Over the past year, tariffs, artificial intelligence, and evolving consumer preferences have compelled previously dominant companies to re-evaluate their growth strategies. Amidst this transformation, new industry leaders have emerged.
, which became the first publicly traded company to achieve a $4 trillion market valuation, tops TIME and Statista’s 2025 statistical assessment of the World’s Best Companies. This ranking evaluates employee satisfaction, revenue expansion, and transparency in sustainability. Nvidia ascended through the ranks, propelled by a wave of and a .
Methodology:
Numerous companies highly placed on the list have capitalized on that enthusiasm for AI. , ranked second on this list and directly behind Nvidia in market value, also experienced surges in driven by AI and cloud computing. Apple—which previously topped the World’s Best Companies list —is notably absent this year, owing to a revenue decline from 2022 to 2024. Many Wall Street analysts have could be due to the company . Nevertheless, the situation may be shifting as the behemoth establishes its position in the new tech landscape; CEO Tim Cook stated on a third-quarter earnings call that the company is significantly increasing investments in AI, integrating it across devices and platforms. In July, subsequent to the study period for this list, a 10% year-over-year revenue growth—the biggest bump .
Nike (ranked 14th) holds the top position among Apparel, Footwear & Sporting Goods companies, exceeding luxury giant LVMH (21st) and athleisure leader Lululemon (36th). The company endured several challenging years due to like On and Hoka, and l brought in a new CEO, Elliott Hill, with a mandate to invest “heavily in big sport moments and key product launches to win back our brand voice,” Hill noted in an earnings call . During the summer, game-day looks for tennis champions Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner boosted sales.
Drugmaker (ranked 15th) is also implementing innovations to maintain its lead. Capitalizing on the popularity of its Ozempic and Wegovy, the company is now to retain its lead like Eli Lilly. “When we consider the obesity market in the U.S., it is widely recognized that we operate in a competitive environment,” stated David Moore, EVP of US operations at Novo Nordisk, in an . He added, “We are still experiencing growth. The market itself is expanding.”
