인테스트(INTT) 2026년 3분기 실적발표 콘퍼런스콜: 사상 최대 수주 및 2027년 수주잔고
인테스트(inTEST)의 2026년 3분기 매출은 전년 동기 대비 34% 증가한 3,510만 달러를 기록해 경영진 가이던스 상단에 도달했다. 총수주액은 4,940만 달러, 수주잔고는 5,970만 달러로 사상 최고치를 경신했으며, 이 중 약 60%는 2027년에 출하될 것으로 예상된다. 매출총이익률은 47.7%, 순이익은 190만 달러로 개선됐다. 경영진은 4분기 매출을 3,400만~3,600만 달러, 매출총이익률을 약 45%로 전망했으며, 반도체 모멘텀은 2027년 초까지 견조할 것으로 보이나 그 이후의 시장 전개 상황은 불확실할 수 있다고 밝혔다.
핵심 요약
- 2026년 3분기 매출은 전년 동기 대비 34% 증가한 3,510만 달러를 기록해 경영진 가이던스 범위의 상단에 도달했다.
- 수주액은 전년 동기 대비 31% 증가하고 분기 매출을 41% 웃돌며 사상 최대치인 4,940만 달러를 기록했다. 수주잔고는 6월 대비 32% 증가한 5,970만 달러로 사상 최고치를 경신했으며, 이 중 약 60%는 2027년에 출하될 예정이다.
- 후공정 반도체 수주액은 전년 동기의 약 4배에 달하는 2,390만 달러로 사상 최대치를 기록했다. 전체 반도체 수주액은 전 분기 대비 2배 이상 늘어난 2,510만 달러로 집계됐다.
- 매출총이익률은 주로 우호적인 제품 믹스에 힘입어 전 분기 대비 720bp, 전년 동기 대비 580bp 상승한 47.7%로 확대됐다.
- 순이익은 190만 달러(희석 주당순이익 0.15달러)로 개선됐으며, 조정 EBITDA는 440만 달러로 증가해 12.6%의 마진율을 기록했다.
- 경영진은 4분기 매출 가이던스를 3,400만~3,600만 달러, 매출총이익률을 약 45%로 제시했다. 아울러 사상 최대 수주잔고가 2027년의 견조한 출발을 뒷받침할 것이라고 밝혔다.
핵심 재무 데이터
| 지표 | 2026년 3분기 | 변동 / 코멘트 |
|---|---|---|
| 매출 | 3,510만 달러 | 전년 동기 대비 34% 증가, 전 분기 대비 20만 달러 감소 |
| 총수주액 | 4,940만 달러 | 사상 최대치, 전년 동기 대비 31% 증가, 분기 매출 대비 41% 상회 |
| 수주잔고 | 5,970만 달러 | 사상 최대치, 6월 대비 32% 증가, 약 60%는 2027년 출하 예정 |
| 매출총이익 | 1,670만 달러 | 전년 동기 대비 52% 증가 |
| 매출총이익률 | 47.7% | 전 분기 대비 720bp, 전년 동기 대비 580bp 상승 |
| 영업비용 | 1,400만 달러 | 전 분기 대비 10만 달러 증가, 전년 동기 대비 180만 달러 증가 |
| 순이익 | 190만 달러 | 2026년 2분기 50만 달러 및 2025년 3분기 90만 달러 순손실 대비 개선 |
| 희석 EPS | 0.15달러 | 2025년 3분기 0.08달러 순손실 대비 |
| 조정 EPS | 0.18달러 | 2025년 3분기 조정 주당순손실 0.02달러 대비 |
| 조정 EBITDA | 440만 달러 | 전 분기 220만 달러 및 전년 동기 40만 달러 대비 |
| 조정 EBITDA 마진율 | 12.6% | 전 분기 대비 640bp, 전년 동기 대비 1,000bp 이상 상승 |
| 현금 및 현금성 자산 | 2,090만 달러 | 2분기 대비 120만 달러 감소 |
| 잉여현금흐름 | -60만 달러 | 자본적 지출 40만 달러 반영 후 |
| 총차입금 | 550만 달러 | 직전 12개월 조정 EBITDA 대비 레버리지 비율 0.5배 |
| 총유동성 | 약 6,100만 달러 | 현금 및 이용 가능한 차입 한도 4,000만 달러 포함 |
사업 및 운영 실적
반도체 수요가 주요 수주 견인 요인이었다. 전체 반도체 수주액은 2,510만 달러에 달했으며 후공정 테스트가 거의 전액을 차지했다. 경영진은 전력 변환 및 통신 소자 수요에 일부 힘입어 혼성 신호(mixed-signal), 아날로그 및 고전력 소자 고객사들의 생산 능력 증설이 이뤄진 점을 언급했다.
