MDM is proud to once again report which wholesale distributors were represented on Forbes’ annual “Most Trusted Companies in America” list, which was published for the third time on Oct. 22.

To create the list, Forbes analyzed more than 1,500 public and private companies with at least 10,000 employees. From there, Forbes created a list of the top 300. Companies were scored across six criteria — employee sentiment, customer sentiment, financial performance, business trajectory, media sentiment and workforce stability — with each relying on an existing ratings or data source publication. Overall, more than 50 total metrics are factored in. See Forbes’ full methodology here.

That process resulted in a final list of 300 companies that spans business categories from tech giants, to manufacturers, grocery chains, credit card companies, restaurants, and yes, wholesale distributors.

See MDM’s 2026 Top Distributors Lists Here

Computing, AI chips and graphics processing units giant NVIDIA topped the list for a second straight year, while Amazon fell from No. 2 to No. 11. Marriott, Delta Air Lines, Chick-fil-A and Costco were the others in the top five.

Context to Keep in Mind

Let’s restate the critical context that we did last year: Forbes’ list only accounts for large companies — needing at least 10,000 employees to qualify. Numerous recent studies show that Americans trust large companies significantly less than small ones. So, one could say that achieving trustworthy status — whether measured or just by word-of-mouth — is critical for large organizations, given how hard it is to garner from the general public.

Meanwhile, Forbes noted a 2024 PwC survey that found 90% of business executives think customers highly trust their companies while only 30% of consumers actually do — a gap that has grown over time. Additionally, a Salsify study found that 68% of shoppers say they have paid a higher price for a product because they trust the brand over others.

Without further ado, here’s which distributors made the cut for Forbes’ 2027 Most Trusted Companies in America list, how they ranked, who their CEO is, and which industry sector Forbes categorized them in.

Notes:

• All of the above companies were among MDM’s 2026 Top Distributors Lists, and eight are NAW members — 9 if you count Motion, which is a subsidiary of Genuine Parts until early next year
• The Home Depot — which acquired building materials suppliers SRS Distribution and GMS in 2024-2025 along with numerous other industrial distributors over the past 30 years — was No. 79 (80 in 2025).
• Lowe’s — which acquired building materials distributor Foundation Building Materials in 2025  — was No. 185 (166 in 2025)

“As an employee-owned company since 1929, Graybar’s long-term success has always been rooted in trust,” said Kathleen M. Mazzarella, Graybar’s Chairman, President and CEO said in a company statement. “Our core values guide how we work and serve our customers, with integrity at the center of everything we do. We are grateful for the confidence our customers place in us and proud of our employees who earn their trust every day.”

Mazzarella also chairs NAW’s Board of Directors.