BrandFinance® has released its annual report on the world's most valuable brands, expanding its analysis to the top 500 global brands for the second year in a row. The report provides a Brand Rating, which measures the strength, risk, and future potential of a brand relative to its competitors, and a Brand Value, which summarizes the financial strength of the brand. The analysis is based on quantitative market data, detailed financial information, and expert judgment. The report aims to provide actionable insights for accounting, tax, litigation, and commercial purposes, as well as diagnostics and analytics to manage brand strategy better. The report also illustrates how the methodology and findings can be used to determine the impact of brand equity on business performance and how brands can be leveraged to aid recovery in difficult times.