회사 측은 패키징 및 완제품 소자 테스트가 일부 반도체 고객사에게 제약 요인이 되고 있다고 밝혔다. 테스터 리드타임이 길어져 최대 18개월에 이르기도 하면서, 고객사들이 인테스트(inTEST)의 매니퓰레이터, 도킹 하드웨어, 인터페이스를 훨씬 더 일찍 주문하고 있다.
2024년과 2025년의 전기차 성장세 둔화 이후 신모델 출시가 정상 일정으로 복귀하면서 자동차·전기차 수주액은 전 분기 대비 2배 이상 증가한 940만 달러를 기록했다. 한 주요 완성차 업체가 인테스트의 기능 테스트 시스템을 처음으로 발주했으며, 회사는 한 전기차 고객사에 배터리 테스트 시스템 2대를 추가 출하했다.
방위 및 항공우주 수주액은 신규 고객 확보와 유도가열(인덕션 히팅) 시스템 수주가 2개 분기 연속 성장한 데 힘입어 2분기 대비 43% 증가했다. 산업 부문 수주액은 전 분기 대비 9% 증가했으며, 여기에는 제품군 추가 이후 인서킷 테스트 시스템 부문에서 거둔 사상 최대 규모의 산업용 수주가 포함됐다.
경영진은 또한 상업적 기회 발굴, 비용 시너지, 제조 효율성 및 사업부 간 R&D 공유 확대를 목표로 인테스트가 인수한 사업체들을 유기적인 통합 플랫폼으로 운영하기 위해 주력하고 있다.
경영진 가이던스
경영진이 제시한 2026년 4분기 전망은 다음과 같다.
- 매출 3,400만~3,600만 달러
- 매출총이익률 약 45%
- 영업비용 1,420만~1,470만 달러
- 영업비용 내 상각비 50만 달러
이번 전망에는 향후 발생 가능한 인수합병, 구조조정 및 구조조정 관련 비용은 제외됐다. 또한 연말까지 거시경제 환경에 대한 경영진의 시각에 변동이 없다는 가정을 전제로 했다.
경영진은 3분기 제품 믹스가 유난히 우호적이었던 점을 감안할 때 4분기 매출총이익률은 3분기 대비 다소 완만해질 것으로 예상했다. 비용은 인테스트가 공석인 리더십 직책을 충원하고 2027년 계획 수립을 시작함에 따라 소폭 증가할 것으로 예상된다.
회사 측은 사상 최대 수주잔고의 약 60%가 2027년에 출하될 예정이며, 3분기 반도체 수주는 대부분 상반기에 매출로 전환될 것으로 예상된다고 밝혔다. 2027년 연간 가이던스는 4분기 실적과 함께 발표될 예정이다.
리스크 및 주요 관전 포인트
- 공급망 리드타임이 길어지고 있다. 경영진은 현재 비정상적으로 심각한 공급 제약은 나타나지 않고 있으나, 특정 부품에 대한 재고 및 운전자본 투자를 확대할 수 있다고 밝혔다.
- 제품 믹스는 여전히 중요한 수익성 변수다. 일반적으로 전공정 반도체 제품은 후공정 반도체 제품군보다 마진율이 낮다.
- 경영진은 반도체 전공정 회복세가 초기 단계라고 설명하며, 3~4년 전에 기록한 수준으로 회귀하지 못할 수도 있다고 경고했다.
- 세율이 더 높은 관할 지역에서 발생하는 이익 비중이 늘어남에 따라, 2분기에 반영된 일회성 세제 혜택을 포함한 연간 예상 실효세율은 약 20%로 상승했다.
- 반도체 모멘텀은 2027년 초까지 견조할 것으로 보이나, 경영진은 그 이후의 시장 전개 상황은 가늠하기 어렵다고 밝혔다.
애널리스트 질의응답(Q&A) 주요 내용
경영진은 반도체의 지속적인 강세와 자동차·전기차 및 군수 시장의 긍정적인 활동에 힘입어 4분기 수주 믹스가 3분기와 비교적 유사하게 유지될 것으로 전망했다. 4분기로 진입하는 영업 파이프라인(세일즈 퍼널)은 3분기의 기록적인 수주에도 불구하고 3분기 초와 비슷한 수준을 유지했다.
