Europe loses the connection: top companies in comparison of profits!

Europe loses the connection: top companies in comparison of profits!

The current study by EY has analyzed the balance sheets of the 1,000 -sellest listed companies worldwide and revealed significant differences between the regions. It is particularly striking that seven of the ten companies with the highest operational profit are based in the United States. In 2024, North American companies achieved a increase in sales of 4.5 %, while European companies recorded a decline of 1.1 %. These developments indicate increasing competitive pressure in Europe, which weakens the market shares of European corporations. [Leadersnet] reports that among European companies only Volkswagen (9th place in the sales ranking) occupies a place in the top ten.

In terms of winning numbers, Saudi Aramco leads the ranking with an operational profit of 191 billion euros, followed by Apple and Alphabet with 114 and 104 billion euros. European companies, on the other hand, showed a decline in operating profit by 6.5 %, while Asian companies even increased by 19.5 %. Shell is the most profitable European company in this line -up with 13th place.

sales development and market share

The country ranking of the largest corporations shows that the United States clearly dominates with 317 companies, followed by Japan with 110, China with 137, Germany with 43 and South Korea with 42 companies. This underlines the market thickness and the influence of North American companies on the global stage. The challenges for European companies are also clear because they are increasingly falling behind compared to their competitors in North America and Asia.

Two Austrian corporations were nevertheless able to position themselves in the ranking: OMV reaches 270 and Voestalpine occupied 569. While these placements are a positive sign for the two companies, they also reflect the generally stagnating growth figures for European companies.

profit margins and industry comparisons

Another known factor for evaluating the financial performance of a company is the profit margins. According to [FasterCapital], they show how effectively a company generates profits and manages costs. The highest profit margin can be found in the pharmaceutical industry, which is 16.5 %, followed by energy suppliers (15.6 %) and the communication/media industry (15 %). In contrast, the automotive industry with the lowest profit margin of 5.8 %.

The achievement of realistic objectives and well -founded decisions depends heavily on a well -founded understanding of the profit margins. Industry benchmarks are particularly relevant because they help identify inefficiencies and determine competitive advantages. Many companies implement strategies to improve their profit margins, including the analysis of cost structures, the optimization of expenses and the adaptation of price strategies.

The current market developments make it clear that European companies face major challenges in view of the strong competition from North America and Asia. While the sales and profit figures of companies such as Saudi Aramco and Apple are impressive, it remains to be seen how European brands will react to these developments. The need to improve operational efficiency and strategic orientation is clear.

Further information on the market conditions and the most profitable companies can be found in the analyzes of [Spiegel].