Fortune magazine has published the list of best performing companies. The leader is the U.S.  company Mosaic, the world’s second largest fertilizer producer. The second is AK Steel Holding, the third largest steel producer in the U.S. The U.S. leading glass producer Owens-Illinois is the third.  The fourth is drilling equipment manufacturer National Oilwell Varco with revenue of  $9,79 billion and shareholders’ benefit of 140,1% in 2007. The world’s largest online store and service provider Amazon.com is the fifth.

 

The history of National Oilwell Varco is interesting. Following a series of mergers and acquisitions, the formerly undistinguished American drilling equipment provider, National Oilwell consolidated almost half of the global market assets by 2004. After the acquisition of Varco in 2005 the drilling equipment market saw the giant  National Oilwell Varco controlling up to 90% of the global market in some segments. The consolidation allowed National Oilwell Varco to supply packaged drilling solutions for onshore and offshore projects, with oilfield services accounting for nearly half of the company’s turnover.