Direct Answer
19 SEC filers are classified under the Standard Industrial Classification codes that describe the sensors industry, and their latest annual reports show $88.1 billion of combined revenue and a median operating margin of 13.2%. Investors should still evaluate its revenue model, industry-specific KPIs, valuation framework and the risks that can change the group's economics.
Industry Overview
Sensor makers produce devices that measure temperature, motion, pressure, light and chemistry for industrial, automotive, medical and consumer products. Content per device is rising with automation and safety features. The first numbers to compare across companies here are revenue and design wins, gross margin and end-market mix.
Key Industry Metrics
- Revenue and design wins: New customer selections for future products and revenue from them. Sensors are designed into products for years, so wins show future share more than the current period.
- Gross margin: Revenue left after production costs. Specialized sensors and software content earn more, while commodity parts and underused plants reduce it.
- End-market mix: Sales divided among cars, industrial, medical and consumer markets. It shows which cycles drive growth, and safety rules can raise content in cars and factories.
- Unit volume: The number of sensors shipped. Volume shows demand for added automation and connected devices, but falling prices mean units can grow faster than revenue.
- Inventory: Parts held by makers, distributors and customers. Rising stock in a weak market can lead to order cuts and discounting, so it helps read where the cycle stands.
Primary Macro Drivers
- Automotive and industrial automation: Cars and factory automation use more sensors per unit as safety and control features spread, raising revenue and design wins.
- Connected devices: Products that connect to networks add sensing for monitoring and control, expanding units and applications.
- Safety and emissions rules: Safety and emissions rules require sensing in vehicles and equipment, creating demand tied to compliance deadlines.
- Medical and consumer uses: Patient monitors, wearables and consumer gadgets use sensors with long product lives, broadening end markets beyond industrial cycles.
Major Risks
- Cyclical demand: Orders follow vehicle and equipment output, so slowdowns reduce revenue quickly; watch revenue by end market and unit volume.
- Price pressure: Many suppliers sell similar sensors, so prices fall in commoditized lines; watch gross margin and average selling price.
- Customer concentration: A few vehicle and device makers account for much volume, so one platform change moves results; watch top-customer share and design wins.
- Technology change: New sensing methods can replace older types and shift share; watch research spending, design wins and product mix.
Industry Characteristics
| Characteristic | Profile |
|---|---|
| Cyclicality | Cyclical |
| Capital Intensity | Medium |
| Regulatory Intensity | Low |
| Industry Maturity | Growth |
| Geographic Importance | Global |
Sensors Filers in the SEC Record
19 companies with annual reports in the dataset are classified by the SEC in the Standard Industrial Classification codes 3829, 3823. Their latest fiscal years end between 2025 and 2026, and together they reported $88.1 billion of revenue. Median revenue growth over the prior year was 3.4%. Median operating margin was 13.2% and median net margin 2.7%. Median total liabilities were 37% of total assets, and 11 of 19 reported a profit in their latest year.
| Company | Revenue | Growth | Operating margin | Net margin | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | $44.6 billion | 3.9% | 17.4% | 15.1% | FY 2025 |
| Rockwell Automation, Inc | $8.3 billion | 0.9% | 20.4% | 10.4% | FY 2025 |
| Roper Technologies Inc | $7.9 billion | 12.3% | 28.3% | 19.4% | FY 2025 |
| Ametek Inc/ | $7.4 billion | 6.6% | 25.8% | 20.0% | FY 2025 |
| Keysight Technologies, Inc. | $5.4 billion | 8.0% | 16.3% | 15.8% | FY 2025 |
| Fortive Corp | $4.2 billion | 1.9% | 17.3% | 12.8% | FY 2025 |
| Mks Inc | $3.9 billion | 9.6% | 13.4% | 7.5% | FY 2025 |
| Trimble Inc. | $3.6 billion | -2.6% | 16.5% | 11.8% | FY 2026 |
The 8 largest of 19 by revenue. Source: each company's own annual report as filed with the SEC (XBRL data), figures in U.S. dollars. A company's SIC code reflects its main business as the SEC records it, so it can differ from how an index provider or analyst classifies the company, and a diversified group appears under only one code.
Where to Go Next
The Sensors guide describes how the industry earns money, what to measure and what can go wrong. To see how it compares, read the neighbouring industries in the same sector, then apply the same checks to a specific company.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main KPIs for the Sensors industry?
Key performance indicators for the Sensors industry include: Revenue and design wins, Gross margin, End-market mix, Unit volume, Inventory. Which matter most depends on the company's model, so compare them across several companies rather than relying on one.
How cyclical is the Sensors industry?
The Sensors industry is cyclical, meaning its revenues and earnings tend to expand during economic expansions and contract during downturns. Investors should monitor leading economic indicators and interest rate trends when evaluating timing.
What are the biggest risks in the Sensors industry?
The primary risks for Sensors companies include: Cyclical demand, Price pressure, Customer concentration, Technology change. Investors should assess each company's exposure to these factors and its track record of navigating them.