Market capitalization, or market cap, is a crucial metric used by investors to gauge the size and value of a publicly traded company. The market cap of a company can be calculated by multiplying the total number of outstanding shares by the current stock price. Large-cap companies often have a proven track record of stable earnings and consistent growth over time.
Let’s delve into the top five U.S. companies by market cap as of March 1, 2024.
- Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT): Microsoft stands as the world’s largest company with a market cap of $3.03 trillion. The company’s stronghold in the operating system and software development space, coupled with its expansion into cloud computing and gaming, continues to fuel its growth.
MSFT stock has a Strong Buy consensus rating on TipRanks. The average price target of $470.02 implies an upside potential of 13.6%. - Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL): With a market cap of $2.80 trillion, Apple holds the second spot. The company’s diverse technology products, strong focus on product innovation, and customer loyalty keep AAPL well-poised to maintain its position as a market leader.
Apple stock has a Moderate Buy consensus rating. The average AAPL price target of $206.15 per share implies a 14.1% upside potential. - Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA): Nvidia ranks third and has a market cap of $1.94 trillion. NVDA’s dominant presence in the artificial intelligence (AI) market and growing demand for AI-powered products continue to aid the company’s growth.
Nvidia stock commands a Strong Buy consensus rating. Its average price target of $886.52 implies an upside of 12.1%. - Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN): The e-commerce giant occupies the fourth position with a market cap of $1.80 trillion. The company’s extensive online retail platform, coupled with its well-known cloud computing service, AWS, solidifies AMZN’s position in the consumer cyclical industry.
Analysts have a Strong Buy consensus rating on Amazon stock. The average AMZN price target of $208.23 per share implies 17.8% upside potential. - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG): Alphabet secures the fifth spot with a market cap surpassing $1.70 trillion. The company’s growth remains buoyed by its dominance in search engines, online advertising, and presence in the cloud computing market.
GOOG stock has a Strong Buy consensus rating on Tipranks. Its average price target of $163.57 implies an upside of 17.1%.
Concluding Thoughts
The technology sector has witnessed remarkable growth over the past year and currently commands the leading position in the market cap rankings. Investors may find it useful to monitor the performance of these five largest companies as they often reflect broader market trends.
