Fortune Names Apple World’s Most Admired Company for 2021

Topping Fortune’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies for the 14th consecutive year, Apple has once again been named the most admired company in the world for 2021. Amazon and Microsoft hold the second and third spots on the list respectively.

Fortune partners with consulting firm Korn Ferry to survey industry executives, directors, and analysts across nine categories, from investment value and quality of management and products to social responsibility and ability to attract talent. A company’s score must rank in the top half of its respective industry to be listed.

“After a year in which humanity leaned more heavily than ever on tech giants—to connect, entertain, and even feed us in a time of isolation—it’s fitting that Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft hold the top three spots in Fortune’s ranking of corporate reputation. Apple, the premier personal-tech provider, tops the roster for the 14th year in a row, based on our poll of some 3,800 corporate executives, directors, and analysts.”

Meanwhile, video streaming giant Netflix returned to the top 10, whereas Walmart (No. 11) and Target (No. 17) earned their highest rankings since 2011 and 2008, respectively.

Chipmaker Nvidia, medical supplier Abbott Laboratories, and fintech pioneer PayPal each made it to the list for the first time this year.