Clean Sweep for Seven Companies in Extel’s 2026 U.S. Corporates Survey

Delta, Eli Lilly, JPMorgan Chase, NVIDIA, Quanta Services, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Visa took first place in every category for their sectors. Walmart recorded the 2026 survey’s highest weighted score.

Seven companies swept all seven categories on the Overall leaderboard of Extel’s 2026 All-America Executive Team Survey, which published today. Each placed first in its sector for Best CEO, Best CFO, Best Investor Relations Professional, Best IR Program, Best ESG, Best Investor/Analyst Event and Best Company Board.

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The “All-Star” companies are:

• Delta Air Lines (Airlines)
• Eli Lilly and Co. (Pharmaceuticals)
• JPMorgan Chase & Co. (Banks)
• NVIDIA Corp. (Semiconductors)
• Quanta Services (Engineering & Construction)
• Thermo Fisher Scientific (Life Science & Diagnostic Tools)
• Visa (Payments, Processors & IT Services)

Walmart posted the highest weighted score overall at 61. Among the All-Stars, Thermo Fisher Scientific led with 54.

Extel’s methodology

Nominations rose sharply. A total of 1,949 companies were nominated across 44 sectors, up from 1,425 in 2025. Voters included 2,895 money managers and buy-side analysts and 269 sell-side researchers, drawn from firms covering the region, including those who voted in Extel’s 2026 All-America Research Team survey. They named the best CEOs, CFOs and investor relations professionals in their coverage universes and gave anonymized feedback.

Votes are weighted by rating, from five down to one, and overall rankings combine buy-side and sell-side votes. This year, we introduced a new, attribute-led methodology. IR Program results are based on nominations for best in each of five performance attributes. CEO, CFO and IR Professional are based on two metrics each, and Company Board, ESG and Investor/Analyst Event are based on overall place.

Votes are place weighted. A first-place nomination is worth five points, second place is four points, and so on. Total points achieved per company or individual are aggregated to produce the sector or market-cap based rankings.

Company Board, ESG and Investor/Analyst Event nominations were solicited separately.

To be named a Most Honored Company, a company must reach a minimum weighted score across its published positions in the seven categories. The threshold is 15 overall and varies by market capitalization: 18 for MegaCap and X-LargeCap, 17 for LargeCap, and 12 for SMID Cap. Around 100 companies earned the designation this year.

Extel splits results into market-cap groups to recognize more companies: Overall (all market caps), MegaCap ($200B and above), X-LargeCap ($50B to $200B), LargeCap ($10B to $50B) and SMID (under $10B). MegaCap companies are ranked against a custom peer group of mega caps rather than by sector.

To be eligible, a company must be headquartered, or have operational or executive headquarters, in the region. Respondent identities are kept confidential, voters must meet eligibility requirements, and winners must reach a minimum vote count.

Most Honored Companies ranked first in their sectors

Alignment Healthcare, Alphabet, American Express Co., Apple, Baker Hughes, Berkshire Hathaway, Carpenter Technology Corp., Casey’s General Stores, Chevron Corp., Coca-Cola Co., Delta Air Lines, Eli Lilly and Co., GE Aerospace, GE Vernova, Gilead Sciences, HCA Healthcare, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, International Paper Co., Intuitive Surgical, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Linde, Microsoft Corp., Mondelez International, Morgan Stanley, NextEra Energy, Nextpower, NVIDIA Corp., Prologis, Quanta Services, Ralph Lauren Corp., Roku, Royal Caribbean Group, Starbucks Corp., Tesla, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Timken Co., T-Mobile US, Toll Brothers, Union Pacific Corp., Valero Energy Corp., Visa, Walmart, Waste Connections and Williams Cos.

Ursula Kizy, Extel’s sales director for the Americas said, “When AI is reshaping the market, IR teams that anticipate investor questions and answer them clearly do more than limit share price volatility. They build the credibility that lasts. Financial performance drives short-term sentiment, but our results consistently show a strong correlation between IR credibility and recognition in the Extel survey.”

For the full list of published winners, visit: https://www.extelinsights.com/results/executive-teams/allamerica/2026?tab=Overview

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Extel owns the copyright to all survey and awards logos. Speak with us to acquire access to the Extel award or award logo so that you can share your winning position in the 2026 All-America Executive Team ranking across your website content, advertisements, communications, marketing collateral, and more.

Please contact marketing@extelinsights.com

Benchmark Data and IR Perception Analysis

To request further information on how you can use survey data to market your firm’s capabilities internally or externally, or deeper analysis of survey data, contact ursula.kizy@extelinsights.com

About Extel

For over 55 years Extel (formerly known as Institutional Investor) has offered highly-respected proprietary benchmark research and rankings, providing independent feedback on the sell-side and corporate performance; Extel aims to be the first-choice independent validation source of qualitative market intelligence for all three sides of the investment community and has a global presence spanning Europe, Emerging EMEA, Asia Pacific, North America and Latin America. Follow Extel on LinkedIn – search ‘Extel Insights.’

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When AI is reshaping the market, IR teams that anticipate investor questions and answer them clearly do more than limit share price volatility. They build the credibility that lasts.