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Apple Jumps to #17 in Fortune 500 Rankings

Tuesday May 8, 2012 1:04 pm PDT by Eric Slivka
Fortune yesterday released its 2012 "Fortune 500" list, ranking America's largest companies by revenue. As a result of its continued strong growth, Apple rose 18 spots from last year's rankings to land at #17 in the new rankings, which are based on companies' fiscal year reports.
The company emerged from the tragic passing of co-founder Steve Jobs saddened but in no perceptible way weakened. Under CEO Tim Cook, the company continued pumping out new products -- like a significantly upgraded version of the iPad tablet. Apple nearly doubled its earnings per share in 2011, compared to 2010. That helped nudge management to announce plans for the firm's first dividend since 1995, returning some of the $97.6 billion in cash it had accumulated. Apple fans and analysts alike also continue to await a long-rumored television set from the gadget maker.
Apple's 2011 profits of $25.9 billion led the company to a new high as the third most profitable company behind energy giants Exxon Mobil ($41.6 billion) and Chevron ($26.9 billion). Microsoft sits in fourth place with profits of $23.2 billion.

Overall, Exxon Mobil ($453 billion in revenue) surged to barely overtake Wal-Mart ($447 billion) in the race for the top spot in the Fortune 500.


Apple's Fortune 500 rankings, 1983–2012 (Source: setteB.IT)

With very strong performances in the first two quarters of fiscal 2012, Apple is putting itself in position to surge even higher in next year's Fortune 500. Apple's official revenues totaling $85.5 billion in just the first half of the year could allow it to threaten to enter the top five next year, as the fifth position is currently held by General Motors at $150 billion for 2011.
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JHankwitz
14 months ago

Does it bother you that Apple gets the maximum profit from its products? Even if the products is only worth 30% percent it selling price.


Does it bother you that Microsoft sells an Office DVD for $200 that cost them about $0.93 to make? :rolleyes:

There's a heck of a lot more to business than just selling assembled component parts.
Rating: 12 Positives
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JesterJJZ
14 months ago
Who cares, just release a new Mac Pro already... :mad:
Rating: 10 Positives
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Schizoid
14 months ago
anyone else wondering where these 'new' products are that they're 'pumping out'...
Rating: 10 Positives
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jav6454
14 months ago
Wal-Mart, America's economy gauge.
Rating: 8 Positives
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iforbes
14 months ago
For every dollar of revenue, Apple had a profit of 0.239¢!

Not bad...
Rating: 6 Positives
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appsforkids
14 months ago

anyone else wondering where these 'new' products are that they're 'pumping out'...


Let's hope the 'new' macs are something really special, I need to get a new mac soon so I can start waiting for the iPhone 5.
Rating: 5 Positives
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Nebulator
14 months ago
It is all very well saying Apple is 17th by turnover, the real business measure is in profit. If you order the Fortune list by profit Apple is indeed third, however Microsoft is fourth taking $2Bn less profit on nearly $40Bn less revenue.

By normal business measurement, Microsoft is doing better as it make more $$$ profit per $$$ revenue:

Rank Co Revenue Profit
17 Apple 108,249.0 25,922.0
37 Microsoft 69,943.0 23,150.0

Only saying....
Rating: 5 Positives
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bobenhaus
14 months ago
Does it bother you that Apple gets the maximum profit from its products? Even if the products is only worth 30% percent it selling price.
Rating: 5 Positives
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Tones2
14 months ago
I know I'll get about 1000 down arrows for this :), but I truly think thar Apple is peaking right now in 2012-2013. I think there is no way they sustain anywhere near this growth or profitability especially if they continue to lag behind in hardware and software technology, even if their execution and ecosystems remain strong. We've seen very little real innovation from Apple in the last 2 years and I think the Apple TV route is going to be a long term mistake although I'm sure it'll be hugely successful in the short run. The competition is really heating up now in terms of quality products and innovation. Apple can't sustain relying on marketing and fanboyism for much longer, at least as much as they have in the past, especially after losing their cult-inducing leader. Apple makes good products but purposely holding back technology so that people will buy the next product especially in light of having a single new release product in the phone / tablet market only updated once a year is not going to fly for much longer.

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Did you not read the article?! They are #3 in profit, closely followed by Microsoft. Wal-mart is #10.


Um...Do you not read the rest of the posts? This has been said 3 times already. :p
Rating: 4 Positives
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WildCowboy
14 months ago

Wonder where Apple ranks by profit rather than revenue? Companies like Wal-Mart are low margin and make up for it by being ridiculously humongous. Apple's got crazy revenue, but their profit margins are even nuttier. Wouldn't be surprised if they topped a list by profit, and that's what matters to investors.


See the article. ;)

They were third in profits behind Exxon Mobil and Chevron.

It's also interesting to note that because Fortune uses fiscal years for its rankings and Apple's fiscal year starts at the end of September, Apple's data for this year's rankings includes the fourth calendar quarter of 2010 instead of 2011.

If Fortune had used Apple's four calendar quarters for 2011, Apple's revenue would have been $20 billion higher because of the monster iPhone 4S launch quarter.

(Yes, there are other companies in the Fortune 500 using fiscal calendars that don't correspond to the actual calendar, so you'd have to adjust all of those other companies' numbers too if you wanted a true "calendar 2011" comparison.)
Rating: 4 Positives

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