In this article, we will discuss the top 15 most valuable Italian companies.
Officially known as the Italian Republic, Italy is a country located in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, within Southern Europe. One of the founding and leading members of the European Union and the OECD, Italy has a population of over 60 million inhabitants, making it the third most populous member nation of the European Union, just after France and Germany. Regarded widely as a global center for arts, literature, music, philosophy, technology, and fashion, it is one of the world’s most industrialized nations and a leader in world trade and exports. After the period of Unification in 1846, Italy went through rapid industrialization during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the northern regions coming into economic growth and power while the south stagnated, creating a political diaspora in the country. Following the liberation of Italy, the country enjoyed a period of economic boom, known as the Italian economic miracle by many economists and historians, and grew to become a particularly developed nation.
Italy’s Economic Situation
Although the country is recovering from the socio-economic weaknesses caused by the financial crisis in 2007-8, exacerbated by the economic divide in the North and South regions, Italy is on the move to stability. Italy entered 2021 with a rebounding economy, with the GDP experiencing a growth of 4.7% the first six months of the year, and expected growth of 5.1% for the remaining months, according to the Bank of Italy. Owing to a diversified industrial manufacturing, agricultural, machinery, and fashion design industry base, alongside an estimated nominal GDP of $2.106 trillion, Italy’s economy ranks as the third-largest in the Euro Zone and ninth-largest in the world.
Italy’s Manufacturing Industry
Ranked as the 6th largest manufacturing country in the world, Italy’s manufacturing sector is defined by a small number of multinational corporations, including Ferrari N.V (NYSE: RACE), alongside many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which has produced a sector that is oftentimes more committed on the export of luxury products in a bid to compete with its global contender, China. A key factor for the recent growth of the manufacturing market in Italy has been the government’s incentives plan, known as ‘Piano Transizione 4.0’ (National Transition Plan 4.0), which consists of 7 billion Euros ($8.32 billion) in tax credits for investment goods, R&D and worker training. The automotive industry, in particular, plays a significant role in the Italian manufacturing sector, as the Italian automotive supply chain, formed by over 5,500 companies in 2019, employing over 274,000 people, and with a turnover of $118.5 billion, contributed over 6.2% of the Italian GDP.
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Alongside the manufacturing, business, finance, agriculture, and infrastructure industries, the energy sector is a major contributor to the country’s overall economy. Despite profits obtained by hydrocarbon extraction and oil companies, including Eni S.p.A (NYSE: E), Italy has gone on to become one of the world’s leading producers of renewable energy in the last decade, ranking as the second-largest in the European Union after Germany, and the ninth-largest producer in the world, with renewable energy sources accounting for about 33.9% of Italy’s electricity generation in 2018.
Let us now look towards the most valuable Italian companies.
Top 15 Most Valuable Italian Companies
15. Recordati Industria Chimica e Farmaceutica S.p.A. (MIL:REC.MI)
Recordati (BIT: REC) is an Italian multinational pharmaceutical company, listed on the Italian Stock Exchange (BIT). Headquartered in Milan, the company manufactures and markets prescription and non-prescription pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical grade chemicals, intermediates, therapeutic products, and treatments, with operational activities in countries across the globe, including Russia, Turkey, North Africa, Canada, United States, and multiple countries within Europe.
14. Prada S.p.A. (HKSE:1913.HK)
Founded by Mario Prada in 1913, Prada S.p.A (HKG: 1913) is an Italian company involved in the fashion industry. The company, along with its subsidiaries, specializes and engages in the design, production, marketing, and distribution of leather goods, clothing, eyewear, handbags, fragrances, and accessories, operating in approximately seventy countries through directly operated stores, franchise-operated stores, a web of multi-brand stores and departmental stores. In addition, the company engages in real estate, as well as operating duty-free stores. The company reported a revenue of $2.88 billion for the year 2020.
