Top industries: Most profitable

Industry rank	Industry	2008 %
1	Food Consumer Products	14.3
2	Mining, Crude-Oil Production	14.1
3	Pharmaceuticals	11.5
4	Household and Personal Products	8.7
5	Tobacco	7.3
6	Entertainment	7.1
7	Computers, Office Equipment	6.8
8	Aerospace and Defense	6.1
9	Industrial Machinery	5.8
10	Specialty Retailers	5.8
11	Petroleum Refining	5.4
12	Shipping	5.2
13	Food Production	5.1
14	Health Care: Insurance and Managed Care	5.0
15	Network and Other Communications Equipment	4.7
16	Telecommunications	4.5
17	Metals	4.4
18	Food and Drug Stores	4.1
19	Building Materials, Glass	4.0
20	Trading	3.0
21	Energy	2.8
22	Chemicals	2.5
23	General Merchandisers	1.9
24	Beverages	1.7
25	Wholesalers: Health Care	1.6
26	Engineering, Construction	1.5
27	Electronics, Electrical Equip.	1.3
28	Utilities	0.9
29	Mail, Package, and Freight Delivery	0.8
30	Motor Vehicles and Parts	0.7
31	Insurance: Property and Casualty (Stock)	0.4
32	Banks: Commercial and Savings	0.3
33	Insurance: Life, Health (stock)	0.2
34	Diversified Financials	-1.2
35	Airlines	-5.9

From the July 20, 2009 issue

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Show: Top 50 | 25 Most Profitable | Global 500

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Top 3

Rank # of Global 500 Companies
U.S.	140
Japan	68
France	40

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Company	2008 Number of Employees
Wal-Mart Stores	2,100,000
China National Petroleum	1,618,393
State Grid	1,537,000

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Company	2008 Profits ($ millions)
Exxon Mobil	$45,220
Gazprom	$29,864
Royal Dutch Shell	$26,277

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FAQ and methodology

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