The beating heart of the UK’s economy lies not far from these 30 most valuable UK companies of 2023. Learning about these business giants will bring a treasure of information with valuable insights into the health of various sectors, the direction of the UK economy, and potential future trends.
Whether you’re an investor looking to diversify your portfolio, a job seeker interested in thriving industries, or simply a curious reader who enjoys staying informed, this list is your one-stop shop to understanding the UK’s business landscape.
From banking to pharmaceuticals, from energy titans to consumer staples, this list covers it all. Read on to discover which UK listed companies are dominating their industries, making waves on a global scale, and offering incredible opportunities for those who are paying attention.
In the United Kingdom, companies become publicly listed companies – PLC – to get listed on the London Stock Exchange – LSE. Though they have to follow the rules of the British Financial Conduct Authority, companies that become publicly listed on the LSE can then gain access to capital from investors who acquire their stocks.
Check our data platform for the latest ranking of UK companies and FTSE 100 companies.
The FTSE 100 Index, benchmark of the UK
To ease the understanding of the evolution of the British stock market and the broader UK economy, the stocks of the 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange are aggregated in the FTSE 100 index. Meaning “Financial Time Stock Exchange 100”, and often more simply referred to as FTSE, the FTSE 100 index is widely recognized as the benchmark index of the British stock market.
Calculated from the stocks of the 100 largest corporations by market capitalization listed on the LSE, the FTSE is a capitalization-weighted index where larger companies are weighted more heavily in the index. It represents around 70% of the total market capitalization of the companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.
For more information on the largest British companies, download our FTSE 350 companies Excel file containing the complete list of the 350 largest publicly listed companies in the UK (FTSE 100 + FTSE 250), together with extensive business, market, financial, and digital information on each company. For even more data on the largest UK companies, download our Excel files on the FTSE All-Share companies, FTSE AIM All-Share companies, and combined FTSE All-Share companies + FTSE AIM All-Share companies.
The real-time quotation of the FTSE 100 index can be followed with convenient graphical tools from a number of sources, including the London Stock Exchange, Google Finance, Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg, etc.
For more information on other world-leading companies, check our series of posts on Top Companies, and for more information on the country, read our articles on Top Business Resources for the UK.
Key insights from the list of Top 30 UK Companies in the FTSE 100 index in January 2023
Dominance of Financials and Consumer Staples:
With 6 companies each under Financials and Consumer Staples, these sectors are the most represented on the list.
- Financials: Represented by giants like HSBC and the London Stock Exchange Group, the strong presence of the financial sector underscores its backbone role in the UK economy. This over-representation aligns with London’s status as one of the world’s major financial hubs.
- Consumer Staples: The high number of companies from this sector, including well-known names like Unilever and Reckitt Benckiser, suggests a stable and mature consumer market in the UK. Such companies tend to perform consistently irrespective of economic cycles, offering resilience to market downturns.
A Snapshot of the Broader UK Economy
The presence of multiple sectors on the list provides a diversified view of the UK’s economic strengths. Companies in healthcare, energy, and basic materials indicate that the UK economy isn’t reliant solely on service sectors but has a strong base in primary and secondary industries.
Insights into the UK’s Global Stance
Many of these companies, like Shell and HSBC, have a substantial global presence, emphasizing the UK’s influence on world business, trade, and finance. Their operations across continents and in emerging markets reinforce the idea that the UK continues to be a significant player in shaping global economic trends.
List of the 30 largest companies listed in the United Kingdom by market capitalization, as of January 1st, 2023
To help you learn more about British corporations, the 30 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange, which are also the largest components of the FTSE 100 index, are listed hereafter. Each company is presented with details on its sector and industry, operations, a direct link to its website, market capitalization, logo, and stock symbol. The top 30 FTSE 100 companies are ranked by market capitalization in Pounds Sterling, as of effective close on January 1st, 2023.
Shortcuts to each UK company
To facilitate your browsing in this long list, here are quick links to go directly to the details of any of the top 30 UK companies.
