This conclusion was reached by the website 24/7 Wall St.com, which examined hundreds of companies using data based on employee impressions, returns to shareholders, customer satisfaction, brand valuation, and viewpoints of taxpayers, Congress and the administration.

 

AIG topped the list of 15 most hated companies because 1) it received almost $180 billion from taxpayers in bailout funds; 2) employee morale is unusually low; 3) its brand reputation is so bad that some of its divisions go by other names; and 4) its equity investors were wiped out when its market capitalization lost 99% of value during the last two years. Here is the full list:

 

1. AIG

2. United Airlines

3. Level 3 (broadband network)

4. Hertz

5. Citigroup

6. K-Mart

7. Blackwater (a.k.a. Xe)

8. Dell

9. Abercrombie & Fitch

10. Chrysler

11. Dish Network

12. Rite Aid

13. Gibson Guitar

14. Forever 21

15. Sprint

-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky

 

The 15 Most Hated Companies In America (24/7WallSt.com)