Market capitalization represents the total value of a publicly traded company, calculated by multiplying the current share price by the total number of shares outstanding.

It is one of the metrics investors watch most closely, because it captures the size, financial strength and economic weight of a company on global markets. The firms with the highest market caps are the ones driving the world’s technological, industrial and energy transformations.

The August 2026 reading confirms the dominance of the US big-tech names and the centrality of artificial intelligence, but it also shows the leading technology companies strengthening compared with the July snapshot. In particular, Nvidia climbs back above the $5 trillion mark, while Microsoft quickly recovers ground to reach a capitalization of nearly $3.8 trillion. Another of the month’s most notable moves is Broadcom crossing the $2 trillion threshold for the first time.

Here is the updated ranking.

The 10 largest companies by market capitalization (August 2026)

Compared with the previous reading, there are several significant changes, even though the composition of the top 10 remains substantially unchanged.

Nvidia moves firmly back above $5 trillion and reinforces its position as the world’s most valuable company, with a capitalization of $5.269 trillion. Apple and Alphabet hold on to second and third place respectively, while Microsoft posts one of the month’s biggest recoveries, rising to $3.757 trillion and moving clearly back above the $3 trillion mark.

Amazon also accelerates, reaching almost $3 trillion and consolidating fifth place. TSMC stays sixth, while Broadcom tops $2 trillion for the first time and moves into seventh, ahead of SpaceX. Elon Musk’s aerospace company slips to eighth, though it keeps a valuation above $1.8 trillion. Saudi Aramco remains ninth, while Meta Platforms closes the top 10 at $1.515 trillion. Tesla, now at $1.306 trillion, falls further to eleventh and widens the gap with the top ten.

The US presence remains dominant, with eight companies out of ten. Taiwan and Saudi Arabia continue to represent strategic hubs in semiconductors and energy respectively.

The ranking, with ticker, market capitalization, share price (August 2026) and country:

  • 1. Nvidia (NVDA) — $5.269 trillion — $217.55 — USA
  • 2. Apple (AAPL) — $4.498 trillion — $308.26 — USA
  • 3. Alphabet (Google) (GOOG) — $4.351 trillion — $355.84 — USA
  • 4. Microsoft (MSFT) — $3.757 trillion — $506.06 — USA
  • 5. Amazon (AMZN) — $2.999 trillion — $278.09 — USA
  • 6. TSMC (TSM) — $2.170 trillion — $418.47 — Taiwan
  • 7. Broadcom (AVGO) — $2.009 trillion — $422.40 — USA
  • 8. SpaceX (SPCX) — $1.827 trillion — $138.74 — USA
  • 9. Saudi Aramco (2222.SR) — $1.713 trillion — $7.08 — Saudi Arabia
  • 10. Meta Platforms (META) — $1.515 trillion — $594.92 — USA

Table updated as of August 11, 2026.

Just outside the top 10 is Tesla which, as noted, drops to eleventh with a capitalization of about $1.306 trillion. It is followed by Berkshire Hathaway ($1.133 trillion), Samsung ($1.110 trillion) and Eli Lilly ($1.098 trillion). Micron Technology, which had topped $1 trillion in July, falls back below that threshold and settles at $972 billion. SK Hynix also posts a sharp decline versus the previous reading, though it keeps a capitalization above $700 billion. The semiconductor sector nonetheless continues to hold a central role in the positions immediately behind the top 10.

The largest European company by market cap remains ASML (Netherlands, $666 billion), followed by Switzerland’s Roche ($372 billion) and Britain’s HSBC ($355 billion).

1) Nvidia

Founded in 1993, Nvidia further strengthens its global leadership and moves back above $5 trillion in market capitalization. The group remains the main protagonist of the artificial-intelligence race, thanks to demand for GPUs and accelerators used in data centers, generative-AI systems and supercomputing infrastructure. The recovery in its valuation from July confirms the central role the market assigns to rising AI investment.

2) Apple

Apple holds second place with a capitalization of about $4.5 trillion. The company continues to bank on the strength of its ecosystem of devices, software and services, while the integration of artificial intelligence into the user experience is one of the elements investors watch most. The gap to Nvidia remains significant, even though Apple keeps a position of absolute prominence among the global big-tech names.

3) Alphabet (Google)

Alphabet Inc. keeps third place worldwide with a capitalization of $4.351 trillion and stays very close to Apple. The group continues to invest in artificial intelligence through Gemini, the cloud and its technology infrastructure, seeking to turn its leadership in online search into a competitive advantage in the new phase of AI development as well.

4) Microsoft

Microsoft Corporation is among the companies posting the biggest recovery versus the July reading. Its capitalization rises to $3.757 trillion, with the stock topping $500. The growth of the Azure cloud, the expansion of Copilot and continued AI investment remain the main pillars of the group’s strategy, which thereby narrows the gap with the top three giants considerably.

5) Amazon

Amazon consolidates fifth place and approaches the $3 trillion threshold. Its main growth engine remains AWS, increasingly integrated with services and infrastructure for artificial intelligence. In parallel, Amazon continues to use automation and AI in logistics, digital advertising and consumer-facing operations, reinforcing the weight of its technology businesses within the group.

6) TSMC

TSMC stays sixth with a capitalization of $2.170 trillion. The Taiwanese manufacturer continues to occupy a strategic position in the global semiconductor supply chain, thanks to its production of the most advanced chips used by technology companies and firms working on artificial intelligence. It loses some market value compared with July but keeps a wide lead over Broadcom behind it.

7) Broadcom

Broadcom Inc. is one of the main new developments in the August reading. The company crosses the $2 trillion threshold and rises to seventh worldwide, overtaking SpaceX. Its growth is driven by heavy exposure to semiconductors, networking infrastructure and the solutions used in data centers — segments that are increasingly strategic for AI development.

8) SpaceX

SpaceX drops to eighth after entering the top 10 in July. The company founded by Elon Musk nonetheless keeps a capitalization of $1.827 trillion, confirming its place among the world’s most valuable firms. The group combines its space-launch business with the Starlink satellite network and remains one of the leading players in satellite connectivity, space infrastructure and space-exploration technology.

9) Saudi Aramco

Saudi Aramco holds ninth place worldwide with a capitalization of $1.713 trillion. The Saudi energy giant remains the only major oil company in the upper part of the ranking, but its distance from the technology giants once again highlights the growing weight markets assign to artificial intelligence, semiconductors, cloud and digital infrastructure.

10) Meta Platforms

Meta closes the top 10 with a capitalization of $1.515 trillion. The group keeps the position it won in July ahead of Tesla and widens its lead further over the carmaker, now down to $1.306 trillion. Investment in artificial intelligence, together with the strength of its social platforms and advertising business, continues to support Meta’s valuation.

Editor’s note

This article was originally published in Italian on money.it by Redazione Imprese on August 11, 2026 as «Le 10 società con la più alta capitalizzazione del mondo (agosto 2026)». It has been translated and adapted for an international audience by the Money.it International desk.