Top 50 Most Admired Companies

Fortune released its Top 50 Most Admired Companies in the world this week. Here, the top 10.

1. Apple – Despite a shaky year for computer companies, Apple posted increased sales in iPods and Macs.

2.. Berkshire Hathaway – The firm owned by Warren Buffet invested billions in preferred stocks for General Electric and Goldman Sachs – despite the company’s own struggles.

3. Toyota – While American car companies floundered and flubbed requests for bailouts, this company stayed strong.

4. Google – This company dropped two places from No.2 last year, but it still posts revenue growth – plus, you gotta love that it offer its employees perks such as extended cafeteria hours and free gourmet food.

5. Johnson & Johnson – This pharmaceutical company is keeping its focus on the future by partnering with Vanderbilt University and acquiring Mentor Corp.

6. Procter & Gamble – This company offers everything from Crest and Tide to Olay and Cover Girl, while innovating with new products such as Febreze. Even in a recession, we still have to clean our clothes and brush our teeth.

7. FedEx – Although this company (hit hard by high gas prices) had to slash employee salaries by 5 percent and nix their 401(k) match, it’s admired because CEO cut his own pay by 20 percent.

8. Southwest Airlines – While its competitors increased ticket prices and charged for everything from in-flight drinks to checked baggage, this company kept flying on the cheap.

9. General Electric – It was a rough year for this company, but CEO salary cuts and a diverse portfolio should keep this giant’s head above water.

10. Microsoft – After beating out Google to become the default search engine for Verizon wireless users and hiring a former Wal-Mart exec to head the opening of several retails stores, this company made it’s way to the No. 10 spot.

Source:

Fortune: “World’s Most Admired Companies”