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Logo Lowdown from the 2012 elections. Part 1–donors on the record
The spark that ignited tea party wrath in 2008 was not such right-wing bugaboos as “Obamacare,” the federal deficit, or states’ rights, which were added on later by Koch-created front groups. Rather, the uprising sprang directly from the public’s raw outrage over Washington’s flagrant coddling of Wall Street banksters.
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People were affronted by the most naked example in recent times of the power of corporate campaign cash to buy an obscene injustice. Here were America’s most privileged elites in plain view, jetting into the capitol city to call in all of the favors they were owed for the political “donations” they had previously made. That binding, ongoing dependence of lawmakers on Big Money is what allowed the Wall Street titans to (1) escape jail for their reckless selfishness, which crashed our entire economy and destroyed millions of our jobs; (2) keep their top-executive jobs, their grossly inflated paychecks, and their even-more-inflated sense of self-worth; and (3) be handed trillions of dollars from us taxpayers and Federal Reserve “regulators” to bail them out while workaday people were left to sink.
Brandishing the tea party banner in 2010, a bevy of new candidates parlayed the public’s fury into a Republican takeover of the US House. However, having gained the power to push for a little less corruption, one of the very first actions these fire-breathing “reformers” took after being sworn in was to make special-interest political money more influential than ever by voting to kill the Presidential Election Campaign Fund (PECF), the sole financing mechanism for clean elections in national law. It disburses no-strings-attached public funds to presidential candidates so they don’t have to debase themselves by dragging a sack down K-Street, through Wall Street suites, and into the penthouses of the super-rich–literally selling themselves to private interests, one check at a time.
It’s the most god-awful human activity that doesn’t involve physical pain. —- FORMER REP. BARNEY FRANK, remarking on constantly having to solicit campaign donations from wealthy interests, which he candidly calls “begging” and “debasing yourself.”
Admittedly, the presidential fund has been greatly weakened since it was enacted in 1974. But, in the wake of the Wall Street bailout scandal, the logical step to take would’ve been to strengthen and extend that public financing alternative as a way to limit the spoilage that inevitably flows from special-interest political spending.
But no. Such pinheaded potentates of the House as Majority Leader Eric Cantor strutted out to declare that killing public financing was “a no-brainer” (a phrase that, ironically, admitted the mindlessness of his move).
The supremacy of private-interest funding has turned our elections into a crass auction of government power to the wealthiest of moneyed elites.
Who are these masked men? We the People have a right to follow the money, right down to the brand names that take our consumer dollars and convert them into political donations that produce anti-consumer, anti-worker, anti-environment, anti-democracy public policies. This month and next, the Lowdown will name as many of these heavy hitters as we can unmask, including some of the severely shy ones trying to hide their self-serving corporate donations by funneling them through secretive “dark money” front groups.
In this issue, we chart the flow of publicly reported contributions that corporations make through their executives, PACs, and “soft money” channels. The numbers here are drawn from the comprehensive compilations of our country’s two preeminent trackers of political money: OpenSecrets and the Sunlight Foundation. We break the brand name donors into industry groups, listing major corporations that gave $100,000 or more to the GOP’s presidential and congressional campaigns, with at least two-thirds of their money going to Republican presidential and congressional candidates, party groups, or outside electioneering fronts.
We also list the top-20 brand name backers of 2012’s Democratic candidatesfor the White House and Congress. In the May issue, the Lowdown will focus on the self-serving corporate donations funneled in by secretive SuperPACs and dark-money front groups run by the likes of Karl Rove and the US Chamber of Commerce.
