A to Z List of Best Companies in the World. A company, abbreviated as co., is a legal entity representing an association of people, whether natural, legal or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members share a common purpose and unite to achieve specific, declared goals. Companies take various forms, such as:

• voluntary associations, which may include nonprofit organizations
• business entities, whose aim is generating profit
• financial entities and banks
• programs or educational institutions

A company can be created as a legal person so that the company itself has limited liability as members perform or fail to discharge their duty according to the publicly declared incorporation, or published policy. When a company closes, it may need to be liquidated to avoid further legal obligations.

Companies may associate and collectively register themselves as new companies; the resulting entities are often known as corporate groups.

Here is an A to Z List of Best Companies in the World (Funding Universe)

• 1-800-FLOWERS, Inc.
• 180s, L.L.C.
• 24 Hour Fitness Worldwide, Inc.
• 24/7 Real Media, Inc.
• 3Com Corporation
• 3M Company
• 4Kids Entertainment Inc.
• 5 & Diner Franchise Corporation
• 7-Eleven, Inc.
• 800-JR Cigar, Inc.
• 84 Lumber Company
• 99¢ Only Stores
• A & E Television Networks
• A & W Brands, Inc.
• A-dec, Inc.
• A-Mark Financial Corporation
• A. JOHNSON & COMPANY H.B. (since 1988: AXEL JOHNSON GROUP AB)
• A. Moksel AG
• A. S. Yakovlev Design Bureau
• A. Schulman, Inc.
• A.B. Watley Group Inc.
• A.B.Dick Company
• A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts, Inc.
• A.G. Edwards, Inc.
• A.H. Belo Corporation
• A.M. Castle & Co.
• A.O. Smith Corporation
• A.P. Møller – Maersk A/S
• A.T. Cross Company
• A.W. Faber-Castell Unternehmensverwaltung GmbH & Co.
• A/S Air Baltic Corporation
• AAF-McQuay Incorporated
• AAON, Inc.
• AAR Corp.
• Aardman Animations Ltd.
• Aarhus United A/S
• Aaron Rents, Inc.
• AARP
• Aavid Thermal Technologies, Inc.
• AB Volvo
• Abatix Corp.
• ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd.
• ABB Ltd.
• Abbey National plc
• Abbott Laboratories
• ABC Appliance, Inc.
• ABC Carpet & Home Co. Inc.
• ABC Family Worldwide, Inc.
• ABC Rail Products Corporation
• ABC Supply Co., Inc.
• Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
• Abertis Infraestructuras, S.A.
• Abigail Adams National Bancorp, Inc.
• Abiomed, Inc.
• Abitibi-Consolidated, Inc.
• ABM Industries Incorporated
• ABN AMRO Holding, N.V.
• Abrams Industries Inc.
• Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
• Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Inc.
• Academy Sports & Outdoors
• Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services, Inc.
• Acclaim Entertainment Inc.
• Accor S.A.
• ACE Cash Express, Inc.
• Ace Hardware Corporation
• Acer Inc.
• Aceto Corp.
• Ackerley Communications, Inc.
• Acme United Corporation
• Acme-Cleveland Corp.
• ACNielsen Corporation
• Acorn Products, Inc.
• Action Performance Companies, Inc.
• Activision, Inc.
• Acushnet Company
• Acuson Corporation
• Acxiom Corporation
• Adam Opel AG
• Adams Golf, Inc.
• Adaptec, Inc.
• ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
• Adecco S.A.
• Adelphia Communications Corporation
• ADESA, Inc.
• adidas-Salomon AG
• Administaff, Inc.
• Adobe Systems Inc.
• Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG
• Adolfo Dominguez S.A.
• Adolph Coors Company
• Adtran Inc.
• Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
• Advance Publications Inc.
• Advanced Circuits Inc.
• Advanced Fibre Communications, Inc.
• Advanced Marketing Services, Inc.
• Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Advanced Technology Laboratories, Inc.
• Advanstar Communications, Inc.
• Advanta Corporation
• Advantica Restaurant Group, Inc.
• Adventist Health
• Advo, Inc.
• Advocat Inc.
• Aegek S.A.
• AEGIS GROUP PLC
• AEGON N.V.
• AEI Music Network Inc.
• AEON Co., Ltd.
• AEP Industries, Inc.
• Aer Lingus Group plc
• AEROFLOT SOVIET AIRLINES
• Aeroflot–Russian International Airlines
• Aerojet-General Corp.
• Aerolíneas Argentinas S.A.
• Aéroports de Paris
• Aeroquip Corporation
• Aerosonic Corporation
• AES Corporation
• Aetna Inc.
• AFC Enterprises, Inc.
• Affiliated Computer Services, Inc.
• Affiliated Foods Inc.
• Affiliated Publications, Inc.
• Affinity Group Holding Inc.
• AFLAC Incorporated
• Africare
• After Hours Formalwear Inc.
• AG Barr plc
• Ag Services of America, Inc.
