( CNN ) -- Walmart has leapfrogged Royal Dutch Shell as the world 's largest company , topping the Fortune magazine Global 500 ranking . The U.S. retail giant has returned to the top spot with $ 476 billion revenue , up 1.5 % compared to last year , after missing out to Shell for two years . The Fortune Global 500 ranks world 's largest companies based on revenue . Here 's what the list reveals : . U.S. keeps top spot -- for now . With 128 companies , the U.S. remains the most represented country , at least `` for now , '' Fortune said . Four American companies dropped off the list this year , while China gained six new representatives . China now has 95 companies in the top 500 . The top ranks are diverse , with seven countries are represented within the top 10 . Three of the companies from China while two are from the U.S . There are also companies from the Netherlands , UK , Switzerland , Germany and Japan . Chinese newcomers dominate . Seven of the 23 newly-listed Fortune 500 companies are Chinese . The China Development Bank is the highest-ranking newcomer , coming in at number 122 . According to the bank , it supported the government 's economic policies with more than $ 160 billion in loans . Pacific Construction Group was the highest-ranking private company , leap-frogging into number 166 spot . Russian sanctions impact limited . Two Russian corporations debuted on the Global 500 , bringing the total number of the country 's companies on the list to eight . Russian VTB Bank , the country 's second largest banking group , and the power networks company Russian Grids made their first appearance in the Global 500 , despite Western sanctions imposed on the country following Russia 's seizure of Crimea . Gazprom , Russia 's state-owned energy giant , has improved its standing within the top 20 . It has climbed from 21 to 17 , despite being at the center of the Ukraine crisis . Gazprom signed a huge gas deal with China in May , securing an estimated $ 456 billion over the 30-year term . The gender gap . Judging by the number of women heading the world 's largest companies , the gender gap is larger on the global stage than it is in the U.S. Only 17 of the Global 500 companies have a female CEOs , compared to 24 in the U.S.-only Fortune 500 ranking . Last year , only 12 women made it into the elite club of Global 500 CEOs . The climbers . Four companies within the top 20 have jumped four ranks up compared to last year . Russia 's Gazprom climbed from 21 to 17 . Apple jumped from 19 to 15 despite disappointing sales in 2013 . Meanwhile , billionaire investor Warren Buffett saw his Berkshire Hathaway move from 18 to 14 , and French insurance giant Axa jumped from 20 to 16 . Read more : Will Russia 's friendship with China work ? Read more : What China 's Xi Jinping wants from Europe .
The Russian VTB Bank magazine 's Global 500 list ranks world 's largest companies based on revenue . Four Chinese companies are newly included in the list , bringing the total of Chinese corporations to Seven . Four Chinese companies dropped off the list Last year , but the U.S. still leads with .