30. Legal & General Group plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Financials | Industry: Insurance—Life
Legal & General Group PLC, more simply known as Legal & General, is a multinational financial services company. It is involved in investment management, lifetime mortgages, pensions, annuities, and life assurance. Tracing its origins to 1836, Legal & General now primarily operates in the United Kingdom and the United States, also engaged through its investment management activities in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £15.41 B | Stock: LSE:LGEN | legalandgeneralgroup.com
29. Antofagasta plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Basic Materials | Industry: Copper
Antofagasta PLC is a multinational copper mining company that is also involved in transport. Primarily operating four copper mines in Chile, Antofagasta is also operating railroad transportation from Antofagasta (Chile) to Bolivia, the Twin Metals copper and nickel mining company in the US State of Minnesota, and other exploration joint ventures around the world.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £15.88 B | Stock: LSE:ANTO | antofagasta.co.uk
28. Tesco plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Consumer Staples | Industry: Grocery Stores
Tesco PLC is a multinational grocery and general merchandise retailer. Founded in 1919, Tesco has grown to become the world’s third-largest retailer, operating hypermarkets and convenience stores selling groceries, books, clothing, electronics, furniture, toys, petrol, software, financial services, telecoms, and internet services in seven countries.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £17.77 B | Stock: LSE:TSCO | tescoplc.com
27. SSE plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Utilities | Industry: Utilities—Diversified
SSE plc is involved in electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and supply, utilizing sources like water, gas, coal, and oil. They distribute electricity to around 3.8 million locations in Scotland and southern England and manage high voltage transmission systems in northern Scotland. Additionally, SSE plc produces and supplies gas and engages in utility contracting, telecommunications, energy trading, insurance, and property businesses.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £18.06 B | Stock: LSE:SSE | sse.com
26. Imperial Brands plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Consumer Staples | Industry: Tobacco
Imperial Brands PLC, based in Bristol, UK, manufactures and sells tobacco and tobacco-related products globally, including cigarettes, cigars, fine cut and smokeless tobacco, and papers. They also offer next generation products like e-vapour, oral nicotine, and heated tobacco under brands such as Davidoff, Gauloises, JPS, and blu. Additionally, they distribute various non-tobacco products and services, manage a golf course, and offer transportation, advertising, and support management services.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £19.57 B | Stock: LSE:IMB | imperialbrandsplc.com
25. Standard Chartered plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Financials | Industry: Banks—Diversified
Standard Chartered PLC is a multinational banking and financial services company. Tracing its origins to the 19th century, Standard Chartered operates in consumer, corporate and institutional banking and treasury services in more than 70 countries.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £20.03 B | Stock: LSE:STAN | sc.com
24. Ashtead Group plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Industrials | Industry: Rental & Leasing Services
Ashtead Group PLC is an international equipment rental company. Operating under the trading name Sunbelt Rentals through more than 840 stores across the United States, 70 in Canada, and 180 stores across the United Kingdom, it offers a wide range of construction and industrial equipment for rent.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £21.46 B | Stock: LSE:AHT | ashtead-group.com
23. Ferguson plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Industrials | Industry: Industrial Distribution
Ferguson PLC is a building materials company. Tracing its origin to 1887, Ferguson now distributes a range of plumbing and heating products, as well as ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration, waterworks, and industrial products. It operates in the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the Caribbean through the Ferguson brand, and in Canada and Central Europe through the Wolseley brand.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £22.50 B | Stock: LSE:FERG | fergusonplc.com
22. Vodafone Group plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Communication Services | Industry: Telecom Services
Vodafone Group plc is a multinational telecommunications company. Engaged predominantly in mobile connectivity services, Vodafone also provides broadband, television, and enterprise services such as voice, cloud services as well as Internet-of-Things services for a number of applications in industries including automotive, insurance, and healthcare. A leader in the UK, Vodafone also operates directly or indirectly in more than 150 countries.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £23.24 B | Stock: LSE:VOD | vodafone.com
21. Barclays plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Financials | Industry: Banks—Diversified
Barclays PLC is a British investment bank and financial services company. Tracing its origin to 1690, Barclays is primarily involved in investment banking with additional services in personal banking, corporate banking, wealth management, and investment management.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £31.60 B | Stock: NYSE:BCS | home.barclays
20. NatWest Group plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Financials | Industry: Banks—Diversified
