KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 29): Pentamaster Corp Bhd's net profit surged 29.47% to RM19.47 million for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2021 (3QFY21), from RM15.04 million a year earlier, helped by a revenue growth at its automated test equipment (ATE) division.

Earnings per share rose to 2.73 sen from 2.11 sen, the group's filing with Bursa Malaysia showed.

Quarterly revenue jumped 32.88% to a record RM140.08 million, from RM105.42 million in the same quarter last year, with the ATE segment and the factory automation solutions segment constituting 66.3% and 33.7% respectively of the total revenue.

For the cumulative nine-month period, Pentamaster's net profit rose 8.6% to RM53.02 million from RM48.82 million a year earlier, while revenue increased 25.07% to RM385.9 million from RM308.55 million.

Pentamaster expects to end the current financial year commendably with a record full-year revenue, on the back of a healthy order book fuelled by a robust market sentiment in the current "super cycle".

"As the government and global economies lifting the various levels of restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic and with the impending opening up of more cross-border travelling, the group anticipates a smoother progress in its project site installation and deployment at its customers' premises, which is an important milestone for revenue recognition to take place," it said.

Notwithstanding that, Pentamaster said the widely reported semiconductor shortage and supply chain constraints remain a pertinent concern to the global technology market.

"Towards this end, it is imperative for the group to adjust its inventory management strategies as well as project lead time planning with its customers in order to effectively manage the challenging situation.

"As it is, the group has been experiencing order intake momentum where customers across the industry segments are gradually preparing for higher levels of inventory to ensure supply security," it said.

Shares of Pentamaster settled down 0.37% or two sen today at RM5.35, valuing the group at RM3.81 billion.