Sifting through countless of stocks in the Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components industry can be tedious, and sometimes two stocks are just too similar to judge which is the better investment. If you’re on the fence about investing in Cognex Corporation or MKS Inc. because you’re not sure how they measure up, it’s important to compare them on a few factors before making your decision.

Read on to learn how Cognex Corporation and MKS Inc. compare based on key financial metrics to determine which better meets your investment needs.

About Cognex Corporation and MKS Inc.

Cognex Corporation provides machine vision products that capture and analyze visual information to automate manufacturing and distribution tasks in the United States, Europe, Greater China, and internationally. Its machine vision products are used to automate the manufacture and distribution of discrete items, such as mobile phones, automotive components, and e-commerce packages, by locating, identifying, inspecting, and measuring them. The company offers VisionPro software, a suite of patented vision tools for traditional rule-based tools and deep learning-enabled tools for advanced programming; vision systems that combine smart cameras and software to perform a wide range of tasks, including part location, identification, measurement, assembly verification, and robotic guidance; OneVision, a cloud-based platform designed to transform how manufacturers build, train, and scale AI-powered vision applications; In-Sight product line of vision systems and sensors; QuickBuild, which allows customers to build vision applications with a graphical and flowchart-based programming interface; DataMan, an image-based barcode reader for fixed-mount and handheld models, as well as barcode verifiers; and vision accessories, such as industrial cameras, lenses, lighting, vision controllers, frame grabbers, and I/O cards. It sells its products to the automotive, logistics, packaging, consumer electronics, medical-related, semiconductor, and consumer products industries. The company was incorporated in 1981 and is headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts.

MKS Inc. provides foundational technology solutions to semiconductor manufacturing, electronics and packaging, and specialty industrial applications in the United States, China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and internationally. The company operates through Vacuum Solutions Division (VSD), Photonics Solutions Division (PSD), and Material Solutions Division (MSD) segments. Its VSD segment provides foundational technology solutions, including pressure measurement and control, flow measurement and control, gas and vapor delivery, gas composition analysis, electronic control technology, reactive gas generation and delivery, power generation and delivery, and fiber optic temperature and position sensing. The PSD segment offers range of solutions, which include lasers, photonics, optics, precision motion control, and vibration control. Its MSD segment develops, process, and manufactures technologies comprising advanced surface modification, electroless and electrolytic plating, and surface finishing for chemistry, equipment, and services markets, as well as high-technology applications. In addition, the company sells its products and services through direct sales, network of independent distributors, and sales representatives, as well as websites, including product catalogs. MKS Inc. was formerly known as MKS Instruments, Inc. and changed its name to MKS Inc. in May 2025. The company was incorporated in 1961 and is based in Andover, Massachusetts.

Latest Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components and Cognex Corporation, MKS Inc. Stock News

As of September 2, 2026, Cognex Corporation had a $10.1 billion market capitalization, compared to the Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components median of $1.1 million. Cognex Corporation’s stock is up 65% in 2026, down 5.7% in the previous five trading days and up 35.4% in the past year.

Currently, Cognex Corporation’s price-earnings ratio is 57.6. Cognex Corporation’s trailing 12-month revenue is $1.1 billion with a 16.1% net profit margin. Year-over-year quarterly sales growth most recently was 16.9%. Analysts expect adjusted earnings to reach $1.692 per share for the current fiscal year. Cognex Corporation currently has a 0.6% dividend yield.

As of September 2, 2026, MKS Inc. had a $17.0 billion market cap, putting it in the 84th percentile of all stocks. MKS Inc.’s stock is up 54.1% in 2026, down 9.1% in the previous five trading days and up 146.57% in the past year.

Currently, MKS Inc.’s price-earnings ratio is 39.9. MKS Inc.’s trailing 12-month revenue is $4.3 billion with a 10.1% net profit margin. Year-over-year quarterly sales growth most recently was 28.3%. Analysts expect adjusted earnings to reach $13.134 per share for the current fiscal year. MKS Inc. currently has a 0.4% dividend yield.

How We Compare Cognex Corporation and MKS Inc. Stock Grades

Stock evaluation requires access to huge amounts of data and the knowledge and time to sift through it all, make sense of financial ratios, read income statements and analyze recent stock movements. AAII created A+ Investor, a robust data suite that condenses data research in an actionable and customizable way suitable for investors of all knowledge levels, to help investors streamline and work through such data.

AAII’s proprietary stock grades come with A+ Investor. These offer intuitive A‐F grades for each of five key investing factors: value, growth, momentum, earnings estimate revisions and quality. Here, we’ll take a closer look at Cognex Corporation and MKS Inc.’s stock grades to see how they measure up against one another.

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Cognex Corporation and MKS Inc. Stock Value Grades

Company	Ticker	Value
Cognex Corporation	CGNX	F
MKS Inc.	MKSI	F

Successful stock investing involves buying low and selling high, so stock valuation is an important consideration for stock selection.

Buying stocks that are going to go up typically means buying stocks that are undervalued in the first place, although momentum investors may argue that point.

AAII’s A+ Investor Value Grade derives from a stock’s value score. The Value Score is the percentile rank of the average of the percentile ranks of the price-to-sales ratio, price-earnings ratio, enterprise-value-to-EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio, shareholder yield, price-to-book-value ratio and price-to-free-cash-flow ratio. The score is variable, meaning it can consider all six ratios or, should any of the six ratios not be valid, the remaining ratios that are valid. To be assigned a Value Score, stocks must have a valid (non-null) ratio and corresponding ranking for at least two of the six valuation ratios.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are a good value and so on.