• Ag-Chem Equipment Company, Inc.
• AGCO Corporation
• Agence France-Presse
• Agere Systems Inc.
• Agfa Gevaert Group N.V.
• Aggregate Industries plc
• Aggreko Plc
• Agilent Technologies Inc.
• Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited
• Agway, Inc.
• AHL Services, Inc.
• Ahlstrom Corporation
• Air Berlin GmbH & Co. Luftverkehrs KG
• Air Canada
• Air Express International Corporation
• Air Jamaica Limited
• Air Mauritius Ltd.
• Air Methods Corporation
• Air New Zealand Limited
• Air Pacific Ltd.
• Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
• Air Sahara Limited
• Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation
• Air-India Limited
• Airborne Freight Corporation
• Airgas, Inc.
• AirTouch Communications
• Airtours Plc
• AirTran Holdings, Inc.
• Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd.
• Aiwa Co., Ltd.
• Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
• AK Steel Holding Corporation
• Akamai Technologies, Inc.
• AKG Acoustics GmbH
• Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.
• Akorn, Inc.
• Aktiebolaget Electrolux
• Aktiebolaget SKF
• Akzo Nobel N.V.
• Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc.
• Alain Afflelou SA
• Alamo Group Inc.
• Alamo Rent A Car, Inc.
• ALARIS Medical Systems, Inc.
• Alaska Air Group, Inc.
• Alaska Railroad Corporation
• Alba-Waldensian, Inc.
• Albemarle Corporation
• Alberta Energy Company Ltd.
• Alberto-Culver Company
• Albertson’s, Inc.
• Alcan Aluminium Limited
• Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Générale d’Electricité
• Alcatel S.A.
• Alcoa Inc.
• Alderwoods Group, Inc.
• Aldi Group
• Aldus Corporation
• Alexander & Alexander Services Inc.
• Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.
• Alexander’s, Inc.
• Alfa Corporation
• Alfa Laval AB
• Alfa Romeo
• Alfa, S.A. de C.V.
• Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG
• ALGEMENE BANK NEDERLAND N.V.
• Algo Group Inc.
• Alico, Inc.
• Alitalia-Linee Aeree Italiana, S.p.A.
• All American Communications Inc.
• All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd.
• Alldays plc
• Allders plc
• Alleanza Assicurazioni S.p.A.
• Alleghany Corporation
• Allegheny Energy, Inc.
• Allegheny Ludlum Corporation
• Allen Foods, Inc.
• Allen Organ Company
• Allen Systems Group, Inc.
• Allen-Edmonds Shoe Corporation
• Allergan, Inc.
• Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc.
• Alliance Capital Management Holding L.P.
• Alliance Entertainment Corp.
• Alliant Techsystems Inc.
• Allianz AG
• Allied Domecq PLC
• Allied Healthcare Products, Inc.
• Allied Products Corporation
• Allied Signal Engines
• Allied Waste Industries, Inc.
• Allied Worldwide, Inc.
• AlliedSignal Inc.
• Allison Gas Turbine Division
• Allmerica Financial Corporation
• Allou Health & Beauty Care, Inc.
• Alloy, Inc.
• Alltrista Corporation
• Allwaste, Inc.
• Aloha Airlines, Incorporated
• Alpharma Inc.
• Alpine Confections, Inc.
• Alpine Electronics, Inc.
• Alpine Lace Brands, Inc.
• Alrosa Company Ltd.
• Altadis S.A.
• Altera Corporation
• Alternative Tentacles Records
• Alticor Inc.
• Altiris, Inc.
• Altron Incorporated
• Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Inc.
• Alvis Plc
• ALZA Corporation
• Amalgamated Bank
• Amazon.com, Inc.
• AMB Property Corporation
• Ambac Financial Group, Inc.
• Ambassadors International, Inc.
• Amblin Entertainment
• AMC Entertainment Inc.
• AMCOL International Corporation
• Amcor Limited
• Amdahl Corporation
• Amdocs Ltd.
• Amec Spie S.A.
• Amedysis, Inc.
• Amer Group plc
• Amerada Hess Corporation
• AMERCO
• Ameren Corporation
• America West Holdings Corporation
• America’s Car-Mart, Inc.
• American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc.
• American Banknote Corporation
• American Bar Association
• American Biltrite Inc.
• American Business Information, Inc.
• American Business Products, Inc.
• American Cast Iron Pipe Company
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
• American Classic Voyages Company
• American Coin Merchandising, Inc.
• American Crystal Sugar Company
• American Cyanamid
• American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.
• American Electric Power Company, Inc.
• American Express Company
• American Furniture Company, Inc.
• American General Finance Corp.
• American Girl, Inc.
• American Golf Corporation
• American Gramaphone LLC
• American Greetings Corporation
• American Healthways, Inc.
• American Homestar Corporation
• American International Group, Inc.
