As we approach America’s 250th birthday, I recall how exciting it was to be a kid for the Bicentennial celebrations.
There was a naval parade in New York, and Johnny Cash was the Grand Marshal of the U.S. Bicentennial parade in Washington, D.C. What’s more American than that?
(Unfortunately for me, my appreciation of Johnny Cash didn’t develop for a few more years.)
In 1976, the most iconic American companies included IBM (NYSE: IBM), General Motors (NYSE: GM), and Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM).
Also that year, while it wasn’t on anyone’s radar yet, one of the most iconic American companies in history was founded: Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), then known as Apple Computer.
Which current businesses will go on to become the next iconic American companies?
1. SpaceX (Nasdaq: SPCX)
Founded by Elon Musk, SpaceX is located in Starbase, Texas.
The company is changing the way we explore and use space. If we ever step foot on another planet, it is likely SpaceX will have an important role in that historic achievement.
SpaceX is expected to turn profitable next year, and once it does, earnings are projected to take off like, well, a rocket ship. Analysts forecast earnings per share to rise from $0.20 in 2027 to $13.72 in 2035 − an astonishing 70% compound annual growth rate.
In 1919, no one could have imagined a human walking on the moon by 1969. No one knows what our extraterrestrial achievements will be 50 years from now, but I bet SpaceX will be a major part of them.
And what’s more American than testing the boundaries of space?
2. Nvidia (Nasdaq: NVDA)
Based in Silicon Valley, California, Nvidia is the dominant name in tech.
What was once a chip company for video games has become arguably the most important company on the planet.
Nvidia’s chips are vital for the use and expansion of artificial intelligence.
One of its new, game-changing advancements is a “superchip” that enables Windows PCs to function as personal AI agents.
With a market cap of over $4.5 trillion, Nvidia is currently the most valuable publicly traded company in the world.
While the company is hardly a secret, earnings are forecast to grow 8X over the next 10 years.
3. Aurora Innovation (Nasdaq: AUR)
Aurora is not exactly Apple in 1976. It has an actual corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that is not a founder’s garage.
It is not yet a household name. But I believe it will be.
Aurora is the leader in self-driving trucks. This is the future. It’s happening, usually with a human in the cab.
These trucks are already on the road. Volvo said that in early 2027, it will remove the safety driver from its autonomous trucks.
Self-driving trucks don’t need to take breaks, don’t get tired, and don’t get distracted by fights with their spouses. They will speed up transportation time and be more cost-efficient.
I expect self-driving trucks to be everywhere in a short amount of time.
Aurora is not yet profitable but is expected to be by 2030.
The Land of Boundless Opportunity
The great thing about America is a kid with a dream can create something in their garage and turn it into a great − even iconic − business that employs thousands, changes the world, and makes investors rich.
What do you think will be the next iconic American companies? Let us know in the comments below.