SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) retained its position as the highest-ranked Philippine company in the latest Forbes Global 2000, leading seven local firms included in the annual list of the world’s largest publicly traded companies. The Sy family-led conglomerate ranked 1,029th globally, ahead of BDO Unibank, International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., Ayala Corp. and Manila Electric Co.

Country’s top company

“We are pleased to be recognized anew as the country’s top company on the Forbes Global 2000 list,” SMIC president and CEO Frederic DyBuncio said in a statement sent to DAILY TRIBUNE on Thursday.

“This reflects the trust of our customers and investors, the work of our people, and the strength of the businesses we have built over the years. We continue to invest in the Philippines because we believe in the country’s future and long-term growth.”

Conglomerates and banks

Philippine conglomerates and banks continued to dominate the country’s representation in the global ranking.

BDO Unibank, also controlled by the Sy family, ranked 1,082nd.

ICTSI emerged as the fourth-highest-ranked Philippine company at 1,375th.

The ports operator led by Enrique Razon Jr. stood out with a market capitalization of $26.34 billion (approximately P1.49 trillion), the largest among Philippine firms included in the list despite posting lower revenues than several conglomerates and banks in the ranking.

Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. ranked 1,383rd, followed by Ayala Corp. at 1,532nd and Manila Electric Co. at 1,704th.

The Forbes Global 2000 ranks publicly listed companies worldwide based on a composite score derived from sales, profits, assets and market value.