Fortune 500 is a list pile up and published by the Fortune magazine. Corporations are ranked annually on the basis of revenues. The first Fortune 500 list was published in the year of 1955. The number of Asian companies in the list has increased and the number of American companies has reduced in 2001-2011. The European companies have also increased its share in the decade. The companies are given ranks in the current year according to its revenue in the previous year. For example, company is given a rank in 2012 on the basis of its 2011 revenue. Here is a list of top 10 Fortune 500 companies-
1. Exxon Mobil-
Exxon Mobil Corporation is an American multinational company engaged in the field of oil and gas. It is the world’s largest public company on the basis of revenue. This corporation is making large profits out of its high prices of oil, natural gas and also from its chemical business. It has earned a revenue of 452,926 million $ in the year 2011.
2. Wal-Mart-
This American corporation is the largest retailer in the world and also a large employer. It has been in the top of the fortune list consecutively for 2 years but slipped to the 2nd rank in 2012 because of its decrease in sale. But the company is one of the top valuable companies in the world.
3. Chevron-
This American multinational company is one of the major oil companies. It is engaged in the business of oil, gas and mining. Even if oil prices are increasing the company faced declining profit due to its loses in refinery business in U.S. Chevron is fighting a suit against it, but still its second largest oil company in U.S. It has made a revenue of 245,621 million $ in 2011.
4. Conoco Phillips-
ConocoPhillips is an American multinational company which was formed through the merger of Conoco Inc. And the Phillips Petroleum Company in the year 2002. It is engaged in the business of oil and gas and undertakes its business under the brands; Conoco, Phillips 66 and Union 76 in North America and Jet in Europe. The company owns 19 refineries around the globe. In 2011 it has earned revenue of 237,272 million dollars and has acquired the 4th rank in Fortune 500 list.
5. General Motors-
This world’s largest automotive company is an American multinational corporation which has its business empire extended to 157 countries and is one of the great companies providing employment to lakhs of people. Chevrolet, Opel, Vauxhall are some of its brands which are popular worldwide. The company had been suffering loss from 2000-2009. In the year 2010 it made a profit and jumped from the 8th position to no.5 in the Fortune 500 list of companies. Chevrolet brand has contributed a lot towards its profits.
6. General Electric-
GE (General electric) Company is a combination of four industries; Energy, Technology Infrastructure, Capital Finance and Consumer & Industrial. It is one of the most innovative and profitable company. It obtains half of its revenue from financial services. This company has taken many educational initiatives. Its revenue for the year 2011 is 1, 47,616 million $.
7. Berkshire Hathaway-
It is an American multinational corporation controlling a number of subsidiaries. This public company controlled by Warren Buffett has a diversified business which includes clothing, building, retail, flight services etc. In the year 2011, it made a revenue of 143,688 million $ which is a rise by 5.5% but profits declined by 20.9%.
8. Fannie Mae-
Federal National Mortgage Association, also known as Fannie Mae was founded during the great depression in the year 1938. The intention of this corporation is to create more and more mortgage backed securities (MBS). MBS means securities which are backed by mortgage which the investment companies buys from banks to create such securities and issues it to the common investors. Fannie Mae is one of the largest investment banks in U.S but its revenue fell by 10.6% in the year 2011. Its revenue was 137,451 million $ in the year 2011.
9. Ford Motor Company-
Founded by Henry Ford, this American Automobile company is 5th largest automobile maker in the world. It produces commercial as well as luxury cars under its brands like Ford and Lincoln. This company made an enormous growth in profit in the year 2011. Its profits had increased by 208.1%. The total revenue it earned in 2011 is 136,264 million $- a 5.7% increase from 2010.
10. Hewlett Packard-
Popularly known as HP, the world’s famous PC brand, is an American hardware and software company which delivers its products, technologies, Software and other services to a large diversified number of consumers. The company faced a loss in profits in the year 2011 compared to 2010 by 19.3%. Its revenue was 127,245 million $ in 2011.