The Most Valuable Companies In The United States
$1 trillion. That's nearly the valuation of America's most valuable company. As tech companies, financial institutions, oil companies, pharmaceutical firms, and others fight for the top spot, an endless exchange of market valuation is occurring. The role of any publicly traded company is to build an endless cycle of growth and these companies are proving difficult to beat.
We've compiled a list of the top companies in America based on their stock market valuations as of June 8, 2019, starting from the wealthiest company in the country followed by others that are nipping at their heels. Keep in mind, valuations fluctuation quickly so these numbers are likely to rise and fall at a relatively fast rate.
Microsoft: $979.46 Billion
Microsoft tops our list as America's most valuable company. The tech giant, founded on April 4, 1975, has skyrocketed its market valuation thanks to multiple $1 billion product lines that includes Microsoft Windows, Xbox, Microsoft Azure, and Microsoft Office.
In recent years the company has continued to diversify its product lines focusing on both consumer and business software and hardware. In 2019, Microsoft founder Bill Gates saw his net worth climb to more than $102 billion.
Amazon: $863.73 Billion
Amazon was founded on July 5, 1994 and was originally intended to serve as an e-commerce book seller. Since that time the company has become the most valuable retailer in the world, nearly tripling the valuation of its closed American competitor, Walmart Inc.
Founder Jeff Bezos has a net worth last estimated at $155 billion, although his recent divorce from his longtime wife, MacKenzie Bezos, has cut down his personal wealth in the last few months. Amazon has diversified beyond its online stores and now offers consumer electronics, web development technologies, and more.
Apple: $852.21 Billion
Apple was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak on April 1, 1976. On August 2, 2018, the company became the first publicly traded company to reach a $1 trillion market cap. The company has slipped in recent months but is still worth $852.21 billion.
Apple's valuation is focused largely on a lineup for hardware and software offerings that includes its lineup of smartphones, laptop and desktop computers, TV hardware, and the company's Apple Music streaming platform. The tech giant recently announced that it will be sunsetting its once-popular iTunes music-buying platform.
Alphabet: $726.21 Billion
Alphabet was born out of Google's rise to fame which started when the company was founded on September 4, 1998. When the company's new CFO, Ruth Porat, took over financial responsibilities for the tech giant, Google created parent company Alphabet, Inc.
Alphabet contains various product lines and companies, among those companies are Google, YouTube, Nest (now Google Nest), Google Fibre, DeepMind, Waymo, and many others which have continued to help the company achieve sustainable growth on its way to a $1 trillion valuation.
Berkshire Hathaway: $502.82 Billion
Led by investing wunderkind Warren Buffet, the Berkshire Hathaway name was formed in 1955 after he led investments in Hathaway Manufacturing Company (1888) and Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates (1929). Since that time the company has continued to acquire minority and majority stakes in some of America's most well-known companies.
Berkshire now controls interests in Coca-Cola, Kraft Heinz, IBM, American Express, Wells Fargo, Verizon, and many others. Warren Buffet's personal net worth is now estimated at approximately $84.1 billion.
Facebook: $480.5 Billion
In February 2004 Facebook was founded by Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes. Zucerkberg remains the company's largest stakeholder and CEO. With more than two billion users worldwide, it is by far the largest social media company on the planet.
Facebook's $480.5 billion valuation has been helped along by its acquisitions of Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus Rift, and various other tech companies. Zuckerberg has profited the most from his company's rapid rise, earning $70.2 billion on paper.
Visa: $364.78 Billion
September 1958 was a good year for Visa. The company was one of the first in the market and quickly wrangled retailers all over the United States and then the world. The company continues to be a major player in the space with few competitors which include MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
Visa, in recent years, has placed greater emphasis on quickly mobile and desktop checkout processes while partnering with sports teams, retail chains, and other partners to offer credit cards to customers. The company specializes in debit, credit, prepaid, and commercial services.
Johnson & Johnson: $362.89 Billion
Founded in January 1886, Johnson & Johnson is one of the oldest companies on our list and also one of the most profitable. The company has diversified into various areas of expertise including medical and consumer goods.
If you've ever purchased the company's baby products, Neutrogena skin and beauty products, Clean & Clear facial wash, or Acuvue contact lenses you have helped grow the company's market cap. Johnson & Johnson's pharmaceutical arm is one of the largest in the world and the company isn't afraid to acquire companies it believes matches its future trajectory.
JPMorgan Chase & Co: $358.04 Billion
JPMorgan Chase & Co was formed in 2000 when Chase Manhattan Corporation merged with J.P. Morgan & Co. With decades of experience between the two financial giants, a behemoth was created. Today, JPMorgan Chase is one of the largest asset management companies in the world.
The bank currently manages an estimated $2.789 trillion in assets under management and added to its size with $30 trillion in assets under custody. The skyrocketing success of the firm has made its CEO Jamie Dimon a very wealthy man with a personal net worth of $1.3 billion.
Exxon Mobil Corp: $314.41 Billion
On November 30, 1999, Exxon and Mobil merged to form the company we know today. With more than 100 years in the business, the two oil giants have created a market cap of $314.41 billion.
