Special Report
The World's Top 25
Profit Swings
Standouts
Increasing Payrolls
The Biggest Names In Business
Toshiba's Comeback
Lenovo: On The Edge Of Convergence
Global High Performers
The World's Leading Companies
Edited by Scott DeCarloThe Forbes Global 2000 are the biggest, most powerful listed companies in the world. These global giants usually reorder themselves at a glacial pace but sometimes, as with the volatile financial sector of late, with more abruptness. Extreme vagaries of business or poor performance can take them off the list entirely. In any case, our composite ranking is the best snapshot of just how these titans compare. As we show, the corporate dominance of the developed nations is steadily receding. With respect not just to size but to what investors care most about, see our Global High Performers, an elite list of companies that set the pace in their respective industries. Read More...
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Features
Global 2000 Drop-Offs
Scott DeCarlo
Whether due to merger, acquisition or poor results, these companies are not on the 2010 Forbes Global 2000.
Global 2000 Newcomers
Scott DeCarlo
A glance at companies joining the Forbes Global 2000.
The Grand Totals
Scott DeCarlo
Even in a down year, the Global 2000 generated some staggering statistics.
Global High Performers
Scott DeCarlo
These 130 members of the Global 2000 stand out from peers for growth and profitability.
Industry Leaders 2005 Vs. 2010
Here's a look at the top five biggest companies from nine industries this year versus our 2005 Global 2000 list.
The Mighty, The Fallen
Stumbles by some famous companies since our 2005 Global 2000. Economies and labor have also given up ground.
Featured Companies
Can China Save GM?
Joann Muller
Why a boxy, $4,500 van could be the answer to what ails the once great car company.
Are We Getting Closer to 'Clean' Ethanol?
Jonathan Fahey
Using the miracles of nature, the bioscience firm Novozymes will make your lips fuller, your gasoline less polluting and your beer better tasting.
Control Freak
Keren Blankfeld
Retailer Abilio Diniz is the most disciplined businessman in Brazil. One of the richest, too.
Online Alliance
Elizabeth Woyke
TigerDirect, with its efficient, online-sales model, has been an equally good fit for Acer.
India's Dirty War
Megha Bahree
A violent struggle over resource-rich land is pitting billionaires against Maoists. Thousands of villagers have been killed and displaced.
China Tracker
Interactive: Chinese Overseas Investments Grow
Jon Bruner
Since 2005, enterprises owned by the Chinese government have invested more than $200 billion in foreign companies and raw materials. Each dot on this map tracks one of those investments, with larger dots representing larger investments. Roll over the dots and the timeline for more information.
Tracking Where China Invests
Derek Scissors
The world's most populous nation will soon spend $100 billion a year. What, exactly, is it buying?
China Moves Overseas
Since 2005, China has expanded its global reach by buying big foreign firms and taking out enormous contracts for raw materials.
The China Tracker Blog
What a superpower wants.
In Pictures
JPMorgan Chase ends GE's one-year reign as the world's largest company.
These global giants saw the biggest turnarounds in profits over the past year.
For better or worse, these Global 2000 companies have noteworthy metrics.
These companies' payrolls have grown over the past five fiscal years and are poised to get bigger in the next few years.
Interactive Map
Video
JPMorgan dethrones GE as the worlds largest company.
Toshiba America CEO Mark Simons on how the laptop creator will regain its edge.
COO Rory Reed on the competitive market beyond smartphones and smartbooks.
This comprehensive report analyzes the world's biggest companies and the fastest-growing of these titans.
Top Image Credits: Scott Olson/Getty Images (Apple); AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky (Gazprom); Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images (Wal-Mart)
Forbes global 2000 companies have the top composite scores based on sales, profits, assets and market value. We started with companies that were publicly trading as of Mar. 1, 2010. We created four separate lists of the 2000 biggest companies for each of the metrics: sales 2000, profits 2000, assets 2000 and market value 2000. If a company qualified for one of the lists, it was eligible for the final 2000 (a universe of 3,450 companies). We score each company based on where it ranks on each metric's 2000 list (each metric equally weighted). If it does not qualify for a list, it receives zero points for that metric. We add up the points across all four metrics for a composite score, re-sort them by that score and apply our Forbes global 2000 rank to each company. All publicly traded subsidiaries (with greater than 50% ownership of company stock and/or figures consolidated by the parent company on our list) were excluded.
Data Editors: Andrea D. Murphy, John J. Ray
Programmers: Carl Subick
Forbes global 2000 companies have the top composite scores based on sales, profits, assets and market value. We started with companies that were publicly trading as of Mar. 1, 2010. We created four separate lists of the 2000 biggest companies for each of the metrics: sales 2000, profits 2000, assets 2000 and market value 2000. If a company qualified for one of the lists, it was eligible for the final 2000 (a universe of 3,450 companies). We score each company based on where it ranks on each metric's 2000 list (each metric equally weighted). If it does not qualify for a list, it receives zero points for that metric. We add up the points across all four metrics for a composite score, re-sort them by that score and apply our Forbes global 2000 rank to each company. All publicly traded subsidiaries (with greater than 50% ownership of company stock and/or figures consolidated by the parent company on our list) were excluded.
Data Editors: Andrea D. Murphy, John J. Ray
Programmers: Carl Subick