The S&P 500's Leanest Companies
The Most Revenue Per Employee

Unemployment hit 8.9 percent in April and some predict that number could climb to over 10 percent in 2009 as major companies streamline operations to combat the recession. But how far can this streamlining really go? For many companies, revenues hinge on worker productivity, and for most operations, per-worker profits and revenues are many multiples of average employee salaries. The measure of revenue per employee also helps shed light on a firm's money-making efficiency and likelihood it will

Unemployment hit 8.9 percent in April and some predict that number could climb to over 10 percent in 2009 as major companies streamline operations to combat the recession.



But how far can this streamlining really go? For many companies, revenues hinge on worker productivity, and for most operations, per-worker profits and revenues are many multiples of average employee salaries. The measure of revenue per employee also helps shed light on a firm's money-making efficiency and likelihood it will retain jobs. The best companies require the least number of workers to make the most money.



Using data from ThomsonReuters, we look at how much revenue S&P 500 companies generated per employee over the past 12 months (Q2 2008 - Q1 2009), compared within each of the S&P 500’s 24 industry groups. Of note, data on the entire banking industry group and some finance-related institutions are not tracked. Note: because many banks report revenue as interest income and not sales on their financials, we have excluded them from this analysis for a more apples-to-apples comparison.



So, which companies make the most revenue per employee? Click ahead to find out!



By Ariel Nelson & Paul Toscano

Posted 26 May 2009

Automobiles & Components

Industry Leader: Harley Davidson (HOG)Annual revenue per employee: $641,612Annual profit per employee: $62,848Employees: 9,300Industry Laggard: Johnson Controls (JCI)Annual revenue per employee: $234,450Annual profit per employee: -$2,600Employees: 140,000 Photo: AP

Industry Leader: Harley Davidson (HOG)

Annual revenue per employee: $641,612

Annual profit per employee: $62,848

Employees: 9,300



Industry Laggard: Johnson Controls (JCI)

Annual revenue per employee: $234,450

Annual profit per employee: -$2,600

Employees: 140,000



Complete Sector Information

Consumer Durables & Apparel

Annual revenue per employee: $1,591,921Annual profit per employee: -$478,769Employees: 1,600Annual revenue per employee: $161,411Annual profit per employee: $11,892Employees: 46,600

Industry Leader: KB Home (KBH)

Annual revenue per employee: $1,591,921

Annual profit per employee: -$478,769

Employees: 1,600



Industry Laggard: VF Corp. (VFC)

Annual revenue per employee: $161,411

Annual profit per employee: $11,892

Employees: 46,600



Complete Sector Information

Consumer Services

Industry Leader: H & R Block (HRB)Annual revenue per employee: $436,295Annual profit per employee: $51,172Employees: 9,700Industry Laggard: Starwood Hotels (HOT) Annual revenue per employee: $38,338Annual profit per employee: $1,248Employees: 145,000 Photo: Daquella Manera

Industry Leader: H & R Block (HRB)

Annual revenue per employee: $436,295

Annual profit per employee: $51,172

Employees: 9,700



Industry Laggard: Starwood Hotels (HOT)

Annual revenue per employee: $38,338

Annual profit per employee: $1,248

Employees: 145,000



Complete Sector Information

Media

Industry Leader: Viacom Inc. (VIA)Annual revenue per employee: $1,253,304Annual profit per employee: $100,522Employees: 11,500Industry Laggard: Interpublic Group (IPG)Annual revenue per employee: $151,173Annual profit per employee: $6,784Employees: 45,000 Photo: Juan de Dios Santander Vela

Industry Leader: Viacom Inc. (VIA)

Annual revenue per employee: $1,253,304

Annual profit per employee: $100,522

Employees: 11,500



Industry Laggard: Interpublic Group (IPG)

