5. General Electric The conglomerate's $20.8 billion in profits last year represented 27% growth. Earnings were buoyed by strong performance at its NBC television, medical-equipment, turbine, and engine units. | Wal-Mart retakes the No. 1 slot on the Fortune 500 this year. See where America's largest corporations rank, and why. (more) See the 37 companies that made both the Fortune 1000 and Best Companies to Work For lists this year. (more) |