1. Amazon

Brand value: $150.8 billion
Percentage change from last year: +42%
Last year's rank: 3
Up 47% from its 2017 value, Amazon is the largest online business by market capitalization and revenue. Beyond being an online retailer, it produces cloud infrastructure and electronics and is present in music and video streaming. In addition, the 2017 $13.7 billion Whole Foods acquisition took Amazon from the digital to the physical realm. 

2. Apple

Brand value: $146.3 billion
Percentage change from last year: +37%
Last year's rank: 2
Apple defends the #2 ranking when it comes to brand value, rebounding after a 27% drop in 2017.  Nearly two-thirds of Apple revenue comes from the iPhone, making it essential for the phones to sell well if Apple wants to hold onto the #2 spot again next year, the report states. 

3. Google

Brand value: $120.9 billion
Percentage change from last year: +10%
Last year's rank: 1
Google dropped down from #1 to #3, despite better-than-expected performance in 2017. At the end of the day, Google is struggling to keep up with the #1 brand because, while it champions internet search and cloud technology, it doesn't focus as much of its energy on other sectors, according to the report.  

4. Samsung

Brand value: $92.3 billion
Percentage change from last year: +39%
Last year's rank: 6
Samsung held the #6 spot last year, and is climbing the ranks to become one of the most powerful tech companies in the world. In addition to the Galaxy phones, Samsung offers tablets, TVs, home appliances, home security, and more.

5. Facebook

Brand value: $89.7 billion
Percentage change from last year: +45%
Last year's rank: 9
Facebook is up 45% from last year when it was #9 on the list of most valuable brands. The brand is benefitting from the dominance of digital content, according to the report.