15 Most Valuable German Companies

In this article, we will discuss the 15 most valuable German companies.  You can skip our detailed analysis of these companies, and go directly to 5 Most Valuable German Companies.

Officially known as the Federal Republic of Germany, Germany is a country located in Central Europe, with Berlin as the capital city, and Frankfurt as the financial center. With a population of over 83 million, Germany is the third most populous country in Europe after France and Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. With an economic market based on social capitalism, a large labor force amounting to over 44.58 million skilled employees, and a global leadership in several industrial, scientific and technological sectors, Germany is a global economic powerhouse.

A founding member of the European Union and the Eurozone, Germany boasts the largest economy in Europe, the fourth largest in the world by nominal GDP at over 4.32 trillion and fifth largest by GDP (PPP). Of the world’s largest stock market listed companies, the Fortune Global 500, 29 have headquarters within Germany, including Volkswagen AG (ETR: VOW3), Allianz SE (ETR: ALV), Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (ETR: BMW), and Uniper SE (ETR: UN01). Growing to become one of the largest global exporters, Germany’s exports amounted to $1.37 trillion in the year 2020, with main export goods and items including vehicles, machinery, electrical and chemical equipment, food products, rubbers, and plastics, boosting the exports of goods and services up to 43.82% of the GDP.

Recognized the world over for its outstanding manufacturing and engineering, Germany excels in the production of automobiles and machinery, with the automotive industry raking in a turnover of $448.43 billion in the year 2020, accounting for 20% of total German industry revenue, Germany grew to become Europe’s largest automotive market. According to Germany Trade & Invest, Germany accounted for over 25% of all passenger cars manufactured and roughly 20% of the all-new car registrations.

Known as a hub for startup companies, with Berlin as the central location for many, Germany has become a leading location for venture capital firms funded by the European Union, recognized for its abundance of specialized small and medium enterprises (SMEs). These companies represent 48% of the global market leaders in their respective segments.

Alongside the industrial sector, the services sector is a major backer of the country’s economy, supplying goods and operations including, consulting including and advice, transport and tourism, finances and telecommunications. As of 2020, the services sector’s share in Germany amounted to 70.4% of the GDP, while workforce employment rose to over 71.6%.

We selected these companies based on market cap.

15. Beiersdorf Aktiengesellschaft (XETR: BEI.DE)

Beiersdorf AG is a German multinational company located in Hamburg, Germany. Specializing in skincare, the company manufactures and retails personal care products, under brand names including Labello and Euceric, as well as its most famous and successful skincare brand, Nivea. The company has over 160 worldwide affiliates, employing around 20,300 people, generating an annual revenue of  $8.30 billion in the year 2020. These, combined with a market cap of $30.75 billion, rnk Beiersdorf AG (ETR: BEI) 15th on our list of the topmost valuable German companies.

14. Deutsche Börse AG (XETR:DB1.DE)

Headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, Deutsche Boerse AG (ETR: DB1) is a financial market organizer involved in the trading of shares and securities, as well as the provision of information technology services and market data distribution. The company’s business areas include the provision of index and ESG data, analytics and research solutions, services for investments, collateral and liquidity management, and investment fund services. The company has over 9,000 employees and a strong international presence in countries including Luxemburg, Singapore and the United States, among others. The company reported $1.84 billion in net revenue for the year 2020, an estimated 9.8% increase from the previous year. Coupled with a market cap of $32.47 billion, Deutsche Boerse AG (ETR: DB1) ranks 14th on our list of the most valuable German companies.

13. Vonovia SE (XETR:VNA.DE)

Vonovia SE (ETR: VNA) is a Germany-based residential real estate company based in Bochum.  A member of the DAX 30 and STOXX Europe 600, the company is one of Germany’s largest listed company. Operating through its three segments: Rental, Value-add business, and Sales, the company owns over 400,000 apartments in Germany, Sweden, and Austria. The Rental segment combines business activities aimed at improving property management. The Value-add segment involved customer services focusing on the rental business, while the Sales segment bundles real estate sales from the company’s portfolio, of which 84% is located within Germany, and the remainder in Sweden and Austria, at 11% and 5% respectively.

