10 Largest Companies in the World, Ranked by Market Value

Market capitalization is the total value of a company’s outstanding shares of stocks. While this isn't the only way to measure a company's success, it is a powerful — and thorough — indicator of a company's size and potential to continue growing.

These companies aren't just in one sector either. There's a pretty even representation of all sorts of different fields. Sure, there are a lot of high-tech Seattle and Silicon Valley companies, but there are some healthcare, energy and financial titans in the mix too.

Keep in mind that this exact ranking changes fairly often.

Market cap is a dynamic and rapidly shifting metric. A company's stock valuation can grow or shrink to the tune of millions or even billions of dollars a month, a week or sometimes even a day. Other indicators of company size (employee count, overall sales and other measurements for profits and revenues) all morph quite a bit too.

The top 10 largest companies in the world may change places with each other, but they all stay near the top of the food chain overall. Without any further ado, here they are.

1. Apple (AAPL): $3.41 Trillion

As of now, Apple is the largest company globally, with a market cap exceeding $3 trillion.

Apple is a brand synonymous with tech innovation, user-friendly software and sleek hardware. Plus, the company is also a branding powerhouse. The last several decades have been a battle between Apple and Microsoft in terms of market share for personal computing.

The company offers a diverse range of products, including iPhones, Macs and iPads. It's made significant inroads into entertainment with services like Apple TV+ and Apple Music. Apple's innovative approach and ability to anticipate consumer needs have cemented its position as a tech powerhouse.

2. Microsoft (MSFT): $3.11 Trillion

As you may have guessed, Microsoft is right on its rival's coattails with a market cap "just" a couple hundred billion dollars away from first place. Still, it's been the No. 1 company in the world before and it very well may be again.

Aside from its most famous products and software — like Windows, Office and Azure — Microsoft is now making substantial investments into cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI). As a pioneer in digital transformation, Microsoft continues to reshape how businesses operate and innovate worldwide.

3. Nvidia (NVDA): $2.88 Trillion

This techno-chip titan has rapidly been climbing the ladder in the stock market. Specializing in graphics processing units (GPUs) and high-performance computing, Nvidia is a key player in the tech industry.

Thanks to the rapid innovation occurring in the AI sector, Nvidia has seen its fortunes grow and grow. Its GPUs are essential for AI and machine learning applications. The company's focus on cutting-edge technology and expanding markets positions it as a vital component of the digital ecosystem.

4. Alphabet (GOOG): $2.13 Trillion

Alphabet, Google's parent company, has come a long way over the last 30 years. Google went from a simple but supercharged search engine to a software company that makes every aspect of life more livable.

Thanks to Google, we can communicate across the online world and navigate the real world better than ever. Alphabet's diverse portfolio and strategic investments keep it at the forefront of technology and innovation, but Google is certainly the prize jewel.

5. Amazon (AMZN): $1.95 Trillion

Is it any surprise "the everything store" is one of the largest companies in the world? As of publication, its market cap is just shy of $2 trillion.

Amazon is, without contest, the largest online retailer worldwide. The company offers a vast array of products and services, including Amazon Prime and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Amazon's expansion into the worlds of entertainment and grocery delivery — along with their acquisition of Whole Foods Market — have further increased its value to investors.

As of now, it's also expanding into healthcare and other sectors. This former online bookstore may just be the most adaptable company in the world. Their continued focus on customer experience and innovation keeps it ahead in the competitive e-commerce industry.

6. Saudi Aramco (2222.SR): $1.77 Trillion

Saudi Aramco is the leading energy and chemicals company in the Middle East. As the world's largest oil producer, Aramco has vast reserves and substantial influence in the energy sector.

In light of climate change and in the interest of further growth opportunities, the company has recently diversified its portfolio to reduce its reliance on oil, exploring alternative energy sources and investing in sustainable technologies.

7. Meta Platforms (META): $1.20 Trillion

The social media company best known for Facebook and Instagram has also recently expanded into virtual reality and e-commerce. Advertising is the primary driver for their revenue.

Their commitment to innovative digital marketing and facilitating online communication about our everyday lives comfortably keeps them in the top 10 largest companies.

8. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B): $947.15 Billion

Led by super-successful investor Warren Buffet, Berkshire Hathaway, is a conglomerate that makes its money by owning significant stock in other companies. GEICO, Kraft Heinz, Coca-Cola, and even Apple are partially owned by this holding company.

Their strategic acquisitions and investments reflect their ability to navigate economic fluctuations and maintain robust growth. At the time of publishing, the market values Berkshire Hathaway at over $900 billion.

9. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC): $859.96 Billion

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing is the largest contract chip manufacturer worldwide. TSMC partners with leading tech companies like Apple and Nvidia by providing essential components for a wide range of electronic devices.

The company's expertise in semiconductor manufacturing is facilitating the growth of AI and the continued spread of computing in general across the globe.

10. Eli Lilly (LLY): $764.38 Billion

The pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly boasts a strong portfolio of products, ranging from diabetes drugs to antidepressants. The company's commitment to research and development has led to significant growth in recent years. Their focus on innovation and patient outcomes drives its success in the competitive healthcare industry.

Tech reigns supreme over the rest of the market. They're dynamic and rapidly evolving, and that allows them to expand into different sectors of the economy to stay competitive.

For that matter, every other company rides the coattails of the innovation they deliver to the rest of the world; the explosive growth of AI and machine learning is just the latest trend on that front.

Still, there's room for plenty of other industries in the top 10 too. Amazon may be an online retailer (among other things) but it is still effectively an e-commerce business at its core. Then there's Berkshire Hathaway, which has a high market cap partially because it's so good at spotting when other companies will have a high market cap.

The same's true of companies offering the essentials. We all need energy to get from point A to point B, and Saudi Aramco is proof that providing will always have you near the top of a list like this.

The same goes for a healthcare services company like Eli Lilly. For that matter, a health insurance company, UnitedHealth Group is the 16th largest company by market cap. In other words, meeting basic needs is as much a route to success as constantly innovating.