NatWest Group, standing for National Westminster, previously known as The Royal Bank of Scotland and RBS, is a private, and partly publicly-owned, banking, and insurance holding company. Tracing its origins to 1707, NatWest Group operates in Europe, North America, and Asia through multiple brands providing personal and business banking, private banking, insurance, and corporate finance, notably NatWest, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Ulster Bank, and Coutts.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £26.42 B | Stock: LSE:NWG | natwestgroup.com
19. BAE Systems plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Industrials | Industry: Aerospace & Defense
BAE Systems plc, is a global defense, aerospace, and security solutions operating in five segments: Electronic Systems, Cyber & Intelligence, Platforms & Services (US), Air, and Maritime. BAE Systems provides electronic warfare and communication systems, cyber-hardening aircraft and missile systems, C4ISR system services, data intelligence, and anti-fraud solutions. They manufacture combat vehicles, weapons, and munitions, develop combat and trainer aircraft, and design naval ships, submarines, and weapon systems.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £26.72 B | Stock: LSE:BA. | baesystems.com
18. Haleon plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Healthcare | Industry: Drug Manufacturers—Specialty & Generic
Haleon plc, headquartered in Brentford, UK, specializes in the R&D, manufacture, and sale of consumer healthcare products across various regions. Their offerings encompass therapeutic oral health, pain relief, respiratory, digestive products, and vitamins and supplements. Key brands include Panadol, Voltaren, Advil, Sensodyne, and Centrum.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £30.37 B | Stock: LSE:HLN | haleon.com
17. Lloyds Banking Group plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Financials | Industry: Banks—Regional
Lloyds Bank PLC is a retail and commercial bank. Evolved from the Bank of Scotland founded in 1695, Lloyds Banking Group has developed its activities primarily in England and Wales in retail banking, commercial banking, life, pensions and insurance, wealth management, and international operations in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £31.70 B | Stock: LSE:LLOY | lloydsbankinggroup.com
16. Prudential plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Financials | Industry: Insurance—Life
Prudential PLC is a multinational life insurance and financial services company. Founded in 1848, it has grown become a leading insurance and asset management provider in Asia with Prudential Corporation Asia, one of the largest life insurance providers in the United States with Jackson National Life Insurance Company, and a leading savings and investments business in the UK and Europe with M&G Prudential.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £34.04 B | Stock: LSE:PRU | prudentialplc.com
15. Compass Group plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Consumer Discretionary | Industry: Restaurants
Compass Group PLC is a multinational contract foodservice company. The largest contract foodservice company in the world, providing food and support services in more than 50 countries across five market sectors: business and industry, healthcare and seniors, education, sports and leisure, defense, offshore and remote.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £34.76 B | Stock: LSE:CPG | compass-group.com
14. National Grid plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Utilities | Industry: Utilities—Diversified
National Grid PLC is a multinational electricity and gas utility company. It primarily operates in electricity transmission and gas distribution in the United Kingdom and the United States, managing operations directly or through subsidiary companies.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £37.61 B | Stock: LSE:NG. | nationalgridet.com
13. London Stock Exchange Group plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Financials | Industry: Financial Data & Stock Exchanges
The London Stock Exchange Group is a stock exchange and financial information company. Founded in 1801, it operates the main stock exchange of the United Kingdom, and the Italian stock exchange, Borsa Italiana. It is also involved in information technology through LSEG Technology, financial market data, and infrastructure through Refinitiv, owns the FTSE Russell market indices company, and has majority stakes in the clearinghouse LCH and Tradeweb financial services.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £40.44 B | Stock: LSE:LSEG | lseg.com
12. Reckitt Benckiser Group plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Consumer Staples | Industry: Household & Personal Products
Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC, also known as RB, is a multinational consumer goods company, producing health, hygiene and home products. Tracing its origins back to the 19th century, RB has grown to a global company with famous brand names including Dettol, Strepsils, Veet, Airborne, Gaviscon, Mead Johnson, Air Wick, Calgon, Clearasil, Cillit Bang, Durex, Lysol, Mycil and Vanish.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £41.23 B | Stock: LSE:RKT | rb.com
11. Anglo American plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Basic Materials | Industry: Other Industrial Metals & Mining
Anglo American PLC is a mining company based in South Africa and the United Kingdom. Founded in 1917, Anglo American is the world’s largest producer of platinum, and a major producer of diamonds, copper, nickel, iron ore, and metallurgical and thermal coal.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £43.53 B | Stock: LSE:AAL | angloamerican.com
10. RELX plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Communication Services | Industry: Publishing
RELX PLC, also known as RELX Group, is a multinational information and analytics company. RELX Group is engaged in four business segments: scientific, technical, and medical, under the Elsevier brand, risk, and business analytics, under the LexisNexis Risk Solutions and Reed Business Information brands, legal, under the LexisNexis brand, and exhibitions, under the Reed Exhibitions brand.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £45.29 B | Stock: LSE:REL | relx.com
9. GlaxoSmithKline plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Healthcare | Industry: Drug Manufacturers—General
