<div id="readability-page-1"><div><p>In the latest look at the underlying components of the S&amp;P 500 ordered by largest market capitalization, Host Hotels &amp; Resorts Inc (Symbol: HST) has taken over the #439 spot from APA Corp (Symbol: APA), according to The Online Investor.</p><p>Market capitalization is an important data point for investors to keep an eye on, for various reasons.  The most basic reason is that it gives a true comparison of the value attributed by the stock market to a given company's stock.  Many beginning investors look at one stock trading at $10 and another trading at $20 and mistakenly think the latter company is worth twice as much — that of course is a completely meaningless comparison without knowing how many shares of each company exist.  But comparing market capitalization (factoring in those share counts) creates a true &#34;apples-to-apples&#34; comparison of the value of two stocks.  In the case of Host Hotels &amp; Resorts Inc (Symbol: HST), the market cap is now $14.90 billion, versus APA Corp (Symbol: APA) at $13.54 billion.   </p><p>Below is a chart of Host Hotels &amp; Resorts Inc versus APA Corp plotting their respective size rank within the S&amp;P 500 over time (HST plotted in blue; APA plotted in green):  <img height="340" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://secure.tickertech.com/pics/2026/22240666761.gif?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="600" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://secure.tickertech.com/pics/2026/22240666761.gif"/> </p><p>Below is a three month price history chart comparing the stock performance of HST vs. APA:   </p><p><img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://secure.tickertech.com/pics/2026/22240666762.gif?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="600" height="340" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://secure.tickertech.com/pics/2026/22240666762.gif"/> </p><p>Another reason market capitalization is important is where it places a company in terms of its size tier in relation to peers — much like the way a mid-size sedan is typically compared to other mid-size sedans (and not SUV's).  This can have a direct impact on which mutual funds and ETFs are willing to own the stock.  For instance, a mutual fund that is focused solely on Large Cap stocks may for example only be interested in those companies sized $10 billion or larger.  Another illustrative example is the S&amp;P MidCap index which essentially takes the S&amp;P 500 index and &#34;tosses out&#34; the biggest 100 companies so as to focus solely on the 400 smaller &#34;up-and-comers&#34; (which in the right environment can outperform their larger rivals).  So a company's market cap, especially in relation to other companies, carries great importance, and for this reason we at The Online Investor find value to putting together these rankings daily.   </p><p>Examine the full HST market cap history vs. the full APA market cap history.   </p><p>At the closing bell, HST is off about 0.1%, while APA is trading flat on the day Thursday.  </p><p> <img height="16" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://www.dividendchannel.com/nslideshow.gif?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="16" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://www.dividendchannel.com/nslideshow.gif"/> The 20 Largest U.S. Companies By Market Capitalization » </p> <h5>Also see:</h5><p>   Cheap Financial Stocks<br/>   GSB Videos<br/>   Earnings Calendar</p><p>The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.</p> </div></div>

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<p>Host Hotels & Resorts Inc (HST) has surpassed APA Corp (APA) to become the 439th largest company in the S&P 500, with a market capitalization of $14.90 billion compared to APA's $13.54 billion. Market capitalization is crucial for investors as it provides a true comparison of company values, influencing mutual fund and ETF investments. HST's stock performance is slightly down by 0.1%, while APA remains flat. This ranking highlights the importance of market cap in assessing company size and investment potential.</p>

- Host Hotels & Resorts Inc (HST) has taken the #439 spot in the S&P 500, surpassing APA Corp (APA) with a market cap of $14.90 billion compared to APA's $13.54 billion.  
- Market capitalization is crucial for investors as it allows for accurate comparisons of company value beyond just stock prices.  
- HST's slight decline of 0.1% contrasts with APA's stable performance on the trading day, highlighting their differing positions in the market.

Host Hotels & Resorts Now #439 Largest Company, Surpassing APA