The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is the world’s largest stock exchange by market capitalization, hosting many of the most valuable and stable companies, often referred to as “blue-chip” firms. Below is a list of the 20 largest companies listed on the NYSE, based on market capitalization as of the most recent data available (up to August 2024, with some context from early 2025). Market cap figures are approximate and sourced from web references, reflecting values in USD or converted from euros where necessary. Since market caps fluctuate daily, these rankings are illustrative, and you should verify current values on platforms like Yahoo Finance or Bloomberg for trading purposes.
The following list draws from sources like Statista, The Motley Fool, and Investing.com, focusing on the NYSE U.S. 100 Index and other NYSE-listed companies. Note that some companies (e.g., Apple, Microsoft) are Nasdaq-listed, so they are excluded here despite being among the largest U.S. firms.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.A / BRK.B)
- Market Cap: ~$900 billion (June 2024)
- Sector: Conglomerate
- Description: A holding company led by Warren Buffett, owning subsidiaries like GEICO, Duracell, and Dairy Queen, with a massive stock portfolio including Apple. It was the first non-tech U.S. company to hit a $1 trillion market cap in August 2024.
Eli Lilly and Company (LLY)
- Market Cap: ~$912 billion (August 2024)
- Sector: Healthcare/Pharmaceuticals
- Description: A pharmaceutical giant known for diabetes drugs (e.g., Mounjaro), oncology, and immunology treatments. It has shown strong relative strength with 8% YTD gains in 2025 despite a 7% drop on one day.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)
- Market Cap: ~$581 billion (June 2024)
- Sector: Financials
- Description: A leading global bank offering investment banking, commercial banking, and asset management. It’s a Dow Jones Industrial Average component with consistent outperformance.
Walmart Inc. (WMT)
- Market Cap: ~$550 billion (August 2024 estimate)
- Sector: Consumer Staples/Retail
- Description: The world’s largest retailer by revenue, operating hypermarkets and e-commerce platforms. Its stability makes it a blue-chip staple.
- Source:,
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH)
- Market Cap: ~$500 billion (estimate based on 2023–2024 trends)
- Sector: Healthcare/Insurance
- Description: A major health insurer and healthcare provider, benefiting from an aging population and healthcare demand.
Visa Inc. (V)
- Market Cap: ~$480 billion (estimate)
- Sector: Financials/Payments
- Description: A global leader in digital payments, processing transactions for millions of merchants and consumers.
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
- Market Cap: ~$400 billion (estimate)
- Sector: Healthcare/Pharmaceuticals
- Description: A diversified healthcare company with pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer goods (e.g., Band-Aid, Tylenol).
Procter & Gamble Co. (PG)
- Market Cap: ~$380 billion (estimate)
- Sector: Consumer Staples
- Description: A consumer goods giant with brands like Tide, Pampers, and Gillette, known for stability and dividends.
Home Depot, Inc. (HD)
- Market Cap: ~$350 billion (estimate)
- Sector: Consumer Discretionary/Home Improvement
- Description: The largest home improvement retailer, benefiting from housing and renovation trends.
Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK)
- Market Cap: ~$320 billion (estimate)
- Sector: Healthcare/Pharmaceuticals
- Description: A pharmaceutical leader with drugs like Keytruda for cancer treatment, showing strong relative strength.
Chevron Corporation (CVX)
- Market Cap: ~$300 billion (estimate)
- Sector: Energy
- Description: A major oil and gas company, benefiting from energy price volatility and global demand.
Coca-Cola Company (KO)
- Market Cap: ~$280 billion (estimate)
- Sector: Consumer Staples/Beverages
- Description: A global beverage leader with a diversified portfolio beyond its namesake soda.
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS)
- Market Cap: ~$260 billion (estimate)
- Sector: Financials
- Description: A leading investment bank with strong performance in trading and wealth management.
American Express Company (AXP)
- Market Cap: ~$250 billion (estimate)
- Sector: Financials/Credit Services
- Description: A global payments and credit card company, benefiting from consumer spending.
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT)
- Market Cap: ~$240 billion (estimate, despite 20% YTD loss in 2025)
- Sector: Industrials
- Description: A construction equipment manufacturer, sensitive to global economic trends and tariffs.
McDonald’s Corporation (MCD)
- Market Cap: ~$230 billion (estimate)
- Sector: Consumer Discretionary/Restaurants
- Description: The world’s largest fast-food chain, known for global brand strength.
Amgen Inc. (AMGN)
- Market Cap: ~$220 billion (estimate)
- Sector: Healthcare/Biotechnology
- Description: A biotech leader focusing on innovative therapies for cancer and chronic diseases.
IBM Corporation (IBM)
- Market Cap: ~$200 billion (estimate)
- Sector: Technology
- Description: A legacy tech firm with a focus on cloud computing, AI, and enterprise services.
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ)
- Market Cap: ~$190 billion (estimate)
- Sector: Communication Services
- Description: A major telecom provider with stable cash flows from wireless and broadband services.
Walt Disney Company (DIS)
- Market Cap: ~$180 billion (estimate)
- Sector: Communication Services/Entertainment
- Description: A global media and entertainment conglomerate with theme parks, streaming (Disney+), and film studios.
Notes and Context
- Market Cap Fluctuations: Values are approximate, based on June–August 2024 data from Statista and estimates from 2025 X posts. Market caps shift daily due to price changes, tariffs, and economic conditions (e.g., a $10 trillion U.S. market cap drop in 2025).
- Exclusions: Tech giants like Apple ($3.2T), Microsoft ($3.05T), and Nvidia are Nasdaq-listed, not NYSE, so they’re excluded despite their size.
- High Beta Stocks: Some NYSE companies (e.g., Caterpillar) align with your prior interest in high-beta stocks (>1.5), as they react strongly to economic shifts or tariffs. Others, like Walmart or Coca-Cola, are low-beta, consolidating less frequently due to stability.
- Relative Strength: Companies like Eli Lilly, JPMorgan, and Merck show strong relative strength, outperforming the S&P 500, as you requested, with shorter consolidation periods due to sector momentum (healthcare, financials).
- Tariff Impact: Recent 2025 tariff announcements (e.g., 125% on China) have hit NYSE stocks like Caterpillar, causing volatility and potential for quick breakouts or breakdowns.,
- Verification: Check real-time market caps on Investing.com, Yahoo Finance, or NYSE.com, as rankings may shift (e.g., Eli Lilly briefly surpassed Berkshire Hathaway in 2024).