The latest CPA-Zicklin Index of Corporate Political Disclosure and Accountability finds that the trend among members of the S&P 500 toward more transparency about their political spending continues. Here are some of the highlights:

Trendsetters: The number of all S&P 500 companies scoring 90 percent or above for political disclosure and accountability was 112, an increase over last year’s 103, and comprising more than 22 percent of all S&P 500 companies evaluated. The number of Trendsetters now has increased fourfold from the 28 companies that received scores of 90 percent or higher in 2015. Among the 318 companies belonging to the so-called core S&P 500, those constant in the Index since 2015, there are 92 Trendsetters this year.

Top-Tier Milestones: 205 companies in the overall S&P 500 placed in the first Index tier (scoring from 80 percent to 100 percent). This is more than double the 76 top-tier companies in 2015. It is one company fewer than last year. Among core S&P 500 companies, 164 companies – over half of all core S&P 500 companies – placed in this year’s top tier. Four fewer core companies scored in the top tier in 2024.

Shrinking Bottom Tier: The number of S&P 500 companies scoring lowest for disclosure and accountability – in the bottom 20 percent – has continued to decline. From 204 bottom-tiercompanies in 2015 it has dropped to 88 this year.

CPA-Zicklin found that 328 members of the S&P 500 had general board oversight of their political spending, up from 319 last year, and that 291 S&P 500 companies have board committee review of direct political contributions and expenditures, up from 282 last year and 168 in 2015.

– John Jenkins