FEU, PBCom, SSI Group land on Forbes Asia's 'Best Under A Billion' 2024 List

Three Filipino firms were listed on Forbes Asia’s "Best Under A Billion" list for 2024, which recognizes the 200 top-performing small and midsized listed firms in the Asia Pacific that posted annual sales below $1 billion.

According to Forbes, the 200 companies were chosen from over 20,000 publicly traded companies in the region with annual sales over $10 million and lower than $1 billion, based on a composite score covering debt, sales and earnings-per-share growth, and return on equity.

It also applied qualitative screens and excluded state-controlled firms, those with serious governance issues, questionable accounting practices, environmental concerns, management problems, or legal troubles in recent years.

Among the listees is Far Eastern University Inc., a private non-sectarian learning institution with $88 million in revenues that offers courses under the Institute of Accounts, Business and Finance; Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts; Institute of Arts and Sciences; Institute of Education; Institute of Nursing; and Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management.

Also listed is the Philippine Bank of Communications, which is engaged in commercial banking with deposit products, credit and loan facilities, trade-related services, treasury and foreign exchange trading, cash management, and trust and investment management services, among others. Revenues were reported at $163 million.

Tantoco-led upscale retailer SSI Group Inc. was also included in the list with $489 million in revenues. It represents brands such as Hermes, Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Zaara, Bershka, Samsonite, Pottery barn, Old Navy, among others. — VDV, GMA Integrated News