5 Most Valuable Australian Companies

In this article, we are going to list the 5 Most Valuable Australian Companies. To read our detailed analysis of the Australian economy, please go to the 15 Most Valuable Australian Companies.

5. CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)

Market cap: $86.8 billion

Melbourne-based biotech giant CSL Limited ranks 5th on our list of the 15 most valuable Australian companies. The company develops plasma therapies through its CSL Behring segment and produces influenza vaccines through its CSL Seqirus segment. In February 2021, CSL announced its partnership with AstraZeneca (LON: AZN) to produce 30 million doses of the Oxford University vaccine. CSL has also joined the COVIg-19 Plasma Alliance, which develops anti-coronavirus hyperimmune intravenous immunoglobulin (H-Ig) medicine to treat hospitalized adults at risk of severe complications of COVID-19. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) provides technical support in the COVIg-19 Plasma Alliance website and Plasma Bot for donor recruitment.

Based on the half-year results that ended in December 2020, CSL announced total revenue of $5.7 billion, an increase of 16.9% compared to the same period in the previous year. Shares of CSL fell by 16.88% over the past twelve months.

4. Commonwealth Bank of Australia ADR (OTC: CMWAY)

Market cap: $117.6 billion

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), or CommBank, ranks 4th on our list of the 15 most valuable Australian companies. Established in 1911, the multinational bank offers an array of financial services in retail, business, and institutional banking, fund management, pensions, insurance, investment, and brokerage. With its aim to contribute to the transition to net-zero emissions, Commbank announced in February 2020 its new “Commbank Green Loan” which allows homeowners to loan up to $20,000 to invest in renewable technology that can be repaid over ten years. 

Based on the company’s first-half of 2021 report, Commonwealth Bank of Australia posted a net profit of $4.7 billion, a decrease of 20.8% from the same period in 2020. Shares of CMWAY increased by 46.9% over the past twelve months. 

3. National Australia Bank (OTC: NABZY)

Market cap: $133.7 billion

Melbourne-based National Australia Bank (NAB) ranks 3rd on our list of the 15 most valuable Australian companies. NAB is engaged in providing financial and banking services such as wealth management, credit, and access card facilities, insurance, investment banking, and trustee and nominee services. The leading multinational bank conglomerate primarily operates in Australia and New Zealand and has established operations in the US, the UK, and Asia. In January 2021, NAB is currently in the process of acquiring 86400 Ltd. to strengthen NAB’s online banking segment, UBank. 

In the first quarter of 2021, NAB announced a total net profit of $1.7 billion. Shares of NABZY increased by 53.33% over the past twelve months.

2. Rio Tinto Plc (NYSE: RIO)

Market cap: $135.3 billion

Ranking second on our list of the 15 most valuable Australian companies is Rio Tinto Group. Rio Tinto is one of the biggest iron ore producers in the world. The Anglo-Australian mining and metal conglomerate is globally recognized in the extraction of iron ore, aluminum, uranium, copper, and diamonds. Rio Tinto’s production and shipments during the pandemic were directly impacted by the movement restriction globally. Rio Tinto’s revenue decreased by 7% to $19.4 billion, while its net earnings decreased by 20%, according to the company’s first-half of 2020 report.

Based on RIO’s 2020 annual report, the company announced total net cash generated from operating activities of $15.9 billion mainly driven by iron ore prices. Shares of RIO increased by 100% over the past twelve months. 

1. BHP Group Ltd ADR (NYSE: BHP)

Market cap: $194.3 billion

Topping our list of the 15 most valuable Australian companies is Melbourne-based BHP Group. BHP Group is a multinational mining conglomerate specializing in the exploration and production of minerals such as iron ore, copper, and metallurgical coal. BHP also operates in the oil, gas, and energy coal sector. BHP is one of the world’s largest iron ore companies. In 2020, BHP produced approximately 280 million tonnes of iron ore.

In February 2021, BHP launched a partnership with two of the largest steel companies in the world, China’s HBIS Group Ltd and Japan’s JFE Steel. BHP is to invest $15 million in each partnership to develop technologically integrated material-making solutions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

In the first half of the year ended on 31 December 2020, BHP announced total earnings of $14.7 billion, with $10.2 billion EBITDA from the iron ore segment. The copper segment added $3.7 billion EBITDA. Shares of BHP increased by 119% over the past twelve months.

You can also take a peek at the Top 10 Energy Dividend Stocks to Invest In and 15 Biggest Recycling Companies in the World.

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