GlaxoSmithKline PLC, better known as GSK, is a pharmaceutical company. GSK manufactures products for major disease areas such as asthma, cancer, infections, diabetes, and mental health, and it also has a portfolio of vaccines. Operating in more than 115 countries, GSK is also engaged in the consumer healthcare business in oral health, pain relief, respiratory, nutrition/gastro-intestinal, and skin health categories.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £73.90 B | Stock: LSE:GSK | gsk.com
8. British American Tobacco plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Consumer Staples | Industry: Tobacco
British American Tobacco PLC, also known as BAT, is a multinational cigarette and tobacco manufacturing company. Formed in 1902, BAT is now the world’s second-largest tobacco producer with multiple international brands such as Lucky Strike, Dunhill, Pall Mall, Rothmans International, Winfield, and a large array of local brands.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £75.17 B | Stock: LSE:BATS | bat.com
7. Diageo plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Consumer Staples | Industry: Beverages—Wineries & Distilleries
Diageo PLC is a multinational alcoholic beverages company. Notably the world’s largest producer of whiskey, Diageo is involved in the production and distribution of multiple spirits and beers, with some of the world’s most famous brands including Guinness, Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, and Gordon’s.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £83.27 B | Stock: LSE:DGE | diageo.com
6. BP plc
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Energy | Industry: Oil & Gas Integrated
BP PLC, formerly The British Petroleum Company and BP Amoco, is a multinational oil and gas company. Founded in 1909, BP operates in oil and gas through exploration and production, refining, distribution and marketing, petrochemicals, power generation, and trading, and also has interests in renewable energy with biofuels and wind power.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £89.05 B | Stock: LSE:BP. | bp.com
5. Rio Tinto
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Basic Materials | Industry: Other Industrial Metals & Mining
Rio Tinto Limited is a multinational metals and mining corporation that is dual-listed on the London Stock Exchange and the Australian Securities Exchange. Founded in 1873, Rio Tinto has evolved to become a leader in the extraction of minerals, especially aluminum, iron ore, copper, uranium, and diamonds, and developed operations in refining, particularly for bauxite and iron ore. With a global presence, Rio Tinto is primarily operating in Australia and Canada.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £95.33 B | Stock: LSE:RIO | riotinto.com
4. Unilever
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Consumer Staples | Industry: Household & Personal Products
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational consumer goods company dual-listed in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Formed from companies founded in the 1870s, Unilever now regroups more than 400 brands, including Axe/Lynx, Dove, Omo, Heartbrand ice creams, Hellmann’s, Knorr, Lipton, Lux, Magnum, Rexona/Degree, Sunsilk, and Surf.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £105.76 B | Stock: LSE:ULVR | unilever.com
3. HSBC
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Financials | Industry: Banks—Diversified
HSBC Holdings PLC is a multinational banking and financial services company, dual-listed both in London and Hong Kong. Founded in Hong Kong and Shanghai in 1865, HSBC has grown to operate in more than 60 countries, with operations in commercial banking, investment banking, retail banking and wealth management, and global private banking.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £108.11 B | Stock: LSE:HSBA | hsbc.com
2. Shell
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Energy | Industry: Oil & Gas Integrated
Shell is a global energy and petrochemical company engaged in the exploration, extraction, and marketing of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. It operates upstream and midstream infrastructure, produces gas-to-liquids fuels, and markets LNG as fuel for heavy-duty vehicles and marine vessels.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £163.28 B | Stock: LSE:SHEL | shell.com
1. AstraZeneca
Country: United Kingdom | Sector: Healthcare | Industry: Drug Manufacturers—General
AstraZeneca PLC is an Anglo–Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company. AstraZeneca develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals and biotechnology products to treat major disease areas including cancer, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, infection, neuroscience, respiratory, and inflammation.
Company Profile | Market Cap.: £180.79 B | Stock: LSE:AZN | astrazeneca.com
So there you have it: a comprehensive list of the 30 most formidable companies in the UK as of the beginning of 2023. Whether you’re a savvy investor, an ambitious job hunter, or a news junkie, understanding the dynamics of these companies can give you a distinct advantage. For those eager to delve even deeper, our range of tailored analytical tools and reports are just a click away, offering even more insights and updated data with our UK market and companies analysis.
What do you think of the companies that made the list? Are there any surprises? What sectors do you think are emerging as the most promising? Share your thoughts and insights in the comments below. And if you found this analysis useful, don’t forget to share it with your network. Stay tuned for more in-depth analyses and trend forecasts to keep you ahead of the curve!
![Top 1200 UK Companies [FTSE All-Share + FTSE AIM All-Share] – Excel Download](http://store.disfold.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2024/05/top-1200-uk-companies-ftseallshare-aimallshare-small.jpg)
![Top 500 Australian Companies [All Ordinaries] – Excel Download](http://store.disfold.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2021/04/top-500-australian-companies-allordinaries-small.jpg)