Apple Named World's Most Valuable Brand for Third Year in a Row

Millward Brown today released its annual BrandZ study of global brands (via AllThingsD), which found Apple to be the world's most valuable brand for the third straight year.

Although Apple topped the list once again, its brand value only increased 1% to $185 billion, which is not as impressive as the 19% increase (from $153 billion in 2011 to $183 billion in 2012) it received last year. Apple rival Google jumped back up to the second spot with a brand value of $137 billion (a 5% increase) and Samsung clocked in a 51% increase and a $21.4 billion brand value at the 30th spot.

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Overall, Millward Brown said that the technology sector was "flat," declining after 5 years of growth:

Without the surge in Apple and Facebook brand value that helped drive category growth, Technology declined 1 percent in the BrandZ™ 2013 ranking, after five years averaging 8 percent annual category growth.

Among other top brands, IBM fell down to the third spot with a brand value of $112 billion while Microsoft dropped 9% to $69.8 billion and Facebook fell 36% to $21 billion. Yahoo, which fell out of the top 100 years ago, returned to the 92nd spot with a brand value of $9.8 billion.

While "brand value" studies can be difficult to compare, because of the use of differing methodologies used by those who gather the data can lead to much different results, they can be a good look at marketing and branding trends.

Top Rated Comments

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tech4all

76 months ago

McDonald's is a valuable brand? Most people I know (including me) stay clear of anything labeled with that "M".

Unless you know everyone on this planet, your point is moot.

Rating: 9 Votes

toaster64

76 months ago

McDonald's is a valuable brand? Most people I know (including me) stay clear of anything labeled with that "M".

Apple deserves a high spot, but put Beats up on #1. That "b" sells $30 headphones for >$200.

Rating: 5 Votes

ArtOfWarfare

76 months ago

McDonald's is a valuable brand? Most people I know (including me) stay clear of anything labeled with that "M".

I was turned off of McD's about 12 years ago. I'm doing a business research project on them and have found that they've actually really reinvented themselves over the last decade. They've done away with a lot of the childish things (the characters, the play places,) and have been trying to make themselves into more of a cafe kind of place, like StarBucks.

Nutritional information is no longer something that they try to keep a secret from customers - it's plainly printed on everything for you to look at and think, "That's interesting - I'm consuming the amount of salt with this one product that doctors think I should each day." and then stop caring because it tastes okay and the price is dirt cheap.

Not that I eat it on a regular basis by any stretch of the imagination. I've had McDonald's four times in the past 5 years... and my bias isn't against fast food in general, I eat at Burger King and Wendy's on a monthly basis.

Rating: 4 Votes

toaster64

76 months ago

I'm wondering what exactly does brand value represent. Also, how is Coca Cola rising? :D

Rising economy => less people buying Shasta knockoffs? :D

Rating: 4 Votes

linuxcooldude

76 months ago

You will find most businesses do that. Apples no different going into the mobile market was reinventing themselves and going in a different direction.

I don't think its no secret fast food is fattening. Nutritional information is now required by law in the U.S.

Rating: 4 Votes

spicynujac

76 months ago

I agree Apple is probably the most valuable brand In the USA. But I would think worldwide Coca Cola and McDonalds would take the prize. Smartphones only THIS year surpassed feature phOnes in sales volume in the USA. Worldwide, they are only a fraction, and most people can't afford Apple products. They are gaining recognition but I can't believe they are as well known as McD or Coke.

But what I really disagree with is IBM and Google. I couldn't tell you anything about IBM except that they used to make great notebooks. And Google with all it's spying and violations of the don't be evil rule--I use it but mainly out of habit and cause I have gmail. I don't necessarily think its the best search engine out there. And it doesn't have the brand cachet that Apple does.

Rating: 3 Votes

-LikesMac-

76 months ago

I'm wondering what exactly does brand value represent. Also, how is Coca Cola rising? :D

Rating: 2 Votes

ArchAndroid

76 months ago

McDonald & Coca Cola have been far more consistant then Apple over the long term. We seen Apples stocks drop over $300 very quickly.

The technology companies are much more impressive because they are under constant pressure to keep on evolving.

With Coca Cola and McDonalds, it is pretty much invariable that people are going to consume fast food and fizzy drinks.

Rating: 2 Votes

tutubibi

76 months ago

It's billions not millions, look at the column heading.
Based on that Apple brand is worth 185 Billion $, makes much more sense than 185 million $ as that would be pocket change compared to Apple's market valuation.

Rating: 2 Votes