Computer companies are tops, according to Business Week’s new performance rankings of the Standard and Poor’s 500 companies. Intel, Microsoft, Dell Computer and Cisco Systems were ranked first through fourth, respectively. The rankings are based on the idea that performance means growth and companies are rated on eight key criteria, among which are growth in sales, profits and return to shareholders. These figures are analyzed over both one year and three year periods. Also considered are profit margins and return on equity. Joining the above companies in the top twenty are Compaq, Oracle, Sun and EMC. Being in the computer industry is no guarantee of success, however. Languishing at the bottom of the performance food chain are: Novell (470), Tandem (473), Unisys (475), DEC (485), Apple (489) and Intergraph (494).
