Rankings of US companies

Every list ranks companies on a figure from their latest annual report filed with the SEC, with the fiscal year shown, so the comparison is like for like.

Largest US companies by revenueleader: Amazon, $716.9bn; backtest of its top 100 since 2010: 15.0% a year vs 14.0% for the S&P 500
Most profitable US companiesleader: Microsoft Corporation, $133.7bn; backtest of its top 100 since 2010: 13.8% a year vs 14.0% for the S&P 500
US companies with the most free cash flowleader: Apple Inc., $136.1bn; backtest of its top 100 since 2010: 14.9% a year vs 14.0% for the S&P 500
Fastest-growing large US companiesleader: Micron Technology, 256.3%; backtest of its top 100 since 2010: 15.5% a year vs 15.1% for the S&P 500
US companies with the highest profit marginsleader: Simon Property Group, 72.7%; backtest of its top 100 since 2010: 12.3% a year vs 14.0% for the S&P 500
US companies with the highest return on equityleader: Tapestry, Inc., 197.1%; backtest of its top 100 since 2010: 14.4% a year vs 14.0% for the S&P 500
Biggest share buybacks by US companiesleader: Apple Inc., $86.4bn; backtest of its top 100 since 2010: 16.0% a year vs 14.0% for the S&P 500
Biggest dividend payers in the USleader: Microsoft Corporation, $26.4bn; backtest of its top 100 since 2010: 12.9% a year vs 14.0% for the S&P 500
US companies raising their dividend every yearleader: Walmart, 16 years
Largest US employersleader: Walmart, 2,100,000
US companies with the most cashleader: Citigroup, $349.6bn; backtest of its top 100 since 2010: 15.0% a year vs 14.0% for the S&P 500
US companies with the most debtleader: JPMorgan Chase, $500.0bn; backtest of its top 100 since 2010: 13.2% a year vs 14.0% for the S&P 500
Biggest R&D spenders in the USleader: Alphabet Inc. (Class A), $61.1bn; backtest of its top 100 since 2010: 20.1% a year vs 14.6% for the S&P 500

Backtest figures: the list's top 100 bought each quarter since 2010 as it stood then, against the S&P 500, before costs. Today's companies only (failed and acquired firms are missing, which flatters the results); see how the test works.

By sector

Companies by sector and industry: size, growth and margins for each of the 11 sectors and their industries.

Figures from each company's latest annual report filed with the SEC (10-K or 20-F), as reported, with the fiscal year shown. Not investment advice. How we read filings: methodology.