World's Most Admired Companies 2009

For the 50 most admired companies overall, FORTUNE's survey asked businesspeople to vote for the companies that they admired most, from any industry.

Courtesy: Apple

1. Apple
Rank in Computers: 2 (Previous rank: 2*)
Overall score: 7.07

Why it's admired: It's been a rocky year for Apple: CEO Steve Jobs' health made headlines, and critics said Cupertino wasn't being open enough about it. But customers remained loyal to the brand that made white ear buds cool. As much of the computer industry struggled, Apple shipped 22.7 million iPods during its first quarter (up 3 percent from last year), 2.5 million Macs (up 9 percent), and 4.4 million iPhones. No wonder Apple tops our Most Admired list for the second year in a row. --Alyssa Abkowitz

Address: 1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, CA 95014
Phone: 408-996-1010
Website: www.apple.com

Courtesy: Fruit of the Loom, The Pampered Chef

2. Berkshire Hathaway
Rank in Insurance: Property and Casualty: 1 (Previous rank: 1*)
Overall score: 7.78

Why it's admired: Warren Buffett's firm helped beleaguered General Electric and Goldman Sachs wrestle with the financial crisis by purchasing billions in their preferred stocks. Still, Berkshire itself suffered this year, with Class A shares falling 49% since their peak in Dec. 2007, as its investments in Wells Fargo, U.S. Bancorp and American Express got hit hard. But as one financial advisor told Reuters: "[Buffett] admits when he is wrong. You don't get candor from other CEOs. That's why his credibility is so high." -A.A.

Address: 1440 Kiewit Plaza
Omaha, NE 68131
Phone: 402-346-1400
Website: www.berkshirehathaway.com

Courtesy: Toyota Motor Co.

3. Toyota Motor
Rank in Motor Vehicles: 2 (Previous rank: 2*)
Overall score: 6.25

Why it's admired: As U.S. automakers GM and Ford went crawling to Washington for help, Toyota was still looking relatively strong. But the global downturn still took a toll: For the first time since 1950, in February Toyota forecasted that it would post a net loss -- almost $4 billion in its 2008 fiscal year. Just days earlier, the company named Akio Toyoda, the grandson of renowned founder Kiichiro Toyoda, as president. By going back to the basics, the world's largest and richest automaker hopes to drive its earnings north again. -A.A..

Address: 1 Toyota-cho
Toyota, Japan 471-8571
Phone: 81-565-28-2121
Website: www.toyota.co.jp

Courtesy: Google

4. Google
Rank in Internet Services and Retailing: 1 (Previous rank: 2*)
Overall score: 7.73

Why it's admired: The company whose streamlined web search is so popular it's become a verb just keeps on innovating. Who else would think to offer e-mail accounts with Goggles, a feature that premiered in October, to prevent us from sending drunken messages? Even as the rest of the tech industry struggles, Google's ad revenue continues to grow. Still, the Mountain View, Calif.-based company's enviable perks took a (small) hit this year: Its New York office will have shorter cafeteria hours and no afternoon tea. Free gourmet food is still on the menu, though. -A.A.

Address: 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy.
Mountain View, CA 94043
Phone: 650-253-0000
Website: www.google.com

Courtesy: Johnson & Johnson

5. Johnson & Johnson
Rank in Pharmaceuticals: 1 (Previous rank: 1*)
Overall score: 7.31

Why it's admired: Millions of people use J&J's products, which include Listerine, Tylenol and Neutrogena. And the health care company is diversifying to make sure it doesn't become overly dependent on drugs with expiring patents: It recently partnered with Vanderbilt University to develop drugs to combat schizophrenia and acquired Mentor Corp., a breast-implant producer. But for the first time in 76 years, J&J forecasts that its annual revenue will fall, dropping to between $61 billion and $62 billion from $63.7 billion in 2008. -A.A.

Address: 1 Johnson & Johnson Plaza
New Brunswick, NJ 8933
Phone: 732-524-0400
Website: www.jnj.com

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