Large capitalization companies. The largest companies in the world
This year, for the first time since the financial crisis of 2008–2009, the number Russian companies in the list of the 500 largest in the world dropped to five - the list included Gazprom (26), LUKOIL (43), Rosneft (46), Sberbank (177), VTB (443). Not a single domestic company entered the top 20. Here's who came in:
20. AXA
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 16
- Revenue:$161.2 billion (2014: 165.9 billion)
- Profit:$6.7 billion (2014: 5.6 billion)
10. Glencore
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 10
- Revenue:$221.1 billion (2014: 232.7 billion)
- Profit:$2.3 billion (2014: loss - 7.4 billion)
Glencore (LSE: Glencore) is back in profit despite last year's $7.4 billion loss following its acquisition of Xstrata. However, sales fell 5% under pressure from commodity prices.
9.Toyota
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 9
- Revenue:$247.7 billion (2014: 256.5 billion)
- Profit:$19.8 billion (2014: 18.2 billion)
8. Volkswagen
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 8
- Revenue:$268.6 billion (2014: 261.5 billion)
- Profit:$14.6 billion (2014: 12.1 billion)
Volkswagen (XETRA: Volkswagen) is the most profitable automaker in the world and the only non-energy company in the top 10 rankings. The German auto giant benefited from rising sales in the Asia-Pacific region.
7. State Grid
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 7
- Revenue:$339.4 billion (2014: 333.4 billion)
- Profit:$9.8 billion (2014: 8 billion)
China's largest state-owned electricity company has been strengthening its position in the international market for several years, but has not forgotten about the domestic market. Last year it announced plans to spend $65 billion a year over five years to modernize the national network.
20. AXA
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 16
- Revenue: $161.2 billion (2014: $165.9 billion)
- Profit: $6.7 billion (2014: $5.6 billion)
19. Exor Group
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 24
- Revenue: $162.2 billion (2014: $165.9 billion)
- Profit: $428 million (2014: $2.8 billion)
18. ICBC
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 25
- Revenue: $163.2 billion (2014: $148.8 billion)
- Profit: $44.7 billion (2014: $42.7 billion)
17. Daimler
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 20
- Revenue: $172.3 billion (2014: $156.6 billion)
- Profit: $9.2 billion (2014: $9 billion)
16. McKesson
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 29
- Revenue: $181.2 billion (2014: $138 billion)
- Profit: $1.5 billion (2014: $1.3 billion)
15. Apple
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 15
- Revenue: $182.8 billion (2014: $170.1 billion)
- Profit: $39.5 billion (2014: $37 billion)
14. Berkshire Hathaway
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 14
- Revenue: $194.7 billion (2014: $182.2 billion)
- Profit: $19.9 billion (2014: $19.5 billion)
13. Samsung
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 13
- Revenue: $195.8 billion (2014: $209 billion)
- Profit: $21.9 billion (2014: $27.2 billion)
12. Chevron
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 12
- Revenue: $203.8 billion (2014: $220.4 billion)
- Profit: $19.2 billion (2014: $21.4 billion)
11. Total
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 11
- Revenue: $212 billion (2014: $227.9 billion)
- Profit: $4.2 billion (2014: $11.2 billion)
10. Glencore
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 10
- Revenue: $221.1 billion (2014: $232.7 billion)
- Profit: $2.3 billion (2014: loss - $7.4 billion)
9.Toyota
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 9
- Revenue: $247.7 billion (2014: 256.5 billion)
- Profit: $19.8 billion (2014: $18.2 billion)
8. Volkswagen
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 8
- Revenue: $268.6 billion (2014: $261.5 billion)
- Profit: $14.6 billion (2014: $12.1 billion)
7. State Grid
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 7
- Revenue: $339.4 billion (2014: $333.4 billion)
- Profit: $9.8 billion (2014: $8 billion)
6.BP
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 6
- Revenue: $358.7 billion (2014: $396.2 billion)
- Profit: $3.8 billion (2014: $23.5 billion)
5. ExxonMobil
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 5
- Revenue: $382.6 billion (2014: $407.7 billion)
- Profit: $32.5 billion (2014: $32.6 billion)
4. China National Petroleum
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 4
- Revenue: $428.6 billion (2014: $432 billion)
- Profit: $16.4 billion (2014: $18.5 billion)
3.Shell
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 2
- Revenue: $431.3 billion (2014: 459.36 billion)
- Profit: $14.9 billion (2014: $16.4 billion)
2. Sinopec
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 3
- Revenue: $446.8 billion (2014: $457.2 billion)
- Profit: $5.2 billion (2014: $8.9 billion)
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 1
- Revenue: $485.7 billion (2014: $476.3 billion)
- Profit: $16.4 billion (2014: $16 billion)
Economic crises, military conflicts, political instability and others negative factors do not have a significant impact on them. The world's most successful companies are the backbone of the global economy, with some of their profits equaling the GDP of small developing countries.
