Global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney has placed Apple on its Global Champions 2009 study. Apple was third overall, behind Nintendo (1st) and Google (2nd) in the study which focused on companies that outperformed peers over the past five years. Most of the top 25 companies managed 15 percent growth, compared to an average 8 percent growth for the entire sample of 2500 companies. Apple managed 41 percent median sales growth and 24 percent growth in median value.

To qualify for the list, companies had to have sales greater than $10 billion with at least 25 percent outside their home regions during the financially unstable 2008 calendar year. Apple was noted for its ability to satisfy new consumer demands for a simpler, more fulfilled lifestyle.

Doosan and Hyundai round out the top five, and Apple reseller Amazon managed 17th.