Market capitalization, or market cap, is one measure of a company’s value as determined by the stock market. It is easily calculated by multiplying the company’s outstanding shares by its current share price.
In this graphic, we present a treemap chart that visualizes the world’s top 50 publicly-traded companies by market cap, using data as of Aug. 16, 2023.
Yes it did. But unlike most publicly traded companies only a small proportion of the company is actually available as shares. The Saudi government controls 98.2% of the shares. So the $2.2tn valuation, while accurate, would likely not be as big if everyone else didn’t have to fight over 1.8% of the company. And unlike normal companies, the laws they follow can be changed if the company wants them to be. Buying shares of Saudi Aramco is like investing directly into the Saudi government.
Compared to the rest of the companies on this list, it is in a hugely different situation.
I think it made the list based on being publicly traded
Correct.
Yes it did. But unlike most publicly traded companies only a small proportion of the company is actually available as shares. The Saudi government controls 98.2% of the shares. So the $2.2tn valuation, while accurate, would likely not be as big if everyone else didn’t have to fight over 1.8% of the company. And unlike normal companies, the laws they follow can be changed if the company wants them to be. Buying shares of Saudi Aramco is like investing directly into the Saudi government.
Compared to the rest of the companies on this list, it is in a hugely different situation.