기능 테스트와 관련해 경영진은 자동차·전기차가 여전히 사업의 대부분을 차지하고 있다고 밝혔다. 자동차·전기차 외 부문에서도 초기 수주 성과를 거두긴 했으나 산업용 및 기타 최종 시장으로의 확장은 아직 초기 단계다.
반도체 전공정 분야의 활동성이 개선됐으나 경영진은 이번 회복을 초기 단계로 규정했다. 가동률이 상승하고 있는 반면, 전공정 제품은 다른 장비 제조업체로 납품되는 경우가 많아 마진율이 대체로 후공정 반도체 장비에 미치지 못한다.
방위 및 항공우주 수요는 PCB 테스트용 플라잉 프로브 시스템, 유도가열 장비, 공정용 칠러 및 특정 카메라 제품을 포함한 인테스트의 여러 사업 부문에 걸쳐 나타나고 있다. 서비스 매출은 분기 매출의 14%를 소폭 상회해 회사의 통상적인 수준과 대체로 일치했다.
실적 발표 컨퍼런스콜 전문
전체 실적 발표 컨퍼런스 콜 녹취록
경영진 발표
Operator
Greetings. Welcome to inTEST Corporation's third quarter 2026 Financial Results Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Please note this conference is being recorded. I will now turn the conference over to Sanjay Hurry, Investor Relations. Thank you, and you may begin.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us. With me on the call are Rich Rogoff, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Duncan Gilmour, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.
Our earnings press release was issued this morning, as well as the slides that management will reference during today's call. Both can be found in the Investor Relations section of the intest.com website. Please refer to Slide 2 for a review of the Safe Harbor statement.
During this call, management may make some forward-looking statements about their current plans, beliefs, and expectations. These statements apply to future events that are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is stated here today. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors are detailed in the earnings press release, as well as in other documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These documents can be found on the inTEST website or on SEC.gov.
Also, as covered on Slide 3, management will refer to some non-GAAP financial measures. We believe these will be useful in evaluating the company's performance. However, you should not consider the presentation of this additional information in isolation or as a substitute for results prepared in accordance with GAAP. You can find reconciliations of non-GAAP measures with comparable GAAP measures in the tables that accompany today's release and slides.
With that said, I will now turn the call over to our first speaker, Rich Rogoff, President and CEO. Please go ahead, Rich.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you, Sanjay. Good morning, everyone. On today's call, I will review our third quarter performance, including the record orders we pre-announced on October 5. Duncan will then take you through the financial results and our outlook for the fourth quarter. I will come back to discuss how we are positioning inTEST for 2027 before we open the call to questions.
To begin with, the semiconductor demand we told you to expect arrived in the third quarter. Let me frame our performance around 2 points.
First, demand is here and it extends into 2027. Orders were a record at $49.4 million, exceeding our revenue by 41%, and up 31% from a year ago. The driver was a record $23.9 million in back-end semiconductor orders, nearly 4x the level of a year ago. Non-semi orders of $24.3 million rose 44% from the second quarter. Year over year, they were lower than a strong prior year quarter that was driven by auto EV. Backlog at quarter end was also a record at $59.7 million, up 32% since June, and approximately 60% of it is expected to ship in 2027.
Second, we continue to grow. Revenue of $35.1 million came in at the high end of our guidance range, up 34% from $26.2 million a year ago. This was our third consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth above 25%. Gross margin of 47.7% was above our guidance and driven by favorable mix.
Turning to Slide 5, total semi orders were $25.1 million, representing about half of the quarter's total orders and more than double the Q2 level. Back-end tests accounted for almost all the semi orders. Customers in the mixed signal, analog, and high-power device markets are adding back-end test capacity, fueled in part by the demand for power conversion and communications devices. Our newer products played a meaningful role in capturing those orders.
What semi customers tell us is that the constraint has moved from building wafers to packaging and testing finished devices fast enough. Every tester they add needs a manipulator, docking hardware, and interface. Beyond total orders, the quarter showed the breadth of our semi momentum. We grew with existing customers and added new ones. We were selected for new test sites at existing customers, received the first order from a customer that had not purchased from us in a decade, added a data storage customer serving the data center market, and received an order for our high-voltage interface hardware, ordered for a customer's evaluation of a new silicon carbide wafer test platform.
