• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup

2

Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock

3

Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026

1

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup

2

Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock

3

Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
FinanceFortune 500

14 Must-Know Facts About the New Fortune 500

By
Jonathan Chew
Jonathan Chew
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Jonathan Chew
Jonathan Chew
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 6, 2016, 10:00 AM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Earlier today Fortune published the 2016 edition of its annual ranking of the 500 largest U.S. corporations in business. Here are a few takeaways that you’ll need to know:

1. Walmart (WMT) took the top spot for the fourth straight year despite a dip in revenues.

2. Apple (AAPL) moved up to No. 3 and led all companies with $53 billion in profits.

3. Facebook (FB) continued its ascent, jumping 85 spots to No. 157 with nearly $18 billion in sales.

4. Amazon.com (AMZN) ranks at No. 18. The online book retailer that CEO Jeff Bezos built has turned into an e-commerce giant, reaching $100 billion in annual sales faster than any other company. Amazon’s cloud-computing business, Amazon Web Services, brought in nearly $8 billion in sales in 2015. Propelled by 29% annual sales growth, Amazon has rocketed up the 500 over the past decade and this year debuts in the top 20. With a recent market value of $280 billion, it’s already worth more than No. 1 Walmart.

LIS.chart01

5. Boeing (BA) ranks at No. 24. The airplane manufacturer soared to record revenues of $96.1 billion last year. A $480 billion backlog of commercial plane orders, built up as Boeing struggled to meet demand for its 787 Dreamliner, is offsetting lower defense sales. The company delivered a record 762 commercial airplanes in 2015, or a 60% increase from four years earlier. Boeing, which turns 100 this year, is promising higher cash flow as it continues to ramp up production.

LIS.chart04

6. Goldman Sachs (GS) ranks at No. 74. Sales and profits both fell at the investment bank as it faced strong headwinds—from a slowing China to falling commodity prices to a $5 billion settlement for its role in selling toxic mortgage bonds that helped spark the 2008 financial crisis. The Goldman business unit that includes private equity investments and corporate loans—and is the company’s second-biggest source of pretax earnings—saw its net revenues drop by 20% in 2015.

LIS.chart07

7. Starbucks (SBUX) ranks at No. 146. Robust results have become the order of the day for the coffee giant, with 23 consecutive quarters of global comparable-store sales growth of 5% or more. In 2015 the company added 767 net new stores in China and Asia Pacific. Net revenues at Starbucks’ company-owned stores in the Americas—including the core U.S. market—rose by 9.7% to $11.9 billion last year thanks to increased food sales and more mobile transactions.

LIS.chart09

8. Dollar Tree (DLTR) ranks at No. 180. The discount retailer made a big jump in the rankings by acquiring competitor Family Dollar and its roughly 8,200 stores in July 2015. The merger added $6.2 billion in sales but further lowered margins on the chain’s low-priced products. Walmart remains the most-visited retailer in the U.S., but Dollar Tree is becoming more mainstream. according to a survey last year, the ultra-discounter was the fifth-most-common destination for shoppers.

LIS.chart02

9. Chesapeake Energy (CHK) ranks at No. 223. Low oil and natural-gas prices drove the Oklahoma energy company to a net loss of $14.7 billion in 2015 despite cost cutting. The shocking death of former CEO Aubrey McClendon in a single-car accident in March cast a pall over 2016 too. Thanks to the shale boom, pioneered in part by Chesapeake, drilling activity and oil production in the U.S. surged in recent years. But in 2015 lower oil prices led to a sharp dropoff in the number of wells drilled.

LIS.chart05

10. Reynolds American (RAI) ranks at No. 266. Despite a national slowdown in tobacco use, the parent company of Camel and Pall Mall cigarettes reported a 26% year-over-year gain in revenues thanks to its 2015 acquisition of rival Lorillard, which owns leading brand Newport. Vaping is on the rise, and Reynolds has benefited from strong sales of its “Vuse” brand. The impact of new federal rules banning e-cigarette sales to customers under age 18, however, remains to be seen.

