Apple has spent the last 3 years at the top of Barron's annual ranking of the world's most respected companies but has toppled from its perch.
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has stolen the crown, coming up from the 12th position last year. The Walt Disney Company is second place, Apple is third, with rival Google in fourth.
The bump for Berkshire Hathaway is likely about stock prices, which is up 25%. Apple hasn't had that kind of luck with its stock just above $400, down from a high of more than $700 last year. Apple isn't alone in getting the bad news. McDonald's fell to 8th from 3rd, while IBM moved to 10th place from 2nd.
Barron's has been d
