
HSS Engineers bullish about FY2025, beyond due to projects diversification
KUALA LUMPUR: HSS Engineers Bhd remains optimistic about its growth outlook for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2025 (FY25) and beyond, as it ramps up efforts to expand and diversify its project portfolio across various sectors and international markets.
HSS Engineers said it had increased its involvement in emerging, high-growth industries to widen its sectoral reach, while continuing to maintain a strong foothold in its core infrastructure areas including highways, roads, rail, ports and water systems.
It also highlighted the rapid growth of the data centre industry, projecting continued momentum in this space, driven by supportive government policies and strong foreign investment.
"Concurrently, the group's tech-based subsidiary HSS Propick Technologies Sdn Bhd (HSS Propick), a provider of artificial intelligence (AI) powered drone solutions, is undertaking an expansive telco tower digitalisation project for one of Southeast Asia's largest telco tower companies.
"HSS Propick encapsulates the group's focus on innovation, harnessing its deep-rooted engineering expertise to deliver AI-powered infrastructure solutions," it added.
HSS Enegineers said it is poised to play a key role in Sarawak's fast-paced industrialisation, with its local associate company HSS Alliance (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, nearing substantial growth as it positions itself as a trusted one-stop engineering partner for the state's large-scale infrastructure transformation.
HSS Engineers executive vice chairman Tan Sri Ir. Kuna Sittampalam said it had demonstrated agility by adapting its business model to meet the rapidly evolving engineering needs of various industries.
"Building on our success in AI-powered drone solutions to data centres and solar power generation, we are rapidly expanding our capabilities to take a leading role in emerging industries that are set to reshape the region.
"Our timely diversification strategy will pave the way for sustainable growth and long-term value creation," he said.
During the annual general meeting, Kuna reaffirmed that the company's robust RM2.1 billion order book will ensure earnings visibility for the next eight years, reinforcing the momentum gained from its record-high net profit of RM25.2 million in the financial year ended 31 December 2024 (FY2024).
The order book comprises major projects such as the Pan Borneo Highway Sabah Phase 1A, Westport 2 Expansion Development, Klang Valley Double Tracking (KVDT) Phase 2, East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), Jajaran Rel Selangor Kita, as well as numerous water infrastructure and data centre developments across Malaysia, along with several international projects.
It continues to maintain a solid tender book worth RM475 million as it actively seeks new opportunities both locally and overseas.
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New Straits Times
4 days ago
- New Straits Times
HSS Engineers: Stacked with jobs, starved of returns
KUALA LUMPUR: At first glance, HSS Engineers Bhd appears to be a gem among Bursa Malaysia's small-cap infrastructure players. With major projects under its belt including Malaysia's MRT3 and the ambitious Baghdad Metro in Iraq, the company seems to stand at the crossroads of growth and regional expansion. But take a closer look, and the shine begins to fade, market observers said. Despite a solid order book and some impressive contract wins, HSS Engineers' shares have quietly lost over one-third of their value in 2025. The observers said the reasons are more structural than cyclical, prompting serious doubts about the investment-worthiness of HSS in its current configuration. Strong Projects, Weak Profits HSS Engineers has never had a problem winning jobs. The challenge has always been turning those jobs into meaningful and sustainable profits. In the first quarter of its financial year 2025, the company reported a 64 per cent drop in net profit despite higher revenue. Margins were squeezed to just about three per cent, down from some 7.0-9.0 per cent in previous years. Cost inflation, new hires and teething issues from overseas projects all contributed, but the bigger issue is clear: growth is not translating into shareholder returns. The Baghdad Mirage When HSS Engineers announced its RM1.5 billion contract to oversee Iraq's Baghdad Metro, investors cheered. The share price rallied. It looked like the company had finally broken into big-league regional infrastructure. But nearly a year later, reality has hit. Only a fraction of that revenue has been recognised, and progress is slower than expected. As investors wait for billings to ramp up, HSS Engineers is bleeding cash on early-stage project costs. Worse, Iraq brings serious geopolitical and payment risks - risks that small Malaysian engineering firms may not be fully equipped to navigate. Overdependence on Government Projects HSS Engineers' bread and butter lies in public-sector infrastructure - railways, highways and water projects. The observers said while this provides a steady pipeline, it also leaves the company exposed to the whims of politics. MRT3, for instance, has seen delays and policy back-and-forth. "A change in government priorities or funding cutbacks could mean stalled payments or suspended jobs. That's not a great setup for consistent earnings," they said. Low Dividend, Thin Liquidity The observers said for