STI Education Systems Holdings, Inc., which owns one of the biggest networks of private schools in the Philippines, has been named to Forbes Asia’s “Best Under A Billion” list for 2026, according to a disclosure filed with the Philippine Stock Exchange.

What Does This Award Mean?

Think of this list like a “honor roll” for companies. Every year, Forbes Asia picks 200 companies from across Asia that are doing really well in their business. But there’s a rule: these companies must earn less than $1 billion in yearly sales and they must be growing both in sales and profits consistently. It’s like being recognized for getting good grades year after year, not just once.

STI Holdings’ Report Card Numbers

According to Forbes Asia’s data mentioned in the disclosure, STI Holdings achieved:

• $97 million in sales
• $38 million in net income (the profit they keep after all expenses)
• A market value of $193 million

The company was one of only seven Philippine businesses that made it to this year’s list.

What the Company Leaders Said

Eusebio H. Tanco, who serves as STI Holdings Chairman, said they are honored to receive this recognition. He emphasized that the company remains focused on providing excellent education that meets international standards and helps prepare Filipino students with skills they’ll need in the future.

Meanwhile, Atty. Monico Jacob, the company’s President and CEO, explained that this achievement shows that students, parents, teachers, and staff trust the company, and that their long-term plans are working.

How is STI Holdings Performing?

The disclosure revealed several positive indicators for the education company:

• For the first nine months of School Year 2025-2026, the company earned P4.20 billion in revenues, which is 2% higher compared to the same period last year
• Net income after tax reached P1.63 billion
• Total enrollment across all their schools reached 132,941 students for the school year

Schools Under STI Holdings

STI Holdings operates several schools across the Philippines:

• STI Education Services Group (STI ESG) – Offers college programs and senior high school in fields like information technology, business, hospitality, tourism, engineering, education, and criminology
• STI West Negros University (STI WNU) – A university in Bacolod City that was founded in 1948 and offers programs from pre-elementary to graduate levels. It was granted Autonomous status by CHED in September 2024
• iACADEMY – Specializes in computing, business, and design programs, offering unique courses like game development, animation, and music production
• Philippine School of Business Administration (PSBA) – Managed by STI ESG

Recent Achievements of Their Schools

The company’s schools have been earning recognition:

• iACADEMY was named Top Performing School in the 2025 Real Estate Appraisers Licensure Examination with a 90% passing rate
• iACADEMY was also recognized as “Most Innovative School” by Global Brands Magazine
• STI WNU ranked third nationally in the February 2026 Criminology Licensure Examination with a 95.35% passing rate

Investments in Technology and Facilities

According to the disclosure, STI Holdings continues to invest in upgrading its campuses. They’re adding modern technology tools like Adobe Creative Cloud licenses, computer-aided design software, and cybersecurity platforms. The company is also installing solar panels and modernizing their enrollment systems to make the process easier for students and parents.

About STI Holdings Stock

STI Education Systems Holdings, Inc. trades on the Philippine Stock Exchange under the stock code STI. According to the disclosure, the company has 9,904,806,924 common shares outstanding.

This article is based on the company’s official press release and disclosures filed with the Philippine Stock Exchange’s Electronic Disclosure Generation Technology (PSE EDGE) system. For the complete and official version of the announcement, readers may visit the PSE EDGE website and search for the company’s filing directly.