Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) has upgraded its rating on ViTrox Corp Bhd to "Buy" from "Hold," citing the semiconductor equipment manufacturer's stronger-than-expected second-quarter earnings performance.

The broker's decision reflects growing confidence in ViTrox's ability to capitalize on the expanding artificial intelligence hardware cycle.

The upgrade follows ViTrox's disclosure of a more than threefold increase in net profit for the quarter ended June 30, 2026.

The company attributed the sharp earnings expansion to robust demand for AI-driven semiconductor manufacturing equipment, a segment that has become a primary growth engine for the firm.

HLIB's revised outlook suggests that the tailwinds from AI infrastructure build-outs are translating directly into bottom-line results for specialized equipment providers.

This development underscores the broader shift in the semiconductor supply chain, where demand for advanced packaging and inspection tools is outpacing standard memory components.