Wednesday, January 28, 2026
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Apple is the world’s most admired company in the world for the 17th consecutive year 

Despite an uncertain economy, overall customer satisfaction with the retail sector continues to inch forward, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI ) Retail and Consumer Shipping Study 2026. Among the industries measured, general merchandise and specialty retailers each climb 1% to 79 and 80 (on a scale of 0 to 100), respectively. Online retailers are stable at 79, while supermarkets slip 1% to an ACSI score of 78. Among speciality retailers, the Apple Store rankings rose 4% to 79. Behind the topline results, retailers are contending with a more disciplined, value-focused shopper, particularly Generation Z customers. Changing purchase patterns, tighter gaps between top and bottom performers, and growing pressure on price and experience are reshaping how brands compete across the sector. “Retailers are facing a cost-conscious consumer who isn’t necessarily spending less in most cases, but spending differently,” said Forrest Morgeson, Associate Professor of Marketing at Michigan State University and Director of Research Emeritus at the ACSI. “These individuals are starting holiday shopping earlier, avoiding last-minute splurges, and trading down to discount and thrift options to stretch every dollar. Together, these shifts are tightening the field between retail winners and laggards and rewarding brands that deliver clear value and a smooth experience online and in store.” I hope you’ll help support Apple World Today by becoming a patron. Almost all our income is from Patreon support and sponsored posts. Patreon pricing ranges from $2 to $10 a month. Thanks in advance for your support.

Apple is the most admired company in the world for the 17th consecutive year, according to Fortune.

Once again the tech giant finished first in the magazine’s annual ranking of corporate reputation, based on a poll of some 3,700 executives, directors, and analysts. And for the fifth year in a row, Amazon and Microsoft rounded out the top three. 

Meanwhile Nvidia, whose GPU chips are powering the world’s forays into generative AI, soared to its highest-ever ranking at No. 10. In other industries, megaretailer Walmart (No. 9) returned to the top 10 for the first time in 14 years, while COVID-vaccine maker Moderna (No. 37) became a first-time All-Star.

Fortune collaborated with the managing consulting firm of Korn Ferry on the survey of corporate reputations. 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. 

Then they winnowed the assortment to the highest-revenue companies in each industry, a total of 660 in 29 countries. The top-rated companies were picked from that pool of 660; the executives who voted work at the companies in that group.

I hope you’ll help support Apple World Today by becoming a patron. All our income is from Patreon support and sponsored posts. Patreon pricing ranges from $2 to $10 a month. Thanks in advance for your support.

Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.