Big oil's good fortune dominates top 10 firms
Oil companies have continued their domination over the rankings of the world's largest companies.
Oil companies have continued their domination over the rankings of the world's largest companies.
With the crude price spending much of the year to March above $US100 per barrel, oil companies took up six of the top 10 companies measured by revenue, according to the latest Fortune Global 500.
Royal Dutch Shell retained its top spot, with $US481.7 billion in revenues, while Wal-Mart snuck up from third in last year's ranking to take the No.2 position from Exxon Mobil.
Rounding out the top 10 oil contingent were Sinopec Group No.4, China National Petroleum No.5, British Petroleum (BP) No.6 and France's Total at No.10.
While Exxon recorded the biggest profit, $US44.9 billion, Apple's profit margin dwarfed any other company in the top 20.
With revenues of $US156.5 billion, Apple record a cool $US41.7 billion profit, a 26.6 per cent return margin.
Despite its recent fall from shareholder grace, Apple is still riding high as the second most profitable company in the world.
Fortune ranked the world's 500 largest companies by revenue, a measure that puts Apple at a much lower 19th spot. In 2012 it was ranked at No.55.
Since hitting a peak of $US702.10 in September last year, Apple shares have plummeted 40.9 per cent to $US415.05. But according to Fortune, Apple has done anything but slow down.
"The introductions of the iPhone 5 and the 7-inch iPad Mini helped propel the tech giant's revenues up from $US108 billion in 2011 to $US157 billion last year," Fortune said.
Despite being in the throes of an economic recovery, US companies maintained their lead in the ranking, taking up 132 places on the list. China came in second with 89 companies.
Samsung will boast its position over bitter rival Apple, sliding in at 14th in revenue.
Eight Australian companies made this year's rankings, down from nine last year.
Australia's top ranked company was BHP Billiton at No.115 with $US72.2 billion in revenues producing $US15.4 in profit.
Conglomerates Wesfarmers and Woolworths followed at No. 153 and No.159 respectively.
The big four banks and Telstra were Australia's other ranked companies.
BIGGEST BUSINESS
Company Revenue Profit
Royal Dutch Shell $481.7b* $26.6b
Wal-Mart $469.2b $17b
Exxon Mobil $449.9b $44.9b
Sinopec $428.2b $8.2b
China National Petroleum $408.6b $18.2b
British Petroleum $388.3b $11.6b
State Grid $298.4b $12.3b
Toyota 265.7b $11.6b
Volkswagen 247.6b $27.9b
Total 234.3b $13.7b
Source: Fortune 500
*$US
With the crude price spending much of the year to March above $US100 per barrel, oil companies took up six of the top 10 companies measured by revenue, according to the latest Fortune Global 500.
Royal Dutch Shell retained its top spot, with $US481.7 billion in revenues, while Wal-Mart snuck up from third in last year's ranking to take the No.2 position from Exxon Mobil.
Rounding out the top 10 oil contingent were Sinopec Group No.4, China National Petroleum No.5, British Petroleum (BP) No.6 and France's Total at No.10.
While Exxon recorded the biggest profit, $US44.9 billion, Apple's profit margin dwarfed any other company in the top 20.
With revenues of $US156.5 billion, Apple record a cool $US41.7 billion profit, a 26.6 per cent return margin.
Despite its recent fall from shareholder grace, Apple is still riding high as the second most profitable company in the world.
Fortune ranked the world's 500 largest companies by revenue, a measure that puts Apple at a much lower 19th spot. In 2012 it was ranked at No.55.
Since hitting a peak of $US702.10 in September last year, Apple shares have plummeted 40.9 per cent to $US415.05. But according to Fortune, Apple has done anything but slow down.
"The introductions of the iPhone 5 and the 7-inch iPad Mini helped propel the tech giant's revenues up from $US108 billion in 2011 to $US157 billion last year," Fortune said.
Despite being in the throes of an economic recovery, US companies maintained their lead in the ranking, taking up 132 places on the list. China came in second with 89 companies.
Samsung will boast its position over bitter rival Apple, sliding in at 14th in revenue.
Eight Australian companies made this year's rankings, down from nine last year.
Australia's top ranked company was BHP Billiton at No.115 with $US72.2 billion in revenues producing $US15.4 in profit.
Conglomerates Wesfarmers and Woolworths followed at No. 153 and No.159 respectively.
The big four banks and Telstra were Australia's other ranked companies.
BIGGEST BUSINESS
Company Revenue Profit
Royal Dutch Shell $481.7b* $26.6b
Wal-Mart $469.2b $17b
Exxon Mobil $449.9b $44.9b
Sinopec $428.2b $8.2b
China National Petroleum $408.6b $18.2b
British Petroleum $388.3b $11.6b
State Grid $298.4b $12.3b
Toyota 265.7b $11.6b
Volkswagen 247.6b $27.9b
Total 234.3b $13.7b
Source: Fortune 500
*$US
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