Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines and Coca-Cola have landed once again on Fortune’s annual list of the world’s 50 most admired companies, with Delta gaining ground but Coke falling a few notches.
Getty Images
Delta Air Lines ranks 39 this year, moving up nine positions from 48 in 2014. The carrier, which is the dominant airline at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, ranked No. 1 in the airline industry.
Delta’s chief domestic competitor in Atlanta, Dallas -based Southwest, moved up to No. 7 in overall ranking from No. 9 last year. Southwest, however, ranked in the bottom half of its industry..
Coca-Cola moved down four positions to No. 10 on the most-admired list from No. 6 in 2014, but Coke remained No. 1 in the beverage industry. Fortune cited Coke’s efforts to expand its product portfolio beyond soft drinks, which have been losing sales, and to cut costs, including eliminating jobs in Atlanta and elsewhere. Coke also has acquired stakes in Keurig Green Mountain Coffee and energy drink maker Monster Beverage.
While AT&T is also based in Dallas, the company’s wireless operations are based in Atlanta, and Fortune credited expansion of its wireless business to Mexico through acquisitions in helping to move AT&T up a few notches to No. 47 on the overall list from 50 last year.
No Georgia company ranked in the top 10 when rated on nine key attributes: management quality; quality of products/services offered; innovation; value as a long-term investment; soundness of financial position; ability to attract, develop and retain talent; community responsibility; wise use of corporate assets; and effectiveness in conducting a global business.