13. Terna – Rete Elettrica Nazionale Società per Azioni (MIL:TRN.MI)
Based in Rome, Italy, Terna Group (BIT: TRN) is a transmission system operator (TSO) founded in 1999, and together along with its subsidiaries, engages in the electricity transmission and dispatching ventures in Italy, the European interconnected grid, and internationally. Based on the size of its electrical grid, Terna Group (BIT: TRN) is the sixth-largest electricity transmission grid operator in the world. Operating through the regulated, non-regulated and international segments, the company is involved in the planning, development, operation, and maintenance of the Italian national transmission grid and high voltage infrastructures. In addition, Terna Group (BIT: TRN) produces and commercializes transformers, progresses renewable energy projects, and offers telecommunications services. The company reported a revenue of $2.98 billion for the year 2020.
12. Atlantia SpA (MIL:ATL.MI)
Formerly known as Autostrade, Atlantia S.p.A (BIT: ATL) is an Italian holding company headquartered in Rome, Italy. The group engages in the construction and operation of motorways, airports and transport structures. Operating and managing over 8,700 miles (14,000 km) of toll motorways, while managing and maintaining these motorways under concession, while providing support for the Italian motorway operators. The group also operates and maintains the Fiumicino and Ciampino, two of Italy’s most prominent airports, along with three airstrips in France, serving over sixty million passengers a year.
11. Davide Campari-Milano N.V. (MIL:CPR.MI)
Founded in Milan by Gaspare Campari and headquartered in Sesto San Giovanni, the Campari Group (BIT: CPR) is a major player in the global spirits industry, with a portfolio of over 50 premium and super-premium brands, spread across the globe. With a global distribution reach in over 190 nations with leading positions in both Europe and the United States, the group is the sixth-largest player in the global spirits industry. The group’s home territory accounts for a fifth of the annual revenue due to the core brands Aperol, Campari, and Cinzano, with the group distributing imported spirits under contract, while the United States accounted for over 27% of the total sales, establishing itself as the groups largest market..
10. Moncler S.p.A. (MIL:MONC.MI)
Headquartered in Milan, Italy, Moncler S.p.A was founded in 1952 in France and bought by the Italian entrepreneur, Remo Ruffini in 2003. Engaged in the fashion industry, the company designs produces, and distributes clothing apparel and accessories through the brand name Moncler, with specialty products including sportswear, knitwear, skiwear, and outerwear. In December 2020, Moncler S.p.A owned a 100% stake in the Italian luxury sportswear brand Stone Island in a reported deal amounting to $1.36 billion. In addition to this, the company reported global revenue of $1.71 billion, making it one of the world’s leading luxury clothing brands. Operating in over 66 countries, including Austria, France, Germany, Turkey, and the United States, among others, through approximately 129 stores, as well as the wholesale distribution channels, Moncler S.p.A (BIT: MONC) is a notable Italian company.
9. Poste Italiane SpA (MIL:PST.MI)
Poste Italiane S.p.A (BIT: PST) is the Italian postal service headquartered in Rome, awarded exclusively with the task of providing Universal Postal Service throughout the country. The company operates in four segments: Mail, parcel, and distribution; payments and mobile; financial services and insurance services. The Mail, parcel, and distribution segment offers letter posts, parcel delivery, and logistics services. As of 31st December 2020, the company operated over 12,765 postal offices throughout Italy. The payments and mobile segment offers payment services, including card payments, as well as mobile telecommunications services, along with digital services for the public. The Financial Services segment is involved with the collection of savings, provision of payments, and foreign currency exchange services, while the Insurance segment offers life, vehicle, and casualty insurance products and prospects. As of 31st December 2020, Poste Italiane S.p.A (BIT: PST) is the largest logistics operator in Italy, and a leading player in the financial and insurance sectors, with total revenue of approximately $12.46 billion in 2020.
8. Snam S.p.A. (MIL:SRG.MI)
Originally a subsidiary of the Italian energy company Eni S.p.A (BIT: ENI), Snam S.p.A (BIT: SRG) is an Italian energy infrastructure company, with company headquarters in San Donato Milanese, Italy. The company operates mostly in Italy, and through its international footprint, in other countries through associated companies, including Albania (AGSCo), Austria (TAG, GCA), France (Terega), Greece (DESFA), and the United Kingdom (InterConnector UK).
