Exhibit 99.1

Cognex Reports Record Quarterly Net Income

NATICK, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 30, 2012--Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX) today announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2012. Selected financial data for the quarter and six months ended July 1, 2012, are compared to the first quarter of 2012, the second quarter of 2011 and the first six months of 2011 in Table 1 below.

A reconciliation of certain financial measures from GAAP to non-GAAP is shown in Exhibit 2.

“Our results for the second quarter of 2012 were fantastic; revenue was the second highest in Cognex’s 31-year history, and net income reached a new quarterly high. Unfortunately, due to the very challenging economic environment, we don’t expect to break these records in the near term,” said Dr. Robert J. Shillman, Chairman of Cognex.

“We performed well during the second quarter, however, growth has been restrained since mid-2011 due to a downturn in a number of markets,” said Robert J. Willett, Chief Executive Officer of Cognex. “While we have seen some recovery in semiconductor and electronics, conditions in factory automation (our largest market) became more difficult as the quarter progressed and currency exchange rates also had an unfavorable impact. Despite slowing end markets we continued to make good progress on our key strategic initiatives, including new product development and sales force expansion.”

Mr. Willett continued, “Our outlook for Q3 is cautious for a number of reasons. The global economic slowdown will likely cause manufacturers to pull back on spending; the factory automation market is typically soft during the summer months; and the uncertainty in currency exchange rates is expected to continue.”

Details of the Quarter

Statement of Operations Highlights – Second Quarter of 2012

• Revenue for the second quarter of 2012 increased 1% from the second quarter of 2011 and 9% from the prior quarter (revenue in constant currency increased 4% and 9%, respectively). Growth year-on-year came from the surface inspection market, offset by a decline in revenue from the semiconductor and electronics capital equipment market (SEMI). Revenue from all three markets served by Cognex grew on a sequential basis.
• Factory automation revenue in the second quarter was flat year-on-year. The lack of growth was due to substantially lower revenue from the solar industry and the unfavorable impact of currency exchange rates. Without these items factory automation revenue would have grown 9% year-on-year.

• Gross margin was 76% in the second quarter of 2012, 77% in the second quarter of 2011 and 75% in the prior quarter. Gross margin decreased year-on-year due to surface inspection systems representing a greater percentage of company revenue. Gross margin increased on a sequential basis due to lower service costs.
• Research, Development & Engineering (RD&E) spending in the second quarter of 2012 decreased 2% from the second quarter of 2011 and 1% from the prior quarter. RD&E spending in constant currency was essentially flat both year-on-year and sequentially.
• Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) spending in the second quarter of 2012 increased 2% from the second quarter of 2011 and decreased 1% from the prior quarter (SG&A spending in constant currency increased 3% year-on-year and decreased 1% sequentially). Higher spending year-on-year on Cognex’s sales force expansion, primarily in China, was partially offset by a lower bonus accrual. On a sequential basis, lower stock option expense was partially offset by increased spending on marketing initiatives.
• Investment and other income was $1,702,000 in the second quarter of 2012, $549,000 in the second quarter of 2011 and $975,000 in the prior quarter. The increase both year-on-year and sequentially is primarily due to gains recognized on the sale of euro-denominated investments.
• The tax rate was 21% in the first and second quarters of 2012 compared to 23% in the second quarter of 2011. The decrease year-on-year is primarily because a higher percentage of income in the second quarter of 2012 was earned in lower tax jurisdictions.

Balance Sheet Highlights – July 1, 2012

• Cognex’s financial position as of July 1, 2012, was very strong, with no debt and $390,683,000 in cash and investments. Cognex paid out $4,714,000 in dividends to shareholders in the second quarter of 2012.

