"Microsoft has managed to protect its Windows and Office businesses [in 2010] and has even made some headway in the core business of its biggest threat, namely Google," Helm said in an e-mail reply to questions today. "There are some shark fins showing up offshore from the iPad and upcoming imitators, but the company has time to respond."

In October, Microsoft reported a 25% increase in revenue for the quarter that ended Sept. 30 over the same period in 2009, and said the $5.4 billion in net income during that quarter represented a from the same period a year before.

Apple's Jobs, meanwhile, pushed his ranking to No. 4, up 31 spots from 2009's No. 35. The WCI gave Apple and Jobs straight "A" grades in all four categories, indicating that it was in the top 20% of the measured companies in each.

One indication of Apple's rise during 2010 was when Apple passed Microsoft as the when measured by the total value of its shares, or market capitalization.

As of mid-day Monday, Apple's market cap stood at $296 billion, compared to Microsoft's $239 billion.