NYSE: CPB

Employees: 19,400

Market cap: $9.80 billion

1-year change: down 22.2 percent

There's nothing like a recession to draw shoppers to the soup aisle.

But it would be a mistake to think Campbell Soup is merely a chicken-noodle company. It makes Pepperidge Farm Goldfish to toss in the bowl, V8 Splash drinks to wash it down, Prego pasta sauces, Pace salsas, and lots of other brands.

The company is even spending $90 million to expand its headquarters in Camden.

Tyco Electronics Ltd.

Berwyn

Founded in 1941

CEO: Thomas J. Lynch

NYSE: TEL

Employees: 96,000

Market cap: $7.96 billion

1-year change: down 57.9 percent

Of the region's biggest companies, Tyco Electronics is likely the most unfamiliar. It was spun off by the Tyco conglomerate in 2007. But its roots are largely in central Pennsylvania from a company called AMP Inc., which Tyco bought in 1999. Sales were down 27 percent for the first half of its current fiscal year. Tyco Electronics is also selling its wireless systems business unit for $675 million.

Cigna Corp.

Philadelphia

Founded in 1865

Chairman/CEO: H. Edward Hanway