The world stock exchanges are dominated by US technology groups more than ever. Eight of the ten most valuable companies in the world will be from the end of 2021 USA. The smartphone and software giant Apple scratches with a market value of 2.96 trillion dollars (as of December 27th) as the first group ever to the three trillion mark. the Apple stock has increased by 31 percent this year, according to calculations by the management consultancy EY. Microsoft With a plus of 52 percent and a valuation of 2.57 trillion dollars, Google owner Alphabet moved up from fifth to third place with a price increase of almost two thirds and a market capitalization of 1.96 trillion dollars.
Most valuable DAX value is not based in Germany
alphabet That alone is worth more than the 40 companies in the German leading index Dax combined, which come to just under 1.9 trillion dollars. The most valuable Dax value is not based in Germany: The gases company Linden tree plc ranks 77th worldwide with 175 billion dollars, having doubled its market value since the merger of the American Praxair with the Munich-based Linde AG. The software company SAP remains the most expensive German company with $ 166 billion in 2021, but falls back to 80th place (2020: 72). Siemens (137 billion) made it back to just under the “Top 100” after a year break.
At the end of 2007, shortly before the financial crisis, seven German companies were among the 100 most valuable companies in the world; at the end of 2021, only eight are among the “Top 200”. “The importance of Europe on the world stock exchanges is shrinking, the weights are shifting more and more towards the USA”, says Henrik Ahlers, CEO of EY. Of the top 100 in 2007, 46 came from Europe; today there are 16 – compared to 61 from the USA. The surge in digitization triggered by the corona pandemic will primarily benefit technology companies where the US is ahead, explains the EY boss.
High-flyer Biontech remains the exception
In Europe, on the other hand, established automotive, pharmaceutical and raw materials companies still played a major role, explains Ahlers. The most valuable European company is now the French luxury group LVMH (414 billion dollars) in 19th place, followed by Nestlé (382 billion) in number 22. “And despite the financing boom in the start-up sector, we have too few young companies that make it to the top of the world in terms of sales and market value, “complains Ahlers. The Mainz vaccine developer Biontech but is one of the high-flyers of the year: With a market value of more than 61 billion dollars, it is number twelve among German companies and among the top 300 worldwide. Its rating on the US technology exchange Nasdaq has more than tripled within a year.
Chip companies are among the winners of the crisis
The winners of the crisis on the stock exchanges are the chip companies that are profiting from the bottlenecks and high prices: With the graphics chip developer Nvidia (774 billion dollars) and the contract manufacturer TSMC (567 billion), two of them are among the ten most valuable in 2021 Companies in the world moved up. The losers are the Chinese Internet companies Tencent and Alibaba, which fell out of the “Top Ten”. At Alibaba, the market value has halved. For the oil giant Saudi Aramco, number one in the rankings two years ago, it went from second to fourth. Its value has stagnated at $ 1.9 trillion since going public.
For the changing of the guard in the automotive industry Tesla. The stock market value of the newcomer has increased almost twentyfold to 1.1 trillion dollars within three years – that makes sixth place in the ranking. Volkswagen As the most valuable of the German carmakers, despite a price increase of 30 percent with 130 billion dollars, it only ranks 112th. The most expensive newcomer to the stock market this year is the electric car maker Rivian, which is up at 96 billion dollars Daimler (85 billion) and BMW (66 billion) has passed.