Apple Inc. (AAPL), Google Inc (GOOG): What’s So Great About The Most Admired Companies?

Fortune released its list of most the 50 most admired companies with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) and Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) in the top five. Here is a quick look at what makes these companies admirable.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) continues to move forward post-Steve Jobs and generate huge cash and profits. In the last 4 quarters, it generated $41.7 billion in profit on $164 billion in sales. The rationale behind Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s first place finish is different than years past where innovation was driving sales growth. In an increasingly competitive Smartphone market with Samsung biting at its heels, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) still topped the global charts in 4Q12 and held the top two slots with the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4s respectively. Its loyal customer base should continue to drive Apple for years to come.

Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)

Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is an impressive company. It’s a known as a great place to work finishing first in LinkedIn’s most demanded employers and atop Foture’s list of Best Companies to Work for in 2013. Second, its gaining on Apple in categories where they are both players. Its mobile Android OS continues to gain market share in the US and Canada and Google Play is expected to overtake iTunes in the number of apps sold to the mobile and tablet market. Third, it still dominates that incredible profitable namesake market of search and owns YouTube and DoubleClick.

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), after starting an online bookseller, has become the dominate force in online retail sales. Led by Jeff Bezos, Amazon has created a business with low prices, industry leading customer service and growth. It is expanding its geographic footprint and its Kindle and Amazon Web Services division are driving additional growth. Amazon has attacked large players and succeeded. It went after Apple in tablets, Netflix and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) in online streaming, and caused a dramatic impact to brick and mortar retailers, initially with bookstores and now Best Buy (BBY).

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)

The oldest of the top five companies and only non-NASDAQ traded stock. Coke is not new but is a juggernaut and sales still grew at 4% despite declining soda sales the US. Global expansion, with double digit growth from countries like India and Thailand, and strong performance from brands like Vitamin Water and Minute Maid propelled its domestic business. It not only has the number one soda brand in Coca-Cola Classic, it has the number two brand in Diet Coke. Pepsi is in third place. It has found growth despite some unfavorable trends and positioned itself for the future and entrance into dairy with its Fair Oaks Farms acquisition.