In an effort to raise awareness for women-led companies in the stock market, DailyFX has indexed the best performing companies that have a woman at the steering wheel.
We looked at the companies within the FTSE 100, S&P 500 and ASX 200 who are led by women. Our ranking then scored them out of 10 against a number of metrics such as revenue performance, market cap, number of employees, stock price, stock market rank and employee satisfaction.
GlaxoSmithKline Ranks as the best performing women-led company in the FTSE 100
Rank
Company
Ticker Symbol
Founder/CEO
Market Value
Market Cap
No. of Employees
Annual Revenue
Rank within FTSE
100
Stock Market Price (GBP)
Dividends %
Employee Satisfaction
Overall Score
1
GlaxoSmithKline
GSK
Emma Walmsley
GBP65bn (USD $92.1)
GBP48.5bn (USD $68.7bn)
99,400
GBP24.3bn(USD $34.4bn)
9
GBP1,277.60 (USD $1,810.89)
5.9
3.8
8
2
Severn Trent
SVT
Liv Garfield
GBP5.4bn(USD $7.7bn)
GBP4.1bn(USD $5.8bn)
6,800
GBP1.3bn
(USD $1.86bn)
83
GBP2,307 (USD $3,269.98)
4.1
4.1
5
3
Whitbread
WTB
Alison Brittain
GBP6.1bn(USD $8.6bn)
GBP4.9bn(USD $7bn)
35,500
GBP1.5bn (USD $2.13bn)
69
GBP3,490 (USD $4,947)
0
3.8
4
4
ITV PLC
ITV
Carolyn McCall
0
GBP3.4bn(USD $4.8bn)
6,400
GBP2bn (USD $2.8bn)
91
GBP121.8 (USD $171.51)
1.7
4.1
4
Out of all the companies listed on The Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 index, just 4 have a woman at the helm.
Ranking on top as the best scoring woman-led firm on the FTSE100 is pharmaceutical enterprise GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Emma Walmsley has been their CEO since 2017 when she became the first woman to run a major pharmaceutical company.
Under Walmsey’s command an overall score of 8 out of 10 is obtained, with factors such as high employee satisfaction (3.8) and ranking 9th on the stock market being the biggest contributors.
In second place is the English water company Severn Trent (SVT). Led by Liv Garfield since 2014, the firm secures an overall score of 5 out of 10 on our index. SVT sees some of the highest employee satisfaction in this index at 4.1 amongst the 6,800 members of staff, as well as a dividend of 4.11% and stock market price of GBP2,307 per share.
Coming in third is the multinational British hotel and restaurant company, Whitbread, with Alison Brittain in charge. Alison joined the company in 2016 from Lloyds Banking Group, taking over the role of CEO from Andy Harrison.
The parent company of Premier Inn, Whitbread restaurants and Costa Coffee scores an overall 4 out of 10 in our study, with aspects such as an employee satisfaction rate of 3.8, position 69 on the stock market and the highest price per share in this list at GBP3,490.
Accenture tops the ranking as best women-led company in the S&P 500
Rank
Company
Ticker
Founder/CEO
Market Value
Market Cap
No. of Employees
Annual Revenue
Rank within Stock Market
Stock Market Price
Dividends %
Employee Satisfaction
Overall Score
1
Accenture
ACN