7. Nexi S.p.A. (MIL:NEXI.MI)
Formerly known as the Istituto Centrale delle Banche Populari Italiane S.p.A (ICBPI), Nexi S.p.A (BIT: NEXI) is a leading PayTech company. Listed on the Italian Stock Exchange (BIT) it provides electric money and payment services to banks, financial institutions, insurance firms, businesses, and the public administration in Italy. The company also offers services related to the configuration and maintenance of POS terminals, fraud prevention, dispute management, and customer support. The company manages over 12,800 ATMs and 480,000 e-banking workstations throughout Italy, earning total revenue of $1.23 billion in the year 2020.
6. UniCredit S.p.A. (MIL:UCG.MI)
Formed through the merger of Credito Italiano and Unicredito Holding Company, UniCredit S.p.A (BIT: UCG) is an international banking group headquartered in Milan, Italy. Ranked 34th largest in the world based on assets, it is Italy’s leading systematically important bank. As a Pan-European commercial bank, UniCredit S.p.A (BIT: UCG) commands a strong presence in Western, Central, and Eastern Europe, with operations regarding corporate and investment banking, commercial banking, wealth management, real estate, and acquisitions, the group provides essential market products and services to over 13 core markets through its European banking network.
5. Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. (MIL:G.MI)
Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A (BIT: G), also known as the Generali Group, is an insurance company based in Trieste, Italy. Operating primarily in Europe, the Middle East, and Eastern Asia, with large market shares in countries including Italy, France, Germany, Austria, India, the Netherlands, and China, among others, the group provides services concentrated on financial products management, as well as insurance management. Grown to be one of the global leaders in the insurance industry and ranked in the Fortune 500 List, alongside its major international competitors, the AXA Company (EPA: CS) and Allianz SE (ETR: ALV), the Generali Group is the market leader in Italy, with a solid base in Europe. Employing over 72,000 providing services to 65.9 million customers worldwide, Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A (BIT: G) ranks 5th on our list of the most valuable Italian companies.
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4. Ferrari N.V. (NYSE:RACE)
Founded by, and named after, Enzo Ferrari in 1939, Ferrari N.V (NYSE: RACE) is a luxury sports car manufacturing company based in Maranello, Italy. The luxury sports car maker manufactures and distributes limited edition hypercars, track cars, and race cars. Throughout its history, the company has been noted for its continued participation in auto racing, especially within Formula One, where it is the oldest and among the most successful racing teams. As of 2020, the company sells manufactured cars across 60 markets worldwide, through a network of around 170 authorized dealerships.
3. Eni S.p.A. (MIL:ENI.MI)
Eni S.p.A (NYSE: E) is an Italian energy conglomerate based in Rome. Considered to be one of the seven supermajor oil companies in the world with operations in 66 countries across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Although focusing primarily on oil and hydrocarbon extraction, Eni S.p.A (NYSE: E) has been delving into fields involving contracting, nuclear power, energy resources, and machinery distribution. As of 2021, the company ranks 216th on the Fortune Global 500 list.
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2. Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. (MIL:ISP.MI)
Formed through the merger of Banca Intesa and Sanpaolo IMI in 2007, Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A (BIT: ISP) is an Italian international banking company headquartered in Turin, Italy. A leader in Italy regarding business areas including retail, corporate, and wealth management, the Group offers its services to over 13.5 million clients through a network of approximately 4300 branches spread out across the country, alongside an international network, with roughly 1000 branches serving 7.2 million customers in countries including the Middle East, North Africa, and the United States, among others.
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1. Enel SpA (MIL:ENEL.MI)
Based in Rome, Enel S.p.A is a multinational manufacturer and distributor of electricity and gas. A leading player in the power and gas markets, the company has a strong presence in over 32 countries, with a focus on Europe and Latin America. Most of the company’s electricity production is based on thermoelectric, nuclear, solar, wind, and other renewable sources of energy, with a total energy production amounting to 207 TWh in 2020. With 66,717 employees and a revenue of $74.43 billion as of 2020, Enel S.p.A was the largest power company in the world based on revenue.
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You can also take a peek at 15 Most Valuable Travel Companies in the World and 25 Largest Countries in the World.
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Disclosure: None. Top 15 Most Valuable Italian Companies is originally published on Insider Monkey.
