

 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934*
31.2

 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934*
32.1

 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002**
32.2

 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002**
101

 
xBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language)
 
 
The following materials from Cognex Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended October 2, 2016, formatted in xBRL: (i) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended October 2, 2016 and October 4, 2015; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three-month and nine-month periods ended October 2, 2016 and October 4, 2015; (iii) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 2, 2016 and December 31, 2015; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine-month periods ended October 2, 2016 and October 4, 2015; (v) Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity for the nine-month period ended October 2, 2016; and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
*

 
Filed herewith
**

 
Furnished herewith


31


SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
Date:
October 31, 2016
 
COGNEX CORPORATION
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Robert J. Willett
 
 
 
 
Robert J. Willett
 
 
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
(principal executive officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Richard A. Morin
 
 
 
 
Richard A. Morin
 
 
 
 
Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration
 
 
 
 
and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
(principal financial and accounting officer)


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