The largest American companies are deeply involved in the economy of the United States, as well as the rest of the world. The thirty largest publicly traded US companies, top constituents of the S&P 500 index, are presented here together with their activities, logos, and useful links.
In the United States, corporations get publicly listed on stock exchanges to gain access to capital from stock markets investors. By agreeing to comply with the regulations imposed by the Securities Exchange Commission – SEC -, these companies get their stocks quoted on stock exchanges, the institutions in charge of ensuring proper market conditions for the trading of stocks.
In the United States, two main stock exchanges ensure proper market conditions for the continuous trading of stocks from hundreds of corporations: the New York Stock Exchange – NYSE – and the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, respectively the largest and second-largest stock exchanges in the US and the world.
The S&P 500 Index, the broadest American stock index
To measure the performance of American stocks and assess the evolution of the US financial markets and economy, the stocks of the 500 largest publicly listed companies in the United States are aggregated in the S&P 500 index, also more simply known as the S&P. This capitalization-weighted index, which gives more weight to larger companies, is considered to be one of the best benchmarks for the American stock market, and for the broader US economy.
Based upon the stocks of 500 companies, the S&P has a broader base than the 30 companies that constitute the Dow Jones Industrial Average, even though many companies in the Dow are also top constituents of the S&P. The S&P also has a wider spectrum of sectors and industries than the companies making up the Nasdaq Composite index, which is heavily skewed toward the technology sector.
For the complete list of the top 500 US companies that constitute the S&P 500 index, and much more information on each company, check our Top 500 US Companies Excel Spreadsheet.
The real-time quotation of the S&P 500 index can be followed with convenient graphical tools from a number of sources, including Google Finance, Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg, etc.
Note that this post is part of a series:
- Top US companies in the Dow
- Top US companies in the Nasdaq
- Top US tech companies
- Top US financial companies
- Top companies from Canada
- Top companies from Mexico
- Top companies from Brazil
- Top companies from the UK
- Top companies from Germany
- Top companies from France
- Top companies from India
- Top companies from Australia
List of the 30 largest American companies by market capitalization, top 30 constituents of the S&P 500 index
To help you learn more about these corporations, details about the thirty largest US companies, the top 30 constituents of the S&P 500 index have been collected hereafter. Each company is listed with presentations of its sector and sub-industry, activities, market capitalization, a direct link to its website, logo, and stock symbol. Companies are ranked by market capitalization in United States Dollars, as of effective close on Friday, February 7, 2020.
Note that if you are searching for information on these companies to invest in their stocks, make sure you know what you are doing as your investment will be subject to significant risks with the evolution of stock prices. To learn more about investing in the stock market and managing your portfolio, check our post on the best online courses on stock investing and trading, and these best-selling books on finance and investment.
Shortcuts to each company
To speed up your browsing in this long list, here are quick links to go directly to the details of any of the top 30 companies of the S&P 500. Be sure to also check the Top 10 S&P 500 companies’ summary after the list!
30. Adobe
Sector: Information Technology – Industry: Application Software
Adobe Inc. is a multinational computer software company originally focused on multimedia and creativity software products before expanding to digital marketing software. It is especially famous for its Adobe Flash web software ecosystem, Photoshop image editing software, Acrobat Reader, the Portable Document Format – PDF -, as well as Adobe Creative Suite and its successor Adobe Creative Cloud.
Website: adobe.com – Market Cap.: $ 178.6 Billion – Stock symbol: ADBE
29. Boeing
Sector: Industrials – Sub-Industry: Aerospace & Defense
The Boeing Company is one of the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers and defense contractor and it is the largest exporter in dollar value of the United States. Founded in 1916, Boeing is involved in the design, manufacturing, and worldwide sales of airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, and missiles; it also provides leasing and product support services.
Website: boeing.com – Market Cap.: $ 196.5 Billion – Stock symbol: BA
28. Wells Fargo
Sector: Financials – Sub-Industry: Diversified Banks
Tracing its origins to 1852, Wells Fargo & Company is a multinational financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, California and incorporated in Delaware, and present in more than 35 countries. The company is engaged in three main lines of business: community banking, wholesale banking, and wealth, brokerage, and retirement. Wells Fargo’s main subsidiary, Wells Fargo Bank operates more than 8,000 branches and 13,000 ATMs.
Website: wellsfargo.com – Market Cap.: $ 197.8 Billion – Stock symbol: WFC
27. PepsiCo
Sector: Consumer Staples – Sub-Industry: Soft Drinks
PepsiCo, Inc. is a multinational food, snack, and beverage corporation. Tracing its origins to the creation of Pepsi-Cola in 1898, PepsiCo has become one the largest food and drink company through the acquisition and development of new brands and products. Its portfolio of brands includes Pepsi, Tropicana Products, Quaker Oats Company, and Gatorade.
