These are the 10 largest companies in the world by trailing 12-month revenue (TTM), spanning a wide range of industries. This list is limited to companies publicly listed in the United States or Canada, either directly or through American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).
Some foreign companies report semi-annually, so there may be a longer lag time. Of note, two other companies that were expected to be added to the list were Saudi Arabia's state-run oil company Saudi Aramco and China's state-run power company State Grid. These companies were excluded because they are not publicly traded in the U.S. or Canada.
All data in this article is current as of June 5, 2024.
Key Takeaways
- The largest company by sales is Walmart, followed by Amazon and Sinopec Corporation.
- The top 10 companies' revenues ranged from $331 billion to $657 billion.
- Participating industries include retailers, oil, technology, healthcare companies, automakers and more.
- Seven of the world's largest companies by revenue are based in the United States
- Two are Chinese and one is German.
Some of the stocks listed below trade only over-the-counter (OTC) in the United States, not on an exchange. Trading OTC stocks typically incurs higher trading costs than trading stocks on an exchange, which may reduce or outweigh your potential profits.
- Revenue (last 12 months): $657.33 billion
- Net income (past year): $18.94 billion
- Market cap: $536.78 billion
- 1-year total return: 36.16%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
Founded in 1962, Walmart has since grown to become one of the world's largest retailers. The company operates discount stores, supercenters, neighborhood markets, and a powerful online platform. Walmart sells a wide variety of goods, including clothing, home goods, books, jewelry, food and beverages, medicines, and automotive equipment.
- Revenue (last 12 months): $590.74 billion
- Net income (last 12 months): $37.68 billion
- Market cap: $1.87 trillion
- 1-year total return: 44.34%
- Exchange: Nasdaq
Amazon is the world's largest online retailer by market capitalization. The company began as an online book seller and has since grown to encompass nearly all retail businesses. In addition to selling products through its e-commerce platform, Amazon also owns subsidiaries such as Whole Foods Market and home security company Ring. Amazon's fastest growing segments are cloud computing services, subscription products such as Amazon Prime, streaming movies, and other entertainment.
- Revenue (last 12 months): $444.81 billion
- Net income (TTM): $8.37 billion
- Market cap: $102.05 billion
- 1-year total return: 8.30%
- Exchange: OTC Markets
Sinopec is a producer and distributor of a range of petrochemical and petroleum products. The company's products include gasoline, diesel, kerosene, synthetic rubber and resins, jet fuel, fertilizers, and related products. Sinopec, also known as Sinopec, is the world's largest oil refining, gas, and petrochemical company. The company is controlled by the State Council of the People's Republic of China.
- Revenue (last 12 months): $415.5 billion
- Net income (TTM): $22.83 billion
- Market cap: $256.52 billion
- 1-year total return: 65.21%
- Exchange: OTC Markets
PetroChina is an oil and gas company engaged in the exploration, development, production and sale of petroleum. It also manufactures petrochemical products. PetroChina is a publicly listed subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation, a Chinese state-owned enterprise.
- Revenue (last 12 months): $410.93 billion
- Net income (last 12 months): $73.42 billion
- Market cap: $880.4 billion
- 1-year total return: 22.15%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
Berkshire Hathaway began as a merger of two regional textile companies in the 19th century, then transformed into a conglomerate holding company in the 1960s when legendary investor Warren Buffett took control. Today, Berkshire Hathaway owns numerous subsidiaries engaged in insurance, freight rail transportation, retail, utilities, and energy generation and distribution. It also operates manufacturing businesses that make products for industrial, construction, and consumers.
- Revenue (last 12 months): $381.62 billion
- Net income (past year): $100.39 billion
- Market cap: $3 trillion
- 1-year total return: 8.83%
- Exchange: Nasdaq
Apple designs, manufactures, and sells a wide range of consumer technology products, including smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearable devices, and home entertainment devices. The company's most popular products include the iPhone line of smartphones and the Mac line of computers. Apple has also built a rapidly growing services business that operates a digital content store, sells streaming video games, and offers streaming services, including Apple+, a platform for on-demand entertainment content.
- Revenue (last 12 months): $379.49 billion
- Net income (TTM): $15.36 billion
- Market cap: $462.13 billion
- 1-year total return: 2.06%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
UnitedHealth Group Inc. is a multinational health insurance company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota. It provides managed health insurance to corporations, government employers, and individuals. The company's health care services are provided by a network of medical groups that provide services under contract with UnitedHealth. In addition to its operations in the United States, UnitedHealth Group has subsidiaries in other countries, including Brazil, India, Ireland, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom.
- Revenue (last 12 months): $360.94 billion
- Net income (TTM): $7.32 billion
- Market cap: $75.61 billion
- 1-year total return: -10.85%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
CVS is a comprehensive pharmacy healthcare provider. The company operates a chain of drugstores with locations across the United States and in Puerto Rico. In addition to retail operations, CVS also offers pharmacy benefit management services, mail pharmacy services, and disease management programs.
- Revenue (last 12 months): $349 billion
- Net income (past year): $17.01 billion
- Market cap: $69.68 billion
- 1-year total return: -6.97%
- Exchange: OTC
The German company manufactures, sells, and repairs luxury cars, economy cars, sports cars, trucks, and other commercial vehicles. Volkswagen's top luxury brand is Audi.
- Revenue (last 12 months): $331.46 billion
- Net income (last 12 months): $32.8 billion
- Market cap: $501.39 billion
- 1-year total return: 9.40%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
ExxonMobil is a multinational oil and gas company headquartered in Texas. The company explores for oil and gas, sells its products, or both, in most countries around the world. Its gas stations are a familiar sight to drivers around the world, but depending on the region, you may see the brand name ExxonMobil, Esso, Exxon, or Mobil. The ExxonMobil name reflects the 1999 merger of two of the industry's largest companies.
What are the most profitable companies in the world?
The world's most profitable company is Saudi Aramco. The Saudi Arabian state-owned oil and natural gas company reported net profit of $121.27 billion for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023.
Who is the highest paid CEO in the US?
TPG Inc. (TPG) CEO Jon Winkelried is the highest-paid CEO in the United States in 2023, according to a report from Equilar and The New York Times. His total compensation was $198,685,926.
What are the most recession-proof industries?
There are several sectors that do not experience a drop in demand during a recession: healthcare, utilities, education, consumer staples, etc. Of all of these, healthcare is probably the most recession-proof.
Conclusion
The largest companies by TTM revenues traded in the US or Canada are dominated by retailers, oil, technology and healthcare companies. Walmart and Amazon lead the way by a wide margin with revenues of around $600 billion or more, while the rest of the companies have revenues ranging from $445 billion to $331 billion. Seven of the companies on the list are based in the US, with the remaining three based in China and Germany.
