Apple has once again secured the top position on Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies list, marking its 19th consecutive year at number one. This remarkable consistency at the pinnacle of corporate reputation underscores a broader trend of enduring acclaim for certain industry titans, even as other sectors experience significant upheaval and rapid changes in their leadership rankings. The annual “All-Star” list compiles the top 50 companies based on surveys of business leaders across all industries, highlighting those that maintain a robust reputation among their peers.
The persistent presence of companies like Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft at the very top of this overarching list speaks volumes. Amazon and Microsoft, for instance, have joined Apple in the top three for seven consecutive years, demonstrating a sustained perception of excellence within the broader business community. Beyond these tech giants, Berkshire Hathaway, under Warren Buffett’s enduring influence, holds the distinction of appearing on the All-Star list every single year since its inception in 1998. This achievement is shared with other long-standing corporate fixtures such as Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Toyota Motor, and Johnson & Johnson, suggesting that once a certain level of cross-industry admiration is achieved, it can prove remarkably resilient. Alphabet, another tech behemoth, has also maintained a strong presence in the top 10 for over a decade, further illustrating this point.
However, the landscape within specific industries often tells a different story, one characterized by intense competition and frequent shifts in leadership. These specialized rankings are determined by insiders who evaluate companies within their own sectors and among immediate competitors, scoring them across nine detailed categories including quality of management and ability to attract talent. While some industry leaders, like Apple in the computer sector, have enjoyed long reigns—finishing first in 16 of the past 17 years—and Nvidia has led semiconductors for nine of the last ten, other industries show considerable churn. This year alone, 17 of the 51 industries tracked saw a new company claim the top spot.
The megabanking sector serves as a prime example of this dynamic environment. Performance metrics are scrutinized relentlessly, and top talent frequently moves, carrying best practices with them. This year, JPMorgan Chase unseated Morgan Stanley, marking the fifth time in five years that the industry’s leader has changed. Such volatility is not confined to finance. Companies like Whirlpool, which topped home equipment and furnishings for the first time since 2018, and MetLife, leading life and health insurance for the first time since 2015, illustrate notable comebacks. L’Oréal also made its debut at number one in soaps and cosmetics, displacing Procter & Gamble.
Perhaps one of the most compelling narratives of industry transformation comes from GE Aerospace. This aircraft engine supplier, the corporate successor to the sprawling General Electric conglomerate, claimed the top spot in defense and aerospace, ending Lockheed Martin’s five-year dominance. Formed in 2024 from the strategic dismantling of the old GE by CEO Larry Culp, its rapid ascent reflects a remarkably swift turnaround and a testament to how quickly corporate reputations can be rebuilt and redefined. This emergence stands in stark contrast to the original General Electric, which topped the All-Star list as recently as 2007 but eventually struggled under its own immense scale.
Beyond the rankings, individual corporate stories offer insights into broader economic trends. Toyota Motor, for instance, rode out a challenging 2025 for new-car sales, emerging as the world’s top seller by market share. Its strategy of focusing on gas-electric hybrids rather than pure battery EVs proved prescient as subsidies for electric vehicles were reduced or phased out in key markets. Toyota’s forthcoming plans include both an affordable $15,000 electric SUV for China and an expansion of its ultra-luxury Century marque, previously exclusive to Japan. Meanwhile, Target, a consistent presence on the All-Star list for 24 years, fell out of the top 50 this year. Facing declining revenue, inventory management issues, and controversy over its diversity policies, the iconic retailer is anticipating a leadership change with Michael Fiddelke set to take over as CEO in February.
Another significant shift occurred in the aerospace industry, where Airbus surpassed Boeing in total deliveries of its A320 narrow-body passenger jet, a culmination of a four-decade rivalry. With over 12,260 aircraft deployed since 1988, this milestone reflects Airbus’s consistent strategy of catering to low-cost carriers and comes amidst production delays and safety concerns that have plagued Boeing. Airbus, projected to achieve €75 billion in revenue for 2025, also made its debut on the All-Star list, signifying a growing trust from customers and investors alike.
