Apple is the most valuable global brand in 2015, followed by Google, according to a recent report from Millward Brown.

The BrandZ Most Valuable Global Brands report was based on a combination of consumer insights and financial analysis. The researchers started by determining the portion of a brand's contribution to its parent corporation's earnings, then assessed a brand's predicted future earnings and isolated the intangible value of the brand (i.e., the extra price premium consumers are willing to pay for the brand).

Apple's brand value increased 67% over the past year, according to the Millward Brown analysis. Google, which topped the list last year, recorded a brand value increase of 9%.

Microsoft is listed as the third most valuable global brand in 2015, followed by IBM, Visa, AT&T, Verizon, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Marlboro.