Annual revenue per employee: $151,173

Annual profit per employee: $6,784

Employees: 45,000



Complete Sector Information

Retailing

Industry Leader: Amazon.com (AMZN)Annual revenue per employee: $962,319Annual profit per employee: $33,237Employees: 20,600Industry Laggard: Gap Inc. (GPS)Annual revenue per employee: $108,403Annual profit per employee: $7,216Employees: N/A Photo: AP

Industry Leader: Amazon.com (AMZN)

Annual revenue per employee: $962,319

Annual profit per employee: $33,237

Employees: 20,600



Industry Laggard: Gap Inc. (GPS)

Annual revenue per employee: $108,403

Annual profit per employee: $7,216

Employees: N/A



Complete Sector Information

Food & Staples Retailing

Industry Leader: Costco Wholesale (COST)Annual revenue per employee: $972,688Annual profit per employee: $15,932Employees: 75,000Industry Laggard: Whole Foods Market (WFMI)Annual revenue per employee: $169,962Annual profit per employee: $2,201Employees: 46,800 Photo: AP

Industry Leader: Costco Wholesale (COST)

Annual revenue per employee: $972,688

Annual profit per employee: $15,932

Employees: 75,000



Industry Laggard: Whole Foods (WFMI)

Annual revenue per employee: $169,962

Annual profit per employee: $2,201

Employees: 46,800



Complete Sector Information

Food, Beverage & Tobacco

Industry Leader: Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)Annual revenue per employee: $2,697,790Annual profit per employee: $73,007Employees: 27,600Industry Laggard: Pepsi Bottling Group (PBG)Annual revenue per employee: $204,371Annual profit per employee: $2,874Employees: 66,800 Photo: AP

Industry Leader: Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)

Annual revenue per employee: $2,697,790

Annual profit per employee: $73,007

Employees: 27,600



Industry Laggard: Pepsi Bottling (PBG)

Annual revenue per employee: $204,371

Annual profit per employee: $2,874

Employees: 66,800



Complete Sector Information

Household & Personal Products

Industry Leader: Clorox (CLX)Annual revenue per employee: $656,024Annual profit per employee: $63,253Employees: 8,300Industry Laggard: Estee Lauder (EL) Annual revenue per employee: $239,159Annual profit per employee: $11,378Employees: 32,000 Photo: EMPTV

Industry Leader: Clorox (CLX)

Annual revenue per employee: $656,024

Annual profit per employee: $63,253

Employees: 8,300



Industry Laggard: Estee Lauder (EL)

Annual revenue per employee: $239,159

Annual profit per employee: $11,378

Employees: 32,000



Complete Sector Information

Energy

Annual revenue per employee: $7,609,147Annual profit per employee: $436,833Employees: 3,206Annual revenue per employee: $190,448Annual profit per employee: $15,724Employees: 26,912 Photo: AP

Industry Leader: Murphy Oil Corp. (MUR)

Annual revenue per employee: $7,609,147

Annual profit per employee: $436,833

Employees: 3,206



Industry Laggard: Nabors Industries (NBR)

Annual revenue per employee: $190,448

Annual profit per employee: $15,724

Employees: 26,912



Complete Sector Information

Diversified Financials

Industry Leader: NASDAQ OMX (NDAQ)Annual revenue per employee: $1,486,727Annual profit per employee: $115,983Employees: 2,507Industry Laggard: Leucadia National Corp. (LUK)Annual revenue per employee: $281,047Annual profit per employee: -$579,882Employees: 3,584 Photo: AP

Industry Leader: NASDAQ OMX (NDAQ)

Annual revenue per employee: $1,486,727

Annual profit per employee: $115,983

Employees: 2,507



Industry Laggard: Leucadia National (LUK)

Annual revenue per employee: $281,047

Annual profit per employee: -$579,882

Employees: 3,584



Complete Sector Information

Insurance

Industry Leader: MBIA Inc. (MBI)Annual revenue per employee: $9,560,455Annual profit per employee: $1,034,971Employees: 420Industry Laggard: Amer. Int’l Grp. (AIG)Annual revenue per employee: $151,129Annual profit per employee: -$843,043Employees: 116,000

