Highlights from the 2014 FORTUNE 500 Issue

I love the Fortune 500, I buy it every summer and read it cover to cover. I like holding it, turning the pages, etc. This year I’m in luck – according to TIME Inc, this year’s edition has the highest page count since 2005 (bull market indicator?). 

Some additional superlatives from this year’s rankings…

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Today, FORTUNE launches a new website and releases the 60th FORTUNE 500, its annual list of the largest corporations in the United States ranked by revenue for the 2013 fiscal year. The FORTUNE 500 companies earned a combined $1.08 trillion in profits in 2013, setting an all-time record and exceeding the trillion mark for the first time ever. Profits increased 31.7% over the previous year. Total combined revenue hit $12.21 trillion, up 1.2% from last year, also an all-time high.

FORTUNE 500 TOP 10 LIST:
1.Wal-Mart Stores
2. Exxon Mobil
3. Chevron
4. Berkshire Hathaway
5. Apple
6. Phillips 66
7. General Motors
8. Ford Motor
9. General Electric
10. Valero Energy

Wal-Mart takes the top spot for the second year in a row and the tenth time ever — and for the seventh time in the past decade. Only three companies have held the no. 1 spot on the FORTUNE 500 since its creation in 1955: General Motors, Exxon Mobil and Wal-Mart.

New York added two companies to move into a first-place tie with California for the most firms on the list, with 54 each. Texas is close behind in third with 52 companies.

Facebook, which moved up 141 spots to #341 this year, saw its earnings per share grew 5,900% last year.

57 companies have made the list every year since its inception in 1955.

Fannie Mae has the highest profits of any company on the list with $83.96 billion.

Yahoo falls off the list this year from #494.

2013 was the year that homebuilders returned to the list after a two-year absence, with three companies placing in the 500.

Caesars Entertainment was the biggest loser with a loss of $2.95 billion.

Apple broke into the top 5 for the first time this year.

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For the full list, if you’re too lazy to track down a print copy, click here:

FORTUNE 500 2014