Alphabet (GOOG -1.08%) (GOOGL -1.08%) is the top communications company by market cap, followed by Meta Platforms (META -1.48%) and Tencent (TCEHY +1.35%). This is a valuable market sector, mainly due to a few of the largest communications companies at the very top.
Largest companies by market cap in the communications sector
(Editor's note: Rankings are as of Feb. 4, 2026.)
1. Alphabet
- Market cap: $4.03 trillion (as of Feb. 4)
- Revenue (TTM): $385.5 billion
- Gross profit (TTM): $228.1 billion
- Five-year annualized return: 27.23%
- Year founded: 1998 (Google), 2015 (Alphabet)
TTM = trailing 12 months.
NASDAQ: GOOG
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NASDAQ: GOOGL
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Alphabet is the parent company of Google, the world's most widely used search engine. Other products and services offered through Google include its Chrome web browser, Gmail, the Pixel line of smartphones, and the artificial intelligence (AI) assistant Gemini. Alphabet owns several other major companies, including YouTube, Waymo, Waze, Nest, and Fitbit.
In 2024, a judge ruled that Google's search business is an illegal monopoly. In September 2025, another judge ruled against the harshest penalties proposed by the U.S. Department of Justice, including the breakup of Google through the sale of Chrome or Android. Google can also still pay partners to preload its search engine onto their products, but it can no longer demand exclusivity as part of those deals.
2. Meta Platforms
- Market cap: $1.69 trillion (as of Feb. 4)
- Revenue (TTM): $201.0 billion
- Gross profit (TTM): $164.8 billion
- Five-year annualized return: 20.23%
- Year founded: 2004
NASDAQ: META
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Meta Platforms aims to connect people through technology. It's the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. It also develops virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) devices, including the Meta Quest.
The company plans to use AI to automate ad creation and is helping to develop AI-powered military products. Meta also launched an AI superintelligence unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs, in June 2025. And it entered into a $14.2 billion AI cloud infrastructure agreement with CoreWeave (CRWV +0.29%) in September 2025.
3. Tencent
- Market cap: $637.62 billion (as of Feb. 4)
- Revenue (TTM): $101.5 billion*
- Gross profit (TTM): $55.5 billion*
- Five-year annualized return: -4.08%
- Year founded: 1998
*Converted from Chinese yuan.
OTC: TCEHY
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4. Netflix
- Market cap: $340.03 billion (as of Feb. 4)
- Revenue (TTM): $45.2 billion
- Gross profit (TTM): $21.9 billion
- Five-year annualized return: 7.79%
- Year founded: 1997
NASDAQ: NFLX
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With more than 325 million subscribers, Netflix (NFLX +1.28%) is the world's most popular streaming service. It started as a mail-based DVD rental service before launching its streaming service in 2007. Netflix boasts a massive content library of movies, TV shows, and games, with more than half of its content in the U.S. being Netflix Originals.
In 2024, Netflix began a push toward live sports. It streamed the boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, which Netflix claims was the most-streamed sporting event ever, and aired multiple NFL games. The company announced in December 2025 that it would buy Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD -0.43%), including its film and television studios, HBO Max, and HBO, for $82.7 billion.
5. China Mobile
- Market cap: $250.35 billion* (as of Feb. 4)
- Revenue (TTM): $149.6 billion*
- Gross profit (TTM): $88.6 billion*
- Five-year annualized return: 11.04%
- Year founded: 1997
*Converted from Chinese yuan.
China Mobile is a state-owned telecommunications company in China. It's the largest wireless carrier in China and the world, with more than 1 billion customers as of the third quarter of 2025.
The company's links to the Chinese government have led to U.S. sanctions. The New York Stock Exchange delisted China Mobile in 2021, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designated China Mobile's U.S. subsidiary a national security threat in 2022.
6. T-Mobile US
- Market cap: $227.10 billion (as of Feb. 4)
- Revenue (TTM): $85.8 billion
- Gross profit (TTM): $54.6 billion
- Five-year annualized return: 9.40%
- Year founded: 1994
NASDAQ: TMUS
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NYSE: VZ
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While it's not the largest by market cap, Verizon Communications (VZ -0.93%) is the No. 1 U.S. wireless carrier in terms of subscribers -- more than 146 million at the end of 2025. Like other major wireless companies, Verizon also offers home internet service.
8. AT&T
- Market cap: $192.98 billion (as of Feb. 4)
- Revenue (TTM): $125.6 billion
- Gross profit (TTM): $74.8 billion
- Five-year annualized return: 10.66%
- Year founded: 1983
NYSE: T
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NYSE: DIS
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Walt Disney (DIS +3.00%) is one of the world's most iconic media and entertainment companies. Its entertainment division includes film production, multiple streaming services, and TV channels. The experiences division has theme parks, resorts, cruises, and vacation packages. Disney also has a sports division led by ESPN.
Disney will undergo a leadership change this year. On March 18, 2026, Josh D'Amaro will succeed Bob Iger as CEO.
10. Deutsche Telekom
- Market cap: $180.30 billion (as of Feb. 4)
- Revenue (TTM): $138.8 billion*
- Gross profit (TTM): $84.9 billion*
- Five-year annualized return: 18.09%
- Year founded: 1995
*Converted from euros.
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