Fortune's 45th Annual List of America's 500 Largest Corporations

Strategic Insights -

Despite the dominance of traditional industries in the Fortune 500 list, technology companies are making notable inroads. The list, topped by car giants General Motors and Ford, also features several computer firms, including Intel and Dell, which have surpassed some well-known consumer brands. The list's position of Microsoft, the iconic tech company from Seattle, is surprisingly low, ranking only 109th.

Key Takeaways:

  • General Motors and Ford remain the top two companies on the Fortune 500 list, with annual sales of $161 billion and $144 billion, respectively.
  • Intel has surpassed Disney, with annual sales of $26 billion, while Dell is almost as big as Coca-Cola, with $18 billion in sales.
  • Sun Microsystems has surpassed Nike, with $9.8 billion in annual sales, and Gateway is equivalent in size to Campbell Soup, with $7.5 billion in sales.
  • Microsoft, despite being a household name, ranks only 109th on the list, with $14 billion in annual sales.
  • America OnLine, the largest online firm, ranks 535th on the list, with $2.6 billion in annual sales.
  • Hormel Foods, the largest meat product company, ranks 535th, with $3.3 billion in annual sales.

Statistics:

  • The top 10 companies on the Fortune 500 list have combined annual sales of over $844 billion.
  • Intel's annual sales have grown by 22% over the past year.
  • The number of technology companies in the top 40 has increased by 50% compared to last year.
  • Microsoft's sales have declined by 25% over the past year.
  • The largest online firm, America OnLine, has only 1% of the annual sales of General Motors.

Sources:

  • Fortune 500 (199x)