Barron’s Very Odd “Most Repected” Company List
September 9, 2007 by Douglas A. McIntyreBarron’s surveyed 95 professional managers and asked them to rank the 100 largest companies in the world based on market cap. Those surveyed were polled about which companies they most respected and which were at the bottom of their lists.
It would not surprise anyone that Bershire Hathaway (BRK.A) (BRK.B) finished first. But, several other companies near the top of the list seem not to belong. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) finishes second, despite a number of problems at the company and the fact that the firm’s shares are down slightly over the last year. Microsoft (MSFT) is right up their. Its shares have not kept pace with the S&P over the last year.
Wal-Mart is No. 21 out of 100. No way to make sense of that.
Moving to the bottom half of the list, investors will find AT&T (T) at No.69. Its share are up nearly 30% in the last twelve months. And China Mobile (CHL) falls in at No. 87. Those shares have gained about 100% over a one year period.
The results are hardly Barron’s fault, but perhaps the magazine could publish a list of those who were polled so Wall St. can stay clear of them.
Douglas A. McIntrye
T, BRK.A, BRK.B, CHL, MSFT, WMT, JNJ
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