Ideal marketing, financial foresight, non-standard management techniques - which recipe helps them take leading positions in all existing ratings year after year - is the biggest secret of big business. They are the best, time, money and millions of first-class specialists work for them.
The success of a company is assessed by three indicators:
- profit;
- asset value;
- capitalization size.
For young, fast-growing companies, experts have introduced an indicator that evaluates how much assets have increased since their founding.
Numbers appearing in annual reports The world's largest corporations make a stunning impression. To paraphrase a famous expression, we can say: “Corporations rule the world.” The world's most successful companies feel comfortable at the top of the financial Olympus, rarely and reluctantly allowing ambitious newcomers onto the pedestal.
1. Drive your dreams. Toyota
The assets of the automobile giant Toyota are estimated at $406 billion. It is the largest automaker in 
world. The company began operating in 1924 with the sale of weaving machines and over almost a century of history has become a global auto giant. In addition to the production and sales of cars, the company conducts business in several directions. Toyota Motors Corporation owns a financial structure, an insurance company, and carries out real estate transactions. The success of the Toyota brand was brought by 14 commandments of doing business, which, with truly Japanese scrupulousness, reflected all areas of life of a large corporation. “Make decisions slowly, look at everything with your own eyes, educate your leaders” - common truths work great, especially if written down in “ production system corporations" and are binding on everyone - from workers to directors. Over the three quarters of 2016, more than 8 million cars were sold – this is an absolute world record.
2. Black gold. ExxonMobil
Oil is not called black gold for nothing. One of the most valuable companies in the world ExxonMobil is a giant 
oil refining industry. The company has assets worth $395.4 billion, and net profit in the first half of 2016 amounted to $16 billion. The history of ExxonMobil began in the century before last, when Standard Oil, owned by the Rockefeller family, was divided into several companies. As a result of many transformations, divisions and mergers, the public company ExxonMobil appeared in 1999, which today owns shares of oil refineries in 45 countries, a network of gas stations in 100 countries and is engaged in oil production around the world. ExxonMobil's performance is the best illustration of its long-term success. Throughout its existence, the corporation has not had a single unprofitable period.
3. Investments and insurance. Berkshire Hathaway
Warren Buffett and his Berkshire Hathaway with a capitalization of $360 billion are the most successful investment 
holding in the world. The main activity is investment and management. Warren Buffett, the permanent chairman of the board of directors, began building his empire by organizing a small insurance company. By investing his profits in stock purchases, Buffett began to earn enough to buy entire companies. Berkshire Hathaway currently owns businesses in many different industries - retail, railway transportation, food production, household appliances, publishing and, of course, all types of insurance. The subsidiary media holding BH Media Group includes seventy newspapers and one TV channel.
