What It Is: This annual list ranks high-growth, privately-held companies with under $300 million in annual revenue.

Why It Matters To You: Sizing up younger, privately held firms is tricky. This is a ranking of 100 up-and-comers with serious growth potential.

Considerations:  The ranking is based not only on growth (both in sales and hiring), but also on quality of management team and investors, margins, market size and key partnerships. It's unclear whether the ranking is still updated regularly as the last available ranking is from 2015. 

Created By: Forbes

What It Is: This is an annual list of the most innovative public companies with market values between $2 billion and $10 billion.

Why It Matters To You: Most innovation rankings are popularity contests based on past performance or editorial whims. Forbes attempts to forge a new path using a method that relies on investors’ ability to identify firms they expect to be innovative now and in the future. 

Considerations:  Companies are ranked by their innovation premium: the difference between their market capitalization and the net present value of cash flows from existing businesses. Only industries with a measurable investment in R&D and whose market value is tied more to innovation than commodity prices are included in the ranking. Previous rankings are not easily accessible.

Created By: Forbes

What It Is: This is a list of America's best small companies.

Why It Matters To You: See which companies value greatness over growth in an unranked list of the top 25 best small companies. Easily sortable by industry and state.

Considerations:  The methodology is not clearly defined, but companies up for consideration are recognized for prioritizing building a great business over growth and must be at least ten years old, profitable, privately owned, and closely held. Intangibles such as reputation, culture, and relationship to the community are the major factors.

Created By: Forbes

What It Is: This is an annual list consists of firms that investors feel are most likely to come up with the next big innovation. 

Why It Matters To You: This ranking demonstrates how new players come in to shake up industries, innovate, and garner the attention of investors. Easily sortable by industry and region.

Considerations:  Companies are ranked by their innovation premium: the difference between their market capitalization and the net present value of cash flows from existing businesses. To be included on the list, firms need seven years of financial data and $10 billion in market cap. 

Created By: Forbes