The global business landscape is a dynamic ecosystem with giants spanning various industries.
Here, we delve into the 10 biggest companies in the world, ranked by their 12-month trailing (TTM) revenue as of January 2023 from YCharts.
Our focus is on publicly traded companies in the U.S. or Canada, including those accessible through American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).
Some foreign corporations report financials semiannually, causing slight lag times. Notably, Saudi Aramco and State Grid, two massive entities, are excluded from this list as they don’t have publicly traded stocks in the U.S. or Canada.
Key Highlights: These corporate behemoths exhibit remarkable diversity, hailing from different corners of the globe:
- Walmart (WMT): Securing the top spot, this American retail giant sets the standard.
- Amazon (AMZ): A close second, Amazon’s e-commerce empire knows no bounds.
- SNPMF: Breaking into the top three is SNPMF, symbolizing global influence.
- And more: Discover the rest of the world’s largest companies as we unveil their impact on the global economy.
Join us as we explore the dynamic world of these industry titans, shaping the future on a global scale.
Rank | Company | Revenue (TTM) |
---|---|---|
1 | Walmart Inc. (WMT) 🛒 | $600.11 billion |
2 | Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) 📦 | $502.19 billion |
3 | China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (SNPMF) ⛽ | $486.84 billion |
4 | PetroChina Co. Ltd. (PCCYF) ⛽ | $486.40 billion |
5 | Apple Inc. (AAPL) 🍏 | $394.33 billion |
6 | Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) ⛽ | $386.82 billion |
7 | Shell PLC (SHEL) ⛽ | $365.29 billion |
8 | CVS Health Corp. (CVS) 🏥 | $315.23 billion |
9 | UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) 🏥 | $313.13 billion |
10 | Volkswagen AG (VWAGY) 🚗 | $288.45 billion |
What you'll learn:
1️⃣ Walmart Inc. (WMT)
- Annual Revenue (TTM): $600.11 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $8.97 billion
- Market Capitalization: $390.66 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 1.75%
- Stock Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
Established in 1962, Walmart has evolved into a global retail powerhouse. The company boasts an extensive network of discount stores, supercenters, neighborhood markets, and a robust online platform.
Walmart’s product range spans from clothing, home goods, books, and jewelry to groceries, pharmaceuticals, and automotive supplies.
2️⃣ Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN)
- Annual Revenue (TTM): $502.19 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $11.32 billion
- Market Capitalization: $916.82 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: -44.35%
- Stock Exchange: NASDAQ
Amazon stands as the world’s foremost online retailer, boasting the highest market capitalization in the industry. Originating as an online bookstore, the company has significantly expanded its reach to encompass nearly every retail category.
Apart from its e-commerce platform, Amazon owns subsidiaries such as Whole Foods Market and home security firm Ring.
Amazon’s most rapidly growing sectors include cloud computing services, subscription products like Amazon Prime, and streaming of movies and other entertainment.
3️⃣ China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (SNPMF)
- Annual Revenue (TTM): $486.84 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $10.47 billion
- Market Capitalization: $60.32 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 19.61%
- Stock Exchange: OTC Markets
China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., commonly known as Sinopec, is a major producer and distributor of diverse petrochemical and petroleum products.
Its extensive product range includes gasoline, diesel, kerosene, synthetic rubbers, resins, jet fuel, and chemical fertilizers, among others.
Sinopec stands as one of the world’s largest entities in oil refining, gas, and petrochemicals. It operates under the administration of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China.
4️⃣ PetroChina Co. Ltd. (PCCYF)
- Annual Revenue (TTM): $486.40 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $20.89 billion
- Market Capitalization: $82.73 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 15.24%
- Stock Exchange: OTC Markets
PetroChina is a prominent player in the oil and gas industry, engaged in activities such as oil exploration, development, production, and sales.
Additionally, it manufactures a wide range of petrochemical products. This company operates as the publicly listed branch of the Chinese state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation.