Financial Outlook

• Cognex expects revenue for Q3-12 to be between $79 million and $82 million. Gross margin is expected to continue in the mid-70% range. Operating expenses are expected to be relatively flat on a sequential basis. And the effective tax rate is expected to be 21% before discrete tax items.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

• Exhibit 2 of this press release includes a reconciliation of certain financial measures from GAAP to non-GAAP. Cognex believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful because they allow investors to more accurately assess and compare Cognex results over multiple periods, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the methodology used by management to review its operating results. In particular, the GAAP presentation of cost of revenue, RD&E and SG&A expenditures includes stock option expense. Cognex excludes these expenses for the purpose of calculating non-GAAP adjusted operating income, non-GAAP adjusted net income and non-GAAP adjusted net income per share when it evaluates its continuing operational performance, and in connection with its budgeting process and the allocation of resources, because these expenses have no current effect on cash or the future uses of cash, and they fluctuate as a result of changes in Cognex’s stock price. Cognex also excludes certain items if they are one-time discrete events, such as the impact of currency exchange rate fluctuations. Cognex does not intend for these non-GAAP financial measures to be considered in isolation, nor as a substitute for financial information provided in accordance with GAAP.
• The tax effect of items identified in the reconciliation is estimated by applying the effective tax rate to the pre-tax amount, unless the nature of the item and/or the tax jurisdiction in which the item has been recorded requires application of a specific tax rate or tax treatment. In that case, the tax effect of such items is estimated by applying such specific tax rate or tax treatment.

Analyst Conference Call and Simultaneous Webcast

• Cognex will host a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. eastern time. The telephone number is (866) 244-4635 (or (703) 639-1178 if outside the United States). A replay will begin at 8:00 p.m. eastern time today and will run continuously until 11:59 p.m. eastern time on Thursday, August 2, 2012. The telephone number for the replay is (888) 266-2081 (or (703) 925-2533 if outside the United States) and the access code is 1580483.
• Internet users can listen to a real-time audio broadcast of the conference call, or an archived replay on the Cognex Investor Relations website at http://www.cognex.com/Investor.

About Cognex Corporation

Cognex Corporation designs, develops, manufactures and markets a range of products that incorporate sophisticated machine vision technology that gives them the ability to “see.” Cognex products include barcode readers, machine vision sensors and machine vision systems that are used in factories, warehouses and distribution centers around the world to guide, gauge, inspect, identify and assure the quality of items during the manufacturing and distribution process. Cognex is the world's leader in the machine vision industry, having shipped more than 750,000 vision-based products, representing over $3 billion in cumulative revenue, since the company's founding in 1981. Headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, USA, Cognex has regional offices and distributors located throughout North America, Japan, Europe, Asia and Latin America. For details visit Cognex online at http://www.cognex.com.

Certain statements made in this press release, which do not relate solely to historical matters, are forward-looking statements. These statements can be identified by use of the words “expects,” “anticipates,” ”estimates,” “believes,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “may,” “shall,” “could,” “should,” and similar words. These forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding business and market trends, future financial performance, customer order rates, expected areas of growth, product development activities, and strategic initiatives, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such risks and uncertainties include: (1) current and future conditions in the global economy; (2) the cyclicality of the semiconductor and electronics industries and seasonality in the factory automation market; (3) the inability to penetrate new markets; (4) the inability to achieve significant international revenue, including in Asia; (5) fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; (6) the loss of a large customer; (7) the inability to attract and retain skilled employees; (8) the reliance upon key suppliers to manufacture and deliver critical components for Cognex products; (9) the failure to effectively manage product transitions or accurately forecast customer demand; (10) the inability to design and manufacture high-quality products; (11) the technological obsolescence of current products and the inability to develop new products; (12) the failure to properly manage the distribution of products and services; (13) the inability to protect Cognex proprietary technology and intellectual property; (14) involvement in time-consuming and costly litigation; (15) the impact of competitive pressures; (16) the challenges in integrating and achieving expected results from acquired businesses; (17) potential impairment charges with respect to Cognex’s investments or for acquired intangible assets or goodwill; (18) exposure to additional tax liabilities; (19) information security breaches or business systems disruptions; and (20) the other risks detailed in Cognex reports filed with the SEC, including its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. You should not place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Cognex disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking statements after the date of such statements.

CONTACT:
Cognex Corporation
Susan Conway, 508-650-3353
Director of Investor Relations
susan.conway@cognex.com