Julie Sweet
GBP173bn
(USD $245bn)
GBP183bn (USD $259.4bn)
513,000
GBP44.3bn (USD $62.8bn)
39
GBP290.16 (USD $411.3)
1.35%
3.9
8
2
United Parcel Service
UPS
Carol Tome
GBP145bn
(USD $206bn)
GBP153bn (USD $217bn)
495,000
GBP84.6bn (USD $120bn)
61
GBP177.24 (USD $251.22)
2.40%
3.6
7
3
Oracle Corporation
ORCL
Safra Catz
GBP190bn
(USD $269bn)
GBP213bn (USD $302bn)
135,000
GBP39.1bn (USD $55.4bn)
58
GBP75.02 (USD $106.31)
1.48%
3.7
6
4
General Motors Company
GM
Mary Barra
GBP59.6bn
(USD $84.5bn)
GBP83.8bn (USD $119bn)
155,000
GBP137.2bn (USD $194.5bn)
109
GBP56.77 (USD $80.5)
3.65%
4.0
6
5
Anthem
ANTM
Gail Boudreaux
GBP79.9bn
(USD $113.2bn)
GBP92.4bn (USD $131bn)
70,600
GBP104.2bn (USD $147.7bn)
86
GBP380 (USD $538.62)
1.18%
3.6
6
6
Duke Energy Corporation
DUK
Lynn Good
GBP67.4bn (USD $95.5bn)
GBP76.3bn (USD $108bn)
28,800
GBP25.1bn (USD $35.6bn)
101
GBP100.5 (USD $142.45)
4.22%
4.1
5
7
Northrop Grumman Corporation
NOC
Kathy Warden
GBP50.8bn
(USD $72bn)
GBP54.4bn (USD $77.1bn)
97,000
GBP33.8bn (USD $47.9bn)
139
GBP343.33 (USD $486.64)
1.90%
4.0
5
8
Advanced Micro Devices
AMD
Lisa Su
GBP110bn
(USD $156bm)
GBP104bn (USD $147bn)
12,600
GBP6.7bn (USD $9.5bn)
81
GBP79.65 (USD $112.90)
0%
4.1
4
9
General Dynamics
GD
Phebe Novakovic
GBP42.7bn
(USD $60.5bn)
GBP53bn (USD $75.1bn)
104,000
GBP39.3bn (USD $55.7bn)
164
GBP183.81 (USD $260.54)
2.96%
3.4
4
10
The Progressive Corporation
PGR
Tricia Griffith
GBP59bn
(USD $83.6bn)
GBP58.4bn (USD $82.8bn)
35,000
GBP42.6bn (USD $60.4bn)
130
GBP100.15 (USD $141.95)
0.40%
4.0
4
11
Zoetis
ZTS
Kristin Peck
GBP78.7bn
(USD $112bn)
GBP80.7bn (USD $114bn)
10,000
GBP6.3bn (USD $8.9bn)
97
GBP169.08 (USD $239.66)
0.48%
3.7
4
12
Best Buy Co., Inc
BBY
Corie Barry
GBP29.4bn
(USD $41.7bn)
GBP29.6bn (USD $42bn)
102,000
GBP43bn (USD $61bn)
261
GBP118.43 (USD $167.86)
2.20%
3.8
4
13
The Clorox Company
CLX
Linda Rendle
GBP25.5bn
(USD $36.1bn)
GBP23.6bn (USD $33.4bn)
8,800
GBP6.7bn (USD $9.5bn)
283
GBP194.5 (USD $275.69)
2.20%
4.1
4
14
Ventas
VTR
Debra Cafaro
GBP18.4bn
(USD $26bn)
GBP20.9bn (USD $29.6bn)
500
GBP3.8bn (USD $5.4bn)
318
GBP55.28 (USD $78.35)
3.67%
4.3
4
15
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
VRTX
Reshma Kewalramani
GBP61.5bn
(USD $87.2bn)
GBP56.6bn (USD $80.2bn)
3,400
GBP4.2bn (USD $5.9bn)
134
GBP215.61 (USD $305.61)
0%
3.7
4
16
Hershey Company
HSY
Michele Buck
GBP31.7bn
(USD $44.9bn)
GBP32.9bn (USD $46.6bn)
16,140
GBP8bn (USD $11.3bn)
290
GBP162.24 (USD $229.96)
2.11%
4.0
4
17
CDW Corporation
CDW
Christine Leahy
GBP18.9bn
(USD $26.8bn)
GBP25.6bn (USD $36.3bn)
6,800
GBP18.5bn (USD $26.2bn)
279
GBP184.99 (USD $262.21)
1.21%
4.1
4
18
Ross Stores
ROST
Barbara Rentler
GBP43.7bn
(USD $61.9bn)
GBP45.4bn (USD $64.3bn)
88,100
GBP16bn (USD $22.7bn)
153
GBP128.44 (USD $182.05)
0.93%
3.4
3
19
Synchrony Financial
SYF
Margaret Keane
GBP20.3bn (USD $28.8bn)
GBP24.1bn (USD $34.2bn)
16,500
GBP17.2bn (USD $24.4bn)
307
GBP40.01 (USD $56.71)
2.54%
4.1
3
20
Arista Networks
ANET
