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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

Last updated on: March 7, 2012 10:14 IST

Two Indian companies have made it to a list of the world's most admired companies, compiled by management consultancy giant Hay Group and global business magazine Fortune.

While the global rankings of the Indian companies are not available, the list does give their overall score.


How the most admired were picked:

Fortune's survey partners at Hay Group started with approximately 1,400 companies: the Fortune 1,000 (the 1,000 largest US companies ranked by revenue), non-U.S. companies in Fortune's Global 500 database with revenue of $10 billion or more, and the top foreign companies operating in the US.

They then sorted the companies by industry and selected the 15 largest for each international industry and the 10 largest for each US industry. A total of 698 companies from 32 countries were surveyed.

To arrive at the top 50 Most Admired Companies overall, the Hay Group asked 3,855 executives, directors, and securities analysts who had responded to the industry surveys to select the 10 companies they admired most.

Anyone could vote for any company in any industry. The difference in the voting rolls is why some results can seem anomalous. 

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

Last updated on: March 7, 2012 10:14 IST

Oil & Natural Gas Corporation

Industry: Mining, crude-oil production

Overall score: 5.86

Headquartered in New Delhi, ONGC is one of the largest Asia-based oil and gas exploration and production companies, and produces around 77 per cent of India's total crude oil production.

It is one of the largest publicly traded companies by market capitalisation in India.

In Q3 2011-12, ONGC report net profit of Rs 6,741 crore (Rs 67.41 billion).

ONGC was founded on August 14 1956.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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Tata Steel

Industry: Metals

Overall score: 6.46

Established in 1907, Tata Steel is among the top ten global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of over 28 million tonnes per annum.

It is now one of the world's most geographically-diversified steel producers, with operations in 26 countries and a commercial presence in over 50 countries.

The Group registered a net loss of Rs 603 crore ($114 million) in Q3 FY'12 compared to a net profit of Rs 1,003 crore ($189 million) in Q3 FY'11.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

Last updated on: March 7, 2012 10:14 IST
Apple logo is seen on the steps of the East Balcony leading to the newest Apple store in New York.

Apple

Rank: 1

Industry: Computers

Overall score: 8.42

Apple Inc., formerly Apple Computer, Inc,. is an American multinational corporation that designs and sells consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers.

The company was founded on April 1, 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne.

With Jobs' death last year, questions swirled around the company's future.

But under new CEO Tim Cook's guidance, Apple continues to prosper.

The company's headquarter is in Cupertino, California.

Apple has 357 retail stores in 10 countries and an online store.

It is the largest publicly traded company in the world by market capitalisation.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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Google bowls are seen in the new headquarters of Google France.

Google

Rank: 2

Industry: Internet Services and Retailing

Overall score: 7.74

Headquartered in Mountain View, California, Google Inc. is an American multinational Internet and software corporation specialising in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies.

The company was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin on September 4, 1998 while they were both attending Stanford University.

Google has been estimated to run over one million servers in data centers around the world, and process over one billion search requests and about twenty-four petabytes of user-generated data every day.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon.com Inc.

Amazon.com

Rank: 3

Industry: Internet Services and Retailing

Overall score: 7.45

Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States, Amazon.com, Inc. is an American multinational electronic commerce company. It is the world's largest online retailer.

Jeff Bezos created Amazon.com, Inc. in 1994, and the site went online in 1995.

It is named after the Amazon River, one of the largest rivers in the world.

Amazon.com started as an online bookstore, but soon diversified, selling DVDs, CDs, MP3 downloads, software, video games, electronics, apparel, furniture, food, and toys.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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A man taking out a Coca-Cola bottle.

Coca-Cola

Rank: 4

Industry: Beverages

Overall score: 6.69

Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries.

It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia.

The Coca-Cola Company came into being in the United States since March 27, 1944.). It was originally intended as a patent medicine when John Pemberton invented it in the late 19th century.

Coca-Cola was bought out by businessman Asa Griggs Candler.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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IBM

Rank: 5

Industry: Information Technology

Overall score: 7.79

Headquartered in Armonk, New York, IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software.

