World’s Most Admired Companies 2009
What do you think of the corporations on Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies list? Have you worked for any of the companies, or bought their products or services? Which — if any — companies do you admire in this economy? What makes a company admirable – social responsibility, excellent talent, sharp marketing, smart managers, or just plain profits? Tell us what you think. The best replies will be published here, and possibly in a future story on CNNMoney.com.
In the downward turn of economic dispair, don’t you think advertising the salaries or compensation of these fortune 500 ceo’s ( in the million’s) enables the middle and low economic class of people to just hate these companies and the executives even more. The average guy is fed up and sick to death of seeing these enormous, and I underline enormous salaries. Aren’t you just adding fuel to the fire?
Accenture is rightfully included on this list but should be and probably will be closer to the top in the near future
I totally Agree with FedEx being on the Industry Champions, they are the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Honeywell is a great company. I do believe they are trying to do the right things
Someone’s been out in the sun too long
on some of these companies.
I was worried that my preferred bank (National City) was at the bottom of the financial sector’s rankings barrel. (And that’s saying a lot!)
Then, I found out than PNC (#1 on the list) acquired them. =D
Altria # 4 in people management…are you kidding me???
The fact that Exxon, any bank and any American auto company are on this list is absolutely disgusting! How can you admire a company that can’t pay its own bills and begs for handouts because their own management failed to keep them financially sound.
Wasn’t Accenture a division of Arthur Andersen? How quickly we forget…
Finnish telecommunication giant Nokia should be in much higher position. Nokia is not very strong in the U.S. at the moment but it has a very strong market share almost anywhere else in the world.
can you please tell me HOW on earth some of these companies could be considered “most admired” ?
ridiculous! wake up!
How did Wyndham get this rating considering laying off over 4500 employees. one week before christmas!!!
What about Alticor? They’ve got billions of dollars of assets and NO DEBT!
What an absurd collection? Admired by whom? Microsoft? Oh Please.
I am sorry to see National City on the Least Admired list. Some of the best companies can make bad decisions. My dealings with National City have been the most pleasant, professional and reasonable experiences of any bank I have done business with. I hope PNC continues with this excellent customer service.
Northwestern Mutual is a company that lands on these types of lists on a yearly basis and is very worthy of the accolades given to it. Quality company that has been around for over 150 years and one that people, like myself, are proud to work for…
The only thing this list proves is that ‘businesspeople’ are totally out of touch with reality. That and there’s no link between admiration and healthy business practices.
In the industry “Computers” Xerox is ranked over Apple and H-P? Head scratcher there. X isn’t even in the top 50 overall…
Walmart 11? really? I realize that they have intense control over so many other companies by demanding packaging sizes and exclusive items but I think that Walmart is just a glorified flea market!!! They should go back to the days of ‘Made in America’ but this will not happen because there is not enough profit in it as there is in exploiting third world countries workers.
These lists are so US centric it’s laugahble.
When you use the term ‘World’s Most…’ surely you need survey outside the US too?
It’s like when you use the term ‘World series’ for your parochial sports competitions and only teams from the US compete.
Wind, Solar, FPL is forward thinking and truly leaders in Energy for the United States!
I AM AMAZED THAT KRAFT IS NOT ON THE LISTS. ONE OF THE GIANTS IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY WITH HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS, AND A GOOD PLACE TO WORK!
HP is admired by people that don’t work for it. The company however doesn’t admire or respect it’s employees anymore. Now, it’s all about keeping the upper management paid well, removing the stock option offerings from the rank and file, and cutting pay so “the numbers look good.”
Simon Property Group isn’t #1 with their Chelsea employees that they just kicked to the street. Treated them like they were going to the firing squad!
If you like companies that waste government money and like to drag anchor to bleed cost plus dollars out of the DOE, look no further than Lockheed and General Dynamics. They are pros
I have worked at Honeywell for the last decade. The upper management has made long term choices as far as product lines (Honeywell is more than Aerospace) and avoiding layoffs, not just short term profits. Many investors sought high profits and payouts in other companies. Now the same investor is losing billions and faith in the corrupt promise of many corporations. My hopes are also that these top corporations realize the wealth we have in American workers and strength in keeping jobs here.
