In this article we are going to list the 10 Most Valuable UK Companies. For a detailed coverage of this topic and a more comprehensive list please take a look at the 30 Most Valuable UK Companies.
10. GSK plc (NYSE:GSK)
Total market cap of the company (in billions): $71.84
One of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) spun off its consumer healthcare division in 2022. Earlier in 2022, GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) rejected Unilever’s offer of purchasing its consumer healthcare division for $68 billion.
9. British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)
Total market cap of the company (in billions): $90.87
Most of the biggest brands in cigarettes are produced by British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI), which has operations in 180 countries. As more and more countries aim to restrict selling to their younger demographic, with New Zealand being the latest such country, British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) may be looking at a relatively uncertain future.
8. Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)
Total market cap of the company (in billions): $102.15
Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) is one of the largest alcohol manufacturers in the world. Earlier, Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) was the largest distiller in the world. Some of Diageo plc’s (NYSE:DEO) biggest brands include . Baileys, Smirnoff, Guinness and Johnnie Walker, which have propelled it among the most valuable UK companies.
7. BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP)
Total market cap of the company (in billions): $105.79
BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP) is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world. Despite having a very negative perception in the public because of its contribution to climate change and numerous major oil spills, these incidents no longer have an impact on BP p.l.c.’s (NYSE:BP) business. Recently, BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP) announced that it would acquire Archaea Energy for $4.1 billion. Recently, the company made a huge profit thanks to rising oil prices driven by the Russia Ukraine war.
6. Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO)
Total market cap of the company (in billions): $115.66
One of the biggest mining companies in the world, Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO) recorded more than $63 billion in 2021. There has been a huge boost recently for investors considering Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO) as China has announced that it is now reopening and Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO) has a deep relationship with China.
5. HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE:HSBC)
Total market cap of the company (in billions): $123.98
The most valuable bank in the UK, HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE:HSBC) is also the largest bank in Europe by assets, with close to $3 trillion in 2021, while HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE:HSBC) has assets under custody worth nearly $11 trillion. While accusations of terrorism have been levied against HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE:HSBC), which subsequent investigations proved were correct, it will be interesting to see if this has a continuing impact on its business, after being fined by South Africa in 2018 while admitting to Australia in 2020 that it may have broken the country’s anti-money laundering laws.
4. Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL)
Total market cap of the company (in billions): $129.38
Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) is one of the biggest fast moving consumer goods companies in the world. If you take a look at the products in your house, chances are high that some of them are produced by Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL), such is their diversification and reach. In fact, Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) has various brands which earn hundreds of millions of dollars each, if not billions.
3. Linde plc (NYSE:LIN)
Total market cap of the company (in billions): $162.91
Linde plc (NYSE:LIN) is one of the largest chemical companies in the world, with its primary business being the manufacture and distribute of various atmospheric gases. Recently, Linde plc (NYSE:LIN) agreed a deal to supply nitrogen to a $4 billion Indonesian petrochemical project.
2. Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL)
Total market cap of the company (in billions): $203.00
Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) moved its headquarters from The Hague to London in 2022. One of the largest oil manufacturing companies in the world, Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) earned more than $261.5 billion in revenue in 2021, and has operations in most of the countries around the world.
1. AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)
Total market cap of the company (in billions): $210.18
Capitalizing on its share price increasing by more than 32% in 2022, AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) now tops the list of the 30 most valued UK companies. AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) is a pharmaceutical company which earned worldwide recognition for being one of the few pharma companies which developed a feasible vaccine for Covid-19, which has also boosted its stock price. Recently, AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) announced that it would start producing pharmaceuticals in the United Arab Emirates.
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