| The Fortune 500 List is an annual compilation | | | | to be the second-most profitable corporation in the |
| published by the Fortune magazine. It ranks the top | | | | Fortune 500, holds the 6th place. Ford Motors were |
| 500 American public corporations, based on their | | | | internationally surpassed by Toyota, due to the high |
| revenues. All numbers are based on revenue figures | | | | gas price that affected the SUVs and pick-up trucks, |
| for each Fortune 500 Company’s previous fiscal | | | | but managed to take the 7th place. |
| year. This may end on different dates for each | | | | Citigroup is placed on the 8th position. The Forbes |
| company. | | | | 2000 first-placer until 2008 was forced to post the |
| Since 2007, Wall-Mart Stores hold the first position, | | | | worst fourth-quarter loss in its 196-year history: $10 |
| followed by Exxon Mobile, the most profitable | | | | billion, due to the mortgage meltdown. Fortunately, to |
| company on the Fortune 500 for the fifth year in a | | | | solidify its balance sheet, Citi has raised about $20 |
| row. These two giants have been competing for the | | | | billion since November from investors in Abu Dhabi, |
| title of "Most successful American company" since | | | | Singapore and New Jersey. From the same field of |
| 2001, swapping their positions constantly. The second | | | | activity, the Bank of America wasn't hit quite as hard |
| largest US oil company, Chevron, which invested in | | | | by the credit crisis as other financial institutions in |
| energy alternatives, including geothermal and bio | | | | 2007, therefore claming the 9th position. |
| diesel fuels, is situated on the third position, followed | | | | AT&T, the first telecommunication company to |
| by General Motors, which held the first position of | | | | make it in the top 10, is the phoenix reborn from |
| the top until the year 2000. | | | | four different telecommunication companies: the old |
| Due to high gasoline prices, weak auto sales, layoffs, | | | | AT&T, Cingular, BellSouth and SBC. |
| buyouts and a looming recession, the sales decreased | | | | These are only brief descriptions of the top 10 |
| to 12% and led to a $39 billion loss. However, it is still | | | | successful American businesses in 2008. Most of |
| considered to be the World’s largest automaker. | | | | them are also highly ranked in the Forbes 2000 world |
| Conoco-Phillips scored 5th, due to the reputation of | | | | wide top of the most powerful corporations, which |
| being the first US oil producer to cope with the | | | | proves that the United States holds an important |
| greenhouse gas emissions. General Electric, considered | | | | position in the Global Market System. |