Insider Buying Signals a Strong‑Team Confidence

On February 18, 2026, director Parrottes Diann M. added 8,324 shares of Cognex common stock to her portfolio at a price of $55.93, barely below the prevailing market level of $56.72. The transaction, executed at a time when the stock was trading slightly down from its weekly high, reflects a subtle but telling confidence from a senior stakeholder. Parrottes has long held a sizeable option and restricted‑stock position, and this purchase brings her post‑transaction ownership to 30,518 shares – roughly 0.32 % of the outstanding float. While not a blockbuster trade, the move comes amid a broader pattern of insider activity that suggests executives are willing to bet on Cognex’s trajectory.

A Company‑Wide Momentum of Insider Activity

Cognex’s top executives have been active this week: CEO Matt Moschner, CFO Dennis Fehr, CTO Kuechen, and several other senior officers all executed or held sizeable option or RSU transactions. Moschner alone completed a $5,085 buy and a $1,600 sell on the same day, while Fehr and Kuechen mirrored these actions. This flurry of trades is consistent with the company’s recent governance updates – new board appointments, an analyst upgrade, and a conference appearance – and indicates that the leadership team is aligning its financial interests with shareholder value. Investors often interpret such activity as a signal that insiders believe the stock is undervalued or poised for a rebound.

Implications for Investors

The combined effect of Parrottes’ purchase and the broader insider buying is a positive sentiment cue that can bolster investor confidence, especially in a sector that has been pressured by broader technology sell‑offs. Cognex’s 52‑week high of $59.88 and a 70‑percent year‑to‑date gain underscore its strong fundamentals, while a P/E of 84 suggests that valuation is still on the higher side. Insider buying can temper that perception by implying that those with the most insight see upside. That said, the relatively modest trade size means the impact on the stock price is likely incremental; investors should watch for follow‑up trades and earnings guidance rather than rely solely on a single transaction.

A Forward‑Looking View

With machine‑vision demand remaining resilient across manufacturing and electronics, Cognex is well‑placed to sustain its growth. Insider activity, coupled with recent analyst upgrades and board expansions, points to a leadership team confident in future profitability. For investors, the key will be to monitor whether this confidence translates into tangible performance – such as higher margin targets or new product launches – and whether subsequent insider trades reinforce the bullish outlook. In the meantime, the recent purchases provide a subtle nod that the company’s top brass is aligning its interests with the long‑term success of Cognex.