It also offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas ranging from mainframe computers to nanotechnology.

As of December 2011, IBM was the third-largest publicly traded technology company in the world by market capitalisation.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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FedEx

Rank: 6

Industry: Delivery

Overall score: 7.31

FedEx Corporation, earlier FDX Corporation, is a logistics services company, based in the United States.

Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, FDX Corporation was founded in January 1998.

The name 'FedEx' is a syllabic abbreviation of the name of the company's original air division, Federal Express, which was used from 1973 until 2000.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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Warren Buffett.

Berkshire Hathaway

Rank 7

Industry: Insurance in Property and Casualty

Overall score: 7.34

Berkshire Hathaway owes its success mainly to the stable leadership of its chief executive officer Warren Buffett.

Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, the company averaged an annual growth in book value of 20.3 per cent to its shareholders for the last 44 years, while employing large amounts of capital, and minimal debt.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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Starbucks

Rank 8

Industry: Food service

Overall score: 7.85

Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee company and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington.

The company was founded by Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker and Zev Siegl on March 30, 1971.

The company's chairman, president and chief executive officer Howard Schultz took steps in 2011 to raise funds for job creation and to fight political dysfunction in Washington.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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Procter & Gamble's corporate headquarters is seen in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Procter & Gamble

Rank: 9

Industry: Soaps and cosmetics

Overall score: 8.10

Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation.

The company is headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods.

In 2011, P&G recorded $82.6 billion in sales.

However, the world's largest consumer-products company is up against slow growth in developed markets.

To offset those problems, P&G will cut 1,600 jobs, the company announced in January, which should save $240 million.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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Southwest Airlines

Rank: 10

Industry: Airlines

Overall score: 6.08

Southwest Airlines is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas.

Like most airlines, a key part of the business plan for Southwest is keeping fuel prices down.

The recent spike in the cost of oil to above $100 caused Southwest to slightly raise the price on its flights.

The airline was established in 1967 and adopted its current name in 1971.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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McDonald's

Rank: 11

Industry: Food services

Overall score: 8.27

Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald.

The company showed a strong Q4 earnings report with a profit of $1.38 billion, up nearly 11 per cent from a year earlier.

McDonald's primarily sells hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken, french fries, breakfast items, soft drinks, shakes and desserts.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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Johnson & Johnson

Rank: 12

Industry: Pharmaceuticals

Overall score: 6.06

Johnson & Johnson is an American multinational pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer packaged goods manufacturer.

The company was founded in 1886.

The corporation's headquarters is located in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Major recalls have hung over this health care products and pharmaceuticals maker.

Its 2011 earnings report, however, has been satisfactory.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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Water tower at The Walt Disney Co.

Walt Disney

Rank: 13

Industry: Entertainment

Overall score: 8.14

The Walt Disney Company is an American multinational media conglomerate headquartered in Walt Disney Studios, Burbank, California.

The company was founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio.

ESPN's high advertising revenues added boost to the company's cable networks operating income -- up to $5.2 billion last year from $760 million in 2010.

However, company's releases like The Prince of Persia, and Sorcerer's Apprentice flopped in comparison to the prior-year titles like Toy Story 3 and Alice in Wonderland.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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The new BMW 328i is pictured during the world premiere of the company's new 3 series in Munich.

BMW

Rank: 14

Industry: Motor Vehicles

Overall score: 7.12

Headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, BMW is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1917.

The German car company showed strong sales in 2011 and has continued to show success in the first few months of this year.

BMW says 2012 will be full of new models beginning with the BMW 3-series sedan.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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General Electric

Rank: 15

Industry: Electronics

Overall score: 6.82

General Electric Company is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York.

The company operates through four segments: Energy, Technology Infrastructure, Capital Finance and Consumer & Industrial.

The company is headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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An American Express sign is seen on a restaurant door in New York.

American Express

Rank: 16

Industry: Consumer Credit Card and Related Services

Overall score: 7.38

American Express Company is an American multinational financial services corporation.

Headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, the company was founded in 1850.

It is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

The company is best known for its credit card, charge card, and traveller's cheque businesses.

