Photographs: Mark Blinch/Reuters
The annual letter sent by companies detailing its performance to shareholders is a good indicator of how transparent and open the company is, according to Rittenhouse Rankings, a corporate communications consulting firm. It says many firms send letters that are not only short in details, but also confusing, which makes it difficult for shareholders to get a clearer picture of the company's performance.
Let's take a look at 10 most secretive companies.
Source: 247wallst.com
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10 companies that are least transparent and candid
Photographs: Courtesy, cigna.com
Cigna Corporation
One-year share price change: +84.79 per cent
Industry: Health care plans
Overall rank: 1
Cigna Corporation, which is based in Connecticut, United States, is a provider of health case services around the world. Its health plans include dental, behavioural, disability, business travel and life components. The company, which has about 40,000 employees, has been ranked the most secretive by Rittenhouse.
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10 companies that are least transparent and candid
Photographs: Courtesy, humana.com
Humana Incorporated
One-year share price change: +46.38 per cent
Industry: Health care plans
Overall rank: 2
Humana Incorporated, which is based in Kentucky, United States, deals with health insurance services in America, Puerto Rico, Western Europe and Asia. It has more than a million customers, $36.5 billion in revenue and over 40,000 employees.
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10 companies that are least transparent and candid
Photographs: Rick Wilking/Reuters
Hewlett-Packard
One-year share price change: +44.79 per cent
Industry: Computer systems
Overall rank: 3
Hewlett-Packard, which is based in Palo Alto, California, creates technologies and offers solutions and services to individual clients, businesses and enterprises of all sizes.
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10 companies that are least transparent and candid
Photographs: Chris Keane/Reuters
Bank of America
One-year share price change: +97.04 per cent
Industry: Banking
Overall rank: 4
Bank of America, which is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, operates in the United States and in 40 other countries. It's one of the four biggest banks in America, has more than $100 billion in revenue and employs 262,812 staff.
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10 companies that are least transparent and candid
Photographs: Ints Kalnins/Reuters
L'Oreal
One-year share price change: +28.14 per cent
Industry: Cosmetics
Overall rank: 5
L'Oreal, which is based in Paris, France, is the largest cosmetics and beauty company in the world. Its operations stretch all across the globe, posted 22.46 billion euros revenue and has more than 72,000 employees.
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10 companies that are least transparent and candid
Photographs: Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Avon Products
One-year share price change: +47.95 per cent
Industry: Personal products
Overall rank: 6
Avon Products, which is based in New York City, United States, manufactures and distributes beauty products in more than 140 countries. The fifth-largest beauty company in the world posted $10.7 billion in sales, $10.717 billion in revenue and employed about 40,000 staff in 2012.
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10 companies that are least transparent and candid
Photographs: Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Tim Hortons
One-year share price change: +8.01 per cent
Industry: Restaurants
Overall rank: 7
Tim Hortons, which is based in Ontario, Canada, is famous for its coffee and doughnuts. The company has 3,453 restaurants in Canada, 808 in the United States and 27 in the Middle East. It posted $2.536 billion revenue, $647 million profit and employs more than 100,000 staff.
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10 companies that are least transparent and candid
Photographs: Robert Galbraith/Reuters
Cisco
One-year share price change: +60.31 per cent
Industry: Networking and communication
Overall rank: 8
Cisco, which is based in San Jose, California, manufactures and sells networking equipment all across the world. It posted $46.061 billion revenue, $10.065 billion income and employed more than 72,000 staff in 2012.
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10 companies that are least transparent and candid
Photographs: Brendan McDermid/Reuters
American International Group
One-year share price change: +53.35 per cent
Industry: Property and casualty insurance
Overall rank: 9
American International Group, which is based in New York City, offers life insurance, retirement services and mortgage insurance in more than 130 countries. AIG posted $65,656 million revenue, $6,635 million operating income and employed about 63,000 staff in 2012.
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10 companies that are least transparent and candid
Photographs: Dave Kaup/Reuters
ConAgra Foods
One-year share price change: +50.83 per cent
Industry: Processed and packaged goods
Overall rank: 10
ConAgra Foods, which is based in Nebraska, United States, manufactures and distributes products under different brand names in supermarkets and other establishments. ConAgra Foods posted $13.3 billion revenue and employed more than 26,000 staff in 2012.
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