12. Münchener Rückversicherungs-Gesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft in München (XETR:MUV2.DE)

Munich RE (ETR: MUV2) is a German multinational insurance company based in Munich. As one of the world’s leading insurance and reinsurance companies, Munich RE (ETR: MUV2), alongside its subsidiary, ERGO, is listed on DAX at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, The Euro Stoxx 50, as well as other indices. With over 50 business units providing insurance services in areas including healthcare, casualty and transport, among others,  Munich RE’s primary insurance operations are concentrated in the ERGO Insurance Group, present in more than 30 countries, servicing over 35 million clients worldwide.

Recently the multinational group Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL) has partnered with Munich RE (ETR: MUV2) to ensure its cloud users, enabling data access to the insurers to check control compliance at client firms. The company reported an annual profit of $1.43 billion, alongside a market cap of $39.97 billion, placing it at 12th place on our list.

11. Bayer Aktiengesellschaft (XETR:BAYN.DE)

Bayer AG (ETR: BAYN) is a German multinational pharmaceutical and health sciences company. One of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, Bayer AG (ETR: BAYN) is based in Leverkusen, with operations ranging from human and veterinary pharmaceuticals, consumer healthcare products, biotechnology, and agricultural products. Pharmaceutical products accounted for much of the company’s revenue, with Xarelto, a blood clot-reducing medication, generating an estimated $4.5 billion in 2020 alongside Eylea, another top-selling pharmaceutical drug, which generated an estimated $2.5 billion.

10. Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft (XETR:BMW.DE)

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (ETR: BMW), more commonly known as BMW, is a German multinational manufacturing conglomerate specializing in luxury vehicles and motorcycles. Headquartered in Munich, the company is a leading premium manufacturer with four brands: BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, and BMW Motorrad, with a production network that comprises 31 production and assembly line facilities in 15 countries, and a global sales network that extends to over 140 countries.

9. Adidas AG (XETR:ADS.DE)

Founded and headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany, Adidas AG (ETR: ADS) is a multinational corporation that designs and manufactures sports footwear, clothing, and accessories. Grown to be the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe, Adidas AG (ETR: ADS) is also the second-largest manufacturer in the world after global competitor Nike (NYSE: NKE). The company’s sales can be divided into three categories: footwear, apparel, and hardware, with Asia-Pacific accounting for over 33% of the net sales in 2019, compared to 27% in Europe and 24% in North America.

8. BASF SE (XETR:BAS.DE)

Basf SE (ETR: BAS) is a German multinational chemical company with headquarters located in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Growing as the largest chemical producer in the world, and retaining its position for seven years in a row, the Basf Group comprises subsidiaries and joint operations in more than 80 companies alongside six integrated production sites, as well as 390 other production sites in Europe, Asia, and Australia, among others. Well known within the chemical industry for its corporate climate action and water cleanliness efforts, Basf SE (ETR: BAS) moves towards its goal to become carbon dioxide neutral by 2030.

7. Deutsche Post AG (XETR:DPW.DE)

Operating under the trade name Deutsche Post DHL Group and located in Bonn, Germany, Deutsche Post AG (ETS: DPW) is a German multinational package delivery and supply chain management. One of the world’s leading courier companies, Deutsche Post AG (ETS: DPW) delivers over 61 million letters each day in Germany on average, making it Europe’s largest courier and package company, with a strong presence in over 220 countries, providing dialogue marketing, press distribution services, and corporate solutions. The company established an eCommerce division at the beginning of 2019 in order to increase company attractiveness to online retailers.

6. Daimler AG (XETR:DAI.DE)

Previously named Daimler-Benz, and more commonly known as Mercedes-Benz, Daimler AG (ET: DAI) is a German multinational automotive company based in Stuttgart, Germany. One of the world’s leading luxury car and truck manufacturers, Daimler AG (ETR: DAI) owns or has shares in a number of brands including Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, Detroit Diesel, Western Star, and Maybach, among others. The company pledged $570 million in 2019 for the development and commercialization of autonomous trucks over the next decade. As of 2021, Daimler AG (ETR: DAI) is the second-largest German automobile manufacturer and the sixth-largest in the world based on production.

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Disclosure: None. 15 Most Valuable German Companies is originally published on Insider Monkey.