5️⃣ Apple Inc. (AAPL)
- Annual Revenue (TTM): $394.33 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $99.80 billion
- Market Capitalization: $2.08 trillion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: -23.64%
- Stock Exchange: NASDAQ
Apple is renowned for its design, manufacturing, and marketing of a diverse array of consumer technology products, including smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearable devices, home entertainment systems, and more.
Prominent products include the iPhone series of smartphones and the Mac series of computers.
Additionally, Apple is rapidly expanding its services business, encompassing digital content stores, streaming video games, and platforms such as Apple+ for on-demand entertainment content.
6️⃣ Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM)
- Annual Revenue (TTM): $386.82 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $51.86 billion
- Market Capitalization: $453.38 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 67.12%
- Stock Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
ExxonMobil is a multinational oil and gas corporation headquartered in Texas. It conducts oil and gas exploration, marketing, or both, across most countries worldwide.
The company’s gasoline stations are familiar sights for drivers globally, operating under brand names like ExxonMobil, Esso, Exxon, or Mobil, depending on the location. ExxonMobil’s corporate identity reflects the 1999 merger of two industry giants.
7️⃣ Shell PLC (SHEL)
- Annual Revenue (TTM): $365.29 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $43.36 billion
- Market Capitalization: $204.03 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 27.58%
- Stock Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
Royal Dutch Shell, headquartered in the Netherlands, is involved in the exploration, production, and refining of petroleum through its subsidiary companies. Beyond operating a global network of gas stations, Shell manufactures and markets fuels, lubricants, and various chemicals.
8️⃣ CVS Health Corp. (CVS)
- Annual Revenue (TTM): $315.23 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $3.15 billion
- Market Capitalization: $119.11 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: -11.75%
- Stock Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
CVS is an integrated pharmacy healthcare provider with a chain of drugstores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Apart from its retail operations, CVS offers pharmacy benefit management services, mail-order pharmacy services, and disease management programs.
9️⃣ UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH)
- Annual Revenue (TTM): $313.13 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $19.43 billion
- Market Capitalization: $454.09 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 5.87%
- Stock Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
UnitedHealth Group, headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, is a multinational healthcare and insurance company. It provides managed healthcare insurance policies to businesses, government employers, and individuals.
The company’s healthcare services are delivered through a network of medical groups operating under contract with UnitedHealth. In addition to its U.S. operations, UnitedHealth Group has subsidiary operations in various other countries.
🔟 Volkswagen AG (VWAGY)
- Annual Revenue (TTM): $288.45 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $18.47 billion
- Market Capitalization: $85.85 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: -35.01%
- Stock Exchange: OTC
Volkswagen, a German automaker, is engaged in the manufacturing, sales, and servicing of both luxury and economy cars, sports cars, trucks, and commercial vehicles. Audi stands as VW’s flagship luxury brand.
➤ Largest Companies in the World FAQ
What are the biggest companies in the world by market cap? (as of June 23, 2023)
- Apple: $2.95 trillion
- Microsoft: $2.52 trillion
- Saudi Aramco: $2.09 trillion
- Alphabet: $1.59 trillion
- Amazon: $1.33 trillion
- NVIDIA: $1.06 trillion
- Tesla: $813.2 billion
- Meta Platforms: $739.9 billion
- Berkshire Hathaway: $736.8 billion
- TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor): $528.5 billion
What are the most popular brands in the US? (as of June 2023, YouGov poll)
- M&M’s
- Band-Aid
- Ziploc
- Dawn
- Reese’s
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
- Kleenex
- Dairy Queen
- Bounty
- Duracell
What are the most valuable companies of all time?
- Dutch East India Company
- Mississippi Company
- South Sea Company
- Saudi Aramco
- Apple
- PetroChina
- Microsoft
- Standard Oil
- Alphabet
- Amazon
➤ Final thoughts
These companies span various industries, from e-commerce and technology to oil and retail. Each of them has made a significant impact in their respective sectors and holds a dominant position in the market.
➤ References
Source |
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Fortune. “Global 500 |
YCharts. “YCharts |
CompaniesMarketCap.com. “Largest Companies by Market Cap |
YouGov. “The Most Popular Brands |
HowMuch. “Visualizing Top 20 Most Valuable Companies of All Time |