Brazil Star of Latin America's Growth, Profit Champions

MIAMI, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Brazilian companies dominate a new ranking of the 100 Latin American companies with the highest growth and profit margins the past three years.

Brazil accounted for eight of the top ten companies and 52 of the 100, according to Latin Business Chronicle (http://www.latinbusinesschronicle.com ), a web site that published the ranking.

The ranking of "Latin America's 100 Best Companies" used these six metrics:

• Revenue growth in 2009
• Profit growth in 2009
• Profits as a percent of revenues in 2009
• Average revenue growth the past three years
• Average profit growth the past three years
• Average profits as a percent of revenues the past three years

Latin Business Chronicle analyzed more than 720 publicly-traded companies in Latin America using data from Economatica and then narrowed it down by looking at companies with more than $100 million in annual revenues.

The result: Chilean electricity company E-CL (formerly Edelnor) is the best company in the region, followed by Brazil-based cleaning products manufacturer Bombril.

Mexico's top entry, cable TV company Megacable, came in 20th place on the ranking. Meanwhile, America Movil (Latin America's fourth-largest in revenues) ranked 37th overall and second in Mexico.

Peru's top entry was water company Sedapal, which ranked 10th overall. Argentina's top ranked company is shopping center developer Altos Palermo at 22nd place.

Venezuela accounted for three entries on our ranking. The top entry was paper manufacturer Manpa, which ranked 16th. Colombia's only entry was Medellin-based electricity distributor ISA, which came in 97th place.

Apart from Brazil, the ranking includes 14 companies from Peru, 13 from Chile, 11 from Mexico, six from Argentina, three from Venezuela and one from Colombia.

Link to the story:

http://www.latinbusinesschronicle.com/app/article.aspx?id=4539

Full version available to journalists upon request.

SOURCE Latin Business Chronicle