Business List

Walmart CEO Tops List of Highest-Paid Executives

Walmart leads Arkansas’ public company rankings in revenue, profit, and executive pay, with CEO Doug McMillon earning $27.4M.

by Gwen Moritz - July 21, 2025, 12:00am

Mountaire Corp. Reclaims Top Spot Among Arkansas’ Largest Private Companies

May 19, 2025, 12:00am

Nineteen Arkansas-based private companies topped $1 billion in revenue in 2024. That’s two more than the previous year.

Westrock Again Tops Placement List

January 13, 2025, 12:00am

Arkansas private placements rebounded in 2024, led by Westrock Coffee’s $72M debt offering, with AcreTrader and six banks also actively leveraging investments.

New Names Join Familiar Firms on List of State’s Largest Asset Managers

October 21, 2024, 12:00am

Mixed in among the familiar names of Arkansas asset managers are some notable newbies, including a mysterious Little Rock venture capital firm managing three-quarters of a billion dollars, most of it from foreign investment pools.

Small Banks, Small Commercial Loans

A deeper look at this week's business list: Small Commercial Lending by Arkansas Banks read more >

by Gwen Moritz - June 24, 2024, 12:00am

Agriculture & Poultry / Banking & Finance / Construction

Private Firms List Led by Blue Cross

Seventeen private companies owned and headquartered in Arkansas are believed to have had revenue of more than $1 billion in 2023. read more >

by Gwen Moritz - June 17, 2024, 12:00am

Agriculture & Poultry / Banking & Finance / Investments

Private Investment Offerings Plunge in 2023

The number of private placements offered by Arkansas companies plummeted in 2023 compared with 2022, but both new and established businesses sought out investors. read more >

by Gwen Moritz - January 8, 2024, 12:00am

Banking & Finance / Health Care / Insurance

Cracking the Code: Understanding Contractual Allowances in Arkansas Hospitals

Contractual discounts vary widely, although they typically average more than 50% of the initial billed amount. read more >

by Arkansas Business Staff - October 30, 2023, 12:00am

Banking & Finance / Government & Politics / Restaurants & Food

Hospitality Tax Collections Jump in 2022

The jump signals a continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that devastated the state’s tourist industry three years ago. read more >

by Jan Cottingham - February 27, 2023, 12:00am

Banking & Finance / Investments

Evolve Overtakes Simmons in Trust Assets

Stephens Inc. remains No. 1 on the annual lists of Arkansas’ largest broker-dealers and largest money managers, but Evolve takes the top spot in trust departments. read more >

by Gwen Moritz - October 24, 2022, 12:00am

(From left) Vijay Manthripragada, CEO of Montrose Environmental Group; Tony Aquila, CEO of Canoo Inc.; and Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart.

Transplanted Executives Dominate Pay List

Two companies that recently moved their headquarters to Arkansas passed Walmart in executive compensation, but not profitability. read more >

by Gwen Moritz - July 25, 2022, 12:00am

Doug Hendrix, left, and his brother David Hendrix own Summerwood Partners LLC of Bryant, which owns convenience store chain Big Red and this year ranked No. 5 for revenue growth among the largest private companies in Arkansas.

Agriculture & Poultry / Banking & Finance / Business Services

2021: A Good Year for Big Private Companies

For most of the businesses on this year’s list of Arkansas’ 75 largest private companies, top-line revenue in 2021 was significantly better than in 2019, before any of us had heard of COVID-19. read more >

by Gwen Moritz - June 20, 2022, 12:00am

Education / Legal

More Law Students Interested in Public Service, Dean Theresa Beiner Says

She is the first permanent female dean at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's Bowen School of Law. read more >

by Arkansas Business Staff - June 13, 2022, 12:00am

A crew from Seal Solar of North Little Rock installs solar panels at 107 Liquor in Sherwood.

Construction / Energy / Government & Politics

For Solar, A Threat Is Rising In the East

A U.S. investigation into Asian solar panel exports has stalled two of Entergy Arkansas’ largest sun projects. read more >

by Kyle Massey - May 16, 2022, 12:00am

Maria Markham, director of the Arkansas Division of Higher Education

Business Services / Education / Government & Politics

Arkansas Colleges Shrinking, and ‘Cliff’ Still Looms

A recent college attendance dip in Arkansas doesn’t reflect the “enrollment cliff” that higher education leaders have harped about for years. It’s been more of a slow roll down to the edge. read more >

by Kyle Massey - April 11, 2022, 12:00am

Arvest Bank was the leader of this year's list of largest banks in Arkansas, ranked by assets, followed by Bank OZK, Simmons Bank, Centennial Bank and First Security Bank.

Banking & Finance / Business Services / Insurance

Arvest No. 1 Bank by Assets, But List is Shuffling

A near 10% increase in assets helped push Arvest to the top of Arkansas Business’ annual list of the state’s biggest banks, but more changes are in store as the runners-up prepare to close significant acquisitions. read more >

by Lance Turner - April 4, 2022, 12:00am

Transplace’s new 150,000-SF center on 15 acres in Rogers houses 800 workers now, but it can support up to 1,100, executives say.

Agriculture & Poultry / Banking & Finance / Business Services

Arkansas Dealmaking Down 17% in ’21

The number of the biggest deals in Arkansas worth $10 million or more rose to 95, an increase of 12% compared with the 85 big deals in 2020. read more >

by Jan Cottingham - March 21, 2022, 12:00am

Last year, Simmons Bank of Pine Bluff bought the former Bank OZK headquarters in west Little Rock for $23.25 million.

Banking & Finance / Construction / Investments

Commercial Real Estate In Arkansas Soars in ’21

Especially robust was the multifamily segment, boosted by a variety of factors ranging from rising inflation, high construction costs for new homes and the continued popularity of regions such as northwest Arkansas. read more >

by Marty Cook - March 14, 2022, 12:00am

The Chancellor Hotel in Fayetteville, the Arlington Hotel & Spa in Hot Springs and the Marriott in Little Rock

Business Services / Government & Politics / Media & Marketing

A&P Taxes Indicate Rebound Strong, Not Complete

The tourism and hospitality industries rebounded strongly in 2021, but local tax collections indicate that a few cities haven’t seen visitors return to pre-pandemic levels. read more >

by Gwen Moritz - February 28, 2022, 12:00am

Agriculture & Poultry / Business Services / Government & Politics

Medical Marijuana Cards Prized in North-Central Arkansas

Data from the second fiscal year of medical marijuana sales in Arkansas confirms a trend spotted after 2020: Residents in north-central Arkansas are most likely to seek out the ID cards allowing them to buy the stuff. read more >

by Gwen Moritz - February 14, 2022, 12:00am

Agriculture & Poultry / Banking & Finance / Energy

Investments List Includes Banks, Tech, Farming

With $30.1 million raised, Tempus USF LLC of Little Rock tops Arkansas Business’ list of the largest private investment offerings ranked by total investment amount sold. read more >

by Mark Friedman - January 31, 2022, 12:00am