Fortune's most admired
2.28.2006

GE is Fortune Magazine's Most Admired Company for the sixth time in the past decade. They are not the biggest or the most profitable but are always able to stay ahead of the game by embracing change. "Most people inside GE learn from the past but have a healthy disrespect for history," says CEO Jeff Immelt. "They have an ability to live in the moment and not be burdened by the past, which is extremely important."

Three Tennessee corporations have been included in the list. Memphis' FedEx was ranked number two overall. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store was ranked fourth in the food services category and HCA number three among healthcare companies.

Two other firms moving their North American headquarters to Tennessee this year, Nissan and International Paper, were respectively ranked fourth among automakers and second for social responsibility.
Hay Group, a global consulting firm, polled executives, directors and analysts for Fortune Magazine. The companies were rated for innovation, management, social responsibility, value, and five other factors.

Complete listing of Fortune Magazine's "America's Most Admired Companies":
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/mostadmired/index.html