If you've been tracking India's manufacturing story, you already know electronics is no longer just about phones and laptops.
Everything from cars to home appliances to energy meters now depends on intricate electronic systems, and someone has to assemble those brains and nerves.
That's where EMS, or electronics manufacturing services, comes in.
India's small-cap EMS companies are lean, hungry, and sitting right in the slipstream of rising domestic demand plus the global "China+1" push.
They're not all equal, of course. Some will stay niche suppliers; others could become tomorrow's midcaps.
If you're considering these stocks for 2026, here we list small EMS players with credible growth runways, improving financials, and management that look ready to scale.
Let's dive in...
First on the list is Avalon Technologies, a leading Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) provider with over 25 years of experience, specialising in comprehensive, vertically integrated solutions.
The company excels in high-mix, flexible-volume manufacturing of complex, mission-critical, integrated products that require significant engineering depth and precision.
It has a global delivery dual-shore manufacturing model with facilities in both India and the US, which allows customers flexibility for cost optimisation, proximity to markets, or regulatory alignment.
Coming to its financial performance, the company has delivered a top-line growth of 9% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) over a 3-year period and a net profit CAGR of 9%.
The last 3-year return on equity (ROE) has been 10%.
Looking ahead, Avalon Technologies has upwardly revised its full-year revenue growth guidance for FY26 to 23-25% from an earlier guidance of 18-20%, reflecting confidence in its business outlook.
This growth is expected to be broad-based across industry verticals and geographies. For 1Q FY26, the company already delivered a 62.1% year-on-year (YoY) revenue growth, with both India and US businesses recording a 62% YoY.
The company is confident that operating leverage will become more evident in the second half of FY26 and continue into FY27.
The US manufacturing facility, while previously a drag, is expected to move closer to breakeven or profitability in the next few quarters due to the ramp-up of a key customer, although its margins are not expected to be as high as India's.
Avalon Technologies has made a strategic entry into the semiconductor equipment manufacturing space. This partnership with a leading global semiconductor equipment manufacturer involves producing highly complex, Industry 4.0-compliant box builds.
Prototyping is underway, with production expected to ramp up over the next 4-5 quarters and contribute meaningfully to growth.
The company's net working capital days improved from 161 days in March 2024 to 124 days in March 2025.
Management aims to reduce the net working capital to a 120-130 day range. Inventory days improved to 86 days in FY25 from 118 days in FY24 due to easing supply chain issues and optimisation efforts.
The estimated capex requirement for FY26 is around Rs 450-550 million (m), primarily funded through internal accruals.
For more details, check out Avalon Technologies' financial factsheet.
Second on the list is Centum Electronics, an Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) company that provides high-reliability solutions for mission-critical applications.
Centum operates broadly under three business segments: Engineering R&D (ER&D) Services, which focuses on design; Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS), which handles manufacturing solutions for high-complexity products; and Build-To-Specification (BTS), offering turnkey solutions from concept to mass production.
Coming to its financial performance, the company has delivered a top-line growth of 14% CAGR over a 3-year period and a net profit CAGR of 0%.
The last 3-year ROE has been 0%. But this will likely change in the future.
In terms of revenue and growth trajectory, Centum expects its revenue to grow 18-20% YoY for FY26, a target it aims to sustain as a CAGR over the next three years.
Both the Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) and Build-To-Specification (BTS) segments at the standalone level are projected to achieve a growth rate of 25-28%.
The BTS segment, in particular, is forecasted to see high growth, potentially reaching Rs 4-6 bn in revenue over the next three to four years.
In terms of profitability and margin trajectory, Centum aims for a consolidated operating margin of around 10% for the full year FY26, with an objective to reach 13-15% at a consolidated level within the next two years.
New development orders from DRDO, such as for the Virupaksha Radar, are expected to unlock a significant long-term pipeline, potentially reaching Rs 10 bn and linked to major airborne platform programs like the Sukhoi-30.
The Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) of Rs 2,100 m in 4Q FY25 has significantly improved the company's capital structure and will be used for debt reduction, capital expenditure, and general corporate purposes, enabling profitable scaling of operations and planned capex without relying on incremental debt.
Centum plans a capex of Rs 400 m for FY26 in its standalone business to augment capabilities and capacities.
For more details, check out Centum Electronics' financial factsheet.
On number three comes Epack Durable, established in 2003, is India's leading Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) for room air conditioners (RACs), commanding a 24% market share in the first half of fiscal year 2025.
The company's business began as an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for RAC brands and has strategically expanded its portfolio to encompass small domestic appliances (SDAs), large domestic appliances (LDAs), and a wide range of components.
Its product offerings include room air conditioners, induction cooktops, mixer grinders, water dispensers, air fryers, vacuum cleaners, coffee makers, nutri-blenders, hair dryers, air purifiers, tower fans, infrared cooktops, air coolers, and washing machines.
Coming to its financial performance, the company has delivered a top-line growth of 33% CAGR over a 3-year period and a net profit CAGR of 34%.
The last 3-year ROE has been 7%.
Looking ahead, Epack Durable's management has outlined a robust future strategy, expecting to outpace the overall market growth by leveraging diversification, strategic investments, and enhanced operational efficiencies.
For FY26, the company is targeting an operating margin of 7.5%, with a medium-term ambition to reach nearly 8%.
This margin improvement is largely driven by a more optimised product mix, specifically the substantial growth in higher-margin segments like components and small domestic appliances (SDAs).
The margin improvement is expected to further solidify from FY27 onwards, as the Sri City facility achieves better capacity utilisation, especially from 4Q of FY26.
