New in OS X: Get MacRumors Push Notifications on your Mac

Resubscribe Now Close

Apple Rises to #5 in This Year's Fortune 500 Rankings

Monday June 2, 2014 5:43 am PDT by Richard Padilla
Fortune has just released its annual "Fortune 500" list, which is a high-profile ranking of the largest companies in the United States ranked by revenue. This year, Apple has taken the #5 spot, up from #6 in last year's rankings and from #17 in 2012.

fifthavenue_hero
The Apple Store Fifth Avenue in New York City, New York
Apple’s net sales keep climbing, as the tech giant continues to sell more iPhones and digital content. But the company faces pressure in the smartphone business, as Android phones grow increasingly dominant. Meanwhile, Apple reported an annual drop in net income in fiscal year 2013, a first in more than a decade. Activist investor Carl Icahn last year disclosed a stake in Apple and subsequently pushed for the company to spend billions on share buybacks. In April, the company increased the amount of shares it is authorized to repurchase and raised its quarterly dividend by 8%, and in late May it announced it was acquiring Beats Music and Beats Electronics for $3 billion.
Wal-Mart once again beat out ExxonMobil for this year's #1 ranking, with Chevron and Berkshire Hathaway ranking ahead of Apple's $170.9 billion in revenue. Apple's profit of $37 billion dollars also ranked first among Fortune 500 companies despite falling 11.3% from last year.

Apple announced last week that it would be buying Beats Electronics and the Beats Music streaming service for a total of $3 billion, making it the largest acquisition in company history. Apple is also expected to launch a number of new products this year, including a larger iPhone, new Macs, new versions of OS X and iOS, and an "iWatch" smartwatch.

[ 41 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
Kobayagi
64 months ago
That's what you get when you charge people $100 to double their storage. ;)
Rating: 10 Votes
Avatar
mangomind
64 months ago
Go Apple! :apple:
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
mangomind
64 months ago

That's what you get when you charge people $100 to double their storage. ;)


That's what you are able to do if you produce amazing products.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
TWSS37
64 months ago

I wonder if the NFL is on there with all the revenue it generates


Plus the NFL is a not for profit group - if you can somehow wrap your head around that :rolleyes:
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
reevans
64 months ago
They Always Value REVENUE

These professional pundits always seem to think that the most important metric is revenue or market share or anything else but profit. As I understand, any company in business is only interested in working hard and well enough to MAKE A PROFIT. Apple is doing the best possible job of making a profit while also making great products and services. People love them like no other company on earth and still that isn't good enough for these pundits. Anything to bring down greatness.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
lilo777
64 months ago
Good effort. Still Samsung's revenues are almost 2x that of Apple. I personally am not sure why people really care though because if they like the companies because of their revenues they should really switch their allegiances to Wal Mart (3x the revenues of Apple).
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
Parasprite
64 months ago

These lists are as important as who the best quarterback of all times is , and who the sexiest actress is in Hollywood.


The difference is I don't have stocks in the sexiest actress in Hollywood. :D
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
Keane16
64 months ago

The difference is I don't have stocks in the sexiest actress in Hollywood. :D


Ha, well said.

Every year Apple faces pressures and threats and a nice chunk of commentators (professional and armchair) say they're doomed.

But as a company/business they're doing just fine. And have been for a number of years.

I'm happy from a shareholder and customer viewpoint.

Looking forward to WWDC.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
matrixhacker
64 months ago
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
Rocketman
64 months ago
Maybe Apple is "only" #5 in terms of sales, but it is far and away #1 as for profit and recurring profitability.

Notably this is on a very narrow list of SKU's for inventory, even lower than the oil company, because despite lots of volume in a few SKU's, the sheer range is vast as compared to Apple. Also the inventory and transport cost for Apple inventory is lower.

The comparison of business models to get to the goal is the real story here.

There's no comparison among the top five for environmental impact or overhead to achieve goal.

Rocketman
Rating: 2 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]