Forbes Names 25 North Carolina Firms to First Best-in-State Companies List

Forbes unveiled its inaugural best-in-state ranking and picked 25 North Carolina businesses for recognition. The publication examined thousands of companies across several criteria: size, financial health, worker happiness, and how well they serve customers.

Editors sifted through millions of pieces of information. They hunted for businesses that kept workers satisfied, won over customers, and expanded operations. Out of thousands reviewed, just 750 earned placement on the final ranking.

Public agencies didn't qualify. Neither did nonprofits like universities or medical centers. Each business got assigned to the state housing its main office.

Over half the honored businesses operate from Charlotte or the Triangle. Charlotte hosts nine. Seven set up shop in the Triangle region.

The honored businesses span varied sectors — from banking to making goods. Bank of America operates from Charlotte. So do Honeywell International and Nucor. Advance Auto Parts and First Citizens Bank run things from Raleigh.

Lowe's anchors Mooresville, while Syngenta works out of Greensboro. Trane chose Davidson. Labcorp Holdings planted roots in Burlington, and Duke Energy towers over Charlotte's skyline — these ten lead the pack.

Additional honorees include Hanesbrands in Winston-Salem, SAS in Cary, and Volvo Group North America in Greensboro. IQVIA and GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals both picked Durham.

Charlotte Pipe and Foundry, Ingersoll Rand, and Curtiss Wright Corporation all maintain facilities near Charlotte. Old Dominion Freight Line hauls from Thomasville, while Fundamental Global chose Charlotte too.

Albemarle and Sonic Financial are Charlotte businesses, both of them. Extreme Networks works from Morrisville, ABB from Cary, and Truist Financial from Charlotte — that wraps up all 25.

Several earned praise twice this year. Duke Energy, Sonic Automotive, Lowe's, Bank of America, Labcorp Holdings, Volvo, and Old Dominion all landed on Forbes' best employers in North Carolina earlier in 2025.

Six got singled out as great places for tech professionals. Labcorp Holdings, Bank of America, Lowe's, Duke Energy, Truist Financial, and Honeywell International received that distinction from Forbes.