Another year, another title. Fortune announced their list of the world’s most admired companies this morning, and Apple swept away the competition for the fifth year in a row. Each year Fortune surveys the business community to find out which company has the best reputation in the eyes of their peers. Apple has ranked at the top of Fortune’s annual list for the last five years which ties them with General Electric for the number of most appearances in the top spot.
3,855 executives, directors, and securities analaysts were asked to select the 10 companies they admire the most. Rounding out the top 10 were Google, Amazon, Coca-Cola, IBM, FedEx, Berkshire Hathaway, Starbucks, Procter & Gable, and Southwest Airlines. Despite the passing of Co-Founder and CEO Steve Jobs, Apple enjoyed another big year and continues to prosper under the direction of Tim Cook.
The company’s annual revenues climbed to $108 billion, led by an 81% increase in iPhone sales — a jump that doesn’t factor in the runaway success of the iPhone 4S — and a 334% spike in iPad sales, due in no small part to the revamped iPad 2. Increased sales across the board explain why shares soared 75% during the company’s fiscal year to $495
With the upcoming release of the iPad 3 and an Apple TV on the horizon, Apple has a lot of room to grow, and are the odds on favorite to top Fortune’s list next year.