Jayshree Ullal
GBP22bn (USD $31.2bn)
GBP24.5bn (USD $34.7bn)
2,300
GBP2.4bn (USD $3.4bn)
370
GBP312.71 (USD $443.24)
0%
4.1
3
21
Regency Centers Corporation
REG
Lisa Palmer
GBP7.7bn (USD $10.9bn)
GBP10.6bn (USD $15bn)
450
GBP1bn (USD $1.4bn)
463
GBP61.07 (USD $86.56)
4.09%
4.2
3
22
NDAQ
Adena Friedman
GBP21.8bn (USD $30.9bn)
GBP26.4bn (USD $37.4bn)
4,360
GBP4.3bn (USD $6.1bn)
348
GBP160 (USD $226.79)
1.48%
4.0
3
23
Celanese Corporation
CE
Lori Ryerkerk
GBP15.2bn
(USD $21.5bn)
GBP17.8bn (USD $25.2bn)
7,710
GBP5.7bn (USD $8.1bn)
363
GBP157 (USD $225.53)
1.91%
3.8
3
24
Ulta Beauty, Inc
ULTA
Mary Dillon
GBP16.2bn (USD $23bn)
GBP18.2bn (USD $25.8bn)
44,000
GBP6.2bn (US $8.8bn)
355
GBP323.75 (USD $458.89)
0%
3.5
3
25
Gap
GPS
Sonia Syngal
GBP7.6bn (USD $10.8bn)
GBP12.5bn (USD $17.2bn)
129,000
GBP13.8bn (USD $19.6bn)
492
GBP33.44 (USD $47.40)
2.90%
3.8
3
26
Franklin Resources
BEN
Jennifer Johnson
GBP12.6bn (USD $17.9bn)
GBP15.2bn (USD $21.5bn)
9,600
GBP5.6bn (USD $7.9bn)
483
GBP28.21 (USD $39.99)
3.81%
3.8
3
27
Kohl’s Corporation
KSS
Michelle Gass
GBP9.4bn (USD $13.3bn)
GBP9.2bn (USD $13bn)
122,000
GBP16bn (USD $22.7bn)
N/a
GBP58.8 (USD $83.3)
1.72%
3.6
3
28
CMS Energy Corporation
CMS
Patricia Poppe
GBP17.5bn (USD $24.8bn)
GBP18.5bn (USD $26.2bn)
8,789
GBP6.8bn (USD $9.6bn)
347
64.51 (USD $91.4)
2.67%
3.2
2
29
Coty
COTY
Sue Nabi
GBP7.6bn (USD $10.8bn)
GBP7.6bn (USD $10.8bn)
18,260
GBP4.7bn (USD $6.7bn)
N/a
GBP9.78 (USD $13.86)
4.70%
3.1
2
30
Tapestry, Inc
TPR
Joanne Crevoiserat
GBP8.6bn (USD $12.2bn)
GBP12.8bn (USD $18.1bn)
17,300
GBP4.6bn (USD $6.5bn)
432
GBP45.84 (USD $64.97)
0.70%
3.9
2
31
Occidental Petroleum
OXY
Vicki Hollub
GBP16.1bn (USD $22.8bn)
GBP23.2bn (USD $32.9bn)
14,400
GBP20.4bn (USD $28.9bn)
325
GBP24.04 (USD $34.07)
0.23%
3.5
2
The Standard and Poor’s 500 index includes 500 of the largest companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States. But there’s just 31 women-led firms ranking, equivalent to 6.2%.
Ranking as the best company managed by a woman on this index is the Irish-domiciled multinational providing consulting and processing services Accenture (ACN), where Julie Sweet has been the CEO since 2019. Additionally, she’s a member of Accenture’s Global Management Committee and The New York Times called her “one of the most powerful women in corporate America.”
Under Sweet’s command, the company scores an overall score of 8 out of 10 in our study. This is thanks to the high satisfaction of her nearly 100,000 employees at 3.9, an astonishing market value of GBP173 billion and her securement of rank 39 on the stock market.
Ranking second is United Parcel Service, better known as UPS. At this parcel service it is Carol Tome leading, and locking in an overall score of 7 out of 10. Their workforce of nearly half a million gives the firm an employee satisfaction rate of 3.6, on top of which the company has an annual revenue of GBP84.6 billion and market value of GBP146 billion.
