KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 15): Shares of Greatech Technology Bhd (KL:GREATEC) climbed sharply on Thursday, tracking renewed investor interest in factory automation and precision engineering stocks amid a broader rebound in technology counters.

Greatech rose as much as 26.5% at its intraday peak — its largest single-day gain on record — and closed at RM1.64, still up 17 sen or 11.56%, valuing the automation solutions provider at about RM4.12 billion.

“We believe the group [Greatech] is at an order-book inflection point, with momentum set to improve over the coming quarters," Greatech's most bullish analyst Paul Yap Ee Xing from AmInvestment Bank told The Edge when commenting on the stock’s price movement.

The investment narrative for Greatech is evolving, with data centres emerging as a more meaningful contributor to the order book and potentially overtaking solar as the company’s dominant growth driver, Yap said.

“This positions Greatech as no longer just a solar and electric vehicle story but a broader automation beneficiary, with more diversified end markets and lower earnings cyclicality,” Yap added.

As at November 2025, Greatech’s order book stood at RM697.9 million, up from RM607 million in August, with solar the largest segment at 32%, followed by data centres at 23%.

Greatech chief executive officer and executive director Datuk Seri Tan Eng Kee, when contacted, said he had no comment on the share price movement or any potential corporate exercises in the near term.

At last close, Greatech shares is up 3.8% since the start of 2026, compared with the 7.66% rise in the Bursa Malaysia Technology Indexover the same period. In contrast, the FBM KLCI is up 2.09% year to date.

AmInvestment Bank had in its research report said the “bombed-out names offer the most attractive risk-reward” within the technology sector, naming Greatech and VS Industry Bhd (KL:VS) among its preferred picks. Broad-based rallies are unlikely, the research house cautioned, with sector performance expected to hinge on selective stock-picking.

Other technology counters were also firmer on Thursday, including outsourced semiconductor assembly and test player Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd (KL:MPI) and automated test equipment maker ViTrox Corp Bhd (KL:VITROX).

The majority of nine analysts covering Greatech are bullish, with seven 'buy' calls while the remaining two rate it a 'hold'.

The stock’s average 12-month target price stands at RM2.19, implying an upside of more than 25% from its previous close, according to Bloomberg data.