BHP still number one: Australia’s top 1000 companies revealed

Mining giant BHP Billiton has again been named Australia’s top company, holding on to the mantle despite falling commodity prices and a downturn in the mining industry.

IBISWorld’s 2014 Top 1000 Companies list, released this morning, shows little movement in the top 10 Australian companies compared to last year.

The list, which is based on company revenue, profitability and assets and also includes any international revenue made by an Australian company, shows Australia’s top 10 companies still include usual suspects Woolworths, Wesfarmers and the Big Four banks.

BHP’s assets contributed to its ranking as number one, allowing it to shrug off a downturn in profitability.

Stephen Gargano, IBISWorld senior industry analyst, told SmartCompany BHP was able to make money on its assets and major projects despite falling commodity prices.

Gargano says there had been only a few new additions to the list this year.

“While we have had a small number of new entrants, those new entrants have very much been dominated by companies that have potentially been purchased or consolidated, rather than deriving a large new amount of revenue,” says Gargano.

“Being in the top 1000 companies, it’s very often the case a company has solidified that position over a number of years.”

But Gargano highlights insurance company Youi, which came in at 842nd place on this year’s list, as an example of a smaller company that has pushed its way onto the list against its larger rivals. The company has revenue of $393 million.

“While insurance is typically dominated by major larger players, Youi has sort of bucked that trend in an industry where new entrants are not commonplace,” he says.

Gargano says Youi has gained market share through its strong advertising and pricing, the latter of which has been traditionally ignored by major insurance players.

“This does provide a bit of insight into ways smaller companies might be able to grow – focus on where you can differentiate and have power compared to your competitors, rather than trying to beat them at their own game,” he says.

Gargano also points out Domino’s pizza, which jumped around 300 places this year with revenue of $592 million, as a company that has bucked the trend it its industry.

“Due to the company’s pursuit of finding new ways to reach its clients, it has the highest reliance on online selling compared to other fast food operators,” he says.

Law firm Slater and Gordon was another example Gargano says is worth noting. The company, which has revenue of $418 million, jumped from 998th to 801st this year because it expanded its overseas operations.

Here are the top 100 companies.