Customers are also ordering further ahead of need than they used to. Testers often carry lead times of 18 months, so customers are placing orders for our accompanying equipment well ahead of the delivery. This gives us better visibility than we typically have.
Outside of semi, auto EV orders of $9.4 million more than doubled Q2's level as new model releases get back to a normal schedule after a slowdown in the EV momentum from 2024 through 2025. Year-over-year auto EV orders were lower against an exceptionally strong third quarter of 2025. However, we view this sequential improvement as encouraging.
In Q3, a major automaker placed its first order for our functional test systems, which will be used to test power management systems. We also received repeat orders from existing functional test customers and shipped 2 more battery test systems to an EV customer.
In defense aerospace, orders grew 43% compared to Q2. We added new aerospace and defense customers, and orders for induction heating systems from this market rose for a second consecutive quarter.
In industrials, orders were up 9% sequentially. A customer placed the largest industrial order we have received for our in-circuit test systems since adding this product line to our portfolio.
Here's what this means for the next several quarters. First, stronger orders give us an improved visibility over the next 2 to 3 quarters. Second, the sales funnels refilled. Even after capturing record orders in Q3, our funnel as we entered Q4 was roughly comparable to the start of Q3. Our opportunity set is intact, giving us confidence and continued order momentum in Q4.
Third, technology wins are opening new doors. As customers and new end markets wrestle with how to design, test, and deliver high-power and energy conversion products, it increasingly means we get the call for our solutions to their toughest challenges. We are excited to see our technologies and expertise in handling heat become more critically valued in so many new applications. Today's engagement on customers' toughest challenges becomes tomorrow's funnel opportunity and, in time, tomorrow's orders.
Together, these factors position us to close 2026 at the high end of our revenue guidance and gives us a solid start to 2027.
One note on our supply chain. As we noted on our release, lead times are expanding. Our supply chain and engineering teams are adapting accordingly and are managing the situation.
With that, I will turn it over to Duncan. Duncan?
Duncan Gilmour
Thank you, Rich. Starting on Slide 6, on a sequential basis, revenue in Q3 was essentially flat, down $0.2 million from $35.3 million in Q2 to $35.1 million. Higher defense aerospace, semi, industrial, and other revenue largely offset a $6.8 million decline in auto EV following Q2's shipment of high-revenue, lower-margin auto EV projects from backlog. Defense aerospace increased $3.6 million, semi increased $2.5 million, industrial contributed $0.8 million, and other contributed $0.7 million. Partially offsetting these gains, in addition to the auto EV decline, was a $0.8 million decrease in life sciences.
Compared to Q3 2025, revenue increased $8.8 million or 34% from $26.2 million. The net increase was driven by defense aerospace, which more than tripled on higher program activity, together with growth in auto EV, semi, and industrial. Together, these 4 markets contributed $9.9 million of growth, which more than absorbed declines in life sciences and safety security.
Turning to Slide 7, Q3 gross profit was $16.7 million, up 52% year over year, and gross margin was 47.7%. Sequentially, gross margin expanded by 720 basis points from 40.5%, reflecting a large positive shift in product mix. Compared with the prior year period, gross margin increased 580 basis points from 41.9%, reflecting the same positive shift in mix.
Moving on to Slide 8, operating expenses for the third quarter were $14 million, up $0.1 million sequentially, as higher general administrative expenses were largely offset by lower amortization of intangibles. On a year-over-year basis, we generated $8.8 million of incremental revenue while absorbing only $1.8 million of incremental operating expenses. This reduced operating expenses as a percentage of revenue to 39.9% from 46.4% in the prior year period.
The $1.8 million or 14.8% increase reflects higher selling, general administrative, and engineering expenses, primarily higher payroll and payroll-related costs and higher commissions associated with higher volume, partially offset by lower amortization and restructuring costs.
Slides 9 and 10 collectively measure our profitability. On Slide 9, net margin expanded by 400 basis points sequentially and 890 basis points year over year to 5.3%. And adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 640 basis points sequentially and over 1,000 basis points year over year to 12.6%.
For Q3, net earnings were $1.9 million compared with $0.5 million in the second quarter and a net loss of $0.9 million in Q3 2025. Adjusted EBITDA was $4.4 million, up from $2.2 million in the second quarter and $0.4 million in Q3 2025.
