Many of the top US firms stayed in the top 10 rank for decades while others did not. For example, AT&T(T) lasted in the top 10 for six straight decades from 1930. General Motors(GM) and General Electric(GE) also ranked in the top 10 for many decades. Some of the one-time wonders include Lucent Technologies and Cisco(CSCO) at start of the 21st century. In this decade, 5 new entrants are at the top 10. These are Amazon(AMZN), Facebook(FB), Alphabet(GOOG), Visa(V) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRK.A).
Out of these Berkshire Hathaway can be counted as it is a conglomerate operating in multiple unrelated industries with no particular vision or mission. The three members of the FAANG gang can easily be replicated by some other startup in the future. It remains to be seen which of these top 10 companies will continue to dominate the US in the next several decades. Fifty years from now people may ask if Facebook is some kind of new book published about one’s face.
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Source: Large and In Charge? Giant Firms atop Market Is Nothing New, Indexology Blog
Disclosure: No Positions
