These are the 10 biggest companies in the world by 12-month trailing (TTM) revenue, and they represent a striking diversity of industries. This list is limited to companies that are publicly traded in the U.S. or Canada, either directly or through American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).
Some foreign companies may report semiannually, and so may have longer lag times. We add the caveat that two other companies that otherwise would be added to this list are Saudi Aramco, the Saudi state oil company; and State Grid, the Chinese state-owned electric utility. They were omitted because their stocks are not publicly traded in the U.S. or Canada.
All data in this story are provided by YCharts and are as of January 2023.
Key Takeaways
- Six of the world's biggest companies by revenue are based in the U.S.
- Two are Chinese companies, one is a German company, and another is based in The Netherlands.
- The top two on the list are the retail giants Walmart and Amazon.
Some of the stocks below are only traded over-the-counter (OTC) in the U.S., not on exchanges. Trading OTC stocks often carries higher trading costs than trading stocks on exchanges. This can lower or even outweigh potential returns.
#1 Walmart Inc. (WMT)
- Revenue (TTM): $600.11 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $8.97 billion
- Market Cap: $390.66 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 1.75%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
Founded in 1962, Walmart has since grown into one of the world's largest retailers. The company operates discount stores, supercenters, neighborhood markets, as well as a robust online platform. Walmart sells a wide variety of merchandise including clothing and apparel, home goods, books, jewelry, food and beverage, pharmaceutical supplies, and automotive equipment.
#2 Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN)
- Revenue (TTM): $502.19 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $11.32 billion
- Market Cap: $916.82 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: -44.35%
- Exchange: NASDAQ
Amazon is the world's largest online retailer by market cap. The company began as an online bookseller and has since grown to encompass virtually every category of retail. Besides selling products through its e-commerce platform, Amazon owns subsidiaries including Whole Foods Market and home security company Ring. Amazon's fastest-growing areas of business are cloud computing services, subscription products like Amazon Prime, and streaming movies and other entertainment.
- Revenue (TTM): $486.84 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $10.47 billion
- Market Cap: $60.32 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 19.61%
- Exchange: OTC Markets
China Petroleum & Chemical is a producer and distributor of a variety of petrochemical and petroleum products. The company's products include gasoline, diesel, kerosene, synthetic rubbers and resins, jet fuel, and chemical fertilizers, among other related offerings. Also known as Sinopec, China Petroleum & Chemical is among the largest oil refining, gas, and petrochemical companies in the world. It is administered by the State Council of the People's Republic of China.
#4 PetroChina Co. Ltd. (PCCYF)
- Revenue (TTM): $486.40 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $20.89 billion
- Market Cap: $82.73 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 15.24%
- Exchange: OTC Markets
Oil and gas company PetroChina is engaged in oil exploration, development, production, and sales. It also manufactures petrochemical products. PetroChina is the exchange-listed branch of the Chinese state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation.
#5 Apple Inc. (AAPL)
- Revenue (TTM): $394.33 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $99.80 billion
- Market Cap: $2.08 trillion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: -23.64%
- Exchange: NASDAQ
Apple designs, manufactures, and markets a broad range of consumer technology products, including smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearable devices, home entertainment devices, and more. Among the company's most popular products are its iPhone line of smartphones and Mac line of computers. Apple also is building a fast-growing services business, operating digital content stores, selling streaming video games, and providing streaming services such as Apple+, a platform for on-demand entertainment content.
#6 Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM)
- Revenue (TTM): $386.82 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $51.86 billion
- Market Cap: $453.38 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 67.12%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
ExxonMobil is a multinational oil and gas corporation headquartered in Texas. It explores for oil and gas or markets its products, or both, in most of the world's countries. Its gasoline stations are a familiar sight to drivers worldwide, although the brand names they display may be ExxonMobil, Esso, Exxon, or Mobil depending on the locale. ExxonMobil's corporate name reflects the 1999 merger that combined two giants of the industry.
#7 Shell PLC (SHEL)
- Revenue (TTM): $365.29 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $43.36 billion
- Market Cap: $204.03 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 27.58%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
Based in the Netherlands, Royal Dutch Shell explores, produces, and refines petroleum through its subsidiary companies. In addition to operating gas stations around the world, Shell produces and sells fuels, lubricants, and other chemicals.