Industry Leader: MBIA Inc. (MBI)

Annual revenue per employee: $9,560,455

Annual profit per employee: $1,034,971

Employees: 420



Industry Laggard: Amer. Int’l Grp. (AIG)

Annual revenue per employee: $151,129

Annual profit per employee: -$843,043

Employees: 116,000



Complete Sector Information

Real Estate

Industry Leader: Host Hotels & Resorts (HST)Annual revenue per employee: $23,236,360Annual profit per employee: $1,204,546Employees: 215Industry Laggard: CB Richard Ellis (CBG)Annual revenue per employee: $159,611Annual profit per employee: -$35,981Employees: 30,000 Photo: AP

Industry Leader: Host Hotels & Resorts (HST)

Annual revenue per employee: $23,236,360

Annual profit per employee: $1,204,546

Employees: 215



Industry Laggard: CB Richard Ellis (CBG)

Annual revenue per employee: $159,611

Annual profit per employee: -$35,981

Employees: 30,000



Complete Sector Information

Health Care Equip. & Services

Industry Leader: AmerisourceBergen (ABC) Annual revenue per employee: $7,196,345Annual profit per employee: $49,938Employees: 9,700Industry Laggard: Lab Corp of America (LH)Annual revenue per employee: $162,775Annual profit per employee: $17,132Employees: 28,000 Photo: AP

Industry Leader: AmerisourceBergen (ABC)

Annual revenue per employee: $7,196,345

Annual profit per employee: $49,938

Employees: 9,700



Industry Laggard: Lab Corp of America (LH)

Annual revenue per employee: $162,775

Annual profit per employee: $17,132

Employees: 28,000



Complete Sector Information

Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

Industry Leader: Gilead Sciences (GILD)Annual revenue per employee: $1,630,249Annual profit per employee: $610,931Employees: 3,441Industry Laggard: Life Technologies Corp. (LIFE)Annual revenue per employee: 210,912Annual profit per employee: -$1,320Employees: 9,700

Industry Leader: Gilead Sciences (GILD)

Annual revenue per employee: $1,630,249

Annual profit per employee: $610,931

Employees: 3,441



Industry Laggard: PerkinElmer Inc. (PKI)*

Annual revenue per employee: $241,813

Annual profit per employee: $15,249

Employees: 8,500



*Originally listed was Life Technologies (LIFE), but it was brought to the attention of CNBC that due to a recent merger of companies, ThomsonReuters data did not reflect the combined revenues for Life Technologies over the past 12 months. This ranking has been changed to reflect this correction.



Complete Sector Information

Capital Goods

Industry Leader: Fluor Corp. (FLR)Annual revenue per employee: $833,934Annual profit per employee: $28,746Employees: 27,958Industry Laggard: Fastenal Corp. (FAST)Annual revenue per employee: $166,072Annual profit per employee: $19,098Employees: 12,736 Photo: AP

Industry Leader: Fluor Corp. (FLR)

Annual revenue per employee: $833,934

Annual profit per employee: $28,746

Employees: 27,958



Industry Laggard: Fastenal Corp. (FAST)

Annual revenue per employee: $166,072

Annual profit per employee: $19,098

Employees: 12,736



Complete Sector Information

Commercial & Professional Services

Industry Leader: Dun & Bradstreet Corp. (DNB)Annual revenue per employee: $350,816Annual profit per employee: $72,490Employees: 4,900Industry Laggard: Cintas Corp (CTAS)Annual revenue per employee: $114,852Annual profit per employee: $9,175Employees: 34,000 Photo: Diaper

Industry Leader: Dun & Bradstreet (DNB)

Annual revenue per employee: $350,816

Annual profit per employee: $72,490

Employees: 4,900



Industry Laggard: Cintas Corp (CTAS)

