Apple Inc Still World’s Most Valuable Brand, Samsung Picks Up at No. 2

Apple Inc is listed as number one among the world's most valuable brands as listed by brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance. Samsung picked up at number two.

In order to come up with the list, Brand Finance used their Brand Strength Index and metrics include "desirability, loyalty and consumer sentiment to visual identity, online presence and employee satisfaction."

Brand Finance, however, pointed that Samsung might topple Apple down from the list soon.

Apple's brand value reached $104.7 billion, which was up 20% from 2013. Samsung's value trailed at $78.8 billion, But that value rose 34%.

"Apple's dominance is being challenged by Samsung however. The Korean giant's improving reputation for reliability, a faster pace of innovation and wider range of devices are among many factors that have seen its brand value increase by US$20 billion to US$79 billion this year," analysts from Brand Finance wrote.

Among the top ten were:

- Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) with a brand value of $68.6 billion, up 32%.

- Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) at $62.8%, up 38%.

- Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), which posted the top percentage gain among the top 10, up 74% to $53.5 bn

- General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) at $52.5 billion, up 41%.

- AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) up 49% to $45.4 billion.

- Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), up 23% to $45.1 billion.

- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT), up 6% to $44.8 billion.

- International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM), which rose 10% to $41.5 billion.

The survey also listed the top countries which brand dominated the list.

The US brands still dominate the Brand Finance's list with 185 brands taking the 500 spots. Japan brands also hold significant numbers from the list with it biggest brands Toyota, Mitsubishi and Honda. Brands from Germany, France and the UK complete the top 5 countries.

China is at number 6 with Huawei and Baidu both increased their brand values by over 50 per cent.

Top Twenty Brands:

1. Apple

2. Samsung

3. Google

4. Microsoft

5. Verizon

6. General Electric

7. At7T

8. Amazon

9. Walmart

10. IBM