Extel names Latin America's top companies and investor relations teams for 2026

Extel released its 17th annual Latin America Executive Team rankings on Aug. 12, 2026, based on votes from 967 investors, portfolio managers and analysts at 488 institutions. The survey identified 69 Most Honored Companies and showed banks remained the most followed sector, while real estate moved up sharply in investor attention.

Why it matters: - The rankings are a market-wide read on which Latin American companies, executives and investor relations teams have the strongest credibility with investors and analysts. - The results can influence how companies are viewed on governance, capital allocation, disclosure quality and management execution. - The survey also shows where investor attention is shifting across sectors.

What happened: - Extel announced the results of its 17th annual Latin America Executive Team survey on Aug. 12, 2026. - A total of 967 investors, portfolio managers and analysts from 488 voting institutions took part. - Participants named 395 companies and 917 professionals across 16 sectors. - The survey rated CEOs, CFOs and investor relations professionals in company coverage universes. - The rankings also covered investor relations programs, ESG, Analyst Day events and company boards. - The top-line results included winners for Latin America overall and Latin America excluding Brazil, with full results available here.

The details: - CEO rankings measured credibility, leadership and communication. - CFO rankings measured financial management and communication. - Investor relations professionals were judged on authority, credibility, and business and market knowledge. - Investor relations programs were evaluated on meeting quality, earnings call quality, proactive communication, and the consistency and detail of financial disclosure. - Voting also covered investor and analyst event quality, board composition and governance, and ESG practices. - Combined votes from investors and analysts determined the overall rankings in each category. - Extel said 118 companies reached Honored Company status across the listed categories. - Sixty-nine of those companies earned Most Honored Company status by securing enough top-three finishes to meet weighted scoring thresholds. - Nine companies reached All-Star status by placing first in the combined rankings in five of seven categories within their sectors. - The All-Star companies were AXIA Energia, Cemex, Itaú Unibanco Holding, Localiza Rent a Car, MercadoLibre, PRIO, Rede D'Or São Luiz, Vale and WEG.

Between the lines: - Banks kept the strongest hold on investor attention, which suggests the sector remains the region's reference point for coverage and comparison. - Real estate was the clearest mover, rising from 9.2% of engagement in 2025 to 11.60% in 2026 and jumping from fourth to second place. - Retail stayed in the top three, but its share slipped to 9.8% from 10.8%. - Utilities also lost ground, falling to 8.6% from 9.7%. - Transport gained share, rising to 9.2% from 7.0% and staying in the top five. - The middle of the sector table was relatively stable, with oil, gas and petrochemicals at 6.8%, non-bank financial institutions at 6.2% and technology, media and telecom at 5.1%. - The shift toward real estate and transport points to a broader investor lens beyond the traditional financial sector.

What's next: - Extel will continue using the survey results as a benchmarking tool for investor relations and leadership performance. - Companies can use the findings to compare themselves against peers and identify gaps in investor communication and governance. - Extel said firms seeking marketing use of award or survey logos can contact its marketing team. - The company also offers more information on its investor relations capability analysis and benchmarking service through Dennys Gil, Sales Director. - Extel is also directing readers to its LinkedIn page for updates: Extel on LinkedIn.

The bottom line: - Latin America's 2026 Extel rankings show the region's most trusted corporate leaders and investor relations teams, while also signaling a broader shift in investor focus across sectors.