Today, we mostly know the company for its oil production but ExxonMobil is also focused on new energy exploration with a focus on renewable energy and cutting edge biofuels that may one day replace their flagship product.
Walmart: $301.36 Billion
Founded by Sam Walton on July 2, 1962, Walmart owns the distinction of being the largest brick and mortar retailer in United States. While the company is best known for its physical locations, it has also acquired companies that includes video streaming platform Vudu and discount e-commerce platform Jet.
The company has recently done more to draw customers into their stores, including what the company has called a highly-success new "pickup" program for groceries and other goods. In 2017, three separate Waltons ranked among the top 20 richest people in America according to Forbes.
Proctor & Gamble Co: $269.34 Billion
Founded on October 31, 1837, Procter & Gamble focuses on several product lines that include beauty, grooming, health care, fabric and home care, and baby, feminine, and family care. The company is a worldwide leader in consumer goods which has helped it amass a market cap of $269.34 billion.
If you've ever bought Head & Shoulders, Crest, Downy, Cascade, or Pampers products you've helped increase the company's earnings. That's only a small sampling of how Procter & Gamble has diversified its holdings to become one of the most profitable companies in the United States and the world.
Bank of America Corp: $265.09 Billion
Bank of America was founded in 1998, making it a relative newcomer to the banking and financial services sector under its current moniker. In that short amount of time the company's market cap has ballooned to $265.09 billion. The financial institue, like others on our list, is actually much older but was reformed when NationsBank acquired BankAmerica in 1998.
The company's actual origins go back to 1904 when founder Amadeo Giannini opened the Bank of Italy in San Francisco. BofA is now the ninth largest bank in the world with thousands of physical locations spread through major and mid-market locations.
Mastercard Inc: $260.37 Billion
On December 16, 1966, Mastercard was founded to compete with Visa, Diners Club, and others. Mastercard Worldwide went public in 2006. Before going public the company was actually a cooperative owned by more than 25,000 financial institutions located around the world.
Much like Visa, the company puts a heavy emphasis on its debit, credit, and prepaid services. Mastercard continues to offer branded cards for its thousands of partners throughout the world.
Walt Disney Co: $246.94 Billion
On October 16, 1923, Walt Disney founded his historic company in a garage. It originally started as Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio with his brother Roy, and Walt Disney transitioned the company to Walt Disney Studios in 1927 where he focused on his Alice Comedies for four years before moving to an all-cartoon series.
Disney is now a massive conglomerate that owns the likes of Pixar Studios, LucasFilm LTD, Marvel Studios, a majority stake in Hulu, and more. The company will soon launch Disney+ the company's newest foray into video streaming. It's no wonder Disney has a market cap of $246.94 billion.
Verizon Communications Inc: $237.97 Billion
On October 7, 1983, Verizon Communications was founded. The company quickly took advantage of the growing cellular segment and is now the largest player in the space with an estimated 158 million subscribers and a market cap of $237.97 billion.
Verizon Communications is now more than just a cellular provider, offering ad and video technologies that includes its FiOS fiber-optic network which provides VoIP and TV services to customers throughout the United States. The company also provides enterprises services including IT infrastructure support for businesses of all sizes.
Pfizer Inc: $237.46 Billion
Pfizer was founded in 1849 and it has gone on to become the largest pharmaceutical company by market cap in the United States with a current valuation of approximately $237.46 billion.
Known for such products as, Advil, Celebrex, Chantix, Dextrose, Viagra, and hundreds more, the company has become a pharmaceutical behemoth. If you're in need of an over-the-country or prescription based medicine there's a very good chance you'll be helping line the pockets of this company's executives and shareholders.
Cisco Systems Inc: $235.87 Billion
Founded in December 1984 by Sandy Lerner and Leonard Bosack, Cisco Systems is a $235.87 billion company that specializes in technology software and hardware for both consumer and enterprise customers.
Products from this well-known tech giant include everything from routers and switches to security systems, wireless hardware, and building management systems. Cisco powers much of our modern day internet thanks to its technology focused on data center switching, network storage, and could-computing services.
AT&T Inc: $234.27 Billion
AT&T was founded on October 5, 1983, in Delaware. Since that time it has become a telecommunications conglomerate with ownership of both AT&T Wireless and DirectTV, a company it acquired in July 2015.
The company is believed to have approximately 153 million subscribers for its wireless business as of 2018. The company adds another 21 million DirecTV subscribers and 5 million U-verse users. AT&T provides services to both consumer and enterprise customers. The company's massive customer base in various industries helps explain its $234.27 Billion market cap.
Chevron Corp: $229.86 Billion
Founded on September 10, 1879, Chevron has become one of the world's largest oil exploration and research companies. The company is one of the successors to the Standard Oil Company and is active in more than 180 countries around the world.
Much like ExxonMobil, the company is focused on discovering new biofuels and renewable energy sources to sustain its business well into the future. The company owns gas stations under the names Chevron, Texaco, and Caltex.