Following suit in third place with an overall score of 6 out of 10 is the computer software firm Oracle Corporation (ORCL) where Israeli-American Safra Catz took the seat of authority in 2014. With a market cap of GBP213 billion, rank of 58 on the exchange and staff satisfaction of 3.7 this is a well-deserved achievement.
Margaret Yang, DailyFX Strategist, says: “Although the corporate world has pursued strategies to promote women to leadership roles for years, the gender gap remains wide at the helm of the world’s top listed companies. These standouts can serve as role models to inspire other women to aim for the top job.”
Macquarie Group Ltd is the best performing women-led company in the ASX 200
Rank
Company
Ticker Symbol
Founder/CEO
Market Value -(AUD)
Market Cap – (AUD)
No. of Employees
Annual Revenue – (AUD)
Rank within Stock Market
Stock Market Price (AUD)
Dividends %
Employee Satisfaction
Overall Score
1
Macquarie Group Ltd
MQG
Shemara Wikramanayake
$90.6bn (USD $70.1bn)
$17.6bn (USD $13.6bn)
15,700
$10.6bn (USD $8.2bn)
9
$290.15 (USD $224.5)
1.99
4
8
2
Coca-Cola Amatil
CCL
Alison Watkins
$17bn (USD $13.5bn)
$17.6bn (USD $13.6bn)
12,000
$8.8m (USD $6.8bn)
51
$24.35 (USD $18.84)
2.03
3.7
6
3
CSR Ltd
CSR
Julie Coates
$4.6bn (USD $3.6bn)
$5.5bn (USD $4.3bn)
2,800
$4bn (USD $3.1bn)
141
$11.04 (USD $8.54)
1.41
3.6
5
Australian’s stock market index, ASX 200, scores most poorly out of the three indexes with as little as 3 women CEOs listed, making up just 2%.
But that doesn’t stop Shemara Wikramanayake, CEO of the multinational investment firm Macquarie Group Limited, from achieving excellent scores with an overall rank of 8 out of 10. This is thanks to the company ranking within the top 10 (9th) on the stock market, an annual revenue of $10.6 billion (AUD) and market value of $90.6 billion. Wickramanayake joined the firm in 1987, taking on the role of CEO in 2018. Not only is she the only woman CEO amongst Australia’s top 20 biggest companies, she is also the first Asian-Australian woman to head an ASX 200 listed company.
Following suit is Coca-Cola Amatil Limited (CCL), led by managing director Alison Watkins, helping the company secure a score of 6 out of 10. Elements contributing to this score include the satisfaction of their 12,000 staff members at 3.7, ranking 51st on the stock market with a market cap of $17.6 billion.
Third place is for industrial company CSR Limited (CRS), run by Julie Coates since 2019. A market cap of $5.5 billion, annual revenue of $4 billion and 2,823 members of staff giving a satisfactory score of 3.6 accumulate to an overall score of 5 out of 10 for this Australian woman-front firm.
Key takeaways
There are many women leaders across the world changing the face of economics, business and finance. However, our research has shown that there is still a big gap between the number of organizations with a male CEO versus the number of firms that have a woman CEO. With an average of less than 10% of companies being women-led, there is still a lot of work to be done to reach anything close to equality.
As Daniela Sabin Hathorn, DailyFX analyst, says: “Although a lot has changed in the last few decades, the top spots at the world’s biggest companies continue to be mostly reserved for men. The companies listed above are a great example of how women are leading the way in their respective fields, and will hopefully serve as an example to future women leaders so we can tip the scales of equality even further.”
DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.
Sources & Methodology
In order to establish the best performing women led companies, we took a variety of metrics such as market value, market cap, number of employees, annual revenue, rank within stock market, dividends and employee satisfaction and created a ranking system.
Finding the average from these scores gave an overall ranking. Where numbers deemed higher to be better, such as company revenue, a higher score was given. Where numbers deemed lower to be better, such as rank in the stock market, a higher score was also given.
Stock price data taken on 23/04/2021, with the full data set being collected through a date range of 23/04/2021 to 27/04/2021. Currency conversions were accurate as of 21/5/2021.
https://www.value.today/stocks/
https://companiesmarketcap.com
https://www.glassdoor.co.uk
https://www.hl.co.uk/
https://www.statista.com
https://www.marketindex.com.au
