Despite a recent string of controversies, Johnson & Johnson was ranked the top pharma company among Fortune's list of the world's most admired companies.
For its 2019 list, Fortune collected survey responses from more than 3,750 analysts, directors and executives who rated companies based on nine categories, including long-term investment value, innovation and social responsibility.
Pharmaceutical executives and non-pharmaceutical executives shared a positive view of J&J, helping the drugmaker claim the No. 17 spot on Fortune's "All-Star" list. It ranks among other big names such as Amazon, Apple, Starbucks and Netflix.
When assessing pharma companies, J&J finished first in each of the nine categories assessed. Seven other pharmaceutical companies made the list, including Merck, Roche, Novartis, Amgen, Bristol-Myers, Pfizer and AbbVie.
The placement on the Fortune list comes amid a string of negative news reports about J&J. In December, it was reported that the pharma company knew for decades that carcinogenic asbestos lurked in its baby powder.
This week, J&J paid $120 million to settle a lawsuit with 46 states, claiming that its DePuy unit used deceptive marketing techniques to sell its metal-on-metal hip implants.