How is it they rank so high in Social Responsibility while outsourcing so many jobs over seas.
Wal-Mart, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, and Exxon. These companies are admired??? By whom? Certainly not by the lives ruined by jobs sent overseas, an economy destroyed by greedy Wall Street practices, or by pricing gouging at the gas pump.
Did you guys actually poll people for this list, or just hand it out to your top advertisers. What an embarrassment.
I was fortunate enough to secure a management position with Kindred Healthcare a few months ago after waiting for an open position in my field. By far the best hospital company I have ever worked for! I am not a job hopper (3 jobs in 16 years as a nurse, pretty unusual) but when this potition finally opened, I relocated and have somewhat of a commute but it is worth it. Congratulations Kindred!
I would like to share my point of view:-
To admire a company first the person who looks it depends on that, (i.e. if a person looking for an investment then he may admire on their profits, he won’t look their managers / marketing style / even their social responsibility.
So my suggestion is that, it depends on the person who looks at…
Cognizant’s gonna be soon up there ahead at #1. A growth trajectory like none other in the business, a business focus so special and a leadership team that knows exactly what it’s doing. An unassumption that wins – that’s Cognizant.
Surprised not to see Jet Blue on the Airlines list. Check out 22squared’s research on airlines and customer advocacy, Jet Blue ranks at the top of the list…and it correlates with revenue growth too! http://www.reasonstotalk.com/
Xerox may get a high score here… but gets a zero for best places to work. It sucks to work for them.
Xerox has announced that it is jettisoning all post 65 retirees from their health benefits. no allowance, not even a kiss on the cheek. Just goodbye. I can tell you after more than 23 years working at Xerox, it is definitely NOT the most admired by over 30000 Xerox retirees. Perhaps “most callous” is more like it.
I don’t know who the idots are that rank these companies, but if Xerox was ranked for performance, productivity, and promise by anybody who is NOT an insider – it would be rock bottom!
Intuit’s QuickTax royally screwed up my tax return but conveniently have no live people you can speak to. Trying to figure out where to send my huge tax bill.
What about Chevron? They showed record profits last year and they are still swimming in cash!!!
New York Life and Northwestern Mutual are rated lower than the Aflac Duck? You’ve got to be freaking’ kidding.
The Duck is a pipsqueak by comparison to either mutual company.
Is there a correlation between social responsibility and share holder value?!? Has anyone read Atlas Shrugged? Also…what is up with the comments on Wal-Mart: Great service, cheap prescription drugs, inexpensive quality foods, and inexpensive merchandise. Is it really an issue that Wal-mart does not favor a low skilled unionized work force? All in favor of doubling your grocery bill or hearing “sorry…that is not my isle” raise your hand!!
How can Circuit City be a contender? They are in liquidation. When were these stats checked? I wonder what other companies are on this list that are out of business.
BoA and CitiGroup? Just who is doing the admiring, here?
Certainly not Shareholders.
Who admires BoA for its prescient acquisition of Merrill?
What quality do these companies have that would inspire admiration?
Sheesh.
Surprised this list include wireless major Qualcomm.Easly the best in business…
Surprising to see Intuit at the top of Software companies. Their people management sucks! I was there for 16 plus years and the didn’t help manage me despite what they say about “It’s the people”. Instead they laid me off last year along with 1000 others… I think it is a lot of corporate propaganda to keep this company where it is.
Wal-Mart, Microsoft, UPS, & AT&T?!
Customer service was obviously NOT one of the criteria to make the list.
What about Genentech?? It has done very well in the past 5 years and continues to grow rapidly.
I think any company on this list which has had layoffs for fiscal year 2008 should automatically be removed. Laying people off does not support the claim that a company is “most admired.”
When was this done. Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase are on the list. Have we learned nothing about these companies in the last few months???
Agree w/Americas MAC comment above; Surprised/Baffled to see Kraft Foods not at the top tier. It is a company w/vision, great employer, exceptional products, talent and leadership. It is a lot better than a handful of top 50’s.
