# 3 Verizon Communications

Rank: 15

Previous rank: 16

CEO: Lowell C. McAdam

Verizon Communications, the second-largest U.S. telecommunications group, saw profits buoyed by surging smartphone sales. Though its success last year -- including a $10 billion payment to Vodafone, which co-owns Verizon Wireless -- raised hackles with union members, the company could manage to maintain its rank in Fortune’s list.

# 2 AT &T

Rank: 11

Previous rank: 12

CEO: Randall L. Stephenson

The collaboration with T-Mobile U. S. A., a rival, turned into a boon to At & T as it could make one step ahead in the list. AT&T, after much hesitation, finally agreed to pay $39 billion for T-Mobile and the combined entity -- which would have allowed AT&T to spread the cost of running a national network over an additional 34 million customers -- didn't manage to pass muster with the government. Now, the company has to pay T-Mobile $3 billion in cash as well as should access to $1 billion worth of AT&T-held wireless spectrum as per the original acquisition agreement.

# 1 Hewlett-Packard

Rank: 10

Previous rank: 11

CEO: Margaret C. Whitman

Hewlett-Packard (hp), world's largest computer manufacturer, comes top in the list Pprepared by Fortune and it could make a jump from its previous position to the 10th rank. It all happens soon after it offered its top spot to former eBay boss Margaret C. Whitman. She was the ex-director of the company as well.

It was a right move for HP to invite Whitman. Because in her first decisive step itself, she announced the company would merge two of its biggest divisions, printers and PCs. A number of other strategic consolidations across business units are also in her mind to fulfill during her spell.