FedEx Earns No. 9 Spot on the FORTUNE World’s Most Admired Companies List

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) is once again ranked among the most admired companies in the world, according to a survey published in FORTUNE magazine.

The annual “World’s Most Admired Companies” report released today lists FedEx as the No. 9 ranked company overall. The survey measures nine attributes related to financial performance and corporate reputation.

“FedEx is honored to have been recognized again among the world’s most admired companies,” said Frederick W. Smith, chairman and CEO, FedEx Corp. “This honor reflects the outstanding dedication and performance of our more than 400,000 FedEx team members worldwide.”

This is the 18th consecutive year that FedEx has ranked among the top 20 in the FORTUNE Most Admired Companies List, with 14 of those years ranking among the top 10.

Survey Methodology

FORTUNE collaborated with partner Korn Ferry on this survey of corporate reputation. They began with a universe of about 1,500 candidates: the 1,000 largest U.S. companies ranked by revenue, along with non-U.S. companies in FORTUNE’s Global 500 database that have revenues of $10 billion or more. They then winnowed the assortment to the highest-revenue companies in each industry, a total of 680 in 29 countries. The top-rated companies were picked from that pool of 680; the executives who voted work at the companies in that group.

To determine the best-regarded companies in 52 industries, Korn Ferry asked executives, directors, and analysts to rate enterprises in their own industry on nine criteria, 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 industry survey to be listed.

Results were not published in the following categories owing to insufficient response rates: Cable and Satellite Providers, Petroleum Refining, Pipelines, and U.S. Energy.

To select the 50 All-Stars, Korn Ferry asked 3,900 executives, directors, and securities analysts who had responded to the industry surveys to identify the 10 companies they admired most. They chose from a list made up of the companies that ranked in the top 25% in last year’s surveys, plus those that finished in the top 20% of their industry. Anyone could vote for any company in any industry.

The difference in the voting rolls explains why some results can seem at odds with each other. For example, Deere fell off the All-Star list but moved up one notch within the construction and farm machinery category when votes from only those in that industry were counted.