Our annual ranking of America's largest corporations

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Top industries: Most profitable
Industry Rank Industry 2008 Profits
as % of
Equity
1 Household and Personal Products 43.6
2 Food Consumer Products 30.0
3 Electronics, Electrical Equipment 28.6
4 Aerospace and Defense 24.5
5 Pharmaceuticals 23.0
6 Computers, Office Equipment 22.2
7 Chemicals 21.9
8 Construction and Farm Machinery 21.9
9 Medical Products and Equipment 21.2
10 Oil and Gas Equipment, Services 19.9
11 Wholesalers: Diversified 19.9
12 Network and Other Communications Equipment 19.5
13 Petroleum Refining 19.2
14 Metals 18.6
15 Information Technology Services 18.0
16 Railroads 17.4
17 Health Care: Pharmacy and Other Services 17.3
18 Packaging, Containers 17.1
19 Industrial Machinery 16.7
20 Health Care: Medical Facilities 16.1
21 Internet Services and Retailing 16.1
22 Specialty Retailers 14.0
23 Energy 13.8
24 Entertainment 13.7
25 Wholesalers: Health Care 13.5
26 General Merchandisers 13.4
27 Engineering, Construction 12.9
28 Utilities: Gas and Electric 12.5
29 Beverages 12.1
30 Mining, Crude-Oil production 11.5
31 Health Care: Insurance and Managed Care 11.1
32 Pipelines 11.0
33 Scientific, Photographic, and Control Equipment 10.0
34 Food and Drug Stores 9.6
35 Insurance: Life, Health (stock) 8.6
36 Diversified Financials 8.0
37 Semiconductors and Other Electronic Components 6.0
38 Securities 5.3
39 Telecommunications 4.4
40 Commercial Banks 3.4
41 Food Production 3.0
42 Insurance: Property and Casualty (stock) 2.9
43 Home Equipment, Furnishings 1.5
44 Motor Vehicles and Parts -1.8
45 Financial Data Services -2.0
46 Wholesalers: Electronics and Office Equipment -3.8
47 Insurance: Life, Health (mutual) -8.1
48 Forest and Paper Products -28.7
49 Automotive Retailing, Services -69.3
Issue date: May 4, 2009
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Rank # of Fortune 500 Companies
Texas 64
New York 56
California 51
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Company 2008 $ (millions)
Exxon Mobil $45,220.0
Chevron $23,931.0
Microsoft $17,681.0
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FAQ and methodology
Included in the survey are U.S. incorporated companies filing financial statements with a government agency. This includes private companies... More
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