Apple topped the annual ranking of the world's most respected companies recently released by Barron's. The company has won the championship every year since 2010, excluding last year. The first 10 spots were all taken by companies from the United States.

Four Chinese companies made the list, including Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. (72) from Taiwan and three companies from the Chinese mainland -- China Mobile (96), Tencent Holdings (97) and China Construction Bank (99).

The companies were listed based on their performances in the capital market rather than the comments of consumers. The ranking is in accordance with the five standards of investors and institutions to companies: strong management, great business strategy, multinational commercial activities, more competitive advantages, revenue growth and profit growth.

Barron's, a top financial magazine in the United States, offers in-depth analysis and commentary on the markets.

Let's take a look at the top 10 most respected companies in 2014:

   3M

3M [baike.soso.com]

Rank in 2013: 7

Mean score: 3.28

Highly respect: 30%

Respect: 48%

Respect somewhat: 15%

Don't respect: 1%