Wal-Mart Tops FORTUNE 500 List for Fourth Year in a Row

For the fourth consecutive year, Wal-Mart Stores has claimed the top spot on FORTUNE's annual ranking of America's largest companies, followed closely by Exxon Mobil and General Motors. This milestone marks a significant continuation of the company's success since the inception of the FORTUNE 500 list in 1954. The largest corporations in the United States demonstrated a strong recovery in 2004, with natural resource-based companies leading the charge, driven in part by China's rapid growth and increased demand for raw materials. This growth sent commodity prices soaring, resulting in significant profits for companies like Exxon Mobil and ChevronTexaco.

Key Takeaways:

• Wal-Mart Stores has been ranked No. 1 on the FORTUNE 500 list for four consecutive years.
• Exxon Mobil and General Motors maintained their positions at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, on the FORTUNE 500 list.
• The natural resource-based companies, including Exxon Mobil and ChevronTexaco, experienced significant profits due to increased demand from China.
• Metal producers had the highest profit growth among FORTUNE 500 sectors, with a stunning 801% gain.
• The airline industry was the worst performer on the FORTUNE 500 list, with a significant loss in profits and return on assets.
• The FORTUNE 500 index generated a total return to shareholders of 10.3% in 2004.
• Foreign employment among the FORTUNE 500 companies increased by 9.6% in 2004, while U.S. employment rose by less than 1%.
• 18 companies on the FORTUNE 500 list employ more people outside the U.S. than they do domestically.

Statistics:

• Wal-Mart Stores' profits increased significantly, driven by the company's strategic expansion.
• Exxon Mobil recorded a$25.3 billion earnings performance, smashing the 1998 record held by Ford.
• Metal producers experienced an 801% gain in profit growth.
• Aluminum giant Alcoa increased its profits by about 40%, to $1.3 billion.
• Copper miner Phelps Dodge saw profits jump 11-fold.
• The airline industry lost significant profits, with a sector-wide decline of 15.6% in 2004.
• The FORTUNE 500 index generated a 10.3% return for shareholders in 2004.
• The index also saw a 9.6% increase in foreign employment among member companies.

Sources:

• FORTUNE magazine
• Janice Revell, FORTUNE writer
• FORTUNE 500 list, 1954
• Exxon Mobil
• General Motors
• Wal-Mart Stores
• Alcoa
• Phelps Dodge
• Coca-Cola
• Dell
• ChevronTexaco
• News Corp.