<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (A) THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF COGNEX CORPORATION FOR THE QUARTER ENDED OCTOBER 1, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH (B) CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JUL-03-2000 <PERIOD-END> OCT-01-2000 <CASH> 49,855,000 <SECURITIES> 210,663,000 <RECEIVABLES> 44,792,000 <ALLOWANCES> 2,331,000 <INVENTORY> 18,811,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 337,944,000 <PP&E> 58,319,000 <DEPRECIATION> 25,646,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 409,494,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 49,184,000 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 91,000 <OTHER-SE> 359,844,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 409,494,000 <SALES> 67,690,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 67,690,000 <CGS> 17,402,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 17,402,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 28,516,000 <INCOME-TAX> 9,125,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 19,391,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 19,391,000 <EPS-BASIC> 0.45 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.42