Cognex Corporation has a Value Score of 10, which is Ultra Expensive. MKS Inc. has a Value Score of 15, which is Ultra Expensive.

The Value Stock Winner: No Clear Winner

Neither Cognex Corporation or MKS Inc. has a high enough value grade to be considered a “winner.” Investors who are considering these companies should do additional due diligence and research to see if either could be a good addition to their portfolio. It’s important to look at a wide range of financial metrics in order to determine if Cognex Corporation or MKS Inc. is the better investment when it comes to value.

Cognex Corporation and MKS Inc. Growth Grades

Company	Ticker	Growth
Cognex Corporation	CGNX	C
MKS Inc.	MKSI	A

The foundation of growth investing is seeking out stocks of companies exhibiting strong, consistent and prolonged growth that is expected to continue into the future.

In order to compute the growth score and assign it a letter grade, the percentile ranks for each of three components‐consistency of annual sales growth, five-year sales growth rankings adjusted for extreme levels, and consistency of positive annual cash from operations‐must be determined. These three rank figures are added together, and the sum is ranked against the entire stock universe to arrive at a company’s Growth Score to create an equal distribution of grades.

The companies in the bottom 20% of the stock universe receive Growth Grades of F, considered to be very weak, while those in the top 20% receive A grades, which are considered very strong.

Cognex Corporation has a Growth Score of 56, which is Average. MKS Inc. has a Growth Score of 82, which is Very Strong.

The Growth Grade Winner: MKS Inc.

As you can clearly see from the Growth Grade breakdown above, MKS Inc. has a more attractive growth grade than Cognex Corporation. For investors who focus solely on how a company is growing relative to other companies in the same industry, MKS Inc. could be a good stock to add to their portfolio. However, it’s important for investors to analyze multiple factors based on a wide range of metrics before deciding whether to buy.

Cognex Corporation and MKS Inc.’s Momentum Grades

Company	Ticker	Momentum
Cognex Corporation	CGNX	B
MKS Inc.	MKSI	A

Momentum grades help to uncover stocks experiencing anomalously high rates of return; research finds that stocks with high relative levels of momentum tend to outperform, whereas those with low levels of momentum tend to continue underperforming. Momentum is based on the price change of a stock over a specified period relative to all other stocks.

Typically, AAII looks at the weighted relative strength over the trailing four quarters. The weighted four-quarter relative strength rank is the relative price change for each of the past four quarters. The most recent quarterly price change is given a weight of 40% and each of the three previous quarters are given a weighting of 20%.

Cognex Corporation has a Momentum Score of 62, which is Strong. MKS Inc. has a Momentum Score of 88, which is Very Strong.

The Momentum Grade Winner: MKS Inc.

As you can clearly see from the Momentum Grade breakdown above, MKS Inc. is considered to have stronger momentum compared to Cognex Corporation. For those specifically looking for companies that have stronger momentum compared to other companies in the same industry, MKS Inc. could be a good stock to invest in. However, it’s important for investors to analyze multiple factors based on a wide range of metrics before deciding whether to buy.

Other Cognex Corporation and MKS Inc. Grades

In addition to Growth, Momentum and Value, A+ Investor also provides grades for Estimate Revisions and Quality.

Earnings estimate revisions scores take into account the magnitude of a company’s earnings surprise in its last two reported fiscal quarters. Often, surprises beget further surprises‐or at least continued sales growth (the exact opposite is generally true, too).

AAII’s A+ Investor Quality Grade comes from the ranking of key metrics. Specifically, the quality grade is the percentile rank of the composite of return on assets (ROA), return on invested capital (ROIC), gross profit relative to assets, buyback yield, change in total liabilities to assets, accruals, Z double prime bankruptcy risk (Z) score and F-Score.

These 2 key factors, when combined with the above, provide a holistic view into a particular stock. Further, by joining A+ Investor you can see whether Cognex Corporation and MKS Inc. pass any of our 60+ stock screens that have outperformed the market since their creation.

So, Which Is the Better Investment, Cognex Corporation or MKS Inc. Stock?

Overall, Cognex Corporation stock has a Value Score of 10, Growth Score of 56 and Momentum Score of 62.

MKS Inc. stock has a Value Score of 15, Growth Score of 82 and Momentum Score of 88.

Comparing Cognex Corporation and MKS Inc.’s grades, scores and metrics can act as a solid basis to determine whether they may be a good investment or not. You’ll also want to look at your portfolio’s asset allocation as well as your risk tolerance and financial goals to see if either of these stocks would make a good fit for you. AAII can help you figure out which investments align with your individual needs and preferences.

Investors are encouraged to do their own due diligence and research. In this way, individuals can effectively become managers of their own assets‐without having to rely on others for financial independence. You can count on AAII for timeless articles on financial planning and stock-picking, unbiased research and actionable analysis.

A+ Investor adds to our qualitative teaching with a powerful data suite to help you whittle down investment choices to find stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or mutual funds that meet your needs.

AAII Disclaimer

We make no representations or warranties that any investor will, or is likely to, achieve profits similar to those shown, because past, hypothetical or simulated performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Before making an investment decision, you should consider your circumstances and whether the information on our content is applicable to your situation. This information was prepared in good faith, and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions. The full disclaimer can be read here.