I have seen Vegas grow over the last
35 yrs.(every year visits)..I was at the opening of Wynn, and I must say everything Steve touches turns to gold!
He is a very smart businessman along with Elaine’s help!I love his style on casinos and hotels.
He has always been a plus to Las Vegas…I nominate him “Mr. Las Vegas!”
Edward Jones – what category would they be under? Why not on your list – very surprised!
Northwestern Mutual is ranked as 1st on all the different 9 key attributes except for one and ended up second in the overall ranking for the industry. Something is NOT right!
Are you kidding me … Altria, which makes products — tobacco cigarettes — that knowingly kill people … is #6 most admired for product quality?
Walmart? Are you kidding? Walmart is one of the most dispicable major corporations on the planet…Walmart’s labor relations and benefits practices are horrible.
US Bank? The only national bank to not have a big problem with the meltdown
Companies involved in losses and bankruptcies should not really find a place in this list! Who would admire such compaines?
Why is ABB not on the list? One of the best Swiss companies.
Graybar is tops in several categories, but not in the list of 50????
As a retired AT&T Manager I don’t see much about AT&T to admire. This is a company that has been involved in a 10 year lawsuit about how they took away a large part of peoples pensions. In addition they have made the benifits that people worked for their entire life worthless. Whats to admire about a company that makes money by shortchangint the very people who helped build the buisness.
they need to look at ford motor company alittle harder
Zappos.com should be at the top or at least near it. Good job at being close-minded by collecting info for the article!
Why would anyone admire a company that manufactures weapons?
Kelloggs used to be a company that shared family values and was loyal to their employees. That’s until 1998 when they went on a salary dumping journey around the world. Not the same company after Carlos Gutierrez gutted the company. Looks like he did the same job for George Bush.You can blame the world economy on Washington and Gutierrez.
the company that increased their sales by 1 billion dollars and increased their advertising by 200 million dollars and is totally debt free is not on this list.
AMWAY GLOBAL
while every other company wanting government bailout money AMWAY has increased sales and marketing and still is debt free.
Enterprise Rent A Car should be represented in the list.
One of the world’s largest industries is printing. How come in your exhaustive list of industries printing is not included. It is not part of publishing.
I noticed that the survey asked
‘Business People’ who they admired-
try being a non-corporate customer
of AT&T- they couldn’t care less
about you or your business. I can’t
believe AT&T is on this list at all-!
They have the absolute WORST customer
service of ANY company I have EVER
dealt with through 20 years of business
and personal dealings with a company.
A very arogant and careless treatment
toward customers. Shame on AT&T.
How can Apple be #1 overall but not #1 in its own category?
You can’t be serious. This is definately not list of the “world’s” most admired companies. I much rather work for Robert Bosch Corporation than Wal-Mart or McDonald’s.
Apple deserves its rating. About the rest in the list, well, well, here we go again, Americans don’t we … Didn’t find Tata, either.
This seems like an American list of top 50 companies – what I don’t understand is why does every occurence in America have to have a ‘world’ result associated? – NBA winners, NFL winners, etc – ‘world’ champions! There is a world beyond the US too – well run companies included!!
I find it funny that there is no reference to any Railroads within the Country.
Nestle is not a good people management organization. I worked for them and they had discriminatory practices that I challenged. The HR representative questioned my attitude despite my challenge to show the requisite policy that supported the practice.
Discover Financial Services is better than American Express.
GE has been such a stong company over the years. Last year they recorded their third highest profit dispite the economy. Unfortunately their stock price isn’t reflecting that now. I guess this is the time to buy…
1rst averall, but 2nd in its industry?
please explain…
Why don’t you do a list of the 100 worst companys?That would really wake a lot of people up.
Why are most, if not all, companies American? The title, as someone says above, should read “America’s most admired…” instead of World.
This is an ‘america-centric’ list that should be titled “America’s Most Admired Companies”. Whoever came up with this list didn’t do enough work. Seriously, Bank of America? Where are all the European, Asian companies?
From and employee and
great place to work” stand point, State Farm Insurance Companies should be on this list.
