For the second time, WEG ranks in Forbes’ list of the biggest and most powerful companies in the world. Forbes Global 2000, since 2003, is based on a combination of indicators including sales, profit and market value.

WEG joined the list in 2008 and progressed up the rankings to reach number 1,648 most profitable company in the world. JP Morgan leads the ranking and is followed by another three American companies: General Eletric, Bank of America and Exxon Móbil.

Even with the merger of important Brazilian companies such as Unibanco and Banco Itaú and Sadia and Perdigão which were in the last list, the number of Brazilian companies has increased from a total of 31 last year to 33 this year, with Fibria Celulose, Cielo, Banrisul, Net Serviços, Fosfértil and Sul America among the newcomers.

Petrobras, who shifted from 25th to 18th, is the Brazilian company with the best ranking. Together, the American companies account for one fourth of the ranking besides holding the first four positions. Banks continue to score high on the Global 2000 with 308 companies, followed by the Oil and Gas industry with 115 companies.

Bradesco (51), Banco do Brasil (52), Vale (80) and Itausa (82) are the other Brazilian companies that stand out among the 100 leading companies. Forbes’ ranking of the world’s biggest companies is scored on: long-term and short-term sales and profit growth, return on capital, debt-to-capital, total return over five years and shares traded in the US.

Top 10 Global Forbes 2000

1º - JPMorgan Chase
2º - General Electric
3º - Bank of America
4º - ExxonMobil
5º - ICBC
6º - Santander
7º - Wells Fargo
8º - HSBC
8º - Royal Dutch Shell
10º - BP (British Petroleum)