COGNEX CORP (CGNX) — Insider Trading

AI-Powered SEC Filing Analysis

Latest Insider Trading Filed: 2026-05-12

Key Insights

Mark Fennell, Chief Legal Officer & Secretary, executed a significant net sell transaction on 05/11/2026, disposing of 60,010 shares while acquiring 60,010 shares through stock option exercises, resulting in zero net change in beneficial ownership but generating substantial proceeds at $67.08 per share.
The transaction involves exercising multiple tranches of non-qualified stock options with exercise prices ranging from $33.04 to $56.44, all immediately sold at $67.08, representing profits of $11-$34 per share and suggesting the executive liquidated equity for cash rather than holding the underlying common stock.
Fennell's final common stock position declined to 4,863 shares directly owned, a substantial reduction from prior holdings, indicating a strategic shift away from concentrated CGNX equity exposure despite his continued role as Chief Legal Officer & Secretary.

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Earlier Insider Trading filings

Filed: 2026-05-12

Laura MacDonald executed a substantial net sell-off of approximately 139,918 shares of CGNX stock on 05/11-05/12/2026, with most shares sold at $66.80 and $65.56, suggesting a significant reduction in her direct holdings.
The insider exercised numerous non-qualified stock options across multiple tranches with exercise prices ranging from $33.04 to $56.44, immediately followed by sales at higher prices ($65-$66.80), indicating a classic cashless exercise and sell-to-cover pattern rather than a conviction buy.
MacDonald retains meaningful equity exposure through unexercised stock options (totaling approximately 85,305 shares with various vesting schedules through 2035) and RSUs (24,679 shares), indicating continued long-term alignment with the company despite the recent selling.
The timing of option exercises and immediate sales, combined with the high volume of transactions concentrated over two days, suggests opportunistic liquidity needs or portfolio rebalancing rather than a bearish signal on company fundamentals.

Filed: 2026-05-08

CFO Dennis Fehr acquired 5,394 shares through restricted stock unit vesting on May 6, 2026, with a vesting structure tied to a relocation requirement to Massachusetts by October 31, 2026, suggesting company interest in consolidating leadership presence.
Fehr disposed of 1,984 shares at $62.26 per share to satisfy tax withholding obligations on the vested RSUs, a routine tax management action with no discretionary selling signal.
The CFO maintains substantial equity incentives with over 186,000 unexercised stock options across multiple vesting dates and exercise prices ranging from $33.04 to $57.09, indicating strong long-term alignment with shareholder interests.
The RSU vesting schedule (20% year 1, 30% year 2, 50% year 3) is contingent on the Massachusetts relocation condition, which represents a notable retention and location strategy mechanism for this senior executive.

Filed: 2026-03-16

Insider Laura A. MacDonald, VP and PAO, exercised 368 restricted stock units and sold 109 shares to cover tax withholding obligations, indicating an ongoing commitment to the company.
MacDonald holds a significant equity stake in Cognex Corp, with over 91,000 shares and options/RSUs outstanding, aligning her interests with shareholders.
The filing shows a mix of vesting and exercise of equity awards, suggesting a balanced approach to stock ownership and diversification.

Filed: 2026-03-03

Dianne M. Parrotte, a director at Cognex Corp, exercised a total of 44,000 stock options and sold 44,000 shares of common stock on March 2, 2026.
The stock options were granted at various exercise prices ranging from $45.06 to $51.49 per share, and were exercised and subsequently sold at $54 per share.
This insider transaction suggests Parrotte is taking profits, but still maintains a direct ownership of 33,431 shares of Cognex common stock.

Filed: 2026-02-24

Sheila DiPalma, an EVP at Cognex Corp, executed several stock transactions on February 20 and 21, 2026, including the exercise of restricted stock units and the subsequent sale of shares to cover tax withholding obligations.
DiPalma's transactions resulted in a net increase in her direct beneficial ownership of Cognex's common stock, from 12,390 shares to 15,013 shares.
The insider transactions are consistent with DiPalma's role as a key executive at Cognex, and the relatively modest size of the trades suggests normal compensation-related activities rather than any significant change in her investment position.

Filed: 2026-02-24

Laura MacDonald, the VP and PAO of Cognex Corp, exercised 1,902 and 2,754 restricted stock units on February 20 and 21, 2026 respectively, suggesting ongoing executive confidence in the company.
MacDonald also sold 559 and 809 shares to cover tax withholding obligations on the vesting of the restricted stock units, indicating she is not significantly reducing her direct equity ownership in Cognex.
The reporting includes details on MacDonald's existing equity awards, including various stock options and restricted stock units, providing insight into her overall compensation structure and incentive alignment with shareholders.