1Q FY26 witnessed a temporary slowdown, particularly a 34% decline in the room air conditioner (RAC) business due to unseasonal rains and excess industry inventory.
The overall RAC market for FY26 is still anticipated to grow between 10-15%, with a long-term outlook of over 20% CAGR for the AC industry over the next 4-5 years.
The company expects to recover from the recent decline with an early start to the next season's production in 3Q and 4Q.
The company is expanding its manufacturing footprint from four to six plants, aiming for seven units by FY26.
For more information, check out Epack Durable's financial factsheet.
Fourth on the list is DCX Systems, established in 2011, known for its excellence in manufacturing electronic systems, cable and wire harness assemblies, and printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs).
The company operates from a strategically located, state-of-the-art facility in the Hi-Tech Defence and Aerospace Park SEZ in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
DCX's business model is structured around three interconnected pillars: Manufacturing, System Integration, and Other Business Verticals.
In manufacturing, it designs and develops complex cable and wire harnesses, which are high-margin products used in critical systems like surveillance, radar, electronic warfare, and communication.
It has also strategically backwards integrated into Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS), adding horizontal PCBA capabilities through a wholly owned subsidiary, Raneal Advanced Systems, for both captive needs and external markets.
In system integration, DCX provides end-to-end assembly capabilities for defence platforms, maintaining strong relationships with global OEMs, particularly in Israel and the United States, and has expanded its focus to include non-offset projects to improve margins and diversify its customer base.
Coming to its financial performance, the company top-line has declined at a -1% CAGR over 3 years while the net profit CAGR has been -16%.
The last 3-year average ROE has been 8%.
But looking ahead, things seem to be improving for DCX Systems.
As of March 2025, it had a consolidated order book of Rs 28.5 bn, which provides long-term visibility and a strong foundation for revenue momentum over the next 24 months.
This included significant orders from Lockheed Martin Global (Rs 8.4 bn), Larsen & Toubro (Rs 12.5 bn), and Elta Systems, Israel (Rs 4.83 bn for Close-In Weapon System module assemblies), along with over Rs 5 bn from other clients.
The recent introduction of the RoDTEP scheme for SEZs from 1st June, is anticipated to provide a meaningful boost to profitability.
The company is strategically increasing its share of non-offset orders, which now contribute close to 40% of its portfolio, up from 15% a few years ago.
This shift is designed to diversify the customer base, improve pricing flexibility, and enhance margins.
For more information, check out DCX Systems financial factsheet.
Fifth on the list is Elin Electronics.
Elin Electronics is highly backwards integrated, emphasising R&D, emerging technologies, and cost optimisation across its product lines.
Its product portfolio includes LED lighting, fans, and switches, mixer grinders, toasters, irons, hair dryers, air fryers, air coolers, chimneys, OTGs, fractional horsepower (FHP) motors (one of India's largest manufacturers) and other EMS products like medical diagnostic cartridges and molded and sheet metal components.
The company operates multiple manufacturing facilities in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh; Baddi, Himachal Pradesh; and Verna, Goa, with a new plant under construction in Bhiwadi to expand its medium appliance manufacturing capabilities.
Coming to its financial performance, the company has delivered a top-line growth of 3% CAGR over a 3-year period but the net profit CAGR has been -17%.
The last 3-year average ROE has been 4%.
Looking ahead, the management projects an operating income growth of 15-18% over FY25, aiming for a revenue range of Rs 13.5 to Rs 14 bn for the full year FY26.
This growth is anticipated despite an expected degrowth in the Lighting business. The company expects strong growth to pick up from 2Q FY26 itself, noting the seasonal nature of the business where 2Q and 4Q are typically higher revenue quarters.
Looking further ahead, total revenue is projected to be Rs 17.5 bn in FY27, largely driven by the full benefit of its new manufacturing facility.
In terms of margins, the operating margin for FY26 is forecasted to be 6-6.5%. The company's goal is to achieve 7-7.5% operating margins by FY27.
This improvement is expected to be driven by a favourable product mix, enhanced scale, and cost optimisation initiatives.
Specifically, gross margins are anticipated to improve by at least 1% from the historical average of 25% due to a better sales mix (higher contribution from components business) and increased efficiency in procurement.
The company is expanding its manufacturing capabilities with a new facility in Bhiwadi, which commenced construction in July 2025 and is expected to be operational by March or April 2026.
This plant is projected to generate Rs 1.4 bn in revenue in FY27 and Rs 2.5 bn in FY28, with a revenue potential of Rs 5.5-6 bn and a steady-state operating margin of 7-7.5%.
Management also anticipates significant benefits from government policies and regulations, particularly the imposition of BIS and QCO standards across various products over the next two years, which will support local manufacturing.
Capex of Rs 1-1.25 bn is planned for FY26. This is expected to be funded by internal accruals, with no significant long-term debt anticipated.
For more information, check out Elin Electronics' financial factsheet.
The small cap EMS space is no longer just a collection of niche suppliers.
Some of these companies are quietly building scale, expanding into higher-margin segments, and positioning themselves at the centre of India's electronics manufacturing push.
The opportunity is clear, but so are the risks. Balance sheets, working capital discipline, and management execution will separate the winners from the laggards.
So, if you're building a 2026 watchlist, these five names deserve a closer look. Study their numbers, track their order books, and keep an eye on how they deliver against the management's guidance.
The ones that execute well could graduate into the next league of Indian manufacturing.
As always, conduct thorough research on financials and corporate governance before making investment decisions, ensuring they align with your financial goals and risk tolerance.
Happy investing.
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