SEVEN Philippine companies earned spots on Forbes Asia’s 2026 Best Under A Billion list, which recognizes the top-performing small and midsized listed firms across the Asia-Pacific region.
Included in this year’s roster were A. Soriano Corp., Apex Mining Co. Inc., Asia United Bank, Far Eastern University, Pryce Corp., STI Education Systems Holdings Inc., and Vivant Corp.
The annual Best Under A Billion list recognizes 200 publicly listed companies in the region with annual sales of more than $10 million but less than $1 billion.
“The small and midsized companies appearing on this year’s Forbes Asia’s Best Under A Billion list are successfully navigating the challenges of geopolitical tensions and volatile energy markets,” Forbes Asia said in a statement announcing the list.
It added that many of the companies were benefiting from growth in artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicles and renewable energy.
Among the Philippine firms, Asia United Bank posted the highest annual sales at $505 million and the highest net income at $221 million.
Apex Mining and Asia United Bank had the largest market values among the local companies recognized, at $1 billion each.
Pryce Corp. reported annual sales of $370 million and net income of $65 million, while A. Soriano posted sales of $256 million and earnings of $95 million.
Vivant generated $177 million in sales and $47 million in net income.
Meanwhile, Far Eastern University recorded $100 million in annual sales and $36 million in net income, while STI Education Systems Holdings posted $97 million in sales and $38 million in earnings.
This year’s list was selected from a universe of more than 19,000 listed companies using a composite score based on debt, sales growth, earnings-per-share growth over the most recent one- and three-year periods, and one- and five-year average returns on equity.
China accounted for the largest number of companies with 28, followed by India with 27. Malaysia more than doubled its representation to 19 companies while 60 firms returned from last year’s edition.
Launched in 2002, the Best Under A Billion list has previously featured companies that later grew into some of Asia’s largest corporations, including Alibaba, Tencent, Baidu, Infosys, Wipro and Geely Automobile.
Philippine fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. is also among the list’s notable alumni.
