Elsoft, Kerjaya Prospek, MyEG, Pentamaster and VitRox made the year 2016 list
KUALA LUMPUR (July 27): Malaysia has maintained its list of 5 companies in the annual “Best Under A Billion” list by Forbes Asia.
The “Best Under A Billion” list highlights 200 leading stock-traded companies in the Asia Pacific region, with annual revenue between US$5 million and US$1 billion.
Five Malaysian companies made it to the list in 2016, and the country maintained its list of five companies this year. The Malaysian companies that made the cut were Elsoft Research, Kerjaya Prospek Group, My E.G. Service, Pentamaster Corp and VitRox Corp.
“The resulting 200 produced the highest sales and earnings per share growth for both the most recent fiscal one and three-year periods, and the strongest five-year average return on equity,” Forbes Asia said in a statement today.
Forbes Asia said from a universe of 18,000 candidates, roughly 875 passed its criteria for profitability, growth and modest indebtedness.
"We excluded companies thinly traded, those trading less than a year and those with worrisome accounting, management, ownership or legal troubles. The resulting 200 produced the highest sales and earnings per share growth for both the most recent fiscal one and three-year periods, and the strongest five-year average return on equity," the statement added.
China featured the highest number of 70 companies this year (but down from 98 last year), followed by Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. Japan however had the highest increase of 38 companies, from 13 last year, while South Korea had 20 companies, from 16 last year.
Overall, consumer products and services companies have been on the rise on the list, reflecting a shift towards a consumer economy, Forbes Asia said.
Tim Ferguson, Editor of Forbes Asia, said: “The better showing by Japan and South Korea is heartening, but the continued scarce presence of companies from most economies of Southeast Asia should give pause to everyone there — capital markets, entrepreneurs and those who count on future job creation.”
http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/malaysia-maintains-5-companies-forbes-asias-best-under-billion
