The world's most powerful companies will surprise you
07 June 2016
Who's on top?
With more money and power than some countries, these companies are ruling the economic world. Using data from Forbes Global 2000, an annual ranking of the world’s largest companies that measures total sales, profits, assets and market value, we count down the businesses on the top of their game. And there are some surprising names in the top spots.
25th: Daimler
The German car manufacturer is responsible for producing Mercedes-Benz cars and vans, as well as Daimler trucks and buses. Its sales clock in at $165.7 billion (£114bn), while its profits reached an impressive $9.3 billion (£6.4bn). Founded in 1926 and headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, the company has nearly 285,000 staff. Its assets total $235.9 billion (£163bn) while its market value hit $75.4 billion (£52bn).
24th: BNP Paribas
The French banking and financial services company continues to grow with 189,000 employees and recorded sales of $74.9 billion (£51.8bn). Founded in 1848 and headquartered in Paris, it recorded profits worth $7.4 billion (£5bn), assets worth $2.2 trillion (£1.5tn) and has a current market value of $66.8 billion (£46bn).
23rd: Microsoft
New and exciting products from the US software company have seen Microsoft jump from 25th position to 23rd with a market value of $407 billion (£281.7bn). Founded in 1975, and headquartered in Washington, the company has 118,000 staff. According to Forbes, Microsoft's sales hit $86.6 billion (£60bn) with $10.2 billion (£7bn) in profits, while its assets total $181.9 billion (£126bn).
22nd: Volkswagen Group
From the classic Beetle to a luxury 4x4, everyone knows about Volkswagen, which is probably why its market value is so large – $74.1 billion (£51bn) to be exact. The German car maker, founded in 1937, has over 610,000 staff around the world. It has sales worth $246.2 billion (£170bn) and profits of $7.1 billion (£4.9bn). Headquartered in Wolfsburg, its assets total $414.6 billion (£286.9bn).
21st: Allianz
The German insurance company had a successful year, maintaining its 21st placing on the list. Founded in 1890 the company now has 142,000 staff all around the world, though its headquarters are in Munich. According to Forbes the company made $115.4 billion (£80bn) worth of sales, $7.3 billion (£5bn) in profits, and has $926.2 billion (£641bn) worth of assets. Its market value currently sits at $79.7 billion (£55bn).
20th: Ping An Insurance
The Chinese company, which specializes in insurance, banking and investment has sales of $98.7 billion (£68bn) and profits worth $8.7 billion (£6bn). Based in Shenzhen, China, the company, which was founded in 1988, continues to grow with over 275,000 employees. Financially it's also soaring with assets totaling $732.3 billion (£506bn) and a market value of $90 billion (£62bn).
Joint 18th: Samsung Electronics
Founded in 1969, the South Korean electronics company remains one of the world’s biggest technology and mobile communications producers with a market value of $161.6 billion (£111bn). Headquartered in Suwon, South Korea, with nearly 240,000 staff, the company recorded sales worth $177.3 billion (£81bn), $16.5 billion (£11.4bn) in profits and has $206.5 billion (£143bn) of assets to its name.
Joint 18th: China Mobile
The Chinese telecommunications company is a new entry to the top 25 and that’s thanks to its impressive $107.8 billion (£74.6bn) sales and $17.7 billion (£12bn) profit. Combining that with $219.9 billion (£152bn) in assets, China Mobile, which was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Hong Kong, has boosted its market value to $241 billion (£166.8bn). Despite being less than 20 years old, the company already boasts nearly 440,000 staff.
17th: PetroChina
With the collapse of oil prices, oil and gas operation PetroChina fell eight spots on this year’s list to 17th position. The company, founded in 1999 and headquartered in Beijing, posted $274.6 billion (£190bn) in sales and $5.7 billion (£4bn) in profit. The company, which has 850,000 staff, totaled $368.7 billion (£255bn) in assets leaving it with a market value of $203.8 billion (£141bn).
Joint 15th: Verizon Communications
The US telecommunications company jumped an impressive seven places on the list with a market value of $206.2 billion (£143bn). Verizon, which provides broadband, wireless and communication services clocked in $131.8 billion (£91bn) worth of sales and $18 billion (£12.5bn) in profits. Founded in 1983, headquartered in New York, the company now has 177,000 staff and $244.6 billion (£169bn) in assets.
Joint 15th: Walmart
Despite disputes of wages and poor overseas working conditions putting Walmart in the headlines for the wrong reasons, it hasn’t hurt the low-cost retailer's earning power pushing it up from 17th position. With a market value of $215.7 billion (£149.4bn), the company, headquartered in Arkansas, posted sales of $482.1 billion (£334bn) with profits of $14.7 billion (£10bn) and assets worth $200 billion (£138.5bn). Founded in 1962, the chain now has a whopping 2.3 million staff around the world.
14th: HSBC Holdings
Solid sales of $70.3 billion (£49bn) and $13.5 billion (£9.3bn) in profits have seen the banking giant move up one place on the annual list. The company, headquartered in London and founded in 1865, has $2.4 trillion (£1.66tn) in assets and a market value of $133 billion (£92bn). There are over 257,000 HSBC employees around the world.
