NEW YORK – For those looking to invest overseas, the Forbes Platinum 400 may be a good place to start. While the list sets tough requirements for qualifying companies, there are none regarding geography. The list is dotted with foreign firms that have a significant presence in the U.S. market and whose shares are either listed in the U.S. or trade here as American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).
Example: Holland’s Royal Ahold (nyse: AHO – news – people ), which runs supermarkets and food service operations in 27 countries. The $26 billion (market value) company made the list thanks in part to its five-year (annualized) sales growth of 30%. Platinum rivals Kroger (nyse: KR – news – people ) and Safeway (nyse: SWY – news – people ) managed just 13% and 15%, respectively.
Andrew T. Gillies 