Headquarters: Fairfield, Conn.
Revenue: $146.9 billion
Profit: $13.6 billion
2012 rank: 6
GE’s appliance manufacturing business saw a slowdown in Europe and the US last year, but the conglomerate increased its investments in other areas, including oil and gas. In addition to appliances and energy, the company has divisions in aviation, transportation, health, and financial services. GE was founded by Thomas Edison and was one of the original 12 companies first listed on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and it’s the only one of the 12 that remains.
