The United States is the world’s biggest economy by nominal GDP (over $21T) and the second biggest by PPP (purchasing power parity) after China, so it’s obvious that the country hosts the biggest share (121) of the companies from the Fortune Global 500 list. The local economy is of the mixed type, focusing on the development of multiple industries, and their success is based on three main factors: plentiful natural resources, a developed infrastructure and great productivity.
Given the size of the US territory and population, the country has one of the world’s biggest internal markets for goods and services, but its biggest companies are working internationally, dominating many foreign markets. This makes them look like a highly beneficial, very stable investment opportunity.
We’ve prepared a list of the largest American companies by revenue in 2018, to give you an idea of how diversified the US economy really is. You can identify its major and most successful players and benefit from the insights you get, even if your investments are not huge, thanks to their stability and high earnings.
4. Berkshire Hathaway ($247.8B)
6. UnitedHealth Group ($226.2B)
10. AmerisourceBergen ($167.9B)
14. Costco Wholesale ($141.6B)
*All figures are in USD. M: Millions of USD, B: Billions of USD, T: Trillions of USD
1. Walmart ($514.4B)
Walmart Inc. (further Walmart) is the biggest retail enterprise in the US, working internationally. The company operates 55 retail brands with almost 1,400 branches in 27 countries and employs over 2M professionals at different levels. In 2018 Walmart ended up with a revenue of $514.4B, 2.8% higher than in 2017, and a profit of $6.7B
2. Exxon Mobil ($290.212B)
Exxon Mobil Corporation (further Exxon Mobil) is an international oil and gas giant, headquartered in the USA and one of the biggest companies by revenue in the world - $290.212B as of 2018. In the same year it enjoyed 8th position in the Fortune Global 500 list. The company is currently the biggest refiner in the world, operating 37 oil refineries in 21 countries with a total daily capacity of 6.3M barrels.
3. Apple ($265.6B)
Apple Inc. (further Apple) was the wealthiest technology company in the US in terms of annual revenue in 2018 - $265.6B, representing growth of 15.9% since 2017. This international enterprise operates as a computer software, online services and consumer electronics developer and seller, owning 504 retails stores across the globe. 1.3B of the products created by Apple were in active use as of the beginning of 2018.
4. Berkshire Hathaway ($247.8B)
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.(further Berkshire Hathaway) is a multipurpose conglomerate holding based in the US that operates internationally. It is the world’s third biggest public company and the most prominent financial services company by revenue, $247.8B in 2018. Berkshire Hathaway has over 389,000 employees, whose activities contributed to over $4B in profits in 2018.
5. Amazon.com ($232.9B)
Amazon.com, Inc. (further Amazon) is the largest e-commerce marketplace in the world, the second biggest technology company in the United States and the world’s biggest internet enterprise by revenue. Amazon earned $232.9B in 2018, 30.9% more than the previous year. The company has 17 subsidiaries and a huge supply chain of 75 fulfillment and 25 sortation centres served by 125,000 professionals.
6. UnitedHealth Group ($226.2B)
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (further UnitedHealth) is a managed health-care enterprise from the US with an annual income of $226.2B as of 2018. The company operates as an insurance services and health care products provider and serves 155M customers all over the world. UnitedHealth is a for-profit organisation with 2 main units: Optum and UnitedHealthcare.
7. McKesson ($214.3B)
McKesson Corporation (further McKesson) is an American pharmaceuticals distributor, as well as a care management tools, medical supplies and health information technology provider. The company was the 7th largest US company by revenue in 2018 ($214.3B). McKesson operates three divisions, served by almost 80,000 employees, who managed to generate $34M profits in 2018.
8. CVS Health ($194.6B)
CVS Health Corporation (further CVS Health) is one of the biggest healthcare companies in the US, owning several brands covering multiple healthcare spheres including pharmacy retail, health insurance, pharmacy benefits management and more. CVS Health is ranked in the Fortune Global 500 year by year, due to its high income, which increased 5.3% in 2018. Their annual revenue at the end of 2018 was $194.6B.
9. AT&T ($170.8B)
AT&T Inc. (further AT&T) is an international conglomerate, combining the biggest telecommunications and the largest media and entertainment companies in the world. AT&T also operates the most prominent mobile and fixed telephone services provider in the US in terms of revenue. Their annual income as of 2018, generated by its four divisions, was $170.8B.
10. AmerisourceBergen ($167.9B)
AmerisourceBergen Corporation (further AmerisourceBergen) is a big drug wholesale enterprise from the US, focusing on distribution of drugs, home healthcare supplies and OTC healthcare products. Around 20,000 employees, working in the four primary units of the company, contributed to $167.9B annual revenue in 2018.
11. Chevron ($166.3B)
Chevron Corporation (further Chevron) is an international energy enterprise from the United States, focused both on traditional energy sources (such as natural gas and oil), and on geothermal energy. Chevron covers all the energy production stages from exploration and refining to power generation and sales, active in over 180 countries. Its annual revenue as of 2018 was $166.3B.
12. Ford Motor ($160.3B)
Ford Motor Company (further Ford) is the world’s largest automaker by revenue with an annual income of $160.3B registered in 2018. The company operates manufacturing plants across 5 continents and sells its products - including automobiles, buses, trucks, tractors, and automotive components - all over the world. Ford also owns the Ford Motor Credit Company, offering financial services.
13. General Motors ($147B)
General Motors Company (further GM) is a major automotive company from America, operating as a vehicles and vehicle parts designer, manufacturer, marketer and distributor. GM operates in over 140 countries and managed to earn $147B in revenue in 2018. The company owns 12 brands and has multiple joint-ventures, mostly in Asia and Africa.
14. Costco Wholesale ($141.6B)
Costco Wholesale Corporation (further Costco) is a multinational membership-only warehouse club operator and one of the world’s largest retailers. Costco operates 776 warehouses across 13 countries, over 500 of them being located in the US. The company managed to grow its annual revenue with 9.7% in the last year and hit $141.6B revenue as of the end of 2018.
15. Alphabet ($136,82B)
Alphabet Inc. (further Alphabet) is an international conglomerate from the United States, created as a result of restructuring Google. It is one of the biggest technology companies by total and annual revenue ($136,82B annual revenue in 2018) and has one of the greatest market capitalisations in the world. Alphabet operates as a parent company of Google and some of its subsidiaries.