retail investors seeking passive income, HSS Engineers offers little: its dividend yield is just 1.4 per cent, and it pays once a year. For institutional investors, the stock lacks liquidity. Daily trading volumes are modest, and even moderate selling can move the price. It's a classic case of small-cap vulnerability - long on ambition, short on financial resilience. Communicaton Gap In a volatile market, the observers said, clarity of direction matters more than ever. Investors are not just buying current performance - they're buying the promise of what's to come. Unfortunately, this is where HSS Engineers has fallen short. While the company has outlined its "HSS 2.0" roadmap to diversify into renewable energy, data centres and other future-facing sectors, the messaging around this strategy has been vague. On June 11, at a press conference, HSS Engineers made a notable announcement: it's bidding for four data centre projects, highlighting its ambition to expand in the high-growth digital infrastructure space. The company also reaffirned that its robust RM2.1 billion order book will ensure earnings visibility for the next eight years. This would reinforce the momentum gained from its record-high net profit of RM25.2 million in the financial year ended Dec 31 2024, it added. Still, the data centre bids in particular show intent more than substance, the observerd said. "The market has yet to see concrete follow-through - no specific projects have been awarded, timelines are vague and there's no clarity on expected margins or revenue recognition." Until these data centre wins turn into billable, profitable work, they remain another line item in a long list of aspirational projects, much like the Baghdad Metro before it. Strategy without execution means margins stay under pressure. Press conferences are a start, but the company needs specific, data-backed updates, the observers said. "For instance, 'Data Centre A awarded by Q3, with expected XXX profit by year end' to reassure investors and inspire confidence," they added. The observers said the lack of clarity might have been mitigated by strong shareholder communication, a proactive effort to engage investors, explain strategy and build trust. HSS Engineers' communication with the investment community has been sporadic and reactive, rather than strategic and forward-looking. Without consistent engagement, even good stories get lost and undervalued.


The Sun
11-06-2025
- The Sun
HEB Group to speed up diversification to drive sustainable growth
KUALA LUMPUR: Engineering and project management consultant HSS Engineers Bhd (HEB Group) is looking to accelerate diversification and drive sustainable growth in the financial year ending Dec 31, 2025 (FY25) and beyond. HEB Group has strategically deepened its involvement in emerging high-growth sectors to broaden its sectoral coverage, while maintaining an entrenched presence in its core infrastructure domains of highways, roads, rail, ports and water infrastructure. With the rapid expansion of the data centre industry, the group anticipates sustained growth in this sector, supported by favourable government policies and robust foreign investment. HEB Group's substantial RM2.1 billion order book will provide earnings visibility over the next eight years, building upon the momentum created by the record-high net profit of RM25.2 million achieved in FY24. The order book includes key projects such as the Pan Borneo Highway Sabah Phase 1A, Westports Expansion Development, Klang Valley Double Tracking Phase 2, East Coast Rail Link, Jajaran Rel Selangor Kita, multiple water infrastructure and data centre projects in Malaysia, in addition to several overseas projects. The group also has a healthy tender book of RM475 million as it proactively pursues new opportunities in Malaysia and abroad. 'HEB Group has demonstrated agility by adapting its business model to meet the rapidly evolving engineering needs of various industries,' executive vice-chairman Tan Sri Kuna Sittampalam said after HEB Group's annual general meeting today. 'We are rapidly expanding our capabilities to take a leading role in emerging industries that are set to reshape the region.' Kuna said the group's timely diversification strategy will pave the way for sustainable growth and long-term value creation. Concurrently, HEB Group remains steadfast in its role of supporting governments, both at home and abroad, in implementing strategic infrastructure projects to stimulate economic growth and elevate living standards. As for its international operations, HEB Group is well on its way to achieving its target of deriving 25% of revenue from overseas projects by 2027. Overseas projects contributed 18.8% of revenue as at March 31, supported by numerous contracts wins in developing countries across Asia. Kuna said the group is associated with nine countries for projects and that a project in Iraq is providing value-accretive yields with RM1.5 billion in fees. 'However, I expect our Southeast Asian partners like Indonesia and the Philippines will start to contribute more to the company over the next two to three years.' At the AGM, shareholders approved all the resolutions tabled by the group, including the payment of a final single-tier dividend of 1.46 sen per share for FY24. The dividend payout of RM7.4 million represents about 30% of the HEB Group's net profit last year, and is in line with its dividend policy, which targets 30% distribution of annual net profit to shareholders.


