The world’s biggest companies by market cap represent diverse global corporations that have achieved significant financial success. These businesses are leaders in their respective industries and can majorly impact the global economy. They are also often listed among Fortune’s “World’s Most Admired Companies”. Six of the largest companies have reached a market capitalization of more than $1 trillion in recent years. These include Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Saudi Aramco. While the size of these companies can fluctuate day to day, their market value is generally stable over time.
While some companies have lost their spot in the rankings, others have maintained a consistent position on top of the list. The most prominent example of this is Apple, which has been the largest company by market cap on multiple occasions. Its popularity with consumers has pushed its shares to new highs, even as its market share has declined over the past few years. However, it is important to note that market capitalization is only one measure of a company’s value. It can fluctuate based on market conditions and investor speculation, which can lead to short-term gains or losses for the company’s stock prices. Additionally, market caps can be misleading because they don’t always reflect a company’s actual profits or revenue.
The biggest companies in the world by market cap are a diverse group of multinational corporations that offer products and services across several industries. Most of these companies are headquartered in the United States, with the exception of Saudi Aramco and Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc. The majority of these companies are technology-based, but they also have significant presence in finance, consumer goods, and other sectors.
Biggest Companies in the World by Revenue
The biggest companies in the world generate massive amounts of revenue. These firms are often more valuable than some countries’ entire economies. These giants are largely dominated by technology, but there are also plenty of traditional long-standing blue-chip industrial behemoths like Exxon Mobil and AT&T. These companies are ranked by their revenue, which includes operating and non-operating income. The ranking is based on 12-month trailing revenue and excludes investment income, which is reported semiannually. US companies are the dominant force in this list, but they face more competition than ever. The country holds nearly a third of the world’s 500 largest companies, according to Fortune.
| Rank | Name | Revenue | Price | 1d | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walmart | $622.02 B | $157.51 | 0.27% | USA |
| 2 | Amazon | $538.04 B | $134.68 | 1.10% | USA |
| 3 | Saudi Aramco | $535.54 B | $9.17 | 0.29% | S. Arabia |
| 4 | Sinopec | $484.14 B | $0.85 | 2.65% | China |
| 5 | PetroChina | $462.94 B | $1.06 | 2.25% | China |
| 6 | Berkshire Hathaway | $401.81 B | $352.09 | 0.13% | USA |
| 7 | Apple | $383.93 B | $175.84 | 0.77% | USA |
| 8 | Exxon | $364.11 B | $108.71 | 1.21% | USA |
| 9 | Shell | $358.58 B | $61.42 | 0.36% | UK |
| 10 | UnitedHealth | $345.23 B | $497.68 | 0.15% | USA |
The World’s Largest Employers
Big companies are a big part of the world’s economy, employing millions of people and producing trillions in revenue. While these companies may be based in one country, they often operate across the globe. The biggest companies in the world are able to compete with each other through their innovative products and business models, which help them create value for customers. While many of these companies are in the technology industry, they also work in other industries, such as financial services, healthcare, and energy.
The largest companies in the world by employees include Toyota, which is headquartered in Japan. The company has more than a million employees and is the world’s second-largest manufacturer of automobiles, including hybrid and battery electric cars. Toyota strongly focuses on sustainability, aiming to use renewable energies and reduce carbon emissions.
Another large company is China National Petroleum Corporation, which has more than a million employees. This state-owned oil and gas company has huge global assets, such as refineries and rigs. It is a major supplier of natural gas and crude oil to China.
Big companies are able to keep their profits high by keeping costs low and hiring lots of workers. For example, the home improvement retailer Home Depot is able to employ over 500,000 people because it has a huge footprint, operating in all 50 states and 10 provinces of Canada as well as 32 Mexican states.
| Rank | Name | Employees | Price | 1d | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walmart | 2,100,000 | $157.51 | 0.27% | USA |
| 2 | Amazon | 1,541,000 | $134.68 | 1.10% | USA |
| 3 | Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry) | 826,608 | $3.34 | 0.47% | Taiwan |
| 4 | Accenture | 732,000 | $306.51 | 1.18% | Ireland |
| 5 | Volkswagen | 676,915 | $125.44 | 0.70% | Germany |
| 6 | Tata Consultancy Services | 614,795 | $40.70 | 0.57% | India |
| 7 | Deutsche Post | 583,816 | $48.70 | 0.00% | Germany |
| 8 | BYD | 570,100 | $32.20 | 0.06% | China |
| 9 | FedEx | 530,000 | $259.94 | 1.03% | USA |
| 10 | Compass Group | 500,000 | $24.94 | 0.08% | UK |
The Most Profitable Companies in the World
The most profitable companies in the world are worth billions of dollars and make more than some countries’ entire economies. The biggest companies are diversified, with businesses in many different sectors. They are also often leaders in their industries. Some are admired for their history, technological innovations, or wise management. Others are admired for the products they make, or the services they provide to customers or investors.
The top 10 largest companies by profit in 2024 are mostly technology firms, although some banks and energy companies also made the list. The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China dominates the banking sector, which makes more profits than any other company in the world. This is despite the fact that the Chinese economy has been slowing down over the past few years. This year, Saudi Arabia’s state oil company Saudi Aramco claimed the number one spot in the list, displacing Apple, which was the top-ranked company last year. This is a result of the rebound in oil prices. Other energy companies such as Exxon Mobil, Total Energies, and Chevron all saw their profits increase this year.
Other tech giants such as Amazon, Google parent company Alphabet, and Tesla (which earns monthly fees from its premium connectivity package) rounded out the top 10. The electronics industry is represented by Samsung, which makes televisions and phones. The health care sector is represented by pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson. The world’s biggest companies by revenue come from several countries, including the United States, Japan, Germany, and France. While it is difficult to determine the most powerful company in the world, a few stand out for their enormous annual revenues. Some of these are the biggest manufacturers in the world, such as Toyota, Nissan, and Honda. Others are the largest service providers, such as GE and AT&T.
| Rank | Name | Earnings | Price | Today | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saudi Aramco | $264.40 B | $9.18 | 0.15% | S. Arabia |
| 2 | Berkshire Hathaway | $112.97 B | $352.09 | 0.13% | USA |
| 3 | Apple | $112.22 B | $175.84 | 0.77% | USA |
| 4 | Microsoft | $89.31 B | $321.88 | 1.71% | USA |
| 5 | Equinor | $78.60 B | $30.78 | 1.28% | Norway |
| 6 | Alphabet (Google) | $73.80 B | $128.93 | 0.64% | USA |
| 7 | Exxon Mobil | $72.72 B | $108.71 | 1.21% | USA |
| 8 | ICBC | $60.57 B | $0.43 | 1.19% | China |
| 9 | JPMorgan Chase | $58.79 B | $149.48 | 0.34% | USA |
| 10 | China Construction Bank | $55.46 B | $0.82 | 1.18% | China |