5. Chevron
> Market cap: $183 billion
> Current stock price: $91
> 52 week high/low: $109/$72
> Industry: oil
Chevron is essentially a smaller version of Exxon with both large exploration and refining operations. Investors have largely applauded the company’s move into the natural gas business. Current concerns around the company are that the International Energy Agency has recently said oil demand will be down over the next year. That means money for exploration may not enjoy a rapid return. Chevron made $11 billion last quarter and has a huge cash balance. Its 52-week price range is $109 to $72. It trades at $91 and the momentum is likely to drop with oil prices.
4. IBM
> Market cap: $200 billion
> Current stock price: $167
> 52 week high/low: $185/$122
> Industry: technology
IBM is to enterprise computing what Microsoft is to personal computing. IBM has diversified out of its traditional hardware business into services, software, and financing of customer purchases. IBM has also been able to slash its employee base and export jobs to places like India and China. Solid product management has allowed the company to push past traditional rival like HP. The stock has a 52-week price range of $185 to $122 and trades at $167 now. The company’s recent improvement in earnings means that the price momentum on the shares is up.
3. Microsoft
> Market cap: $206 billion
> Current stock price: $24.55
> 52 week high/low: $29.50/$23.30
> Industry: software
Microsoft was the No.1 company by market cap a decade ago. The stock has been frozen at 2001 levels for 10 years. The market’s trouble with Microsoft is that it has diversified into non-core business, including game console and search. Meanwhile, the company’s core software businesses are under assault by cloud computing businesses from companies like Google. The stock’s 52- week price range is $29.50 to $23.30. Shares trade at $24.55 now. If the last decade is any indication, Microsoft’s market cap is likely to stay where it is.
2. Exxon Mobil
> Market cap: $330 billion
> Current stock price: $68.03
> 52 week high/low: $88/$58
> Industry: oil
Exxon is the world largest oil company, and in a good quarter it can make over $10 billion in net income. The rise and fall of its market cap value is tied to some extent to the price of oil. The stock trades at $70, and its 52-week price range is $88 to $58. Its movement in the next few months is likely to be down as crude presses lower.
1. Apple
> Market cap: $337 billion
> Current stock price: $363.69
> 52 week high/low: $404/$235
> Industry: consumer electronics
As its stock has moved up 125% over two years, Apple has leapt over the other companies on the top 10 list. Apple’s strength, as far as the market is concerned, is that its sales nearly double in some quarters. Revenue is up to $100 billion and profits are over $11 billion a quarter, which matches Exxon. Apple’s product introduction cycle and the high regard analysts have for the company make it likely shares will rise sharply over the next year. The stock has traded in a 52-week price range of $404 and $235. It currently trades at $368.
Douglas A. McIntyre