The Star
11-06-2025
- The Star
HSS Engineers bids for four data centres, eyes global growth
HSS Engineering Behad Excutive Vice Chairman Tan Sri Ir. Kuna Sittampalam spekas during press confences at Sime Darby Conventio Centre (6/6/202). —AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: HSS Engineers Bhd is bidding for four data centre-related projects as part of a broader push for global growth. The projects include Sime Darby Data Centre Phase 2, Infinaxis Phase 2, Princeton Digital Group, and NTT Global Data Centres. Its group general manager, Anand Sharvanandan, said the company is also exploring new opportunities in Indonesia. "We have already completed two data centre projects in Johor - one in Sedenak and another for Yondr's Yellowwood Phase 1,' he told reporters at a press conference following the company's annual general meeting. Anand said the company has also just completed the first phase of K2 Strategic Infrastructure Malaysia Sdn Bhd's project and was recently appointed for Phase 2, with the team mobilised in March. "In addition, we are involved in several ongoing projects, including facilities in Kempas, Johor; Bagan Datuk, Perak; and Yellowwood Phase 2. "We are also working on two new data centres in Cyberjaya, Infinaxis and Basis Bay,' he said. The group's current order book for data centres stands at approximately RM70 million, with a tender book of around RM30 million. Meanwhile, HSS Engineers executive vice chairman Tan Sri Kuna Sittampalam said the group remains confident of maintaining strong growth in the financial year ending Dec 31, 2025 (FY2025) and beyond, as it expands and diversifies across multiple sectors and international markets. He added that the group's RM2.1 billion order book provides earnings visibility for the next eight years, building on momentum from a record-high net profit of RM25.2 million in FY2024. Key projects within the order book include the Pan Borneo Highway Sabah Phase 1A, Westport 2 Expansion Development, Klang Valley Double Tracking Phase 2, East Coast Rail Link, Jajaran Rel Selangor Kita, various water infrastructure developments, and data centre projects in Malaysia and abroad. He said the group maintains a healthy tender book of RM475 million and continues to pursue new contracts domestically and overseas. "We have secured RM65 million in contract wins year to date. "The group's overall order book currently stands at RM2.07 billion. FY2025 looks promising for us, both domestically and internationally, with several opportunities showing strong potential,' he said. On international operations, he said the group is on track to meet its target of deriving 25 per cent of revenue from overseas projects by 2027. "In Indonesia, we have acquired a 12 per cent stake in PT Oriental Indonesia, establishing a strategic foothold in the market,' he said. In Iraq, Kuna said the group is currently working on the Baghdad Metro contract - a seven-line, US$17.5 billion project. "We are in a 50:50 joint venture, with total fees amounting to RM1.5 billion (US$1 = RM4.23). "We are also in the final stages of contract negotiations for project management consultancy for the Najaf-Karbala high-speed rail (HSR), which will connect the two cities. If secured, the Najaf-Karbala contract would be worth US$100 million, also under a 50:50 arrangement,' he said. As of March 31, 2025, overseas projects contributed 18.8 per cent of the group's revenue, underpinned by multiple contract wins in developing Asian markets, he added. - Bernama