On Slide 10, net earnings were $0.15 per diluted share compared with a net loss of $0.08 per diluted share in the prior year period. Adjusted EPS, which adds back tax-affected acquired intangible amortization and restructuring charges, was $0.18 per diluted share, compared with an adjusted net loss of $0.02 per diluted share in Q3 2025.
One item to note, since it affected per share results this quarter, is on the tax line. Our effective tax rate in Q3 was approximately 30%. This brings our year-to-date tax rate up to an increased expected full-year rate of approximately 20%, including the discrete benefit recorded in Q2. The higher expected rate is driven by a higher proportion of profitability being generated in our higher-tax jurisdictions.
Slide 11 shows our capital structure and cash flow. We ended Q3 with cash and cash equivalents of $20.9 million, a decline of $1.2 million from the end of Q2. Operating activities used $0.3 million of cash in the quarter. Net earnings and non-cash charges contributed approximately $4.4 million, which was more than offset by a $3.6 million increase in accounts receivable and a $1 million reduction in customer deposits and deferred revenue.
After $0.4 million of capital expenditures, free cash flow was negative $0.6 million. We also reduced the term debt by $1 million during the quarter.
At September 30, 2026, we had approximately $61 million in total liquidity, including $20.9 million of cash and equivalents and $40 million of available borrowing capacity, consisting of $30 million under our delayed draw term loan facility and the full $10 million under our undrawn revolving credit facility.
On August 14, we amended the facility to extend our ability to draw on the term note through August 28, 2028. Total debt was $5.5 million and our leverage ratio was 0.5x trailing 12-month adjusted EBITDA. We were in compliance with all covenants at quarter end.
Turning to Slide 12 and our financial guidance. Q3 came in at or better than our August guidance on revenue, gross margin, and operating expenses. Our Q4 guidance maintains that steady incremental progression with 2 factors to keep in mind. First, Q3's product mix was particularly favorable. Second, we expect some modest expense increases in Q4 as well as we fill open leadership positions and start planning for 2027.
Looking beyond Q4, we are positioned for a solid start to 2027. Our record backlog, roughly 60% of which ships in 2027, together with Q3 semiconductor orders converting largely in the first half, supports that outlook. We will provide full-year 2027 guidance with our fourth quarter results, as is our practice.
For Q4, we project revenue of $34 million to $36 million, gross margin of approximately 45%, operating expenses of $14.2 million to $14.7 million, and within operating expenses, amortization of $0.5 million.
This guidance excludes any potential acquisitions and restructuring and restructuring-related costs and assumes our view of macroeconomic conditions remains unchanged through the end of the year.
One housekeeping note, after the market closes today, we intend to file our Form 10-Q. We will also file a Form S-3 to refresh our existing shelf registration before it expires.
Now, if you turn to Slide 13, I will turn the call back over to Rich. Rich?
Unknown Speaker
Yes. Thanks, Duncan. Before we open the call to questions, I want to walk you through how electronification connects our end markets, how it is shaping our R&D and our new product priorities, and how it is creating new opportunities for inTEST.
Electronification is making customer testing more complex and essential, which is increasing demand for our solutions. Our portfolio is positioned well to meet these changing needs.
In semi, our advanced manipulators and high-power chillers address customers' growing power and thermal and testing requirements. The same trend is reshaping our flying probe business. These systems were originally built to check circuit board continuity and perform basic probing, but now they must meet more demanding test requirements as customers add electronics to their products. Battery testing is a clear example as it requires longer, more complex routines than flying probe systems have traditionally run.
We are expanding these systems from single-purpose testers into broader test platforms. Each new application adds test content per system, increasing the value for both the customers and to inTEST.
Our functional test systems are following a similar path. First developed for auto EV, they now also serve other end markets. Our teams are also working more closely to win customers. As an example, in Q3, an industrial customer for an in-circuit test system placed a separate order for one of our functional test systems.
In European markets where new regulations are restricting the usage of certain refrigerants, we will launch a first-of-a-kind new product next week that conforms to the new legislation that we believe equals or exceeds the performance of its predecessor.
Collaboration like this helps us grow revenue, but that's only half the job. The other half is making sure more of that growth reaches the bottom line consistently and through the cycle.
On my first call as CEO, I stated I would develop an operational plan for inTEST and share it with you. In our Q2 call, I outlined where I was focused and that work is well underway.
