The Biggest Companies in Australia
In this article, we will take a look at the biggest Australian companies. Firstly, we will examine the top 10 biggest companies in Australia by market capitalisation, before highlighting the largest Australian companies in terms of revenue.
Table of Contents
Top 10 Biggest Companies in Australia by Market Cap
In the following sections, we’ll take a quick look at each of the 10 largest Australian companies in terms of market capitalisation.
1. Commonwealth Bank
Currently standing at the top of the list is the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, which is the largest company in Australia by market cap. One of the so-called big four banks of Australia, the Commonwealth Bank was founded in 1911 by the Australian government but, in 1991, the government of the day began the process of privatisation with the bank’s first share offer. The bank was fully privatised by 1996.
The Commonwealth Bank is one of the leading banks in Australia. It provides more than 17 million clients with both retail and commercial banking services, primarily in Australia but also in New Zealand.
2. BHP Group
BHP Group, which was founded in 1885, is not only the largest mining company in Australia by market cap but, indeed, the world. BHP is a leading producer of both iron ore and copper, and also mines a number of other commodities.
3. CSL
Established in 1916 as the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, CSL is a biotechnology company that researches, develops and produces products to treat a range of medical conditions. CSL operates three divisions, CSL Behring – which is a leader in rare and serious diseases, CSL Seqirus – one of the world’s largest influenza vaccination providers, and CSL Vifor – which operates in iron deficiency and nephrology.
4. National Australia Bank
The second big four bank in the list, National Australia Bank, or NAB, was formed in 1981 by the merger of the National Bank of Australasia and the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney. NAB provides banking services to 9 million clients in Australia, New Zealand and around the world.
5. Westpac Banking Corporation
Another of the big four banks, Westpac Banking Corporation was established in 1817 as the Bank of New South Wales and was renamed following its acquisition of the Commercial Bank of Australia in 1982. Westpac is Australia’s oldest bank, providing services to over 12 million customers throughout Australia, New Zealand and the world.
6. ANZ Bank
The big four Australian banks dominate the top places in the list of largest Australian companies, with the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, or ANZ Bank, appearing in sixth place. As the name suggests, ANZ Bank operates throughout Australia and New Zealand, with Australia accounting for the majority of business. However, it also operates in around 30 other markets, serving around 8.5 million retail and business customers.
7. Wesfarmers
Wesfarmers began life in 1914 as a cooperative of Western Australian farmers, but has since evolved into one of the biggest companies in Australia. Wesfarmers runs a number of different divisions, including Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers; Industrial and Safety; and health, beauty and wellbeing products. The company also owns Kmart Group, through which it operates Kmart and Target stores in Australia and New Zealand.
8. Macquarie
Macquarie is a global financial services group, providing a wide range of services – including asset management, retail and business banking, commodity trading and wealth management – in 34 markets around the world.
9. Tamboran Resources
Founded in 2009, Tamboran Resources is a natural gas company focused on developing unconventional gas resources in the Northern Territory of Australia to satisfy demand in Australia and the Asia-Pacific.
10. Goodman Group
Goodman is a property group which owns, develops and manages properties. The group specialises in infrastructure which is essential for the digital economy, including warehouses and logistics facilities.
The Largest Australian Companies by Revenue
Now we know the biggest Australian companies in terms of market cap, what about by revenue? The table below highlights the 10 largest companies in Australia based on revenue.
Source: TradingView. Data captured: 16 August 2024.
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FAQ
What is the biggest company in Australia?
Commonwealth Bank is the largest company in Australia in terms of market capitalisation. In terms of revenue, BHP Group is the biggest Australian company.
What is the biggest mining company in Australia?
BHP Group is the biggest mining company in Australia in terms of both market capitalisation and revenue.
How many Fortune 500 companies are there in Australia?
There were five Australian companies listed In the Fortune 500 list for 2024: BHP Group, ANZ Group Holdings, Woolworths Group, National Australia Bank and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
Who is the largest employer in Australia?
Woolworths Group is the largest company in Australia in terms of employees, with around 200,000 employees.
What is Australia's largest company based on revenue?
BHP Group is Australia’s largest company in terms of revenue.
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This material does not contain and should not be construed as containing investment advice, investment recommendations, an offer of or solicitation for any transactions in financial instruments. Please note that such trading analysis is not a reliable indicator for any current or future performance, as circumstances may change over time. Before making any investment decisions, you should seek advice from independent financial advisors to ensure you understand the risks.
