The 5 Most Important Nasdaq Companies

Apple’s market cap as of Friday’s close was $668.53 billion, far ahead of second-place Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM), which had a market cap of $394.70 billion on Friday. Apple’s market cap rose by nearly $200 billion in 2014, and virtually all of that rise has come since late April. In the chart at the end of this post, we trace both Apple and the Nasdaq Composite since April 24.

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) barely trails Exxon at $394.67 billion, and it is very likely to become the second largest company in the world before we ring out 2014. Microsoft’s share price has climbed to within about $10 of its all-time high of around $60 set in December 1999.

Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) is the Nasdaq’s third largest firm, with a market cap of $362.30 billion, just behind Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK-A) at $362.40 billion. Google posted its all-time high in February of this year at around $615 a share.

Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ: FB) is the youngest company among the top five and claims a market cap of $225.20 billion. Since coming public in May of 2012, the social media company’s shares have more than doubled, after losing more than 50% in the first few months after the IPO. Since May of this year, the stock has gained 32%, about double the Nasdaq gain over the same time period.

Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) is the fifth largest Nasdaq-listed company, with a market cap of $181.55 billion. Intel’s shares are up nearly 45% year-to-date, and since coming public in 1980 the shares have gained more than 11,000%. In mid-2000 the stock was up 23,000% before the tech bubble popped.

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