The 50 largest public companies are listed. For the full list, please see the Crain's Chicago Book of Lists, available in the Office of Career Services.

Archer Daniels Midland Co. (Decatur, IL)
Agricultural products

Boeing Co. (Chicago, IL)
Aerospace, defense

Walgreen Co. (Deerfield, IL)
Drugstores, mail-order pharmaceuticals

Caterpillar Inc. (Peoria, IL)
Construction and farm machinery, heavy trucks

Sears Holdings Corp. (Hoffman Estates, IL)
Department stores

Kraft Foods Inc. (Northfield, IL)
Snacks, beverages, packaged meals

Motorola Inc. (Schaumburg, IL)
Communications equipment

Abbott Laboratories (North Chicago, IL)
Phamaceuticals

Allstate Corp. (Northbrook, IL)
Property, casualty, and life insurance

Deere & Co. (Moline, IL)
Construction and farm machinery, heavy trucks

McDonald's Corp. (Oak Brook, IL)
Fast-food restaurants

UAL Corp. (Chicago, IL)
Airline

Exelon Corp. (Chicago, IL)
Electricity supplier

Illinois Tool Works Inc. (Glenview, IL)
Industrial machinery

Navistar International Corp. (Warrenville, IL)
Manufacturer of buses, commercial trucks, military vehicles 

Integrys Energy Group Inc. (Chicago, IL)
Public utility holding company

Sara Lee Corp. (Downers Grove, IL)
Food, food-service and personal products

Baxter International Inc. (Deerfield, IL)
Medical products and services

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. (Chicago, IL)
Commercial printing

OfficeMax Inc. (Naperville, IL)
Office supplies 

CNA Financial Corp. (Chicago, IL)
Property and casualty insurance

Aon Corp. (Chicago, IL)
Insurance brokerage

Fortune Brands, Inc. (Deerfield, IL)
Housewares, distilled spirits, golf equipment

Discover Financial Services (Riverwoods, IL)
Credit card issuer

W.W. Grainger Inc. (Lake Forest, IL)
Maintenance equipment and supplies

Anixter International Inc. (Glenview, IL)
Communications and specialty wire and cable products

Tenneco Inc. (Lake Forest, IL)
Auto parts and equipment

Northern Trust Corp. (Chicago, IL)
Commercial banks

Telephone & Data Systems Inc. (Chicago, IL)
Wireless telecommunications services

United Stationers Inc. (Deerfield, IL)
Office products

Brunswick Corp. (Lake Forest, IL)
Leisure products

USG Corp. (Chicago, IL)
Holding company for building supply companies

U.S. Cellular Corp. (Chicago, IL)
Wireless telecommunications services

Nalco Holding Co. (Naperville, IL)
Water treatment, process improvement

Corn Products International Inc. (Westchester, IL)
Agricultural products

CF Industries Holdings Inc. (Deerfield, IL)
Agricultural products

Nicor Inc. (Naperville, IL)
Gas distribution

Hospira Inc. (Lake Forest, IL)
Pharmaceutical and medication-delivery equipment

Pactiv Corp. (Lake Forest, IL)
Plastic bags, packaging

General Growth Properties (Chicago, IL)
Real estate investment trust

Molex Inc. (Lisle, IL)
Electronic components

Old Republic International Corp. (Chicago, IL)
Insurance holding company

Hewitt Associates Inc. (Lincolnshire, IL)
Human resources outsourcing and consulting

Unitrin Inc. (Chicago, IL)
Insurance and financial services

Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. (Chicago, IL)
Real estate management, development

CME Group Inc. (Chicago, IL)
Security and commodity brokers

Packaging Corp. of America (Lake Forest, IL)
Paper packaging

Equity Residential (Chicago, IL)
Real estate investment trust

Sauer-Danfoss Inc. (Lincolnshire, IL)
Auto parts and equipment

AptarGroup Inc. (Crystal Lake, IL)
Dispensing products