13th: Citigroup
US banks were among this year’s highest gainers on the annual list with Citigroup moving from 19th position to 13th with a market value of $138.1 billion (£95.6bn). It has $1.8 trillion (£1.25bn) in assets and recorded sales and profits worth $85.9 billion (£59.5bn) and $15.8 billion (£10.9bn) respectively. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in New York, it has 231,000 employees.
12th: AT&T
After previously dropping out of the top 25 companies, the US telecommunications company had a stellar year with a $234.2 billion (£162.2bn) market value seeing it move back to the top 15. Headquartered in Texas with a staff of 281,000 employees, AT&T posted sales of $146.8 billion (£101bn) with $13.2 billion (£9bn) in profits. Founded in 1876, AT&T has assets worth $402.7 billion (£279bn).
11th: Bank of America
Like fellow US financial company, Citigroup, Bank of America jumped a whopping 12 places to 11th position in just one year. That’s largely thanks to its impressive $91.5 billion (£63.4bn) sales and $15.8 billion (£11bn) profits. Founded in 1904 and headquartered in North Carolina, the company now has 213,000 staff, $2.2 trillion (£1.5tn) in assets and a market value of $156 billion (£108bn).
Joint 9th: Toyota Motor Corporation
Founded in 1937 you’d be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t heard of this car manufacturing company. With 33,765 staff, the company is headquartered in Toyota, Japan with a whopping $406.7 billion (£281.7bn) worth of assets to its name. With a current market value of $177 billion (122.6bn), it had 2015 sales of $235.8 billion (£163.3bn) and profits of $192.7 billion (£133.5bn).
Joint 9th: ExxonMobil
Founded in 1882 by John D. Rockefeller, this company deals in the exploration, development and distribution of oil, gas and petroleum. Headquartered in Texas with over 75,000 global staff, Forbes reports that ExxonMobil has accrued $236.8 billion (£164bn) in sales, $16.2 billion (£11bn) in profits and holds $226.8 billion (£157bn) in assets. Its current market value sits at $363.3 billion (£157bn).
8th: Apple
Despite reports of slowing iPhone sales and issues with management in the media, the technology giant sits in 8th position on the list, largely thanks to its $586 billion (£405bn) market value. Apple, founded in 1976 and headquartered in Cupertino, California with 110,000 employees, has sales of $233.3 billion (£161.6bn), profits of $53.7 billion (£37bn) and assets totaling $293.3 billion (£203bn).
7th: Wells Fargo
Despite the Federal Reserve stifling interest rates, American bank holding company Wells Fargo jumped three spots on the list in the last year with a market value of $256 billion (£177bn) and assets worth $1.8 trillion (£1.2tn). Headquartered in San Francisco with over 260,000 employees the company was founded in 1852. It has sales worth $91.4 billion (£63bn) and profits totaling $22.7 billion (£15.7bn)
6th: Bank of China
While it might be trailing other Chinese banks, sixth place isn’t too shabby, especially when your company has assets totaling $2.6 trillion (£1.8tn). Falling from 4th place from the previous year thanks to a slowing Chinese economy, the Bank of China – which has around 310,000 staff – had sales worth $122 billion (£84.5bn) and profits totaling $27.2 billion (£18.8bn). Founded in 1912 and headquartered in Beijing, the company is estimated to have a market value of $143 billion (£99bn).
5th: JPMorgan Chase & Co.
The banking and financial holding company, based in New York, was founded in 1968 and has a market value of $234.2 billion (£162bn). Despite a tough market, the American company, which has 234,000 employees, continues to post amazing profits – $23.5 billion (£16bn) to be exact. Sales are at $99.9 billion (£69bn), while assets total an incredible $2.4 trillion (£1.6tn).
4th: Berkshire Hathaway
Founded way back in 1839 Berkshire Hathaway is a company with diverse interests that range from property and insurance to energy, retail and transportation. With 331,000 employees, headquartered in Nebraska and headed up by billionaire businessman Warren Buffet, the company continues to grow, moving up one spot on this list with $210.8 billion (£146bn) in sales, $24.1 billion (£16.7bn) in profits and $561.1 billion (£388.6bn) in assets. It has a market value of $360.1 billion (£250bn).
3rd: Agricultural Bank of China
Founded in 1951 the Agricultural Bank of China specializes in international commercial banking. To date, the company which has 500,000 staff and is based in Beijing, has sales worth $131.9 billion (£91.3bn), profits worth $28.8 billion (£20bn) and a whopping $2.7 trillion (£1.9tn) in assets. According to Forbes its current market value sits at $152.7 billion ($105.7bn).
2nd: China Construction Bank
With branches all around the world, China Construction Bank is one of the most powerful in the world with a staff of nearly 370,000. Holding on to its second place ranking for the second year in a row, it has $2.8 trillion (£1.9bn) in assets and a market value of $162.8 billion (£112.9bn). Founded in 1954 and headquartered in Beijing, sales have reached $146.8 billion (£101.7bn) with $36.4 billion (£25.2bn) in profits.
1st: Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
Once again taking out the top spot as the world’s largest company is the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. Founded in 1984, the company has around 467,000 staff and is based in Beijing. The bank has a market value of $198 billion (£137bn) with assets worth a staggering $3.4 trillion (£2.3tn). Sales have reached $171.1 billion (£118.5bn) with an impressive $44.2 billion (£30.6bn) in profits.
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