Shares of Pentamaster Corp Bhd fell nearly 7% to RM3.73 on Friday after the automated test equipment firm reported a significant decline in quarterly profit. Net profit for the latest quarter was nearly halved, pushing the stock’s market capitalization down to RM2.74 billion with 249,100 shares traded early in the day.
RHB Research maintained its “buy” rating with a target price of RM5.95, though Pentamaster’s 9MFY2024 core net profit came in below projections, meeting only 67% of RHB’s and 70% of consensus estimates.
The automotive segment was heavily affected by US and European tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, contributing to weaker sales. However, 3QFY2024 pre-tax profit margin improved to 9.7% due to higher-margin projects, despite a decline in factory automation solutions (FAS) margin from rising material costs.
Looking ahead, RHB noted that ATE (automated test equipment) sales may remain soft into the first half of 2025 due to macroeconomic pressures. Still, growth is expected in semiconductor packaging and optoelectronic devices as Pentamaster focuses on boosting operational efficiency.
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