Rank	Prev.	Company	Revenue ($m)	% change
1	1	BHP Billiton (6/14)	72,968.32	-2.1
2	4	Woolworths (6/14)	61,212.60	3.8
3	2	Wesfarmers (6/14)	60,523.00	4.4
4	3	Rio Tinto (12/14)	59,139.52	-8.7
5	5	NAB (9/14)	45,340.00	-7.8
6	6	Commonwealth Bank of Australia (6/14)	44,312.00	-1.1
7	7	Westpac Banking Corporation (9/14)	38,643.00	-0.4
8	8	ANZ Banking Group (9/14)	35,251.00	4
9	9	Telstra (6/14)	26,452.00	5.8
10	11	Caltex Australia (12/13)	24,730.15	4.9
11	12	QBE Insurance Group (12/14)	23,378.21	-5.9
12	14	BP Australia (12/13)	22,579.00	-2.1
13	16	Glencore Xstrata (12/13)	22,083.50	23
14	15	Viva Energy Australia (12/13)	21,925.70	-1.2
15	10	AustralianSuper (6/14)	21,156.34	-15.1
16	19	Fonterra Co-op Group (7/14)*	20,541.34	19.7
17	17	AMP (12/13)	20,099.00	15.4
18	18	Queensland Health (6/14)	19,396.85	4.3
19	20	NSW Health (6/14)	18,519.27	6.7
20	13	Leighton Holdings (12/14)	16,923.10	4.1
21	21	Suncorp Group (6/14)	16,370.00	1.1
22	22	Qantas (6/14)	15,496.00	-3.4
23	23	Origin Energy (6/14)	14,973.00	-1.5
24	26	Lend Lease Group (6/14)	14,163.00	5.5
25	24	Metcash (4/14)	13,533.40	3.3
26	29	Insurance Australia Group (6/14)	12,687.00	17.6
27	34	Fortescue Metals Group (6/14)	12,616.02	40.9
28	48	Queensland Treasury Corporation (6/14)	12,433.40	77
29	28	QSuper (6/14)	12,157.00	3.4
30	27	Transport for NSW (6/14)	11,467.61	-7.6
31	25	Amcor (6/14)	11,011.10	14.5
32	65	Reserve Bank Australia (6/14)	10,991.00	99.4
33	31	Macquarie Group (3/14)	10,889.00	10.6
34	33	First State Super (6/14)	10,397.86	6.9
35	30	ExxonMobil Australia (12/13)	10,241.00	17
36	38	WorleyParsons (6/14)	9,582.50	8.5
37	32	AGL Energy (6/14)	9,567.00	-1.9
38	50	Woodside (12/14)	9,167.69	24.2
39	39	Toll Holdings (6/14)	8,899.10	1.1
40	40	UniSuper (6/14)	8,885.31	7.8
41	37	EnergyAustralia (12/13)	8,843.05	6
42	44	WA Health (6/14)^^	8,738.78E	11
43	36	SingTel Optus (3/14)	8,572.00	-4.6
44	35	Toyota Motor Corporation Australia (3/14)	8,517.76	-5.5
45	43	Retail Employees Superannuation Fund (6/14)	8,424.66	4.8
46	45	BlueScope Steel (6/14)	8,171.80	9.1
47	51	Sunsuper (6/14)	7,929.27	20.5
48	47	Fletcher Building (6/14)	7,805.46	-1.4
49	41	Downer EDI (6/14)	7,378.19	-16
50	46	Sims Metal Management (6/14)	7,165.40	-1.2
51	49	Orica (9/14)	6,887.00	-1.1
52	57	Health Employees Superannuation Trust Australia (6/14)	6,807.54	12.6
53	42	SAS Trustee – Pooled Fund (6/14)	6,745.30	-17.4
54	56	Construction & Building Unions Superannuation Fund (6/14)	6,669.79	9.6
55	55	Arrium Mining and Materials (6/14)	6,667.80	8.2
56	58	Medibank Private (6/14)	6,500.22	7.8
57	59	Australia Post (6/14)	6,383.30	8.3
58	54	Apple Australia (9/14)	6,256.09	1.5
59	53	Bupa Australia (12/13)^^	6,216.87E	12.8
60	61	Accident Compensation Corporation (6/14)*	5,898.34	-6.7
61	52	Brambles (6/14)	5,886.70	5.8
62	63	CSL (6/14)	5,856.70	7.7
63	68	Emergency Services & State Super (6/14)	5,825.76	11.7
64	62	CITIC Resources Australia (12/13)	5,691.57	-8
65	64	NSW Dpt. of Attorney General and Justice (6/14)	5,673.86	-1.1
66	243	Ebos Group (6/14)*	5,350.46	215.9
67	78	Victorian Department of Justice (6/14)	5,328.44	21
68	69	ALDI Australia (12/13)^	5,300.00E	12.8
69	71	TCorp (6/14)	5,230.65	4.7
70	60	Perth Mint (6/14)	5,179.76	-11.7
71	70	Coca-Cola Amatil (12/13)	5,119.90	-1.1
72	67	Lion Nathan National Foods (9/14)	5,070.30	-3
73	72	Bechtel Australia (12/13)	4,977.23	16.4
74	85	Ramsay Health Care (6/14)	4,932.27	17.9
75	87	Mitsubishi Development (3/14)	4,878.59	17.6
76	80	GESB (6/14)	4,853.14	12.2
77	74	Allianz Australia (12/13)	4,825.88	0.3
78	81	Automotive Holdings Group (6/14)	4,734.76	9.7
79	75	Shell Energy Holdings Australia (12/13)	4,636.09	-4.6
80	79	SA Health (6/14)	4,631.66	5.3
81		Glencore Coal Investments Australia (12/13)	4,557.36	-6.3
82	66	Boral (6/14)	4,496.80	6.6
83	77	IBM A/NZ Holdings (12/13)	4,468.62	-8.8
84	92	Air New Zealand (6/14)*	4,414.09	2
85	88	Visy Industries (6/14)	4,400.00	7.3
86	91	Virgin Australia (6/14)	4,319.90	6.9
87	83	ConocoPhillips Australasia (12/13)	4,270.25	1.8
88	84	DOHS (6/14)	4,231.05	0.9
89	86	GM Holden (12/13)	4,153.71	0.9
90		Public Transport Victoria (6/14)	4,134.89	-2.5
91	76	GrainCorp (9/14)	4,133.50	-8.1
92	99	Santos (12/14)	4,130.00	10.3
93	133	CBH Group (9/14)	4,122.12	42.5
94	96	Brookfield Multiplex (12/13)	4,095.40	0
95	89	Commonwealth Super Scheme (6/14)	4,075.60	-0.3
96	95	Newcrest Mining (6/14)	4,041.00	6.8
97	98	HOSTPLUS Superannuation Fund (6/14)	4,019.28	8.3
98	100	Asciano (6/14)	3,997.00	6.7
99	108	Sonic Healthcare (6/14)	3,913.48	12.3
100	116	7-Eleven Australia (6/14)	3,865.32	11.3