KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 6): Penang-based automated test equipment (ATE) firm Pentamaster Corp Bhd (KL:PENTA) has logged a 45.3% year-on-year rise in net profit for the third quarter despite a slip in sales.

Net profit for the three months ended Sept 30, 2025 (3QFY2025) rose to RM17.11 million from RM11.77 million, despite a 1.4% slip in revenue to RM148.08 million from RM150.18 million, according to an exchange filing on Thursday.

Bottomline was helped by lower administrative expenses and an income tax credit versus income tax charge in 3QFY2024. No dividend was recommended for the quarter.

The ATE segment saw a decline of 27.8% in revenue to RM38.56 million due to timing differences in project deliveries from the automotive sector, while the factory automation solutions segment posted a more modest drop of 4.7% to RM101.64 million on normalised demand from the medical sector.

A better year is expected in FY2026, Pentamaster noted, citing revenue from new purchase orders set to be progressively recognised from next year.

“The group expects its growth trajectory to gain renewed momentum in 2026, driven by the execution of these new projects and sustained customer demand across its strategic markets in the logic and power semiconductor business segments,” said Pentamaster.

In contrast, revenue for FY2025 is expected to be “modest” compared to FY2024, reflecting a transition period as it lays the foundation for growth.

The group said it will continue to invest in research and development, and aims to capture emerging opportunities in the AI and semiconductor value chains.

For the first nine months of  FY2025, Pentamaster’s net profit dropped 18.1% to RM41.79 million from RM51.05 million in the same period a year earlier, as revenue dropped 13.8% to RM424.56 million from RM492.34 million.

Shares in Pentamaster ended six sen or 1.47% lower at RM4.03, valuing the group at RM2.87 billion.