DateOwnerTransaction TypeSharesPrice per ShareSecurity
2026-02-18PARROTTE DIANNE M ()Buy8,324.000.00Common Stock
2026-02-18PARROTTE DIANNE M ()Sell8,324.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2019-05-02PARROTTE DIANNE M ()Holding7,500.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2021-02-18PARROTTE DIANNE M ()Holding18,400.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2020-02-19PARROTTE DIANNE M ()Holding18,100.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2024-02-21PARROTTE DIANNE M ()Holding2,913.00N/ARestricted Stock Unit
2026-02-18Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Buy5,085.000.00Common Stock
2026-02-18Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Sell1,600.0056.72Common Stock
2026-02-17Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Buy58,744.000.00Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2026-02-18Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Sell5,085.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2026-02-17Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Buy56,928.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2029-05-05Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Holding279,070.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2029-02-21Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Holding76,924.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2026-02-18Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Holding68,823.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2025-02-20Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Holding58,260.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2019-11-19Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Holding4,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2021-10-31Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Holding7,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2024-02-21Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Holding37,832.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2026-08-04Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Holding35,639.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2027-08-07Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Holding47,962.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2020-02-19Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Holding4,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2020-10-30Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Holding9,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2019-02-20Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Holding1,600.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2025-08-09Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Holding8,426.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2024-02-21Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Holding3,495.00N/ARestricted Stock Unit
2024-08-07Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Holding4,999.00N/ARestricted Stock Unit
2025-02-20Moschner Matthew (CEO & President)Holding8,113.00N/ARestricted Stock Unit
2026-02-18Fehr Dennis (SVP, Chief Financial Officer)Buy5,085.000.00Common Stock
2026-02-18Fehr Dennis (SVP, Chief Financial Officer)Sell1,618.0056.72Common Stock
2026-02-17Fehr Dennis (SVP, Chief Financial Officer)Buy25,306.000.00Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2026-02-18Fehr Dennis (SVP, Chief Financial Officer)Sell5,085.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2026-02-17Fehr Dennis (SVP, Chief Financial Officer)Buy24,523.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2026-02-18Fehr Dennis (SVP, Chief Financial Officer)Holding68,823.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2028-05-06Fehr Dennis (SVP, Chief Financial Officer)Holding92,092.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2025-05-06Fehr Dennis (SVP, Chief Financial Officer)Holding14,385.00N/ARestricted Stock Unit
2026-02-18Papadimitriou Angelos ()Buy8,324.000.00Common Stock
2026-02-18Papadimitriou Angelos ()Sell8,324.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2026-02-17Papadimitriou Angelos ()Buy4,817.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2024-02-21Papadimitriou Angelos ()Holding2,537.00N/ARestricted Stock Unit
2026-02-18Kuechen Joerg (Chief Technology Officer)Buy4,056.000.00Common Stock
2026-02-18Kuechen Joerg (Chief Technology Officer)Sell1,327.0056.72Common Stock
2026-02-17Kuechen Joerg (Chief Technology Officer)Buy8,759.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2026-02-18Kuechen Joerg (Chief Technology Officer)Sell4,056.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2026-02-18Kuechen Joerg (Chief Technology Officer)Holding55,141.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2018-02-21Kuechen Joerg (Chief Technology Officer)Holding12,500.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2025-02-20Kuechen Joerg (Chief Technology Officer)Holding89,103.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2024-02-21Kuechen Joerg (Chief Technology Officer)Holding67,759.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2026-08-04Kuechen Joerg (Chief Technology Officer)Holding39,894.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2021-02-18Kuechen Joerg (Chief Technology Officer)Holding80,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2020-02-19Kuechen Joerg (Chief Technology Officer)Holding45,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2019-02-20Kuechen Joerg (Chief Technology Officer)Holding30,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2023-02-22Kuechen Joerg (Chief Technology Officer)Holding49,530.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2022-02-16Kuechen Joerg (Chief Technology Officer)Holding29,486.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2024-02-21Kuechen Joerg (Chief Technology Officer)Holding6,355.00N/ARestricted Stock Unit
2025-02-20Kuechen Joerg (Chief Technology Officer)Holding14,199.00N/ARestricted Stock Unit
2026-02-18Sennett Marjorie ()Buy8,324.000.00Common Stock
2026-02-18Sennett Marjorie ()Sell8,324.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2026-02-17Sennett Marjorie ()Buy4,817.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2024-02-21Sennett Marjorie ()Holding2,913.00N/ARestricted Stock Unit
2026-02-18Lee John Tseng-Chung ()Buy8,324.000.00Common Stock
2026-02-18Lee John Tseng-Chung ()Sell8,324.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2026-02-17Lee John Tseng-Chung ()Buy4,817.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2024-02-21Lee John Tseng-Chung ()Holding2,913.00N/ARestricted Stock Unit
2026-02-18Lawande Sachin ()Buy8,324.000.00Common Stock
2026-02-18Lawande Sachin ()Sell8,324.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2026-02-17Lawande Sachin ()Buy4,817.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2024-02-21Lawande Sachin ()Holding2,913.00N/ARestricted Stock Unit
