FutureBrand Index reveals changes in perception of global companies

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The study revealed extensive changes in the perception of global companies since the start of the pandemic. Today, the companies prioritising innovation to impact individual well-being and drive change at scale are set to thrive.

As a result, there is a huge change at the top of this year’s ranking - with only Apple keeping its place as one of the top five leading brands. It is now joined by ASML, Prosus NV, Danaher, and Nextra Energy. The standout success of tech and healthcare companies across this year’s FutureBrand Index also points to a heightened need for connectivity and a focus on improving quality of life after a challenging year.

Top insights

Looking beyond the pandemic: Today’s thriving companies are those that prioritise innovation to impact individual well-being and drive change for good at scale. This means a significant opportunity for the companies that create the platforms and infrastructures on which human life can thrive into the future.

The top five brands: ASML Holdings, Apple, Prosus NV, Danaher and Nextera Energy, respectively.

The top five risers: Saudi Aramco (#28, up 63 places), Tata Consultancy (#20, up 45 places), LVMH (#29, up 37 places), Berkshire Hathaway (#50, up 33 places), China Mobile (#45, up 27 places).

Technology leads the way: The Technology sector dominates the FutureBrand Index with three of this year’s top five coming from this sector: ASML, Apple and Prosus NV.

Healthcare continues to surge: The healthcare sector continues to grow as Pfizer and United Health Group surge forward during the pandemic.

A renewed focus on the pleasure factor: Feeling good and the pursuit of simple pleasures has proved important to consumers during a year of uncertainty and crisis. Luxury consumer brands such as Apple and LVMH have capitalised on this, but the likes of Amazon and P&G have also benefited.

B2B companies becoming ‘household’ names: B2B companies that in previous FutureBrand Indexes were seen lower down the list, such as ASML and Danaher, have surged forward as behind-the-scenes tech and pharma brands become ‘household’ names and society focuses on the innovation that will help us come out of the pandemic.

Jon Tipple, global chief strategy officer at FutureBrand, said, “This year’s research has revealed a huge shift in the way companies work and how they convey their mission to their consumers. Those that look set to thrive in a post-pandemic world, are companies prioritising innovation to consistently impact individual well-being and drive change for good at scale. There are some familiar names and some many won’t expect in this year’s FutureBrand Index. We’ve seen pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer race ahead, as they are seen by consumers as critical to our future and working within humanity's best interest. Meanwhile, consumers are also looking for the ‘feel good' factor; in a period of 12 months when so much has been taken away from us, luxury brands like Apple and LVMH have done particularly well.”

Key sector snapshot

Technology

Tech has done extremely well, three of this year’s Top Five Risers come from this sector.

However, aside from Apple, consumer tech brands have slipped down the FutureBrand Index while companies that are critical behind-the-scenes enablers of the technology we rely on have risen. This is likely due to their response to the pandemic and societies’ and economies' need for technology to survive lockdowns and quarantines.

Consumer discretionary

LVMH has benefitted from increased consumer spending on luxury goods and online shopping, jumping 29 places up the FutureBrand Index. Consumer goods and services businesses that rely on physical retail have suffered during the pandemic, with Walmart falling 34 places and McDonald’s falling 32.

Consumer staples

Consumer staples have benefitted from recurring lockdowns with PepsiCo and P&G top risers in the category, jumping 24 and 22 places respectively.

As with previous years, ‘Pleasure’ remains this category’s single strongest attribute which is unsurprising for a year when our sources of pleasure were limited to those housed within our immediate four walls.

Healthcare

Healthcare companies have continued on the FutureBrand Index’s trend of 2020 in surging forward and are now perceived as indispensable towards innovating in the future.

Pfizer has jumped 15 places up the FutureBrand Index benefiting from its vaccine success, as well as the global realisation around the role pharmaceutical companies play in ensuring we can operate in the post-pandemic society.

Financial services

The sector has had its highest performance score since the FutureBrand Index began in 2014, as a result of the greater need to rely on and trust financial institutions when business has been struggling, incomes reduced and jobs lost.