The Bloomberg Businessweek 50 ranks companies on how well they’ve done and how well analysts expect them to do. Half of the ranking is based on past performance: their stocks’ risk-adjusted returns over one and five years. The other half is based on outlook: analysts’ recommendations and forecasts for earnings growth. Companies at the top of the list have both strong track records and high expectations from Wall Street for growth ahead.

Photographs by Aaron Dyer for Bloomberg Businessweek