Amid moments of uncertainty in the economy – with the fiscal issue in focus and high interest rates – 54 executives stand out who translate strategy and management excellence into numbers.
Os Elite InfoMoney CEOsa survey that highlights publicly traded Brazilian companies that grow more and more consistently, accounting for 83% of the revenues of companies listed on B3. O .
These businesses reflect the work of leaders who direct their companies to overcome limits to conquer, or reaffirm, a presence among Brazil’s business elite.
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“In general, lists like Elite InfoMoney are important because they point out companies and executives with a good reputation and relevant business models, which serve as a positive example for the market and can be inspiring for people”, says Maria José Tonelli, professor in the Department of General Administration and Human Resources at FGV EAESP.
Consistent results
The survey considers companies’ fundamentals in the period from 2022 to 2024, when the basic interest rate increased from 10.75% to 12.25%, and continued with consecutive increases until reaching the current level of 15% per year. For many sectors, high interest rates become a challenge for management. Another topic that has added uncertainty to the market and the productive sector is the tax issue.
“In practice, this environment makes it difficult to make projects and business plans viable,” says David Kallás, president of the National Association of Executives (Anefac). “However, this is the life of Brazilian executives, who over the last 30 years have shown the ability to navigate a turbulent sea”, he adds.
Even amid the challenges, in 2024, the group of companies that form the Elite InfoMoney registered revenue growth of 4.69%, an increase greater than the result of 4.63% observed in the total universe of the stock exchange. “This is a sign of resilience and above-average recovery after a challenging 2023”, points out Einar Rivero, founder of Elos Ayta Consultoria.
Already the profitability indicators reinforce this structural advantage. The median net margin of companies in the Elite InfoMoney consistently outperformed the rest of the market, with differences ranging between 2.15 and 4.59 percentage points (pp). The Return on Net Equity (ROE) also showed a favorable evolution, going from +0.56 pp in 2022 to +3.33 pp in 2024, demonstrating a greater capacity to transform equity into profit.
The data indicate that the Elite InfoMoney does not just highlight companies that grow quickly, but those that grow sustainably, with quality and consistency. “These are companies that combine operational efficiency, recurring profitability and above-average appreciation, consolidating leadership and transforming their sectors, exactly as proposed by the methodology developed by Elos Ayta”, states Riveiro.
Sectoral look
The composition of the 54 companies on the list Elite InfoMoney 2025 reveals a consistent pattern of high sectoral concentration over the last three years. The five largest sectors account for around 70% of total revenue, while the top ten remain above 86%. “The data indicates an ecosystem dominated by a few large-scale economic activities,” says Riveiro.
The banking sector, in particular, expanded its leadership, going from 22.8% of the total in 2022 to 28.34% in 2024, a reflection of both the resilience of large banks and the expansion of financial services in an environment of accelerated digitalization.
On the other hand, historically strong segments, such as oil and gas extraction, lose relative share, following the normalization of commodity prices.
New challenges for CEOs
Looking ahead to 2026, the elections already point to a period of uncertainty. Added to this scenario are advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), which bring CEOs the task of implementing the right environment to capture value with the ongoing digital transformation.
One of the main points of concern is the qualification of employees amid the exponential advancement of the segment. A survey by consultancy Gartner “CEO and Senior Business Executive Survey” revealed that 77% of CEOs believe that AI ushers in a new era of business, but they lack technology experts with the knowledge to support, drive or accelerate business results in this evolving scenario.
“Executives also have the mission to advance the understanding of the potential of this technology to promote more specific dialogues with teams to understand how AI can translate into opportunities, new businesses and services”, says Kallás.
Another challenging front for leaders is talent retention while managing up to five generations of employees. In this environment, it is necessary to consider factors such as professionals’ expectations, technological transformations and the emergence of new work models.
In the opinion of Maria José Tonelli, from FGV, who promoted the research “Myths and realities of generational diversity in companies”, carried out in partnership with PWC, this is the time for leaders to deal head-on with the challenges and opportunities of generational diversity.
“It is a pillar capable of generating value for people, companies, the government and civil society as a whole. Understanding, including and valuing differences increases the quality of dialogue, builds bridges and allows us to expand and even emerge new perspectives”, says Maria.
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