Filed: 2026-02-24

The reporting person, Carl Gerst, an EVP at Cognex, has exercised restricted stock units (RSUs) and made open market sales of the underlying common stock on multiple dates in February 2026.
The total number of shares sold across the reported transactions is 14,336, which represents a significant portion of Gerst's holdings in Cognex.
Gerst continues to hold a substantial number of stock options and RSUs, indicating he maintains a significant equity stake in the company.

Filed: 2026-02-24

Joerg Kuechen, the Head of Corporate M&A, exercised and sold a significant number of stock options and restricted stock units of COGNEX CORP, potentially signaling an insider's view on the company's near-term prospects.
The option exercises and sales occurred at favorable prices, potentially suggesting that Kuechen believes the stock is overvalued and may be a good time to take profits.
The transactions involve a mix of vested and unvested equity awards, providing insight into Kuechen's portfolio management and liquidity needs.

Filed: 2026-02-24

CEO Matthew Moschner exercised a significant number of stock options and restricted stock units, indicating his confidence in the company's future performance.
Moschner sold a portion of the shares acquired through the option exercises and RSU vesting, likely to cover tax withholding obligations.
The company has granted Moschner a substantial number of equity awards, aligning his interests with those of shareholders.

Filed: 2026-02-24

Anthony Sun, a director at Cognex Corporation (CGNX), exercised 2,913 restricted stock units and acquired an additional 52,608 shares indirectly through an LLC, indicating increased ownership in the company.
Sun holds a combination of restricted stock units, non-qualified stock options, and direct share ownership, suggesting he has a significant long-term stake in Cognex's performance.
The timing of this transaction, shortly before the company's fiscal year-end, may signal Sun's confidence in Cognex's future prospects.

Filed: 2026-02-24

Sachin Lawande, a director of Cognex Corporation, exercised 2,913 restricted stock units on February 21, 2026, acquiring the same number of common shares of the company.
Lawande continues to hold 28,431 shares of Cognex's common stock directly, as well as an additional 4,817 restricted stock units that will vest on February 17, 2027.
This transaction suggests that Lawande, a key insider, has confidence in Cognex's long-term prospects and is increasing his stake in the company.

Filed: 2026-02-24

Marjorie Sennett, a director of Cognex Corporation, acquired 2,913 shares of the company's common stock through the vesting of restricted stock units on February 21, 2026.
Sennett now holds a total of 25,936 shares of Cognex stock directly, indicating continued ownership and confidence in the company's prospects.
The filing also discloses that Sennett has been granted additional 4,817 restricted stock units, which will vest on February 17, 2027, further aligning her interests with those of Cognex shareholders.

Filed: 2026-02-24

John Tseng-Chung Lee, a director of Cognex Corporation, has exercised 2,913 restricted stock units that were granted on February 21, 2023, indicating his continued commitment to the company.
Lee's ownership of Cognex common stock has increased to 24,820 shares following this transaction, suggesting he has confidence in the company's long-term prospects.
The vesting schedule of the restricted stock units shows that 20% vested on the first anniversary, 30% on the second, and 50% on the third, aligning his interests with those of the company and its shareholders.

Filed: 2026-02-24

The reporting person, Dianne M. Parrotte, is a director of Cognex Corporation and has acquired 2,913 shares of common stock through the vesting of restricted stock units.
Parrotte also holds non-qualified stock options for a total of 44,000 shares, indicating ongoing equity-based compensation and retention.
The transaction date of February 21, 2026 suggests regular vesting of equity awards, which is a common practice for directors and executives.

Filed: 2026-02-24

Angelos Papadimitriou, a director of Cognex Corporation, acquired 2,537 shares of the company's common stock through the vesting of restricted stock units on February 21, 2026.
Following the acquisition, Papadimitriou sold 4,150 shares of Cognex common stock on February 23, 2026 at a price of $55.58 per share.
Papadimitriou currently holds 16,222 shares of Cognex common stock directly, indicating an ongoing commitment to the company.

Filed: 2026-02-19

Matthew Moschner, the CEO and President of Cognex Corp (CGNX), exercised 5,085 non-qualified stock options and acquired 56,928 restricted stock units on February 17-18, 2026.
Moschner sold 1,600 shares to cover tax withholding obligations, indicating a neutral sentiment and confidence in the company's prospects.
The reported transactions align with Moschner's previous grants and vesting schedule, suggesting a continuation of his long-term commitment to the company.

Other reports for COGNEX CORP

Quarterly Report Current Report

Important Information

AI-generated analysis is for informational purposes only. Always read original SEC filings and consult with qualified professionals before making investment decisions.