Our next study goes into great detail about the finances of the Fortune 500 global companies, revealing the complicated ways they make money and the differences between their U.S. and foreign counterparts.
For the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2023, the top 500 companies made an amazing $41 trillion in sales and $2.9 trillion in profits. The U.S. became a huge profit giant, with its 136 Fortune 500 companies making up a huge 38% of the world’s profits.
This research carefully looks at profitability by industry, comparisons between countries, and the highs and lows of the Fortune 500, giving a broad picture of the world’s economic giants.
Key Findings
- Global Giants: Fortune 500 companies amassed a colossal $41 trillion in revenue, with $2.9 trillion in profit.
- Top Global Profit Makers: The top 10 companies globally amassed $689.8B (24%) in profit, with Saudi Aramco leading at $159.1B.
- Global Losses: The bottom 10 companies worldwide incurred a collective loss of nearly $126B.
- U.S. Dominance: U.S. companies (136) secured a remarkable $1.1T profit, overshadowing China’s $528B, despite similar company numbers.
- The U.S. and China jointly generate 56% of the global 500 companies’ profit.
- Sector Powerhouses: Technology, Finance, and Energy sectors claimed 63% of the $2.9 trillion global profit.
- U.S. Sector Standouts: The Technology sector in the U.S. emerged as the most profitable, generating $306B, constituting 28% of the country’s total profit.
- Top U.S. Performers: The top 10 U.S. companies contributed 46% of the $1.1 trillion total profit, led by Apple.
- Sectoral Disparities: Media, Wholesaler, and Retail sectors in the U.S. lagged behind with profit margins of 0.76%, 1.53%, and 2.60%, respectively.