4. IT geniuses. Microsoft
Microsoft has lagged behind the leader by almost 100 billion, its assets are valued at $303.5 billion. Since last year 
The company's profit increased by 10%. The corporation practically monopolized the office software market and software. In addition, Microsoft produces computer accessories and its own tablet computer model. Microsoft products are sold in almost a hundred countries around the world, and their office suite is the most used on the market. The closest competitors remain far behind from year to year. APPLE is an exception, but its profits are driven by successful sales of iPhones and electronics. Microsoft's recent successes are attributed to a change in leadership. New CEO Satya Nadella is a proponent of a tough business style and an aggressive marketing policy.
5. China is always in the lead. Industrial & Commercial Bank Of China
No economic rating is complete without representatives of the fastest growing economy in the world. 
The Chinese Industrial & Commercial Bank Of China has a capitalization of $275 billion. This is one of the youngest financial leaders - the bank began operating in 1984. The Chinese government owns 50% of the shares. In 2006, the Bank carried out the most successful share placement in history - then a record $22 billion was raised for the global economy. Financial business remains one of the most profitable. The most successful of the product manufacturers, APPLE, occupies only the 7th position in the ranking of the most successful companies in the world.
6. Universal sales. WalMart
Retailer Wal-Mart, which owns the WalMart supermarket chain, has assets worth $200 
billion. The company owns more than 10 thousand stores around the world, the number of employees is 2.5 million people. Retail trade is one of the most complex species business. Wal-Mart succeeds because of its tough business practices and cost-minimizing strategies. Many suppliers to WalMart stores testify that the company is forcing them to reduce selling prices, and representatives of small businesses are unhappy that the huge chain monopolizes the retail market in many countries. In addition, Wal-Mart has become famous for violating workers' rights and constant conflicts with unions. Since 2000, the company began a period of instability, during which two large projects were closed - in South Korea and Germany. In the first case, the department store format did not appeal to Korean consumers, and sales in Germany resulted in annual losses of $100 million.
7. Apple records. APPLE
The record holder for increasing profits among technology companies – APPLE is valued at $154.1 billion. 
2015 alone brought APPLE owners $53.1 billion in net profit. During its existence, the brainchild of Steve Jobs increased its value by 50,000%. The corporation managed to do the impossible - turn the use of smartphones and computer equipment into a real cult of worship of products with the Apple logo. It's not just about proprietary software and high quality, APPLE created an ideal marketing model, the cornerstone of which was the prestige and impeccable image of the company. “Own APPLE, you own the best” - this idea continues to bring billions in profits for APPLE.
8. Internet business. Google
Another representative high technology Google ranks second eighth in the ranking 
richest corporations in the world. Google is worth $82.5 billion. Last year was not the best for the company, but even though profit growth was less than expected, the increase reached 16%. Google receives more than a billion search requests every day, and the company operates more than a million servers. In addition to the search engine itself, the Google brand owns an email service, a social network, a browser, an image processing program and several sites that are in the top 100 by traffic. Every year Google introduces new applications to users, improves and updates existing ones.
9. Timeless classic. Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola lost ground somewhat. The most popular soda in the world began to lose its leadership position 
retail sales of soft drinks in 2010. Since then, the company's profits have been gradually declining. Some analysts attribute this to the fashion for proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle. Others see a connection between falling sales and the merger of The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Enterprises. Despite the disappointing statistics, especially the disastrous one in 2014, the company is valued at $58 billion. A decline in sales does not always mean unprofitability, which is why the Coca-Cola brand is traditionally included in world rankings of the most successful companies.
10. Business on communication. Facebook
The Facebook brand is valued at $52.6 billion. It is the most popular social network in the world. Every year 
the company increases profits and, accordingly, the value of assets. Last year alone the growth was more than 50%. Facebook shows excellent results, but this is not surprising - almost 1 billion people use the network every day. In 2011, a fantastic figure was achieved - in one month the number of network visitors exceeded 1 trillion. In August 2015, the billionth personal page on Facebook was registered. We can say that today Internet communication is one of the most popular goods on the world market.
