Why it's admired:
Despite having to pay $1 billion in fees and taxes related to the healthcare overhaul in 2013 – an amount it expects to pay this year too – Johnson & Johnson's fourth quarter profit grew to $3.5 billion from $2.57 billion, led by pharmaceutical sales that were up 10.9% for the year. In January – in an unprecedented step that was applauded by the medical science community – J&J said it would release its clinical trial data for drugs and medical equipment like artificial hips and knees. --C.Z.