This post lists the 20 publicly traded companies with the largest market capitalization as of today. Since my February 2016 list of the 20 most valuable stocks many of the market caps have increased significantly.
| Company | Country | Market Capitalization | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | USA | $825 billion |
| 2 | Alphabet (GOOGL) | USA | $652 billion |
| 3 | Microsoft | USA | $525 billion |
| 4 | Amazon | USA | $466 billion |
| 5 | USA | $437 billion | |
| 6 | Berkshire Hathaway | USA | $403 billion |
| 7 | Exxon Mobil | USA | $350 billion |
| 8 | Johnson & Johnson | USA | $334 billion |
| 9 | Samsung | Korea | $316 billion** |
| 10 | Tencent | China | $314 billion* |
Apple gained an amazing $284 billion in market cap since my February 2016 post. Only 12 companies (including Apple) are worth more than $284 billion. Amazon soared $204 billion (a 78% increase). Alphabet (Google) gained $156 billion in market cap.
Samsung soared $163 billion (a 107% gain) and Tencent soared $144 billion (a 85% gain) to move from outside the top 20 to become the 9th and 10th most valuable companies and the most valuable based outside the USA.
Facebook gained $126 billion and Microsoft gained $117 billion. GE lost $60 billion to drop out of the top ten. Wells Fargo also dropped out of the top 10.
The next ten most valuable companies:
| Company | Country | Market Capitalization | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | JPMorgan Chase | USA | $308 billion |
| 12 | Alibaba | China | $298 billion |
| 13 | Wells Fargo | USA | $261 billion |
| 14 | Industrial & Commercial Bank of China | China | $258 billion* |
| 15 | Nestle | Switzerland | $253 billion |
| 16 | GE | USA | $240 billion |
| 17 | Bank of America | USA | $238 billion |
| 18 | Roche | Switzerland | $231 billion |
| 19 | Walmart | USA | $228 billion |
| 20 | China Mobile | China | $225 billion* |
Market capitalization shown are of the close of business May 12th, as shown on Google Finance.
In the 20 most valuable companies list there are 13 USA companies, 4 Chinese companies, 2 Swiss companies and 1 Korean company.
Alibaba (China) soared $131 billion (78%) and climbed to the 11th spot (from outside the top 20 last time). Bank of America soared $105 billion (up 79%).
Verizon was one of 2 companies in the top 20 to lose value in the period, Verizon declined $23 billion (over 10%) and dropped out of the top 20.
The total value of the top 20 gained $1.3 trillion since my February, 2016 post: growing from $5.9 trillion to $7.2 trillion. Remember, the companies making up the top 20 has changed.
Related: Global Stock Market Capitalization from 2000 to 2012 – Stock Market Capitalization by Country from 1990 to 2010 – Historical Stock Returns
A few other companies of interest (based on their market capitalization):
China Construction Bank, China, $225 billion*
Procter & Gamble, USA, $220 billion
Visa, USA, $215 billion.
Novartis, Switzerland, $209 billion.
Royal Dutch Shell, Netherlands, $205 billion.
Anheuser Busch, Belgium, $203 billion.
Chevron, USA, $200 billion.
Pfizer, USA, $196 billion.
Petro China, China, $194 billion.
Verizon, USA, $186 billion.
Coca-Cola, USA, $186 billion.
Oracle, USA, $185 billion.
Bank of China, China, $177 billion*
Toyota, Japan, $173 billion.
Walt Disney, USA, $172 billion.
Merck, USA, $172 billion.
Citigroup, USA, $169 billion.
Agricultural Bank of China, China, $164 billion*
PepsiCo, USA, $161 billion.
Sanofi, France, $129 billion.
China Life Insurance Company, China, $109 billion.
NTT, Japan, $94 billion.
Gilead Sciences, USA, $85 billion.
Novo Nordisk, Denmark, $80 billion.
Market capitalization figures were taken from Google finance. ADRs were chosen, if available (so I get the cap reported in USD).
* market cap taken from Google finance based on the Hong Kong exchange (no ADRs option was available) and converted to USD.
** market cap taken from Google finance based on the Korean exchange and converted to USD.