The main assessment is consumer confidence
Another interesting indicator by which the success of a company is assessed is the trust index. This criterion was introduced by the American consulting firm Reputation Insitute. The index shows the ratio of customer trust to the company's reputation. All enterprises included in the top ten are large transnational holdings, most of which are based in the USA.
Top 10 companies with the highest consumer confidence index:
- automobile concern BMW;
- the largest representative of the entertainment industry, The Walt Disney Company;
- watch brand Rolex;
- transnational corporation of Internet resources Google;
- the Daimler concern, which owns the MERCEDES brand;
- one of the market leaders in electronics and household appliances Sony
- software manufacturer Microsoft;
- Cannon company – manufacturer of optical, printing and television equipment;
- food concern Nestle;
- Apple is a manufacturer of original smartphones, personal and tablet computers, and software.
There are several ratings ranking the world's largest businesses. Each of them evaluates profitability, assets, sales growth and other objective economic factors. If you look closely at any TOP of the best, you will notice the most successful types of businesses. Oil refining, Internet technologies, software development, automotive manufacturing and retail are the areas in which the largest resources are deployed and the most high-profile fortunes are created. Most of these companies began to build their business empires at the beginning of the last century. The 21st century is the time of IT technologies and electronics. It is in these areas that newcomers have the highest chances of making it to the top of big business.
2016.11.29 byThis year, for the first time since the financial crisis of 2008-2009, the number of Russian companies in the list of the 500 largest in the world decreased to five - the list included Gazprom (26), LUKOIL (43), Rosneft (46), Sberbank (177), VTB (443 ). Not a single domestic company entered the top 20. Here's who came in:
20. AXA
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 16
- Revenue:$161.2 billion (2014: 165.9 billion)
- Profit:$6.7 billion (2014: 5.6 billion)
10. Glencore
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 10
- Revenue:$221.1 billion (2014: 232.7 billion)
- Profit:$2.3 billion (2014: loss - 7.4 billion)
Glencore (LSE: Glencore) is back in profit despite last year's $7.4 billion loss following its acquisition of Xstrata. However, sales fell 5% under pressure from commodity prices.
9.Toyota
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 9
- Revenue:$247.7 billion (2014: 256.5 billion)
- Profit:$19.8 billion (2014: 18.2 billion)
8. Volkswagen
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 8
- Revenue:$268.6 billion (2014: 261.5 billion)
- Profit:$14.6 billion (2014: 12.1 billion)
Volkswagen (XETRA: Volkswagen) is the most profitable automaker in the world and the only non-energy company in the top 10 rankings. The German auto giant benefited from rising sales in the Asia-Pacific region.
7. State Grid
- Place in the 2014 ranking: 7
- Revenue:$339.4 billion (2014: 333.4 billion)
- Profit:$9.8 billion (2014: 8 billion)
China's largest state-owned electricity company has been strengthening its position in the international market for several years, but has not forgotten about the domestic market. Last year it announced plans to spend $65 billion a year over five years to modernize the national network.
The largest business on the planet turned out to be the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, operating under the ICBC brand. It topped the Forbes Global 2000 ranking for the sixth year in a row. Together with him, China Construction Bank and the American financial corporation JPMorgan Chase were among the leaders. Companies from mainland China took half of the places in the top ten of the Forbes Global 2000 world ranking. The second half went to companies from the United States. The annual ranking includes the largest business structures on the planet. This year's list includes companies from 60 countries with combined revenues of $39.1 trillion, profits of $3.2 trillion and assets of $189 trillion. Forbes estimates the total market value of all 2,000 companies in the ranking at $56.8 trillion. The largest company in 2018 was the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, operating under the ICBC brand. It is a state-owned corporation with private capital: most of the shares are owned by the government of China People's Republic(PRC), a smaller part is traded on the stock exchange. ICBC controls a fifth of the entire banking sector in China. This allowed the company to take first place in the Forbes Global 2000 ranking for the sixth time in a row. China Construction Bank took second place; the top three was completed by the financial giant JPMorgan Chase from the United States. The largest representative of the non-banking sector was Warren Buffett's holding Berkshire Hathaway, which was placed in fourth position. This holding includes many companies of different profiles: construction, food, transport, insurance, financial and others. IN last time the non-Chinese company was ranked number one on the Forbes Global 2000 in 2012. At that moment, the largest business structure on the planet was the American oil giant ExxonMobil. Now a corporation from the United States occupies 13th position. 
