By Claire Reilly

Fortune magazine has released its list of the World’s Most Admired Companies, with a number of well-known electronics and appliance brands taking out top honours, as well as two retailers that call Australia home.

Taking out the top position in the overall ranking of the 50 most admired companies was consumer electronics brand Apple, which also took out the number 1 position in the Computers category for a second year running (with an overall score of 8.42).

Also performing well was Whirlpool Corporation, which was recognised as the number one company in the Home Equipment and Furnishings category, also for the second year in a row.

“As a company that prides itself on providing our customers with trusted brands and products, it is an honour to be named one of Fortune Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies," said Whirlpool vice president and managing director, Oceania, Jerome Cadie.

“Whirlpool was also included on the World's Most Admired Companies list in 2009 and 2011, so as a global company, we are thrilled to be recognised again.”

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Representing the retail sector in the Fortune list was Costco Wholesale, which was ranked as the number one company in the Specialty Retailers: Diversified category, and Target which was selected as most outstanding General Merchandiser company.

Published yearly, the Fortune ranking measures companies on innovation, people management, use of corporate assets, social responsibility, quality of management, long-term investment, financial soundness, quality of products and services, and global competitiveness. The rankings are based on peer review ratings.

Other electronics and computing brands that were selected as the best in their field were GE (Electronics), Google (Internet Services and Retailing) and IBM (Information Technology Services). Taking out the lucrative title of most trusted Semiconductors company was Intel.

Koç Holding, the Turkish parent company of the Beko whitegoods brand which has just arrived in Australia, was also selected as the top energy brand. And when it comes to Food Services and Entertainment there were no real suprises – McDonald’s and Walt Disney were both selected as winners in these fields...again.

See the full list of Fortune's 50 top-ranking brands here and the list of industry champions here.