Where’s Walgreens at? I think they overlooked a phenomenal company here.
Aeropostale should have topped specialty retailers. Up 8% last year, has hade same store increases for 11 years in a row, plus no debt and strong financials.
Are you high? How do you come up with these seemingly arbitrary numbers? EA gets an innovation score of 2 in computer software? Huh? Do you know what computer software is? Do you know what innovation is? Silly questions? No, not to someone giving EA a 2 for innovation.
Pfizer…the mulligan company. After selling their well run and profitable consumer health care division in 2006 in a “Hail Mary” attempt to raise an anemic stock price, Pfizer’s board of directors looks poised to again throw thousands of hard working employees lives to the wind by buying Wyeth, partly in an effort to diversify into consumer health products again. Pfizer’s board of directors should resign for failing both stockholders and employees.
How did Bank of America make this list? If they’re here, why not include GM, AIG … hey, even Enron.
Apple deserves the admiration and to be #1. It is one of the most innovative, consumer friendly, and well run companies ever, and has been undeservedly hard hit with the economy such as it is. Even in this unbelievable stock market environment, it still holds up as one of the best loved and valued stocks for good reason.
Wells Fargo ahead of Bank of America in this list but Bank of America is #1 in Megabank list. Why?
Just can’t believe that Bank of America is not included! Oh, they are on the “other” list..
is Kodak still in business?? Rochester, NY undoubtedly “pines” for the good old day’s…. It was a great place to live in the 70’s….
How come 90% of the world`s best are American?
This appears to be simply an American reality.
Xerox – most admired — you’ve got to be kidding. They treat their employees like throwaways while thanking them for all they do. Their solution to every problem is lay-off the worker-bee, and slash benefits. The one thing they never cut is the obscene compensation packages for higher-ups. Xerox’s integrity has sunk lower than their stock price.
Hi, the remaining 95% of the world population would like to know why you claim to rank the worlds most admired companies?
how is it that you don,t mencioned the hsbc group?
Where is AIG??? If we are going to spend so much tax revenue to save them, then they would have to fall in the most admired list.
What happened to Chubb on the P&C industry news? They seem to have many postive things going for it.
A total of 2 Canadian Companies? You are joking! Evidently the professional in this survey are poorly educated. Lets see – 5 large Canadian Banks that are solid, liquid, and do not require Government bailouts? Two Canadian Railways that operate better than even much vaunted BNSF? The only real Apple competitor – RIM? The worlds largest Potash producer? Take your test over – you fail.
Wow..does it seem a bit bias that 42 out of 50 companies are US based companies?
Bank of America??? Are you serious, they shouldn’t even be on a list of the top 10,000 most admired companies. How about Kellogg? They handled their peanut butter recall with total class, setting a standard that all companies should use for a product recall, then they lowered their annual bonuses to pay for the recall even when they posted record sales 2008. Now that’s a company that should be admired in the US and worldwide.
Why isn’t the US government named as the least innovative? They just tax, tax, tax, tax! Then they think they are REALLY helping us when they LET us keep $13 we earned. YIKES!!
How did Bank of America even make the list? Who in their right mind admires them for what they’ve done in the past couple of years? I just don’t get it.
It’s interesting that Toyota #3, BMW #28, and Honda #32, all made the list. But the American companies did not. Yet the American companies are all union, pay more per hour, have great health care, pay for not working, etc.
I wonder how much of this is perception? I would be grateful for the benifits U.S. autoworkers get.
United Technologies Corp has one of the worst management teams around. Low employee moral due to bogus ACE process improvement program. Senior execs spending like there’s no tomorrow, while raises for all employees are cut out this year due to “tough economic times”.. We had record income and profits last year, and lots of new contracts!
All these bankrupt zoombie-banks like Goldman Sachs Group and J.P. Morgan Chase – should they be on an another list – like Down 50?
What do you think of the corporations on Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies list?
Have you worked for any of the companies, or bought their products or services?
Which – if any – companies do you admire in this economy?
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Are advertising and marketing companies included on the Most Admired list? If not, why not?