- Supermarkets
- Retail sales and services
- Corporate farms and suppliers
- Food and beverage processors
- Restaurant chains
- Oil & gas
- Forestry & paper
- Trucking
- Trains & ships
- Equipment & materials
- Insurance corporations
- Builders
- Coal
- Airlines/Air freight
- Investment houses
- Capital management
- Commercial and mortgage banks
- Loan companies
- Resorts/entertainment
- Pro sports
- Radio/television/music
- Publishing
- Health care corporations
- Miscellaneous
Supermarkets | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
Publix Super Markets | $1,103,598 | 83% |
Kroger | $365,067 | 81% |
Shamrock Foods | $254,235 | 100% |
Meijer | $235,689 | 96% |
Houchens Industries Houchens Markets, IGA, Save-A-Lot, Mad Butcher, Piggly Wiggly, Tobacco Shoppe. |
$116,800 | 100% |
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Retail sales and services | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
Home Depot | $2,151,998 | 76% |
Amway/Alticor | $761,200 | 87% |
Best Buy | $254,235 | 65% |
Lowe’s | $339,862 | 75% |
Go back to the list of industries
Corporate farms and suppliers | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
John Deere Tractors, mowers, tools, bbq grills, chemicals, wagons and toys for children, etc. |
$874,605 | 88% |
Monsanto Pesticides (especially its “Roundup” brand) and seeds (top maker/marketer of corn, soybean, cotton, and others seeds that have had their DNA altered with genetically modified organisms). These seeds, branded as “Roundup Ready,” are bio-engineered to make the plants they produce able to absorb heavier doses of “Roundup” pesticides. |
$536,604 | 66% |
Cargill Global grain trader. Also markets animal and food processing ingredients. Brands include Purina, Nutrena, LNB, Provimi, Cargill. |
$412,941 | 80% |
Sanderson Farms Chicken products. |
$213,700 | 77% |
Agri Beef Packaged beef products include Snake River Farms, Double R Ranch, St. Helens, Rancho El Oro. |
$181,950 | 97% |
PictSweet Brand of frozen vegetables. |
$171,038 | 96% |
Peace River Citrus Fresh citrus and frozen juice products. |
$159,250 | 92% |
J.R. Simplot Major supplier of potatoes to McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s. |
$153,150 | 88% |
Case New Holland Tractors, other agricultural equipment, and construction equipment. |
$149,988 | 95% |
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Food and beverage processors | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
Altria Group Tobacco giant (Philip Morris), but also owns such wineries as Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14 Hands, Antica Napa Valley, Antinori, Col de’Salici, Columbia Crest, Conn Creek, Distant Bay, and Erath. |
$1,721,888 | 81% |
Dean Foods Owns dozens of milk brands including Borden, Oak Farms, Meadow Gold, TruMoo, Swiss Premium, Dean’s, Garelick Farms, Lehigh Valley, Shenandoah’s, Morning Glory, Alta Dena, PET, Purity, and Hygeia. Also owns Horizon, the largest seller of organic milk products, and Silk, which makes soymilk, almondmilk, and coconutmilk. |
$331,967 | 74% |
Tyson Foods America’s biggest factory farm operator and meat processor. Brands of poultry, pork, and beef include Tyson, Bonici, Mexican Original, Wright, IBP (formerly Iowa Beef Processors), and Lady Aster. |
$294,261 | 65% |
SABMiller Miller beers, Blue Moon, Coors Light, Hamm’s, Henry Weinhard’s, Icehouse, Leinenkugel’s, MGD 64, Mickey’s Malt Liquor, Milwaukee’s Best, Old English 800 Malt Liquor. |
$278,736 | 76% |
Bacardi Bacardi, Bombay Sapphire, Oxley, Eristoff, Grey Goose, 42Below, Martini, Noilly Prat, Martini sparkling wines, Dewar’s, Cazadores, Corzo, B&B, Benedictine, Drambuie, Disaronno, and Hatuey beer. |
$264,295 | 96% |
ConAgra Foods Reddi-wip, Hunt’s, Ro*Tel, Healthy Choice, Swiss Miss, Marie Callender’s frozen foods, PAM, Chef Boyardee, Orville Redenbacher’s, Egg Beaters, Fiddle Faddle, Fleischman’s, Gulden’s, Hebrew National, P.F. Chang’s, Parkay, Penrose, Peter Pan, Poppycock, Ranch Style beans, Rosarita, ACT II popcorn, Alexia, Andy Capp’s, Banquet, Bertolli, Blue Bonnet, Crunch ’n Munch, Jiffy Pop, Kid Cuisine, Libby, Manwich, SlimJim, Snack pack, UltraGrain, VanCamp’s, Wesson, and Wolf Brand Chili, etc. |
$213,697 | 80% |