20.Microsoft
Microsoft opens the top 20 of the Forbes ranking with revenue of $103.3 billion and net profit of $14.2 billion. A few years ago, the company avoided the evolutionary winner's trap, in which the dominant player in the market stops developing: Microsoft was able to not focus on programs for personal computers and began diversification. Among the high-profile purchases of the IT giant are the video calling service Skype, the phone manufacturer Nokia, the employee search service LinkedIn and the Github programming community.
19. BNP Paribas
In recent years, the French banking group BNP Paribas has been the subject of several high-profile investigations. Perhaps the most notable case was the case of non-compliance with American sanctions, when the United States revealed the work of BNP Paribas with the dictatorial regimes of Sudan, Iran and Cuba. For this, in 2014, the French were sentenced to a fine of $1.9 billion. Since then, BNP Paribas has fully compensated for the damage, restored the work of its branches in the United States and strengthened its status as the largest bank in the Eurozone.
18. Verizon Communications
For leaders in the telecommunications industry, the past year has been a year of mergers and acquisitions. Last June, Verizon bought Internet giant Yahoo for $4.5 billion. The company is expected to combine Yahoo's businesses with AOL's assets into a separate division called Oath. It will be designed to help Verizon make money not only by providing access to the Internet, but also in the online entertainment content market.
17.HSBC
Europe's largest bank HSBC took only 17th place in the ranking - and this reflects Europe's place in modern world. There are still large ones here financial flows, but every year the European representation in Forbes Global 2000 is getting smaller. The current record holder, the British bank HSBC, earned $63.2 billion over the past year, of which $10.8 billion was net profit.
16. Volkswagen Group
Three years after “Dieselgate”, the scandal with underestimation of emissions harmful substances into the atmosphere, the Volkswagen automobile concern is beginning to regain its position. The automaker gained 12 places compared to last year's ranking and returned to the top 20 of the Forbes list. During the year, Volkswagen doubled its revenue, bringing this parameter to $13 billion.
15.AT&T
The American AT&T is the largest of the 54 telecommunications companies represented in the ranking. The total assets of all 54 members of the list are estimated at $3.4 trillion, AT&T assets at $446.3 billion. last year The company's revenue fell 2%, and its final profit of $30 billion could have been $20 billion higher if not for taxes assessed at the end of the year. Like Verizon, AT&T is in the mood for acquisitions: the company has made an offer to buy the Time Warner film studio for $85 billion.
14. Samsung Electronics
Samsung still falls short of its main competitor in the smartphone market, Apple. While the Americans from Apple have firmly established themselves in the top ten, where they have become the only representative of the technology business, the Koreans from Samsung are content with the 14th position and a profit of $41 billion (Apple has $53.3). Samsung's capitalization is $325.9 billion, almost three times less than Apple's ($926.9 billion).
13. ExxonMobil
The ExxonMobil concern retained 13th place on the list, but this only seems to be stagnation: during the same time, the main European competitor of American oil companies, Royal Dutch Shell, jumped to 11th position. This means that ExxonMobil can no longer claim to be the largest oil business on the planet. And although the American capitalization of $344 billion still exceeds other commodity companies, in other respects ExxonMobil was inferior to the Europeans. For example, ExxonMobil's revenue was $230 billion instead of Shell's $321.8 billion.
12. Toyota Motor
Toyota earned $22.5 billion in net profit for the year and took 12th place in the ranking. The Japanese not only maintain an impressive share of the traditional car market, but are also trying to get ahead of competitors in the growing segment of alternative fuel cars. For example, Toyota is already producing a car powered by hydrogen fuel cells. By investing in such technologies, the Japanese hope to protect themselves from the death of the gasoline auto industry.
