10 Largest Companies Based in the Washington D.C. Area

By: Team Stash

Published: Nov 22, 2017

• Updated: Jun 09, 2026

In this article:

1. 1. Lockheed Martin (LMT)
2. 2. Danaher (DHR)
3. 3. General Dynamics (GD)
4. 4. Northrop Grumman (NOC)
5. 5. Marriott International (MAR)
6. 6. Capital One Financial (COF)
7. 7. AvalonBay Communities (AVB)
8. 8. Hilton Worldwide (HLT)
9. 9. T. Rowe Price (TROW)
10. 10. Host Hotels & Resorts (HST)

Washington D.C., the crossroads of American politics and our nation’s political history, is known for its iconic monuments, grand buildings, and renowned museums. The nation’s capital welcomes 22 million visitors every year who flock to see its historic attractions.

The city is home to the White House, the official residence of the president of the United States, as well as the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court of the United States, and the Lincoln Memorial, a national monument honoring the sixteenth president.

The D.C. area is also a bustling business metropolis, playing host to numerous Fortune 500 companies spanning a wide array of industries.

These are the largest companies in the Washington D.C. area based on market cap as of November 2017. Market cap is the total dollar value of a company’s shares. It’s often used to evaluate a company’s market value.

1. Lockheed Martin (LMT)

• Headquarters: Bethesda, MD
• Market cap: $89.96 billion

Lockheed Martin is a military contractor known for its supersonic fighter aircrafts but the company also serves a number of civil and commercial clients. Lockheed manufactures products for various industries, including space, telecommunications, electronics, aeronautics, and energy.

Lockheed Martin designs the F-16 fighter jets, the F-35 stealth fighter, armored combat vehicles, missile launchers, as well as other advanced aircraft and munition systems. Its aeronautics division makes combat aircraft and UAVs, while some of its other divisions make satellites and space travel and air and missile defense systems, as well as ship and submarine combat technologies.

In 2016, the company posted net sales of $47.2 billion, nearly three-quarters of which came from sales to the U.S. government. The Department of Defense accounts for around 60% of those sales.

Lockheed has 97,000 employees worldwide. It’s also a large employer of U.S. military veterans, one in five of its employees has served in the armed forces.

2. Danaher (DHR)

• Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
• Market cap: $64.82 billion

Danaher, a diversified industrial and medical conglomerate, operates in a number of different industries, developing tools, conducting scientific research, and operating drinking water purification systems.

The company was built largely through acquisitions and has the following segments: life sciences; diagnostics; dental, including orthodontic bracket systems and lab products; environmental and applies solutions for two divisions: water quality and product identification.

3. General Dynamics (GD)

• Headquarters: Falls Church, VA
• Market cap: $59.78 billion

General Dynamics is another diversified defense company that offers a variety of products, including combat vehicles, weapons systems, nuclear-powered submarines, and aircrafts. Its Marine Systems division, which booked 2016 revenues of more than $8 billion, is a major shipbuilder for the U.S. Navy.

4. Northrop Grumman (NOC)

• Headquarters: Falls Church, VA
• Market cap: $52.30 billion

Northrop Grumman is a defense and security company known for its military equipment, bombers, satellites and drones.

5. Marriott International (MAR)

• Headquarters: Bethesda, MD
• Market cap: $44.87 billion

Marriott International is the world’s largest hotel chain. With i more than 1.1 million rooms in 125 countries, it eclipses other companies Hilton and Hyatt.

6. Capital One Financial (COF)

• Headquarters: McLean, VA
• Market cap: $41.69 billion

Capital One offers financial products, including personal banking services and loans, to consumers, small business owners and corporate clients.

7. AvalonBay Communities (AVB)

• Headquarters: Arlington, VA
• Market cap: $25.89 billion

This real estate investment trust ( REIT) develops and operates multifamily communities around the country.

8. Hilton Worldwide (HLT)

• Headquarters: McLean, VA
• Market cap: $23.33 billion

Hilton owns and manages hotels, resorts, and time share properties around the world. Its global empire includes nearly 5,000 hotels and resorts.

9. T. Rowe Price (TROW)

• Headquarters: Baltimore, MD
• Market cap: $22.89 billion

T. Rowe Price is a financial services company that provides asset management to individuals as well as institutional investors.

10. Host Hotels & Resorts (HST)

• Headquarters: Bethesda, MD
• Market cap: $14.78 billion

Host Hotels & Resorts owns luxury and full-service hotels around the world and is one of the largest real estate investment trusts (REITs).

Written by

Team Stash

We want to turn money into a source of hope and opportunity. We teach people how to build good habits, save more and make it easy and affordable to get started investing.