Over the past 2 quarters, I have examined the business through 5 lenses: our product levers that drive profitability, including product cost, mix, and supply chain; how efficiently we deploy our operating expenses; how we optimize our manufacturing footprint; how we can share R&D more effectively across our divisions.
Over that time, I have visited our facilities, met with our teams, and worked with my direct reports to develop detailed actions.
inTEST has grown through acquisitions, and our businesses have largely been run and managed separately. inTEST's next phase is to operate our business as a coordinated platform, capturing commercial opportunities, cost synergies, and a sharing of ideas.
To help execute this plan, Scott Taylor joined inTEST on October 1 as Vice President and General Manager of ITS, reporting to me. Scott brings more than 20 years of multi-site P&L responsibility, including leading North American operations of a thermal management manufacturer and a deep background in lean manufacturing and operational excellence. He will help ensure we deliver on the plan.
The plan is as much about where we direct our dollars as it is about where we take them out. As we plan for 2027, we will put our spending where it earns the best return. In our operations, that means continued efficiency gains. In our product, it means a disciplined engineering spend because the demands our customers are bringing us, such as the test applications I described a moment ago, make that the best investment inTEST can make.
To summarize, as we see it today, we are entering 2027 with a promising momentum and with our operational plan aimed squarely at profitability, efficiency, and inTEST's long-term success.
With that, operator, please open the call to questions.
Operator
[Operator Instructions] Our first question is from Max Michaelis with Lake Street Capital Markets. Please proceed.
질의응답
Maxwell Michaelis
Hey guys, congrats on the quarter. First one for me, if we look at the Q3 order book, obviously really solid. Sounds like that funnel's filled back up for Q4. I assume semi's a big part of that, but I'll let you answer it for me. Is the mix going to be relatively similar in terms of order or the order book for Q4 as we saw in Q3?
Unknown Speaker
Yes, thanks Max. Good to speak with you. Certainly semi is maintaining strength, but as noted, we're pretty positive about the activities in the other markets like auto EV and military as well.
Duncan Gilmour
Right. So I would just add Max, in terms of the mix, similar mix. Our guide does take margin down a little bit, as you probably saw. So we do see some small shifts to drive that, but certainly relatively positive mix there.
Maxwell Michaelis
Versus the way we were, for example, in Q2? Yes, and the Q4 gross margin guide makes sense. I mean, just given your commentary around Q3 orders from semi largely converting in Q3, first half of '27, but I'm curious to know, a lot of these guys are ordering ahead of time. I mean, conversations you're having with your customers going into 2027 is, what we saw in Q3 and Q4, was that largely pull-forwards from these customers, or do you expect to see that order book continue to see solid strength heading into the first few quarters of 2027?
Unknown Speaker
Certainly, we'll guide to 2027 later, but the momentum seems pretty strong right now. I think it's hard to tell what the market's going to do, but we do see strength in semi for sure, seemingly to go into the early part of 2027 at least.
Maxwell Michaelis
All right, guys. Thanks for taking my questions.
Operator
Our next question is from Ted Jackson with Northland Securities. Please proceed.
Edward Jackson
Again, congrats on the quarter. It's nice to see everything turning and business humming. So I want to touch base on supply chain. You know you've made a comment with regards to increased lead times. It's not the first company I've listened to this cycle make those types of observations. And so I guess what I wanted to dig into on this was, where are those pinch points? What kind of materials? How should we think about that? As we think about your working capital, really kind of, let's call it the coming 6, 12 months or whatever you want to put to it. I mean, I'd assume a lot of companies are actually taking inventory up relative to kind of historic norms because of these kind of issues and just kind of building more of a buffer. Is any of that kind of effort being driven by your customer base? That's kind of my first topic.
Duncan Gilmour
Yes, let me take that, Ted. So I don't think we're seeing any unusual supply chain challenges with large bumps in demand that we're obviously seeing. There's going to be some, and there certainly are bits and pieces, as we would typically expect. But that's part and parcel of managing the ups and downs of the business.
So nothing that we can't... We do manage it in some cases a little bit more investment in working capital and inventory, depending on the pieces and parts, but there's nothing out of the ordinary today. There's always battles, but nothing particularly unusual that we're highlighting.