Website: PepsiCo.com – Market Cap.: $ 202.7 Billion – Stock symbol: PEP
26. Comcast
Sector: Communication Services – Sub-Industry: Cable & Satellite
Comcast Corporation is a telecommunications conglomerate. One of the leaders in the US and the world, Comcast operates in broadcasting and cable television, pay-TV, cable TV, home Internet service, and home telephone service. A producer of films and television programs through its subsidiaries NBCUniversal and Universal Pictures, Comcast is also involved in multiple other industries through subsidiaries, including residential cable with Xfinity, commercial services through Comcast Business, TV channels notably with NBC, Telemundo, MSNBC, CNBC, and Sky.
Website: corporate.comcast.com – Market Cap.: $ 203.7 Billion – Stock symbol: CMCSA
25. Cisco Systems
Sector: Information Technology – Sub-Industry: Communications Equipment
Cisco Systems, Inc. is a multinational technology conglomerate developing, manufacturing, and selling networking hardware, telecommunications equipment, and other high-technology services and products. Through its multiple subsidiaries, Cisco is also specializing in Internet-of-Things, domain security, and energy management.
Website: cisco.com – Market Cap.: $ 204.5 Billion – Stock symbol: CSCO
24. Chevron
Sector: Energy – Sub-Industry: Integrated Oil & Gas
Chevron Corporation is an energy multinational company involved in every aspect of the oil, natural gas, and geothermal energy industries in more than 180 countries. Chevron operates in hydrocarbon exploration and production, hydrocarbon refining, marketing and transport, chemicals manufacturing and sales, and power generation.
Website: chevron.com – Market Cap.: $ 206.0 Billion – Stock symbol: CVX
23. Pfizer
Sector: Health Care – Sub-Industry: Pharmaceuticals
Pfizer Inc. is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical corporations, developing and producing diverse medicines and vaccines. Its leading products include Lipitor (to lower LDL blood cholesterol), Lyrica (for neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia), Diflucan (antifungal medication), Zithromax (antibiotic), Viagra (for erectile dysfunction), and Celebrex (anti-inflammatory drug).
Website: pfizer.com – Market Cap.: $ 210.6 Billion – Stock symbol: PFE
22. Merck & Co.
Sector: Health Care – Sub-Industry: Pharmaceuticals
Merck & Company, Inc., known as Merck Sharp & Dohme, or MSD, outside the United States and Canada, is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Founded in 1891 in the US, and independent since World War I from its parent company, now one of the largest companies in Germany, Merck provides prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and animal health products.
Website: merck.com – Market Cap.: $ 216.6 Billion – Stock symbol: MRK
21. Verizon
Sector: Communication Services – Sub-Industry: Integrated Telecommunication Services
Verizon Communications Inc., commonly known as Verizon, is a diversified multinational telecommunications conglomerate. Verizon is engaged in a range of communications segments, including 5G, wireless networks, broadband and fiber, media and technology, Internet of Things and manager security.
Website: verizon.com – Market Cap.: $ 247.9 Billion – Stock symbol: VZ
20. The Coca-Cola Company
Sector: Consumer Staples – Sub-Industry: Soft Drinks
Founded in 1886, the Coca-Cola Company is involved in the manufacturing, retail, and marketing of nonalcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups. It is primarily known for its sparkling sodas including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta, and Sprite, but is also engaged in still beverages, such as waters, juices, and juice drinks, ready-to-drink teas and coffees, sports drinks, dairy and energy drinks.
Website: coca-colacompany.com – Market Cap.: $ 253.9 Billion – Stock symbol: KO
19. Disney
Sector: Communication Services – Sub-Industry: Movies & Entertainment
Founded in 1923, the Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney, is a diversified multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate. It is notably involved in film studios through Walt Disney Studios and 21st Century Fox. Other main divisions include Walt Disney parks, experiences and consumer products, Disney Media Networks which owns and operates cable television networks (ABC broadcast network, Disney Channel, ESPN, A&E Networks and Freeform) and the new Disney+ video-on-demand service, notably launched to develop new ways to monetize the company’s content and compete against Netflix, and other VOD services.
Website: thewaltdisneycompany.com – Market Cap.: $ 257.0 Billion – Stock symbol: DIS
18. The Home Depot
Sector: Consumer Discretionary – Sub-Industry: Home Improvement Retail
The Home Depot Inc. is a retailing company that sells tools, home improvement supplies, construction products, and services. Home Depot is the largest home improvement retailer in the United States, also operating in Canada and Mexico.