Trident Seafoods Biggest US seafood processor. Brands of frozen, canned, and prepared products include Louis Kemp, Red King, Alaska, Salmon Burger, and PubHouse. |
$211,370 | 98% |
Johnsonville Sausages | $206,750 | 100% |
H.J. Heinz Heinz, Bagel Bites, Classico, Jack Daniel’s Sauces, Lea & Perrins, Nancy’s, Ore-Ida, Poppers, Smart Ones, T.G.I. Friday’s frozen foods, and Wyler’s bouillon and soup/dip mixes. |
$200,790 | 71% |
Flowers Foods Nature’s Own, Whitewheat, Cobblestone Mill, Sunbeam, Bunny Bread, ButterKrust Bakery, European Bakers, Tastykake, Mrs. Freshley’s, Blue Bird, Mi Casa. |
$195,500 | 100% |
Russell Stover Candies Russell Stover’s, Whitman’s, Pangburn’s. |
$190,302 | 100% |
Silverado Vineyards | $184,750 | 73% |
Patrón Spirits Patrón, Ultimat Vodka, and Pyrat Rum |
$182,650 | 73% |
J.M. Smucker Adams peanut butter, Café Bustelo, Crisco, Crosse & Blackwell, Dunkin’ Donuts (in stores), Dutch Girl, Eagle Brand, Folgers, Hungry Jack, Jif, Kava, Knott’s Berry Farm, Laura Scudder’s, Magnolia, Martha White, Mary Ellen, Pillsbury, R.W. Knudsen, Santa Cruz Organic, and Smucker’s. |
$161,410 | 93% |
JBS Swift meats, Gold Kist Farms, Pilgrim’s Pride (Pilgrim’s Co.), 1855, Aspen Ridge Natural Beef, 5 Star Beef, Miller’s Blue Ribbon Beef, Liberty Bell, Moyer, Packerland. |
$126,000 | 84% |
McKee Foods Little Debbie snacks, Sunbelt, Heartland, Fieldstone Bakery. |
$119,815 | 98% |
Jel Sert Freezer Bars (Fla-Vor-Ice, Pop-Ice, Otter Pops, Bolis, Mr. Freeze, Frootee Ice, Slush Puppie, Wyler’s, Kool Pops, Soda Pop Freezer Bars , Arnold Palmer, Sunkist Freezer Bars, Snapple Sorbet Bars). Beverages (Flavor Aid, Hawaiian Punch, Warheads, Airheads). Dessert Mixes (Royal, My-T-Fine). |
$108,800 | 100% |
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Restaurant chains | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
McDonald’s | $1,334,547 | 69% |
OSI Restaurant Partners Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Flemings, Roy’s. |
$805,670 | 97% |
Wendy’s | $447,907 | 84% |
TACO PAC Taco Bell Franchisees. |
$443,250 | 98% |
Buffalo Wild Wings | $226,615 | 92% |
Yum! Brands KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell. |
$211,564 | 85% |
Pizza Hut Franchisees | $197,500 | 98% |
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Oil & gas | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
ExxonMobil | $2,769,917 | 88% |
Koch Industries Millions more donated to GOP campaigns by Koch brothers. Their front groups (such as Americans for Prosperity and Freedomworks) and various right-wing SuperPAC’s and dark-money groups. |
$2,391,048 | 98% |
Chesapeake Energy | $1,759,933 | 76% |
Occidental Petroleum | $1,550,976 | 66% |
Valero Energy | $828,919 | 91% |
ConocoPhillips | $638,902 | 88% |
Marathon Petroleum | $616,698 | 93% |
Hess Oil & Gas | $583,175 | 76% |
Williams Companies | $452,750 | 82% |
Spectra Energy | $344,586 | 67% |
El Paso Corp. | $302,744 | 73% |
Go back to the list of industries
Trucking | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
Cen Tra | $449,450 | 95% |
Knight Transportation | $247,200 | 100% |
Oshkosh Corp. | $245,131 | 68% |
Allen Trucking | $245,100 | 100% |
Prime | $232,300 | 99% |
Werner Enterprises | $202,850 | 100% |
Ryder Systems | $192,853 | 88% |
Old Dominion Freight | $178,910 | 97% |
AAA Cooper Transportation | $169,500 | 100% |
Penske Truck Rental | $155,807 | 96% |
Navistar International | $155,726 | 79% |
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Forestry & paper | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
International Paper Hammermill, Springhill, Williamsburg, etc. |
$943,584 | 66% |
Koch Industries Its Georgia-Pacific division owns such paper-product brands as Brawny, Dixie, Angel Soft, Quilted Northern, Soft ’n Gentle, Sparkle, Mardi Gras ,Vanity Fair napkins, Zee, Advantage, and Spectrum. Also owns Stainmaster carpets and the Lycra line of clothing. |
$336,113 | 93% |
Sierra Pacific Industries Lumber, millwork, building materials. |
$336,113 | 93% |
Stimson Lumber | $111,200 | 98% |
Sun Mountain Lumber | $100,500 | 100% |
Go back to the list of industries
Trucking | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
Cen Tra | $449,450 | 95% |