Edward Jackson
And then, I almost said it was in my head, now I just went back out. Let's talk about Alfamation. You commented on this a little bit in the past that you had an air pocket with sort of the restructuring, if you would, of vehicle manufacturing and the shift off of EVs and reposition themselves and you're now starting to see some strength in there and you also have talked about your efforts to and success in extending the markets that some of those solutions go beyond auto and EV.
When you look into the opportunity funnel in front of you and maybe even the orders that you booked in the third quarter, can you provide some color with regards to the mix between auto EV and other markets and kind of how that's changed in the last 12 months?
Unknown Speaker
Yes, sure, Ted. So I would say generally, the majority is still in the auto EV space. That's certainly their strength. And as that market seems to be settling back into its normal cycles, we're seeing our continued strength in there, but as we mentioned, we had industrial customers and some other customers outside of the space looking at our functional test systems.
We've had some continued wins. I would say it's early phase of growing that market. It's building our name in that market and growing for the products and getting some of those wins that will drive the future of the growth in those spaces.
Edward Jackson
Okay, and then my last question, I just wanted to touch over on semi, on the front end. You know, the back end turn, you're feeling really good about where you stand. You had good order momentum in this quarter. You think it's going to continue at least into the first half of 2027. You know, those cycles can be 12, 18 months long. So you've got a good runway there.
What's going on on the front-end side? What are you seeing in terms of activity, pipeline opportunity, sort of the next leg, if you would, that might lift that segment higher as much?
Unknown Speaker
Yes, I think, as we've mentioned before, there's some signs of life activity growing in that space. I would say it's maybe a bit more active than it was a month ago when we pre-announced our orders. But it's still early stages in my opinion.
I think as we go forward, we're certainly hoping that that market comes back again. I'll caution, I don't think it's going to come back to what it did 3 or 4 years ago. But the capacity seems to be being utilized, and that's a good sign. The activity level is certainly picking up, and we're going to stay on top of that.
Edward Jackson
And then is that a margin structure similar to the back end or how would you compare it?
Duncan Gilmour
Yes, margin-wise, it's typically not quite as good. Those product lines, quite often we're selling to other manufacturers of equipment. So generally, the margins aren't quite as high as the back-end semi space that we've touted as being generally our highest margin product lines.
Edward Jackson
Okay. All right. Hey, thanks for taking the questions. Congrats. Thanks, Duncan.
Operator
[Operator Instructions] Our next question is from Dick Ryan with Oak Ridge Financial. Please proceed.
Richard Ryan
Thank you. Say, Rich, question on the defense side. In the slide deck, you said the induction heating had 2 quarters now of business there. How are your divisions hitting the defense cycle, or the defense industry? I mean, it's good to see that Embraer is participating in that, but how else are you hitting the defense side?
Unknown Speaker
It's a good question, Dick, thanks. Many of our businesses, I would say almost all of them, with the exception of maybe our EMS business, which is, you know, almost exclusively semi, all participate in the defense cycle to some degree with varying, you know, mostly with the prime contractors. We don't directly go to the government very often, but usually through the big prime contractors.
Duncan Gilmour
Yes, I mean, I can add a little bit as well. We do sell across our business units there, Dick. The in-circuit flying probe testers are used for PCB type testing across a number of primes and so forth. The induction heating equipment we reference in manufacturing processes. The environmental business with process chillers, for example, does some significant business with, again, a number of the larger primes. And Videology as well. Some of the cameras, we have some small lines there that are also going into that space. So it really cuts across the business.
Richard Ryan
That's good to see. One of the goals, obviously, say, Duncan, on the service side, I don't know if I caught what service represented in the quarter. What's your thoughts on that?
Duncan Gilmour
Yes, service is running just over 14%, which is a fairly typical number for us. You know, that percentage drops sometimes as revenues increase. The dollar is fairly stable, but we've been running reasonably stable numbers there in our service business.
Richard Ryan
Okay, thank you and congratulations on the quarter.
Duncan Gilmour
Thanks.
Operator
There are no further questions at this time. I would like to turn the conference back over to Rich for closing remarks.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you, operator, and thank you all for joining us. Demand has arrived. It is in our expanding backlog, and we are executing on our operational plan to convert it consistently.
Please reach out to our Investor Relations team to coordinate our continued dialogue. On Slide 14, please note the details regarding the replay of this call, as well as our upcoming investor event schedule. We hope to see you at one of the conferences we will be attending.
Thank you again for participating today, and have a great day.
Operator
Thank you. This concludes today's conference. Thank you for participating. You may disconnect at this time.
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