2026-02-18Gerst Carl (EVP, Vision & ID Products)Buy5,570.000.00Common Stock
2026-02-18Gerst Carl (EVP, Vision & ID Products)Sell1,766.0056.72Common Stock
2026-02-17Gerst Carl (EVP, Vision & ID Products)Buy24,854.000.00Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2026-02-18Gerst Carl (EVP, Vision & ID Products)Sell5,570.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2026-02-17Gerst Carl (EVP, Vision & ID Products)Buy24,085.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2026-02-18Gerst Carl (EVP, Vision & ID Products)Holding75,871.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2025-02-20Gerst Carl (EVP, Vision & ID Products)Holding126,800.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2024-02-21Gerst Carl (EVP, Vision & ID Products)Holding94,298.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2021-02-18Gerst Carl (EVP, Vision & ID Products)Holding80,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2020-02-19Gerst Carl (EVP, Vision & ID Products)Holding60,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2019-02-20Gerst Carl (EVP, Vision & ID Products)Holding20,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2023-02-22Gerst Carl (EVP, Vision & ID Products)Holding74,720.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2025-10-30Gerst Carl (EVP, Vision & ID Products)Holding150,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2024-02-21Gerst Carl (EVP, Vision & ID Products)Holding8,791.00N/ARestricted Stock Unit
2025-02-20Gerst Carl (EVP, Vision & ID Products)Holding18,256.00N/ARestricted Stock Unit
2026-02-18MACDONALD LAURA ANN (VP and PAO)Buy2,422.000.00Common Stock
2026-02-18MACDONALD LAURA ANN (VP and PAO)Sell711.0056.72Common Stock
N/AMACDONALD LAURA ANN (VP and PAO)Holding20.00N/ACommon Stock
2026-02-17MACDONALD LAURA ANN (VP and PAO)Buy7,231.000.00Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2026-02-18MACDONALD LAURA ANN (VP and PAO)Sell2,422.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2026-02-17MACDONALD LAURA ANN (VP and PAO)Buy11,211.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2026-02-18MACDONALD LAURA ANN (VP and PAO)Holding33,168.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2025-02-20MACDONALD LAURA ANN (VP and PAO)Holding37,698.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2024-02-21MACDONALD LAURA ANN (VP and PAO)Holding30,492.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2022-05-01MACDONALD LAURA ANN (VP and PAO)Holding10,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2021-02-18MACDONALD LAURA ANN (VP and PAO)Holding42,500.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2020-02-19MACDONALD LAURA ANN (VP and PAO)Holding30,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2019-02-20MACDONALD LAURA ANN (VP and PAO)Holding15,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2023-02-22MACDONALD LAURA ANN (VP and PAO)Holding23,891.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2022-02-16MACDONALD LAURA ANN (VP and PAO)Holding13,946.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2024-02-21MACDONALD LAURA ANN (VP and PAO)Holding2,754.00N/ARestricted Stock Unit
2025-02-20MACDONALD LAURA ANN (VP and PAO)Holding5,071.00N/ARestricted Stock Unit
2025-03-15MACDONALD LAURA ANN (VP and PAO)Holding982.00N/ARestricted Stock Unit
2026-02-18DiPalma Sheila Marie (EVP, Employee Services)Buy3,027.000.00Common Stock
2026-02-18DiPalma Sheila Marie (EVP, Employee Services)Sell1,022.0056.72Common Stock
2026-02-17DiPalma Sheila Marie (EVP, Employee Services)Buy13,557.000.00Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2026-02-18DiPalma Sheila Marie (EVP, Employee Services)Sell3,027.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2026-02-17DiPalma Sheila Marie (EVP, Employee Services)Buy13,138.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2026-02-18DiPalma Sheila Marie (EVP, Employee Services)Holding41,460.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2018-02-21DiPalma Sheila Marie (EVP, Employee Services)Holding12,500.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2025-02-20DiPalma Sheila Marie (EVP, Employee Services)Holding68,541.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2024-02-21DiPalma Sheila Marie (EVP, Employee Services)Holding56,466.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2021-02-18DiPalma Sheila Marie (EVP, Employee Services)Holding80,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2020-02-19DiPalma Sheila Marie (EVP, Employee Services)Holding64,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2018-11-01DiPalma Sheila Marie (EVP, Employee Services)Holding64,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2023-02-22DiPalma Sheila Marie (EVP, Employee Services)Holding44,823.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2025-10-30DiPalma Sheila Marie (EVP, Employee Services)Holding100,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2024-02-21DiPalma Sheila Marie (EVP, Employee Services)Holding5,295.00N/ARestricted Stock Unit
2025-02-20DiPalma Sheila Marie (EVP, Employee Services)Holding10,142.00N/ARestricted Stock Unit
2026-02-18Willett Robert ()Buy14,165.000.00Common Stock
2026-02-18Willett Robert ()Sell6,849.0056.72Common Stock
2026-02-18Willett Robert ()Sell14,165.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2026-02-18Willett Robert ()Holding193,201.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2025-02-20Willett Robert ()Holding292,246.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2024-02-21Willett Robert ()Holding233,484.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2021-02-18Willett Robert ()Holding180,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2020-02-19Willett Robert ()Holding180,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2019-02-20Willett Robert ()Holding90,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2023-02-22Willett Robert ()Holding185,254.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2022-02-16Willett Robert ()Holding123,521.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2026-02-18SUN ANTHONY ()Buy8,324.000.00Common Stock
N/ASUN ANTHONY ()Holding52,608.00N/ACommon Stock
2026-02-18SUN ANTHONY ()Sell8,324.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2026-02-17SUN ANTHONY ()Buy4,817.000.00Restricted Stock Unit
2018-02-21SUN ANTHONY ()Holding26,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2021-02-18SUN ANTHONY ()Holding23,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2020-02-19SUN ANTHONY ()Holding26,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2019-02-20SUN ANTHONY ()Holding13,000.00N/ANon-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
2024-02-21SUN ANTHONY ()Holding2,913.00N/ARestricted Stock Unit