Five Kentucky companies make Fortune 500

Five Kentucky companies -- led by health insurer Humana Inc. -- are part of this year's Fortune 500, an annual ranking of the nation's largest companies in terms of revenue.

Louisville-based Humana (NYSE: HUM) was the only local company to break the Fortune 100 -- or 200. The company, with 2007 revenue of $25.3 billion, ranked No. 98. Humana ranked No. 110 last year.

Its largest competitors, UnitedHealth Group, WellPoint and Aetna, ranked No. 25, No. 33 and No. 85, respectively.

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Louisville-based Yum Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM), which owns the Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC fast-food chains, ranked No. 253. The company, with revenue of $10.4 billion, was No. 262 last year.

Chemical company Ashland Inc. and pharmaceutical firm Omnicare Inc., both based in Covington, and Lexington-based printer manufacturer Lexmark International Inc., ranked No. 322, No. 386 and No. 470, respectively.

Three other Kentucky companies ranked outside of the Fortune 500 but were included in the Fortune 1000.

Highland Heights-based General Cable, with revenue of $4.6 billion, ranked No. 502. The company manufactures copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy, industrial and communications markets.

Louisville-based Kindred Healthcare Inc. (NYSE: KND), which operates long-term acute-care hospitals and skilled nursing centers, ranked No. 518. The company had revenue of $4.4 billion last year.

Finally, Louisville-based Brown-Forman Corp. (NYSE: BFB) ranked No. 823. The company, which produces alcoholic beverages brands such as Finlandia and Jack Daniel's, had revenue of $2.3 billion in 2007.