Website: homedepot.com – Market Cap.: $ 259.6 Billion – Stock symbol: HD
17. ExxonMobil
Sector: Energy – Sub-Industry: Integrated Oil & Gas
ExxonMobil Corporation, more commonly known as ExxonMobil, is the world’s largest energy company, operating in the exploration, production, transportation, and sale of crude oil and natural gas. ExxonMobil is also engaged in the manufacturing, transportation, and sale of petroleum products, markets commodity petrochemicals and a range of specialty products.
Website: corporate.exxonmobil.com – Market Cap.: $ 260.3 Billion – Stock symbol: XOM
16. UnitedHealth Group
Sector: Health Care – Sub-Industry: Managed Health Care
UnitedHealth Group is the largest healthcare company in the world by revenue, offering diversified health care products and insurance services. It serves clients through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare which provides health care coverage and benefits services, and Optum which provides information and technology-enabled health services.
Website: unitedhealthgroup.com – Market Cap.: $ 274.0 Billion – Stock symbol: UNH
15. AT&T
Sector: Communication Services – Sub-Industry: Integrated Telecommunication Services
AT&T Inc. is a multinational conglomerate holding company. Tracing its origins to 1877, AT&T is engaged in telecommunications, it operates mobile and fixed telephone services in the United States through AT&T Communications. It is also the parent company of mass media conglomerate WarnerMedia, one of the world’s largest media and entertainment companies.
Website: att.com – Market Cap.: $ 280.3 Billion – Stock symbol: T
14. Intel
Sector: Information Technology – Sub-Industry: Semiconductors
Intel Corporation, commonly known as Intel, is a multinational corporation and technology company, especially involved in the production and sales of microprocessors and semiconductor chips powering personal computers. Intel also diversifies in other technologies, including cloud, Internet of Things, computer memory, and 5G-connectivity.
Website: intel.com – Market Cap.: $ 281.3 Billion – Stock symbol: INTC
13. Bank of America
Sector: Financials – Sub-Industry: Diversified Banks
The Bank of America Corporation, abbreviated as BofA, is a multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, with more than 200,000 employees. Tracing its origins to 1784, Bank of America has become an American leader in consumer banking with more than 4,600 branches and 15,900 ATMs. Bank of America also operates in corporate and investment banking, wealth management, and investment management.
Website: bankofamerica.com – Market Cap.: $ 305.8 Billion – Stock symbol: BAC
12. Procter & Gamble
Sector: Consumer Staples – Sub-Industry: Personal Products
Founded in 1837, the Procter & Gamble Company, also known as P&G, is a multinational consumer goods corporation providing a wide range of personal health/consumer health and personal care and hygiene products in the segments of beauty, grooming, healthcare, fabric and home, and baby, feminine and family care.
Website: us.pg.com – Market Cap.: $ 311.3 Billion – Stock symbol: PG
11. Mastercard
Sector: Information Technology – Sub-Industry: Data Processing & Outsourced Services
Mastercard Incorporated is a multinational financial services corporation. It is primarily involved in the processing of payments between the merchants’ banks and the card-issuer of customers using a Mastercard brand debit, credit or prepaid card to make purchases.
Website: mastercard.com – Market Cap.: $ 329.9 Billion – Stock symbol: MA
10. Walmart
Sector: Consumer Staples – Sub-Industry: Hypermarkets & Super Centers
Walmart Inc. is a multinational retail corporation operating a chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores. Walmart is the world’s largest company by revenue, employing more than 2.3 million people in 28 countries.
Website: walmart.com – Market Cap.: $ 330.4 Billion – Stock symbol: WMT
9. Johnson & Johnson
Sector: Health Care – Sub-Industry: Pharmaceuticals
Johnson & Johnson is a multinational medication, first aid supplies, and consumer packaged goods manufacturing and sales company founded in 1886. Regrouping numerous famous brands, Johnson & Johnson line of products notably include Band-Aid, Tylenol, Johnson’s baby products, Neutrogena, Clean & Clear, and Acuvue.
Website: jnj.com – Market Cap.: $ 398.6 Billion – Stock symbol: JNJ
8. JPMorgan Chase
Sector: Financials – Sub-Industry: Diversified Banks
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered in New York City. With origins dating back to 1799, JPMorgan Chase has become one of the world’s largest universal bank operating worldwide. It is involved in retail and commercial as well as in investment banking, asset management, private banking, private wealth management, and treasury services.
Website: jpmorganchase.com – Market Cap.: $ 423.0 Billion – Stock symbol: JPM
7. Visa
Sector: Information Technology – Sub-Industry: Data Processing & Outsourced Services
Visa Inc., is a multinational financial services corporation facilitating electronic funds transfers throughout the world. It operates payment products that financial institutions use to offer credit, debit, prepaid and cash access programs to their customers via Visa-branded credit cards, gift cards, and debit cards.
