Today, modern Russia still holds all of those distinctions. Though no longer a designated superpower, the Russian Federation has recovered from the fall of the Soviet Union and has become the world’s 11th-largest economy. Even after being expelled from the G7 over its annexation of Crimea, Russia’s membership as one of the principal emerging economies in BRICS (alongside Brazil, India, China, and South Africa), the G20, and the United Nations Security Council solidifies its important position in the modern world. What industries and companies drive the modern Russian state? Here we put the spotlight on the top 10 biggest companies in Russia, using data from Companies Market Cap.
What Are the Biggest Public Companies in Russia?
As a resource-rich country and previously a socialist state, it’s no surprise that many of Russia’s biggest companies are current or former state-owned corporations. Eight out of the biggest companies in Russia by market value are in natural resources, and four are current state-owned enterprises. Here are Russia’s biggest public companies by market capitalization in November 2021: The two biggest companies in Russia, gas producer Gazprom (formerly the Soviet Ministry of Gas Industry) and banking and financial provider Sberbank, have consistently been the largest enterprises in the country. In November, Gazprom was bigger with a market cap of $118 billion compared to Sberbank’s $112 billion, though they constantly switch places over time. But other than Sberbank and tech provider Yandex, the top 10 was composed entirely of oil, gas and mining companies.
Russia’s Importance to Global Natural Resources
Oil and gas specifically made up six out of the 10 biggest companies in Russia. Most like Rosneft, Gazprom Neft, and Lukoil are in oil—the Russian word “neft” means oil or petroleum in Russian and many other languages). In addition to the two mining companies that cracked the top 10, the biggest companies in Russia highlight the country’s relative importance to global resource sectors. Many of the top 10 companies in Russia are the largest (or amongst the largest) producers of natural resources in the world:
Gazprom: The largest natural gas company in the world by output, producing 12% of global natural gas output in 2018. Rosneft: The world’s largest public oil producer. Nornickel: The world’s largest producer of nickel (14% of global output), palladium, and third-largest of platinum. Polyus: The world’s third-largest gold producer by output. Sberbank: The largest bank in Eastern Europe (and 61st in the world).
Overall, Russia’s vast landscape is estimated to contain over 30% of all natural resources in the world. Factor in a powerful financial sector and the world’s sixth-largest labor force at 70 million strong, and it’s clear to see why the country’s influence is so widespread. As global powers begin to pledge greater commitment to clean energy, however, Russian companies also find themselves navigating transitional demand and pledging support for green projects. What other companies or industries do you associate with Russia? on Last year, stock and bond returns tumbled after the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates at the fastest speed in 40 years. It was the first time in decades that both asset classes posted negative annual investment returns in tandem. Over four decades, this has happened 2.4% of the time across any 12-month rolling period. To look at how various stock and bond asset allocations have performed over history—and their broader correlations—the above graphic charts their best, worst, and average returns, using data from Vanguard.
How Has Asset Allocation Impacted Returns?
Based on data between 1926 and 2019, the table below looks at the spectrum of market returns of different asset allocations:
We can see that a portfolio made entirely of stocks returned 10.3% on average, the highest across all asset allocations. Of course, this came with wider return variance, hitting an annual low of -43% and a high of 54%.
A traditional 60/40 portfolio—which has lost its luster in recent years as low interest rates have led to lower bond returns—saw an average historical return of 8.8%. As interest rates have climbed in recent years, this may widen its appeal once again as bond returns may rise.
Meanwhile, a 100% bond portfolio averaged 5.3% in annual returns over the period. Bonds typically serve as a hedge against portfolio losses thanks to their typically negative historical correlation to stocks.
A Closer Look at Historical Correlations
To understand how 2022 was an outlier in terms of asset correlations we can look at the graphic below:
The last time stocks and bonds moved together in a negative direction was in 1969. At the time, inflation was accelerating and the Fed was hiking interest rates to cool rising costs. In fact, historically, when inflation surges, stocks and bonds have often moved in similar directions. Underscoring this divergence is real interest rate volatility. When real interest rates are a driving force in the market, as we have seen in the last year, it hurts both stock and bond returns. This is because higher interest rates can reduce the future cash flows of these investments. Adding another layer is the level of risk appetite among investors. When the economic outlook is uncertain and interest rate volatility is high, investors are more likely to take risk off their portfolios and demand higher returns for taking on higher risk. This can push down equity and bond prices. On the other hand, if the economic outlook is positive, investors may be willing to take on more risk, in turn potentially boosting equity prices.
Current Investment Returns in Context
Today, financial markets are seeing sharp swings as the ripple effects of higher interest rates are sinking in. For investors, historical data provides insight on long-term asset allocation trends. Over the last century, cycles of high interest rates have come and gone. Both equity and bond investment returns have been resilient for investors who stay the course.