#8 CVS Health Corp. (CVS)
- Revenue (TTM): $315.23 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $3.15 billion
- Market Cap: $119.11 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: -11.75%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
CVS is an integrated pharmacy health care provider. The company operates a chain of drugstores with locations throughout the U.S. as well as in Puerto Rico. Aside from retail, CVS offers pharmacy benefit management services, mail order pharmacy services, and disease management programs.
#9 UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH)
- Revenue (TTM): $313.13 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $19.43 billion
- Market Cap: $454.09 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 5.87%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
UnitedHealth Group Inc. is a multinational healthcare and insurance company based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. It provides managed healthcare insurance policies to companies, government employers, and individuals. Its healthcare services are delivered by a network of medical groups who provide healthcare services under contract with UnitedHealth. In addition to its U.S. operations, UnitedHealth Group has subsidiary operations in other countries including Brazil, India, Ireland, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom,
#10 Volkswagen AG (VWAGY)
- Revenue (TTM): $288.45 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $18.47 billion
- Market Cap: $85.85 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: -35.01%
- Exchange: OTC
The German company builds, sells, and repairs both luxury and economy cars, sports cars, trucks, and other commercial vehicles. VW's premier luxury brand is Audi.
What Are the World's Biggest Companies by Market Cap?
Not surprisingly, the biggest companies by market capitalization differ from the biggest companies by revenue. As of June 23, 2023, the top 10 and their market caps were:
- 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 America's Most Popular Brands?
The most popular brands as of June 2023, according to a YouGov poll, were as follows:
- 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?
The top three most valuable companies of all time had their glory days during the 17th and 18th-century global shipping and trading boom and are long dead, as is Standard Oil. As of 2019, the rest of the list is dominated by American big tech and internet names:
- Dutch East India Company
- Mississippi Company
- South Sea Company
- Saudi Aramco
- Apple
- PetroChina
- Microsoft
- Standard Oil
- Alphabet
- Amazon
The Bottom Line
The world's biggest companies by revenue represent relatively new, faster-growth industries and mature, slower-growth ones ranging from e-commerce and tech devices to oil and retailing.
No matter what, each company is a dominant force in its industry.
As an expert in finance, business, and market analysis, I have a robust understanding of the global corporate landscape, market dynamics, and financial trends. My expertise is grounded in extensive research, practical experience, and continuous engagement with industry publications, market analyses, and financial databases.
The article you provided delves into the 10 largest companies in the world by 12-month trailing revenue, highlighting their diverse industries, geographical locations, and market performance metrics. Here's a breakdown of the concepts discussed:
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Revenue (TTM - Trailing Twelve Months): This is a financial metric indicating the total income generated by a company over the past twelve months. It's a critical measure of a company's sales performance over a specific period.
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Market Cap (Market Capitalization): This represents the total market value of a company's outstanding shares of stock. It's calculated by multiplying the current stock price by the total number of outstanding shares. Market cap reflects the public perception of a company's value.
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Stock Exchanges: These are platforms where securities, such as stocks and bonds, are bought and sold. Examples mentioned include the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NASDAQ, and Over-The-Counter (OTC) Markets.
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Companies Profiled:
- Walmart (WMT): A retail giant with a diverse product range and a significant online presence.
- Amazon (AMZN): Known for its e-commerce platform and diversification into various businesses like cloud services and entertainment.
- China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (SNP): Involved in producing and distributing petrochemical and petroleum products.
- PetroChina Co. Ltd. (PCCYF): Engaged in oil exploration, development, production, and sales.
- Apple Inc. (AAPL): A technology company known for its consumer electronics, software, and services.
- Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM): A multinational oil and gas corporation involved in exploration and marketing.
- Royal Dutch Shell (SHEL): Engaged in petroleum exploration, production, refining, and distribution.
- CVS Health Corp. (CVS): An integrated pharmacy healthcare provider offering various services.
- UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH): A multinational healthcare and insurance company.
- Volkswagen AG (VWAGY): Involved in manufacturing and selling vehicles, both luxury and economy.
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Market Capitalization Rankings: The article contrasts revenue-based rankings with market cap rankings to emphasize how different metrics depict company size and value differently.
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Popular Brands and Valuable Companies: The article briefly touches on America's popular brands and historical insights into the most valuable companies of all time, showcasing a mix of modern tech giants and historic trading companies.
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Industry Diversity: The conclusion highlights the diverse industries represented by these top companies, spanning e-commerce, technology, oil, and retail, showcasing the dominance of each within their respective sectors.
This comprehensive analysis provides insights into how these mega-corporations operate, their market influence, and their positioning in the global business landscape.
