The tech sector offers investors a chance to get in on a fast-growing market.
Here are three companies that are worth watching…
Integrated Research Limited (ASX: IRI)
The Integrated Research Limited share price has gained about 70% over the past year to close on Tuesday at $3.85.
Integrated Research provides "management solutions for critical IT infrastructure, payments and communications ecosystems" and operates in Australia, Europe, Asia and the United States.
It has banks, airlines and telecommunications companies on its client list.
The company, with a market cap of about $660 million, reported a net profit after tax of $18.5 million, up 16% on the company's financial year (FY) 2016 net profit of $16 million.
Integrated Research also ended FY17 with $14.1 million in cash and no debt and provided a return on assets of about 20%, outperforming the sector.
Senetas Corporation Limited (ASX: SEN)
Senetas Corporation Limited designs, develops and manufactures data encryption hardware which is aimed at protecting sensitive data networks.
The Melbourne-based company, with a market value of about $108 million, also has a presence in Europe, Asia and the United States and counts government agencies among its clients.
The company's share price took a beating earlier this year when it dropped from 19 cents in late January to 10.5 cents in February as it lowered its profit guidance.
For FY17, Senetas reported a net profit before tax of $5.26 million, within a previously announced guidance range.
The Senetas share price closed on Tuesday at 10 cents.
Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN)
The Brainchip Holdings Ltd share price has dived in the past month, dropping from 24.5 cents to close on Tuesday at 18.5 cents, as the company sought to raise $21.5 million in capital.
Brainchip raised the funds through a placement which comprised of almost 120 million shares, about 12% of its post placement share issue which sits at nearly 970 million.
Brainchip, intent on cracking the artificial intelligence market, develops software to be used in self-driving cars and provides software and hardware solutions that cater for civil surveillance, gaming, facial recognition and visual inspection systems.
