DaimlerChrysler Corp. (NYSE: DCX)
After a buyout, Chrysler is a bit different from how it was in Lee Iacocca's days. Now, if it moves, DaimlerChrysler Corp. can make it. Planes? Yep, they are a part of Airbus. Cars? Oh yeah! Try Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler. It even makes satellites and helicopters at some of its subsidiaries. The two-headed German-U.S. company -- if it has headquarter in two countries, it must have two heads -- is the second largest automaker in the world by sales. While the company is no longer a Dow component, it remains one of the biggest, most important manufacturers in the world. Daimler Chrysler
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Dell Computer (Nasdaq: DELL)
Dell Computer is the world's number one direct sales computer company and one of the most efficiently run operations on the planet. Founded by Michael Dell in a college dormitory in 1984, the company manufactures PCs, servers, and storage systems all to order. It also sells a wide range of software and computer peripherals. Dell's direct sales model, which skips the sales channel and targets end users directly, changed the way computers are bought and sold by allowing Dell to customize products, maintain low inventory, and utilize the Internet for supply management and customer services.
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DuPont (NYSE: DD)
Founded to make gun powder in 1802, DuPont is one of the largest
producers of specialty chemicals today. After a strong start in the science
of blowing things up, the company moved on to more useful products. DuPont
scientists invented such famous products as Teflon (the stuff that keeps your
eggs from sticking to the pan), Lycra (the stuff that helps your clothes
stick to you), and Kevlar (the stuff that keeps cops from getting stuck by
bad guys). DuPont continues to lead in the development of new products,
especially in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, which should
help the company continue its dominance of the world's chemical industry.
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EMC Corporation (NYSE: EMC)
Founded in 1979 as a supplier of add-on memory boards, EMC Corporation has evolved into the world's largest supplier of enterprise storage systems. The company designs and manufactures a variety of hardware, software, and service products for the enterprise storage market. EMC's storage systems retrieve, protect, and store large amounts of data from all major computing platforms. EMC's RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology is considered the standard in the storage system industry. In addition to storage systems, EMC is the one of the worlds fastest-growing software companies. As the Internet grows, and demand for storage strengthens, EMC will continue to be a leader in meeting the demands of businesses operating in the Net economy.
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Enron Corp. (NYSE: ENE)
Enron Corp. has transitioned from a regulated natural gas pipeline company to become a dynamic energy services marketing company. Enron's transformation came when the company decided to focus on the marketing and brokering of energy commodities rather than dealing in the commodities themselves. Enron also has built its own fiber-optic communications networks in the United States and abroad, and is opening a bandwidth trading exchange to facilitate the buying and selling of capacity on high-speed networks.
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ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM)
If only one word was all that was allowed to describe ExxonMobil, that word would certainly be BIG. Formed in 1999 by the largest business combination of all time, this titan of the oil and gas business is a world leader in terms of annual revenues and earnings. Every day, ExxonMobil removes 2.5 million barrels of oil and natural gas liquids from the ground and sells 8.8 million barrels of petroleum products around the world, providing the energy that not only keeps car wheels turning but the wheels of global industry as well. Oh yeah, it also happens to own one of the world's largest chemical companies.
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Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS)
Whether you are looking for up-to-date fashions, basic casual clothes, or
quality value-priced clothes, Gap Inc. has a store for you. Most
people are familiar with the company's namesake brand, Gap, the company that
put the U.S. in khakis. Banana Republic is the company's more-upscale chain,
while Old Navy is a fast-moving chain targeted mostly at younger shoppers
and cost-conscious types. Beyond its retail business, the company has also
developed a manufacturing and distribution network encompassing over 80
countries. Its something-for-everybody mentality and aggressive expansion
plans make the company an easy choice for many shoppers. With a strong
presence in America's malls and minds, Gap has one of the strongest brands
in clothing retail.
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General Electric (NYSE: GE)
In our company selection deliberations, just about every time we thought of an industry we should consider including, we realized that we'd covered it with General Electric. More than 100 years old, GE has its hand in mutual funds, aircraft engines, power generators, plastics, silicones, major appliances, lighting, and broadcasting. Much of its sales come from financing and reinsurance operations. With a market capitalization that ranks among the world's largest, this is a company no one can ignore. If we were presenting you with the NOW 1 Index, featuring just one company, GE would be a contender for the spot.
