TIME magazine has published its World’s Best Companies 2026 list. Following last year’s absence, Apple has returned to the list in third place this year.

Apple’s performance on this list reflects the company’s strategic changes in recent years. The World’s Best Companies 2026 list shows that the tech giant is on the rise again.

Apple’s Return to the List and Performance Details

While Apple was at the top of the list in 2024, it was not included in the ranking last year due to a decline in revenue. TIME stated that this was due to revenue loss between 2022-2024.

The company’s investments in artificial intelligence and new steps in the technology world have been influential in its rise this year. CEO Tim Cook stated in his third-quarter earnings call that investments in artificial intelligence had increased significantly.

Data released in July showed that Apple achieved its largest revenue growth since 2021. The company recorded a 10 percent year-on-year revenue growth.

TIME rated Apple’s revenue growth as Very High, the highest among four categories. This indicates that the company’s financial recovery process is progressing successfully.

Ranking Criteria and Other Companies

TIME considers three key factors equally when evaluating companies. These factors are employee satisfaction, three-year revenue growth, and sustainability transparency.

Apple scored 93.16 points in total across these criteria, placing it third overall. Nvidia is in first place with 97.51 points, while Cigna is in second place with 94.37 points.

In the employee satisfaction category, Apple managed to rank third, behind Microsoft and IBM. In the sustainability transparency category, Apple, which topped the list in 2024, dropped to 24th place this year.

The top ten on the list also includes giants such as Meta Platforms, AstraZeneca, Microsoft, Deutsche Telekom, Accenture, McKesson, and AMD. The companies’ performance this year proves again how dynamic the competition in the technology sector is.

Whether Apple will be able to maintain its place on this list in the coming years remains a matter of curiosity. Do you think Apple can regain its place at the top of the list next year?