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Five Oklahoma companies earned spots on Newsweek’s 2026 list of America’s most trustworthy firms, underscoring the prominence of local brands in national reputation rankings. The placements reflect recent consumer and stakeholder evaluations and carry implications for hiring, customer loyalty and corporate credibility as businesses navigate a skeptical marketplace.
Newsweek worked with Statista to assess trust across 700 U.S. companies in 23 industries. The methodology relied on a nationwide survey of roughly 25,000 Americans that produced more than 100,000 ratings from consumers, employees and investors, with media coverage factored into the final scores. In short: these rankings are a snapshot of how a mix of audiences perceive corporate reliability in 2026.
Who from Oklahoma made the cut
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Four companies based in Oklahoma City and one headquartered in Tulsa appear on the list. Their presence spans retail, technology, convenience and food — sectors where consumer confidence and operational consistency are particularly visible.
- Hobby Lobby — ranked 21 in the retail category (fourth consecutive year on the list).
- Love’s Travel Stops — ranked 29 in retail (also a four-year streak).
- Paycom — ranked 43 in Software & Telecommunications.
- QuikTrip — ranked 3 among grocery and convenience brands.
- Braum’s — ranked 20 in Food & Beverage.
Retail names: Hobby Lobby and Love’s
Hobby Lobby moved up several places this year, keeping its position as one of Oklahoma’s most visible retail exporters. The arts-and-crafts chain, founded in 1970, now operates more than 1,000 stores and maintains a large campus in Oklahoma City that houses distribution, manufacturing and offices.
Love’s Travel Stops likewise remains on the list for the fourth year running. Company leaders said the recognition reflects long-standing values set by founder Tom Love and a continued focus on workforce culture. Love’s has framed the placement as evidence that its internal culture translates into reliable customer service across a major network of travel centers.
Payroll tech and trust: Paycom
Paycom — one of Oklahoma City’s largest technology employers — appears in the Software & Telecommunications rankings. The company, known for processing payroll entirely online, has previously pointed to accuracy, tight security and experienced support staff as reasons customers trust its platform.
For Paycom, a high ranking in a sector tied to personal and financial data translates directly into competitive advantage when recruiting clients and staff in a crowded fintech space.
Convenience and daily reliability: QuikTrip
QuikTrip, based in Tulsa, placed third among grocery and convenience brands. The chain — founded in 1958 and operating more than 1,000 stores across multiple states — emphasized that frontline employees are central to the company’s reputation.
A corporate communications representative said the Newsweek recognition honors the on-the-ground teams who keep operations consistent and safe, and that the company plans to build on that trust in daily customer interactions.
Food service and local identity: Braum’s
Headquartered in Oklahoma City with farms and a processing plant in the state, Braum’s ranked in the top 20 for Food & Beverage. The chain highlighted long-standing values — such as product quality, predictable service and a farm-to-market approach — as core reasons customers continue to rely on the brand.
Company spokespeople stressed that the award reflects employees’ daily efforts and the business model that integrates production and retail under a single umbrella.
Why this matters: trust rankings are more than PR badges. They influence consumer choice, investor perceptions and talent recruitment. A firm that scores well on trust can gain a practical edge — stronger customer retention, easier hiring and often a buffer in times of operational or reputational strain.
Quick takeaways
- Methodology: Newsweek + Statista; survey of ~25,000 U.S. respondents and media sentiment included.
- Scope: 700 companies across 23 industries were evaluated for the 2026 rankings.
- Local impact: Oklahoma companies appear across several categories, signaling strong regional representation in national trust measures.
As consumers and employees increasingly weigh corporate behavior alongside price and convenience, these placements offer a timely read on which Oklahoma brands are viewed as dependable in 2026—and why that perception matters for business performance going forward.
