Delta, Eli Lilly, JPMorgan, NVIDIA, Quanta, Thermo Fisher and Visa Sweep Extel's 2026 U.S. Survey

Seven companies placed first in all seven categories of Extel's 2026 All-America Executive Team Survey, which published on November 3, 2026. Delta Air Lines, Eli Lilly, JPMorgan Chase, NVIDIA, Quanta Services, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Visa each led their sectors, Business Wire reported.

How the Seven All-Stars Swept Their Sectors

Each of the seven companies placed first in its sector for Best CEO, Best CFO, Best Investor Relations Professional, Best IR Program, Best ESG, Best Investor/Analyst Event and Best Company Board. Delta Air Lines took the Airlines category, Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals, JPMorgan Chase Banks, NVIDIA Semiconductors, Quanta Services Engineering & Construction, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Science & Diagnostic Tools, and Visa Payments, Processors & IT Services.

Walmart posted the highest weighted score overall at 61, while Thermo Fisher Scientific led the seven All-Stars with 54. Extel is a New York-based provider of benchmark research and rankings for the investment community, founded in 1967 and formerly known as Institutional Investor, according to akta.pro company records.

Extel's New Attribute-Led Methodology

Nominations rose to 1,949 companies across 44 sectors, up from 1,425 in 2025. Voters included 2,895 money managers and buy-side analysts and 269 sell-side researchers, drawn from firms covering the region, including those who voted in Extel's 2026 All-America Research Team survey.

Votes are weighted from five down to one and combine buy-side and sell-side rankings. This year Extel introduced an attribute-led methodology: IR Program results rest on nominations for best in each of five performance attributes, CEO, CFO and IR Professional on two metrics each, and Company Board, ESG and Investor/Analyst Event on overall place. Around 100 companies earned the Most Honored Company designation, which requires a minimum weighted score of 15 overall, varying by market capitalization.

Ursula Kizy, Extel's sales director for the Americas, said, "When AI is reshaping the market, IR teams that anticipate investor questions and answer them clearly do more than limit share price volatility. They build the credibility that lasts."

Extel's 2026 Survey Season

Extel released its 2026 Asia (ex-Japan/ANZ) Executive Team rankings in May 2026, naming 195 companies as Honored and 55 as Most Honored, with 5,581 investors and analysts from 1,249 firms taking part, EIN Presswire reported. In September 2026, Extel hired Ursula Kizy, Liam Knox and Eldar Gainutdinov to strengthen its global sales team, according to EIN Presswire.

Where to Find the Full Results

Extel published the full list of winners on its results page.