20 most profitable companies

Fortune 500 rank: 37

2011 profit: $23.2 billion

It's all about change for the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant. While Microsoft's operating system business is still strong, it made up a smaller portion of the company's $23 billion in profits in 2011 (a 23% jump from 2010). The company's server and online advertising units are on the growth path, however, while the company is gearing up for the launch of its Windows 8 operating system.

NEXT: Ford Motor

By Caitlin Keating, reporter @FortuneMagazine - Last updated May 07 2012: 10:59 AM ET

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