Website: usa.visa.com – Market Cap.: $ 449.2 Billion – Stock symbol: V
6. Berkshire Hathaway
Sector: Financials – Sub-Industry: Multi-Sector Holdings
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is a multinational conglomerate holding company. It wholly owns GEICO, Duracell, Dairy Queen, BNSF, Lubrizol, Fruit of the Loom, Helzberg Diamonds, Long & Foster, FlightSafety International, Pampered Chef, and NetJets, and also has significant shares of Pilot Flying J, Kraft Heinz Company, American Express, Wells Fargo, The Coca-Cola Company, Bank of America, Apple, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and American Airlines. Berkshire Hathaway also acquired a number of smaller companies in a wide variety of industries, including confectionery, retail, railroads, home furnishings, encyclopedias, manufacturers of vacuum cleaners, jewelry sales, newspaper publishing, manufacture and distribution of uniforms, and several regional electric and gas utilities.
Website: berkshirehathaway.com – Market Cap.: $ 555.7 Billion – Stock symbol: BRK.B
5. Facebook
Sector: Communication Services – Sub-Industry: Interactive Media & Services
Facebook, Inc. is an online social media and social networking service. Originally limited to students, Facebook has gradually opened its services to anyone above 13 years old, reaching now more than 2 billion across the world. It can be accessed through any device connected to the internet and allows users to customize profiles, post text, photos and multimedia which is shared with their friends on Facebook. They can also join interest groups, receive messages and notifications, and use various other embedded applications.
Website: newsroom.fb.com – Market Cap.: $ 605.2 Billion – Stock symbol: FB
4. Alphabet
Sector: Communication Services – Sub-Industry: Interactive Media & Services
Alphabet Inc. is a multinational technology conglomerate, created from the corporate restructuring of Google, which is now its subsidiary together with several other services. The Google search engine, advertising business, and associated services are the largest part of Alphabet’s activities, with other subsidiaries including Calico (biotechnology), Chronicle (cybersecurity), DeepMind (artificial intelligence), GV (venture capital), CapitalG (private equity), X (R&D), Google Fiber (fiber internet services), Jigsaw (tech incubator), Makani (wind turbines), Sidewalk Labs (urban innovation), Verily (life sciences), Waymo (self-driving tech), Wing (drone-based delivery) and Loon (internet provider via stratospheric balloons).
Note that Alphabet is only listed once here but it has two types of stocks, with or without voting rights, listed on the NASDAQ, with tickers GOOG and GOOGL, which usually lead to two different entries in NASDAQ stocks lists.
Website: abc.xyz – Market Cap.: $ 1,017 Billion – Stock symbol: GOOGL
3. Amazon
Sector: Consumer Discretionary – Sub-Industry: Internet & Direct Marketing Retail
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational technology company focused on e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. It started as an online bookstore that later diversified to a wide array of products. Amazon has become the uncontested leader of e-commerce in the US, and after having expanded to many countries, it has also developed further into brick-and-mortar retail with the acquisition of Whole Foods Market, as well as publishing, electronics, cloud computing, video streaming, and production, among other investments.
Website: amazon.com – Market Cap.: $ 1,035 Billion – Stock symbol: AMZN
2. Apple
Sector: Information Technology – Sub-Industry: Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
Apple Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets mobile phones and media devices, computers, notably the iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. The company also conceives and sells a range of related software and services: the iPhone OS (iOS), OS X and watchOS operating systems, iCloud, and Apple Pay. Apple also sells accessories, support offerings, and third-party digital content and applications.
Website: apple.com – Market Cap.: $ 1,400 Billion – Stock symbol: AAPL
1. Microsoft
Sector: Information Technology – Sub-Industry: Systems Software
Microsoft Corporation is a multinational technology company developing, manufacturing, licensing, supporting, and selling computer software, most notably the Windows operating systems, the Microsoft Office suite, Internet Explorer and Edge web browsers. It is also involved in consumer electronics with the Xbox video game consoles, touchscreen personal computers with Microsoft Surface, and related services.
Website: microsoft.com – Market Cap.: $ 1,428 Billion – Stock symbol: MSFT
Summary: Top 10 companies in the S&P 500 index 2020
To give you a quick overview of the largest companies in the S&P 500 index in 2020, here is a synthesizing image regrouping the information of the top 10. Note that you can use this image to embed it on your website and other digital properties using the embed code below.
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Here are the 30 largest companies from the United States. Do you think they are worth their market capitalization? Are their stocks a good investment right now? Do they have too much economic power… and maybe political power too?
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