Amex cards account for approximately 24 per cent of the total dollar volume of credit card transactions in the US, the highest of any card issuer.

The company's net income in the fourth quarter increased 12 per cent to $1.2 billion from the same period a year ago.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer (L) and Skype CEO Tony Bates shake hands at their joint news conference in San Francisco.

Microsoft

Rank: 17

Industry: Computer Software

Overall score: 6.48

Microsoft is an American multinational corporation.

The company develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and computer-related services.

Headquartered in Redmond, Washington, the company was established on April 4, 1975.

Early last year, Microsoft struck a reported $1-billion-plus deal with Nokia.

The Finnish handset maker will promote and develop phones using Windows Phone as the primary operating system.

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3M

3M

Rank: 18

Industry: Scientific, Photographic and Control Equipment

Overall score: NA

The company reported that annual revenues were up 11 per cent to $29.6 billion.

3M is one of 30 companies in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

3M is a science-based company, manufacturing 55,000 products across healthcare, highway safety, office and abrasives and adhesives sectors.

The company was founded in 1902 by Henry S Bryan, Hermon W Cable, John Dwan, William A McGonagle and J Danley Budd.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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A heavy machine from the Caterpillar stable.

Caterpillar

Rank: 19

Industry: Industrial and Farm Equipment

Overall score: 7.89

Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines.

Caterpillar brought in record sales in 2011, the largest year-over-year percentage increase since 1947.

Founded in California on April 15, 1925, the company is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

The company designs, manufactures, markets and sells machinery and engines and sells financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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Costco Wholesale

Rank: 20

Industry: Specialty Retailers, Diversified

Overall score: 6.95

Costco Wholesale Corporation is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States.

As of July 2011, it was the sixth largest retailer in the United States, and the seventh largest retailer in the world.

Headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, the company was founded in 1983.

The company reported January sales were up to $40.18 billion, an 11 per cent increase from the same time last year.

Costco has even managed to expand its operations -- adding seven new warehouses in the last months of 2011.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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Nordstrom

Rank: 21

Industry: General Merchandise

Overall score: 7.15

Nordstrom is an upscale department store chain in the US.

There are now 225 stores operating in 29 states across the US.

The corporate headquarters and the flagship store are located in Downtown Seattle, Washington.

The company was founded by John W Nordstrom and Carl F Wallin.

Initially a shoe retailer, the company also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings.

The chain offers free shipping and returns every day all the time without a minimum purchase.

Nordstrom's revenues of $10.5 billion for the company's 2011 fiscal year were an all-time record for the company and marked the second consecutive year of 13 per cent annual growth.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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JP Morgan Chase

Rank: 22

Industry: Megabanks

Overall score: 7.23

JP Morgan Chase & Co is an American multinational banking corporation of securities, investments and retail.

It is the largest bank in the United States by assets and market capitalisation.

Headquartered in 270 Park Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, it was formed in 2000, when Chase Manhattan Corporation merged with J.P. Morgan & Co.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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Business Class of Singapore Airlines.

Singapore Airlines

Rank: 23

Industry: Airlines

Overall score: 6.28

Singapore Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Singapore.

It ranks amongst the top 15 carriers worldwide in terms of revenue passenger kilometres, and 10th in the world for international passengers carried.

Headquartered in Singapore, it operates a hub at Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and 'Kangaroo Route' markets.

The company also operates trans-Pacific flights, including the world's two longest non-stop commercial flights from Singapore to Newark and Los Angeles on the Airbus A340-500.

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2 Indian companies among the world's most admired

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Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart Stores

Rank: 24

Industry: General Merchandise

Overall score: 6.92

The world's largest retail company, Wal-Mart was founded by Sam Walton in 1962. Incorporated on October 31, 1969, Walmart has 8,500 stores in 15 countries.

Sales in 2010 stood at $405.04 billion whereas CAGR 2005-10 was 7.3 per cent.

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Target

Rank: 25

Industry: General Merchandise

Overall score: 7.20

Target is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart.

Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the company ranks 33 on the Fortune 500 as of 2010 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's 500 index.

The company was founded in 1902 in Minneapolis as the Dayton Dry Goods Company.