Knight Transportation | $247,200 | 100% |
Oshkosh Corp. | $245,131 | 68% |
Allen Trucking | $245,100 | 100% |
Prime | $232,300 | 99% |
Werner Enterprises | $202,850 | 100% |
Ryder Systems | $192,853 | 88% |
Old Dominion Freight | $178,910 | 97% |
AAA Cooper Transportation | $169,500 | 100% |
Penske Truck Rental | $155,807 | 96% |
Navistar International | $155,726 | 79% |
Go back to the list of industries
Trains & ships | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
Burlington Northern (owned by Berkshire Hathaway) |
$1,935,309 | 66% |
Union Pacific | $1,564,499 | 67% |
Norfolk Southern | $1,296,290 | 65% |
Kirby | $465,998 | 95% |
Go back to the list of industries
Equipment & materials | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
Caterpillar | $671,592 | 84% |
CEMEX Cement products including Brisket, Dixie, Richmortar, Richcolor, Victor, Broco, Citadel, Kosmortar. |
$238,152 | 91% |
84 Lumber stores | $152,240 | 91% |
Owens Corning | $143,192 | 85% |
Kohler Bath & kitchen fixtures. |
$122,250 | 91% |
Go back to the list of industries
Insurance corporations | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
USAA | $1,545,191 | 78% |
Massachusetts Mutual Life | $1,413,624 | 68% |
Northwestern Mutual | $1,142,686 | 67% |
Zurich Financial Services | $751,029 | 71% |
Travelers | $743,705 | 68% |
Go back to the list of industries
Builders | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
M.D.C. Holdings Richmond American Homes. |
$348,150 | 67% |
NVR Ryan Homes, NVHomes, Fox Ridge Homes, Heartland Homes. |
$240,984 | 98% |
Granville Homes | $235,400 | 90% |
Robson Communities | $144,050 | 94% |
William Lyon Homes | $143,100 | 90% |
Clayton Homes | $141,775 | 85% |
George Lewis Homes | $114,650 | 100% |
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Coal | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
Murray Energy | $1,407,352 | 93% |
Alpha Natural Resources | $816,092 | 72% |
Arch Coal | $712,703 | 82% |
Peabody Energy | $559,475 | 92% |
Drummond Co. | $395,600 | 89% |
Patriot Coal | $333,300 | 89% |
Pine Branch Coal | $292,600 | 79% |
Boich Companies | $267,600 | 83% |
Go back to the list of industries
Airlines/Air freight | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
United Parcel Service (UPS) | $2,331,7452 | 65% |
FedEx | $1,841,226 | 70% |
AMR American Airlines | $810,947 | 69% |
Textron Bell Helicopter, Cessna, E-Z-GO golf carts and utility vehicles, Greenlee, Jacobsen. |
$495,451 | 73% |
Southwest Airlines | $287,143 | 74% |
Azul Airlines | $151,600 | 100% |
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Investment houses | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
Goldman Sachs | $7,887,924 | 65% |
Morgan Stanley | $3,729,163 | 69% |
Bank of America | $4,624,122 | 70% |
Wells Fargo | $3,579,349 | 70% |
Credit Suisse Group | $2,359,598 | 71% |
Deutsche Bank | $408,612 | 66% |
Go back to the list of industries
Capital management | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
Elliott Associates and Elliott Management | $5,223,996 | 100% |
KKR | $2,309,466 | 75% |
H.I.G. | $1,369,294 | 75% |
Carlyle Group | $1,083,228 | 67% |
Madison Dearborn Partners | $836,950 | 83% |
Cerberus Capital Mgmt. | $801,588 | 74% |
Arclight Capital Partners | $763,950 | 99% |
Summit Partners | $695,095 | 69% |
AQR Capital Management | $673,349 | 84% |
SAC Capital Advisors | $499,550 | 72% |
Go back to the list of industries
Commercial and mortgage banks | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
PNC Financial | $637,589 | 72% |
Quicken Loans | $611,524 | 92% |
SunTrust Banks | $424,645 | 81% |
Huntington Bancshares | $405,628 | 77% |
BB&T Corp. | $399,706 | 88% |
IBC Bank. | $165,256 | 96% |
Mortgage Investors Corp. | $350,400 | 71% |
Academy Mortgage | $155,450 | 100% |
Go back to the list of industries
Loan companies | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
Capital One Finance | $979,050 | 69% |
SLM | $511,762 | 81% |
General Electric | $311,595 | 72% |
Jones Mgmt. Services | $295,772 | 88% |
CIT Group | $241,852 | 82% |
QC Holdings | $216,205 | 77% |
First Data | $204,743 | 89% |
Go back to the list of industries
Resorts/entertainment | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation Sycuan Casino |
