BrandZ and Millward Brown Optimor have calculated and published their annual "brand rankings" ---a list that evaluates each company's global value to determine their place on the top ten.
Millward Brown Vice President Oscar Yuan told Yahoo Business Insider that the data is gathered from both publicly available financial information as well as "the second half, which is the unique part, is that we take in the consumer sentiment."
Millward Brown polls more than 200 consumers from 43 distinct countries every year. After analyzing their results, this year's brand ranking has put Apple on top once again.
The ranking places Apple's value at $185 billion, a 1 percent increase from 2012. Brown states that Apple continues to be a strong brand with consumers.
"Despite what the press says and stock market says, Apple in the eyes of the consumers is the gold standard," Yuan said.
Coming in second is Google, valued at $113.7 billion---a 5 percent increase from last year. Brown noted that Google has managed to convince consumers that the company can offer a lot more than just good searching capability.
"It will be interesting to see how Google Glass will contribute to the brand value, but now it's too soon to tell," Yuan said.
In third place was IBM at $112.5 billion, a 3 percent decrease. But Brown stated that IBM is a company that consistently delivers year after year.
Next up was McDonalds, who weighed in at $90.3 billion---a 5 percent loss. Brown reflected on the company's ability to adapt its menu to growing consumer health concerns.
"It has come out with a much healthier menu with apple slices, oatmeal and a Chicken McWrap which has done well," he said.
The Coca-Cola Company is number five at $78.4 billion, a 6 percent increase.
"What's consistently impressive about Coca-Cola is its ability to innovate," Yuan said.
"People think that soda consumption is declining, but Coke is turning the business on its head."
Rounding out the bottom five are AT&T, Microsoft, Marlboro, Visa and China Mobile.
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