11. Royal Dutch Shell
Oil and gas companies have risen significantly in Forbes' rankings thanks to rising fossil fuel prices in the past year. True, few have moved up as significantly as Royal Dutch Shell did. The company immediately won back nine places and soared from 20th to 11th position. Now the capitalization of Dutch oil companies has reached $306 billion, and revenue - an astronomical $321.8 billion.
10.Ping An Insurance Group
The largest insurer in China and almost the largest in the world: in the competition of insurance companies, Ping An is second only to the American Berkshire Hathaway. True, Berkshire Hathaway is a diversified holding, while Ping An is more focused on insurance. Related in in this case turned out to be banking and medical services. The emphasis on development in related areas and the strong digitalization of each process allowed the Chinese Ping An to exceed the performance of its closest pursuer in the Asian market, the insurance company AIA, which is present in 18 countries in the region, by 64%.
9. Bank of China
The Forbes Global 2000 ranking included 14 Chinese banks, four of which were in the top ten. These are the so-called Big Four, which control a significant part of the banking sector in China. Bank of China is on this list; In terms of assets ($3.2 trillion), it is among the top five world leaders. The oldest operating bank in China dates back to 1912, and until 1942, the Bank of China served as the Central Bank and issued national currency. Now the Bank of China is considered one of the main financial institutions Hong Kong and has the right to issue local dollars.
8. Apple
Over the year, Apple's position has strengthened significantly. The company topped the ranking of US public companies, increased market capitalization by $175 billion ($926.9 billion versus $752 billion a year earlier) and increased assets by $36.5 billion ($367.5 billion versus $331 billion last year). As a result, the manufacturer of smartphones and computers moved from ninth to eighth place in the ranking.
7. Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo is associated with a bank, but it makes money not only on interest on loans. Along with issuing mortgages and storing deposits, the company is engaged in asset trust management, insurance, and investing in securities and develops the leasing direction. Over the past year, the bank has lost $9 billion in market capitalization: if in 2017 Wells Fargo was valued at $274.4 billion, now it is only at $265.3 billion. But the company’s revenue increased - instead of $97.6 billion over the last year, Wells Fargo earned $102 .1 billion
6.Bank of America
The combined profit of the three largest US banks for 2017 was $68.5 billion. Bank of America, with a result of $20.3 billion, lagged slightly behind its competitors in terms of income, but the colossal assets of $2.3 trillion allowed the bank to take sixth place in the ranking. Bank of America suffered seriously during the 2008-2009 crisis, but lately is increasing its position and winning back places in the Forbes Global 2000. A year ago, the bank was only seventh.
5. Agricultural Bank of China
As its name suggests, the Agricultural Bank of China finances one of the most complex sectors of the Chinese economy - agriculture. The need to work with farmers and dependence on the harvest does not prevent Agricultural Bank of China from systematically moving to the top: the bank is steadily increasing its assets and winning back one position in the ranking after another. Last year, the Agricultural Bank of China ranked sixth, and this year it came in fifth. The company's capitalization is $184 billion.
4. Berkshire Hathaway
Warren Buffett's investment empire lost one position compared to last year's ranking and fell from third to fourth place. And yet, the business grew: the main event of 2017 for Berkshire Hathaway was a one-time tax deduction, which allowed the company to increase profits from $21.5 billion to $45 billion in a year. This helped offset the overall decline in profitability experienced by Berkshire Hathaway's insurance division.
3. JPMorgan Chase
In a recent ranking of the largest US companies, the financial conglomerate JPMorgan Chase took only third place, behind Apple and Berkshire Hathaway. Over time, the main banking giant of the United States has surpassed its competitors and become the largest company in America. With assets of $2.6 trillion, JPMorgan Chase is among the top three in the global ranking. The company provides asset management, investing and traditional banking services.
