Company Interview / Extel survey crowns best run stocks on the ASX

Key points:

Extel survey ranks Australian companies, CEOs and CFOs across six qualitative categories261 companies nominated, with 65 “honoured” and around 20 “most honoured” based on multiple top-three rankingsBHP (ASX:BHP), Macquarie Group (ASX:MQG) and Commonwealth Bank (ASX:CBA) feature strongly in results

Michael Perry-Clemons from Extel sets out how the firm’s annual survey ranks Australia’s best companies, chief executives and CFOs. The process, in his view, is rigorous, drawing responses from both buy-side and sell-side participants, who rate companies across six categories, including CEO communication, leadership and credibility, CFO capital allocation, financial stewardship and communication, as well as investor relations, board and ESG. Out of 261 nominated companies, 65 are regarded by Perry-Clemons as “honoured companies”, with around 20 reaching “most honoured” status through multiple top-three rankings.

Perry-Clemons highlights that larger names such as BHP (ASX:BHP) feature strongly, with BHP reportedly topping overall rankings. In banks, Macquarie Group (ASX:MQG) and Commonwealth Bank (ASX:CBA) frequently appear near the top for both CEO and CFO recognition. He sees sector-by-sector variation, with industrials and infrastructure also producing standout leaders, and expects more Australian companies to surface as the survey gains prominence.

According to Perry-Clemons, the survey has evolved from being part of a broader Asia study to a standalone Australian focus, driving a rise in nominated companies from about 160 to more than 260 in a year. He suggests active participation is voluntary and used by investors as a structured channel to provide feedback to company leadership and to gain reassurance about their own portfolio views.