Introduction to America’s Most Innovative Companies
Eight Houston companies have been named to Fortune’s third annual list of America’s Most Innovative Companies, joining another 16 from the state of Texas. The group of 300 companies nationwide was rated based on production innovation, process innovation, and innovation culture, according to Fortune. In partnership with Statista, the magazine considered IP portfolios, employee, expert and customer opinions; and many other factors.
Houston Companies on the List
While many of the top-rated companies fell into the tech sector, Fortune reports that health care companies made up the largest portion of the 2025 list. Sixty-three honorees fell into the health care category, including Houston’s top-rated company, Houston Methodist. Here are the Houston companies that made the list:
- No. 35 — Houston Methodist
- No. 54 — ExxonMobil
- No. 137 — NRG Energy
- No. 158 — Hewlett-Packard Enterprise
- No. 169 — BMC Software
- No. 175 — Texas Children’s Hospital
- No. 227 — Sysco
- No. 268 — Chevron
Reaction from Houston Methodist
“This award is a true credit to the culture we have created around innovation and the incredible work of Roberta Schwartz, our Chief Innovation Officer, and her team at the Center for Innovation,” Marc Boom, CEO of Houston Methodist, said in a LinkedIn post. “They have really set the tone for how we can use innovation and technology to continue to deliver the highest quality care for our patients.”
Texas Companies on the List
Dallas-Fort Worth claimed the largest number of Texas companies on the list, with 11 headquartered in the Metroplex. Houston was home to the second-most with eight hailing from the Bayou City. Austin is home to only four of the companies on the list, however, companies from the Capital City ranked higher on average, with Oracle, Tesla and Dell Technologies claiming the top three spots for the state. Beloved Texas grocer H-E-B was the one company to represent San Antonio. Here’s how the other Texas companies fared:
- No. 6 — Oracle
- No. 11 — Tesla
- No. 14 — Dell Technologies
- No. 37 — AT&T
- No. 59 — Texas Instruments
- No. 89 — Charles Schwab
- No. 91 — McKesson
- No. 113 — Jacobs Solutions
- No. 125 — Baylor, Scott & White Health
- No. 165 — Frontier Communications
- No. 201— H-E-B
- No. 210 — CBRE Group
- No. 219 — TTEC Holdings
- No. 223 — GameStop
- No. 251 — American Airlines Group
- No. 271 — Caterpillar
National Rankings
California-based tech conglomerate Alphabet Inc. topped the list for the third year in a row, and California companies again represented the majority of companies on the list, according to Fortune. Alphabet, Microsoft, Apple, IBM and Salesforce made up the top five, of which three are headquartered in California. The 2025 group had a median revenue of $22 billion over the last 12 months, according to Fortune.
Conclusion
The list of America’s Most Innovative Companies highlights the innovative efforts of companies across the nation, with a significant presence of Texas companies. Houston Methodist’s top ranking in the healthcare category showcases the city’s strength in medical innovation. The diversity of industries represented on the list, from tech to healthcare to energy, demonstrates the widespread commitment to innovation in the business world. As these companies continue to push boundaries and develop new technologies, they set an example for others to follow, driving progress and growth in their respective fields.