• American Italian Pasta Company
• American Lawyer Media Holdings, Inc.
• American Locker Group Incorporated
• American Maize-Products Co.
• American Management Systems, Inc.
• American Media, Inc.
• American Medical Association
• AMERICAN MEDICAL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
• American Medical Response, Inc.
• American National Insurance Company
• American Pad & Paper Company
• American Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc.
• American Pop Corn Company
• American Power Conversion Corporation
• American Premier Underwriters, Inc.
• American Printing House for the Blind
• American Re Corporation
• American Red Cross
• American Residential Mortgage Corporation
• American Rice, Inc.
• American Safety Razor Company
• American Skiing Company
• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
• American Software Inc.
• American Standard Companies Inc.
• American Stores Company
• American Technical Ceramics Corp.
• American Tourister, Inc.
• American Tower Corporation
• American Vanguard Corporation
• American Water Works Company, Inc.
• American Woodmark Corporation
• AMERIGROUP Corporation
• Amerihost Properties, Inc.
• AmerisourceBergen Corporation
• Ameristar Casinos, Inc.
• Ameritech Corporation
• Ameritrade Holding Corporation
• Ameriwood Industries International Corp.
• Amerock Corporation
• Ameron International Corporation
• Amersham PLC
• Ames Department Stores, Inc.
• AMETEK, Inc.
• Amey Plc
• AMF Bowling, Inc.
• Amfac/JMB Hawaii L.L.C.
• Amgen, Inc.
• AMICAS, Inc.
• Amkor Technology, Inc.
• Amnesty International
• Amoco Corporation
• Amoskeag Company
• AMP Incorporated
• Ampacet Corporation
• Ampex Corporation
• Amphenol Corporation
• AMR Corporation
• AMREP Corporation
• Amscan Holdings, Inc.
• Amsted Industries Incorporated
• Amtran, Inc.
• AMVESCAP PLC
• Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
• Anaheim Angels Baseball Club, Inc.
• Analog Devices, Inc.
• Analogic Corporation
• Analysts International Corporation
• Analytic Sciences Corporation
• Analytical Surveys, Inc.
• Anam Group
• Anaren Microwave, Inc.
• Anchor Bancorp, Inc.
• Anchor Brewing Company
• Anchor Gaming
• Anchor Hocking Glassware
• Andersen
• Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
• Andrew Corporation
• Andrews Kurth, LLP
• Andrews McMeel Universal
• Andronico’s Market
• Andrx Corporation
• Angelica Corporation
• Anglo American PLC
• Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
• Anker BV
• Annie’s Homegrown, Inc.
• AnnTaylor Stores Corporation
• ANR Pipeline Co.
• Anritsu Corporation
• Ansell Ltd.
• Ansoft Corporation
• Anteon Corporation
• Anthem Electronics, Inc.
• Anthony & Sylvan Pools Corporation
• Antofagasta plc
• Antonov Design Bureau
• AO VimpelCom
• AOL Time Warner Inc.
• Aon Corporation
• Apache Corporation
• Apartment Investment and Management Company
• Apex Digital, Inc.
• APi Group, Inc.
• APL Limited
• Apogee Enterprises, Inc.
• Apollo Group, Inc.
• Applause Inc.
• Apple Bank for Savings
• Apple Computer, Inc.
• Applebee’s International, Inc.
• Applied Bioscience International, Inc.
• Applied Micro Circuits Corporation
• Applied Power Inc.
• Aprilia SpA
• AptarGroup, Inc.
• Aqua Alliance Inc.
• Aquarius Platinum Ltd.
• Aquila, Inc.
• AR Accessories Group, Inc.
• Aracruz Celulose S.A.
• Aral AG
• Aramark Corporation
• Arandell Corporation
• ARBED S.A.
• Arbor Drugs Inc.
• Arby’s Inc.
• Arcadia Group plc
• Arcadis NV
• Arch Mineral Corporation
• Arch Wireless, Inc.
• Archer-Daniels-Midland Company
• Archie Comics Publications, Inc.
• Archstone-Smith Trust
• Archway Cookies, Inc.
• ARCO Chemical Company
• Arcor S.A.I.C.
• Arctco, Inc.
• Arctic Cat Inc.
• Arctic Slope Regional Corporation
• ARD
• Arden Group, Inc.
• Argosy Gaming Company
• ARGYLL GROUP PLC
• Ariba, Inc.
• Ariens Company
• Aris Industries, Inc.
• Aristocrat Leisure Limited
• Arjo Wiggins Appleton p.l.c.
• Ark Restaurants Corp.
• Arkansas Best Corporation
• ARKLA, INC.
• Arla Foods amba
• Armor All Products Corp.
• Armor Holdings, Inc.
• Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
• Army and Air Force Exchange Service
• Arnold & Porter
• Arnold Clark Automobiles Ltd.
• Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A.
• Arnott’s Ltd.
• ArQule, Inc.
• Arriva PLC
• Arrow Air Holdings Corporation
• Arrow Electronics, Inc.
• Art Van Furniture, Inc.
• Arthur D. Little, Inc.
• Arthur Murray International, Inc.
• Artisan Entertainment Inc.
• ArvinMeritor, Inc.
• AS Est