Annual revenue per employee: $114,852

Annual profit per employee: $9,175

Employees: 34,000



Complete Sector Information

Transportation

Industry Leader: CH Robinson (CHRW) Annual revenue per employee: $1,040,377Annual profit per employee: $45,005Employees: 7,481Industry Laggard: United Parcel Service (UPS)Annual revenue per employee: 116,782Annual profit per employee: 5,864Employees: 426,000 Photo: AP

Industry Leader: CH Robinson (CHRW)

Annual revenue per employee: $1,040,377

Annual profit per employee: $45,005

Employees: 7,481



Industry Laggard: UPS (UPS)

Annual revenue per employee: 116,782

Annual profit per employee: 5,864

Employees: 426,000



Complete Sector Information

Semiconductors & Semi Equip.

Industry Leader: Broadcom (BRCM)Annual revenue per employee: $605,318Annual profit per employee: $6,559Employees: 7,185Industry Laggard: National Semiconductor (NSM)Annual revenue per employee: $224,877Annual profit per employee: $30,164Employees: 6,500 Photo: Huang jia hui

Industry Leader: Broadcom (BRCM)

Annual revenue per employee: $605,318

Annual profit per employee: $6,559

Employees: 7,185



Industry Laggard: National Semi (NSM)

Annual revenue per employee: $224,877

Annual profit per employee: $30,164

Employees: 6,500



Complete Sector Information

Technology Hardware & Equip.

Industry Leader: Apple Inc. (AAPL) Annual revenue per employee: $1,052,781Annual profit per employee: $156,813Employees: 32,000Industry Laggard: Molex Inc. (MOLX)Annual revenue per employee: $89,650Annual profit per employee: -$1,552Employees: 32,160

Industry Leader: Apple Inc. (AAPL)

Annual revenue per employee: $1,052,781

Annual profit per employee: $156,813

Employees: 32,000



Industry Laggard: Molex Inc. (MOLX)

Annual revenue per employee: $89,650

Annual profit per employee: -$1,552

Employees: 32,160



Complete Sector Information

Software & Services

Industry Leader: Google Inc. (GOOG)Annual revenue per employee: $1,093,892Annual profit per employee: $214,768Employees: 20,164Industry Laggard: Convergys Corp. (CVG)Annual revenue per employee: $36,855Annual profit per employee: -$1,344Employees: 75,000 Photo: AP

Industry Leader: Google Inc. (GOOG)

Annual revenue per employee: $1,093,892

Annual profit per employee: $214,768

Employees: 20,164



Industry Laggard: Convergys Corp. (CVG)

Annual revenue per employee: $36,855

Annual profit per employee: -$1,344

Employees: 75,000



Complete Sector Information

Materials

Industry Leader: CF Industries (CF)Annual revenue per employee: $2,622,933Annual profit per employee: $391,133Employees: 1,500Industry Laggard: Ecolab Inc. (ECL)Annual revenue per employee: $227,464Annual profit per employee: $15,204Employees: 26,500

Industry Leader: CF Industries (CF)

Annual revenue per employee: $2,622,933

Annual profit per employee: $391,133

Employees: 1,500



Industry Laggard: Ecolab Inc. (ECL)

Annual revenue per employee: $227,464

Annual profit per employee: $15,204

Employees: 26,500



Complete Sector Information

Telecommunication Services

Industry Leader: American Tower Corp. (AMT)Annual revenue per employee: $1,349,998Annual profit per employee: $208,207Employees: 1,198Industry Laggard: Embarq Corp. (EQ)Annual revenue per employee: $368,388Annual profit per employee: $47,313Employees: 15,000 Photo: TheBusyBrain

Industry Leader: American Tower (AMT)

Annual revenue per employee: $1,349,998

Annual profit per employee: $208,207

Employees: 1,198



Industry Laggard: Embarq Corp. (EQ)

Annual revenue per employee: $368,388

Annual profit per employee: $47,313

Employees: 15,000



Complete Sector Information

Energy