Source: BrandZ
Notes: Google this year reclaims its position as the most valuable global brand on the back of a 40% year-over-year hike in brand value, to almost $159 billion. Google overtook Apple, which saw its brand value drop by 20% to roughly $148 billion, one of only 18 brands in the top 100 to lose value. IBM (#3) and McDonald’s (#5) remained in the top 5 this year, while Microsoft jumped 3 positions to the #4 rank by virtue of a 29% increase in brand value. Amazon rose 4 spots to crack the top 10, the first retailer to do so, with its 41% increase in value matched by Visa (#7). (more…)