LIS.chart08

11. Campbell Soup (CPB) ranks at No. 337. The venerable maker of canned food saw slowing sales of its namesake products. It continued the effort to inject healthy food options into its mix with the acquisition of hummus maker Garden Fresh Gourmet last June. Revenue growth at the company’s simple meals unit, which includes soups and Prego sauces, has stagnated. In response, ­Campbell has pledged to remove all artificial ingredients by 2018.

LIS.chart10

12. Salesforce.com (CRM) ranks at No. 386. Revenue from subscriptions to its cloud-based customer service products grew by 38% in 2015. With $4 billion in uncollected billings, Salesforce could reach $10 billion in annual sales faster than any software firm in history. Led by co-founder and CEO Marc Benioff, Salesforce has become the biggest player in the customer relationship software market within 17 years of founding, beating out the likes of Oracle (ORCL) and Microsoft (MSFT).

LIS.chart03

13. JetBlue Airways (JBLU) ranks at No. 405. Combine rising passenger traffic with a 35.6% drop in average fuel costs, and JetBlue ended up with record profits of $677 million last year. The airline also received a 10% boost in revenues received from excess-baggage fees and reservation changes. Airports across the U.S. drew huge crowds in 2015 as carriers operating routes in the States flew a record number of passengers. That led to a sixth straight year of cumulative profitability for the volatile industry.

LIS.chart06

14. Frontier Communications (FTR) ranks at No. 461. Frontier, which last made the 500 in 2012, provides voice and wireless service to 3.4 million customers in 29 states. The Connecticut company added 384,800 broadband subscribers after acquiring AT&T’s wire-line operations in its home state. Web-surfing, Netflix-watching (NFLX) customers have been good to Frontier. The company added around 30% more broadband subscribers over the past two years, leading to $200 million in increased data service sales.

FRONTIER

A version of this article appears in the June 15, 2016 issue of Fortune.

Check out the new Fortune 500 at fortune.com/fortune500 for company profiles, financial data, stock quotes, CEO videos, interactive graphics, breaking news, and more.

About the Author
By Jonathan Chew
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

Current refi mortgage rates report for June 24, 2026
Personal FinanceReal Estate
Current refi mortgage rates report for June 24, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 24, 2026
2 hours ago
Current ARM mortgage rates report for June 24, 2026
Personal FinanceReal Estate
Current ARM mortgage rates report for June 24, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 24, 2026
2 hours ago
Now she’s worth $200 million. But Sarah Jessica Parker says being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ growing up created her work ethic
SuccessCareer Advice
Now she’s worth $200 million. But Sarah Jessica Parker says being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ growing up created her work ethic
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 24, 2026
2 hours ago
Mortgage rates today, June 24, 2026
Personal Financemortgages
Mortgage rates today, June 24, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 24, 2026
2 hours ago
Trump, Rubio, and Hegseth sit next to each other at a dark wooden table.
EconomyIran
The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion,but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting
By Jacqueline MunisJune 24, 2026
2 hours ago
MSCI delays Indonesia’s market status review until November
AsiaIndonesia
MSCI delays Indonesia’s market status review until November
By Prima Wirayani, Bernadette Toh and BloombergJune 23, 2026
6 hours ago

Most Popular

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
Success
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 23, 2026
21 hours ago
Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock
Banking
Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock
By Jim EdwardsJune 23, 2026
23 hours ago
Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 23, 2026
20 hours ago
Meet the 2 men putting New York's $300 billion pension fund in play for the first time in 20 years
Investing
Meet the 2 men putting New York's $300 billion pension fund in play for the first time in 20 years
By Nick LichtenbergJune 22, 2026
2 days ago
Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'
Success
Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'
By Sydney LakeJune 21, 2026
3 days ago
Texas and Charlotte used to build huge McMansions—now they're copying the California design tricks they once mocked
Real Estate
Texas and Charlotte used to build huge McMansions—now they're copying the California design tricks they once mocked
By Sydney LakeJune 22, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.