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HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE: HBC)
The leading bank in the United Kingdom, England's HSBC Holdings plc, has survived wars, depression, and fierce competition since 1865 to arrive at its #1 ranking in the country today. HSBC Holdings has come a long way from the silk, opium, and teas that it originally traded in, but it is still attached to its roots. London-based HSBC is the parent of Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, a leading bank in Hong Kong with a strong presence in China. It also owns New York-based HSBC Bank USA, and 62% of Hong Kong's Hang Seng Bank. With more than 5,000 offices in 79 countries, services include banking, asset management, investment banking, finance, securities trading, and insurance. Being conservative, the bank rode out the recent Asian crisis well-protected despite a strong presence there. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority owns 13% of the company.
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Home Depot (NYSE: HD)
The Home Depot story teaches many lessons. First, a company should do everything it can to keep its brightest employees and make them meaningful partners in the business. Home Depot was launched in 1978 by Bernard Marcus and Arthur Blank after they left their jobs at Handy Dan Improvement Centers. With over $30 billion in annual sales, Home Depot is now the industry leader. It operates nearly 900 giant home improvement stores that, despite massive size, have a mom-and-pop attitude. Since going public in 1981, the stock has been a top performer, creating unsuspecting millionaires of early, small investors. We believe that this story is only beginning, though. There is a world to conquer (Home Depot is moving into international markets), and this company was built from scratch but built to last.
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Hughes Electronics (NYSE: GMH)
Sure, Hughes Electronics is a tracking stock owned by General Motors (NYSE: GM), but you can still hitch a ride aboard this high-flying satellite and services company -- a powerhouse in an industry with insurmountable barriers. In addition to leading the world in the manufacture of communications satellites, Hughes owns DirecTV, the country's largest satellite television company and one of just two players with access to the orbital slots needed to provide a nationwide broadcast. It also is a leading developer of satellite equipment and services used to transmit business information, is developing a satellite-based platform to offer customers broadband connections, and owns a majority stake in PanAmSat, which operates a worldwide fleet of communications satellites. Make no mistake, satellites will play an increasing role in communications next century -- and few companies are better positioned than Hughes.
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IBM (NYSE: IBM)
When describing IBM, the "Big" in its nickname "Big Blue" certainly still applies. IBM today retains the title as the world's largest computer company. From large mainframe computers and PCs to parts like microprocessors and hard drives, the variety of products IBM produces is staggering. In addition, the company is the second largest software producer in the nation. Providing technical services is also a major revenue source for the company, responsible for over a third of the company's business. On a sales basis, IBM is the seventh largest company in the nation. Simply said, IBM is an omnipresent force in the computer industry.
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Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC)
Referring to the entrepreneurial spirit of his company in 1974, Intel Corp. co-founder Gordon Moore said, "I'd like to think that we're the real revolutionaries in the world." Twenty-five years later, Intel is still revolutionizing the way people communicate and conduct business, thanks to its dominant share of the world's PC microprocessor market. But like any successful revolutionary with staying power, the company is not resting on the laurels of its past successes. Currently, Intel is transforming its chip business to take advantage of tomorrow's opportunities in Internet and broadband communications.
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Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ)
With sales coming from more than 175 countries around the globe, Johnson & Johnson is one of the undisputed giants of the healthcare industry. The 114 year-old company outfits the world's healthcare providers with everything from Band-Aids to sutures to orthopedic implants to disposable contact lenses to Tylenol. The firm is also a major pharmaceutical developer, with over 90 drugs marketed worldwide and a presence in the fast-growing biotechnology area through its recent acquisition of Centocor. With 66 consecutive years of increasing sales, Johnson & Johnson can lay claim to being one of the country's longest-running business growth stories.
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Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU)
When Lucent Technologies was spun-off from AT&T in 1996, it embarked upon an aggressive branding campaign with both consumers and businesses. It worked. Advertising wasn't the clincher, however. The company built its brand by selling high-quality products and services, which generated word of mouth and led to more and more clients. With $38.3 billion in 1999 sales, Lucent is the largest North American manufacturer of telecommunications equipment and software. It sells business communications systems, switching and transmission equipment, wireless networks, and it is a top provider of digital signal processors and telecommunications power systems, among other product lines. In an industry prospering via deregulation and as voice and data networks converge, Lucent's business is booming. Since 1996, the stock has gained approximately 1,014%. Welcome to the NOW, Lucent.
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