$431,614 | 68% |
Wynn Resorts | $406,926 | 98% |
Blackstone Group SeaWorld, Busch Gardens; investments include LegoLand, Madame Tussauds, La Quinta, Luxury Resorts, Hilton Hotels, The Weather Channel. |
$422,346 | 65% |
Station Casinos Red Rock Casino, Green Valley Ranch, Palace Station, Sunset Station, Boulder Station, Santa Fe Station, Texas Station, Fiesta Henderson, Fiesta Rancho, Wild Wild West Gambling Hall. |
$365,600 | 72% |
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort | $189,900 | 68% |
Herschend Family Entertainment Stone Mountain Amusement Parks, Silver Dollar City, Dollywood, Dixie Stampede, Elitch Gardens, Newport Aquarium. |
$182,997 | 100% |
Woodside Hotels & Resorts | $131,100 | 81% |
Abercrombie & Kent | $112,050 | 77% |
Treasure Island Hotel | $110,800 | 100% |
Go back to the list of industries
Pro sports | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
NASCAR | $458,926 | 96% |
Ultimate Fighting Championship | $451,362 | 68% |
Arizona Cardinals | $304,470 | 98% |
Washington Redskins | $221,905 | 100% |
Atlanta Hawks | $215,790 | 75% |
International Speedway | $196,650 | 77% |
Jacksonville Jaguars | $169,900 | 90% |
Arizona Diamondbacks | $169,250 | 99% |
Go back to the list of industries
Radio/television/music | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
CC Media Holdings Clear Channel (radio stations, billboards, etc.). |
$862,637 | 71% |
Cablevision | $806,336 | 68% |
Salem Communications Dozens of right-wing and Christian radio stations, websites, magazines, etc. |
$162,500 | 100% |
Curb Records | $137,500 | 94% |
Weather Channel | $103,200 | 75% |
Liberty Global Brands include UPC, Unitymedia, Kabel BW, Telenet, VTR. |
$100,005 | 91% |
Go back to the list of industries
Publishing | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
Hallmark Cards | $259,051 | 69% |
Ingram Industries Distributor of books, Christian books, eBooks; also largest US inland barge operator/shipper. |
$227,000 | 97% |
Christian Book Distributors | $224,299 | 100% |
Paisano Publications Magazines include Easyriders, Road Iron, V-Twin, Wrench, Tattoo, In The Wind, Savage, Flash, Rebel Rodz, and Ink Fashion. |
$193,200 | 94% |
Newsmax | $123,800 | 100% |
Go back to the list of industries
Health care corporations | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
Rothman Institute | $259,051 | 69% |
Ingram Industries Distributor of books, Christian books, eBooks; also largest US inland barge operator/shipper. |
$887,700 | 100% |
Humana | $734,881 | 69% |
Cancer Treatment Centers of America | $586,435 | 100% |
Hercules Holding | $439,415 | 70% |
HCR ManorCare | $421,773 | 72% |
Bayer Bayer Aspirin, Flintstones Vitamins, Alka-Seltzer, One A Day, Citracal, Midol; Prescription: Yaz, Mirena, Adalat, etc. |
$420,177 | 69% |
21st Century Oncology | $326,990 | 67% |
Invacare | $293,750 | 80% |
American Kidney Stone Management | $279,000 | 98% |
Starkey Laboratories Hearing aids. |
$213,051 | 100% |
Electrostim Medical Services | $168,580 | 100% |
AdvoCare | $156,750 | 100% |
Shaklee | $99,250 | 72% |
Go back to the list of industries
Miscellaneous | permalink to this section | ||
Corporation & products | Total contribution | % to Republicans |
Altria Group Marlboro, Basic, Benson & Hedges, Cambridge, Chesterfield, Commander, Dave’s, English Ovals, L&M, Lark, Merit, Parliament, Players, Saratoga, Virginia Slims, Copenhagen, Cope (smokeless), Skoal, Red Seal, Husky, John Middleton cigars, Prince Albert’s pipe tobacco, Nu Mark tobacco mints, etc. |
$1,721,888 | 81% |
Dow Chemical | $843,307 | 77% |
Timken car parts | $527,420 | 100% |
Reynolds American Camel, Pall Mall, Winston, Salem, Doral, Kool, Misty, Capri, Grizzly, Kodiak, Cougar, American Spirit. |
$465,975 | 94% |
Lorillard Tobacco Newport, Kent, True, Maverick, Old Gold. |
$354,3300 | 74% |
Swisher International Swisher, Santa Fe, King Edward, Goodies, Blackstone, Keep Moving Goodies, Kayak, Silver Creek, Casino Gold, Clasico, La Intimidad, Macbeth, Miramar, Vieja Tradicion, Swisher Sweets. |
$326,000 | 98% |
US Steel | $273,496 | 85% |
Goodyear Tire & Rubber | $225,132 | 74% |
AutoNation | $197,777 | 93% |
3M | $333,000 | 72% |
Go back to the list of industries