Microsoft ranked second globally by market capitalization at the end of 2021, behind Apple.
At the close of 2021, Microsoft was one of the world's two largest listed companies, with Apple holding the top position. Microsoft's stock performance reflected rapid growth in Azure cloud services, productivity subscriptions, and enterprise software contracts.
The company had changed substantially from its earlier identity as mainly a Windows and Office producer. Under CEO Satya Nadella, who became chief executive in 2014, Microsoft emphasized cloud computing, recurring subscriptions, cross-platform services, and enterprise customers.
A market-cap ranking is a snapshot rather than a permanent league table. The order can change when share prices move, and sources may differ if they use closing prices, intraday prices, different share classes, or different currency conversions. That is why a date is essential in historical ranking questions.