Vibrant capitalism and Silicon Valley: The secret sauce of US equities

What sets companies on both sides of the Atlantic apart?

clock • 6 min read

In 1962, a young Stanford graduate and former middle-distance runner named Phil Knight sold his car and bought a ticket to Japan, at the time a leading supplier of sprinting shoes.

Once there he persuaded a local manufacturer, Onitsuka, to grant him exclusive distribution rights over its Tiger line in the Western US. The business he built on the back of the agreement became the $100bn powerhouse Nike, while Tiger trainers' original owner, now renamed Asics, is listed in Japan with a market value of about $3bn. This story illustrates the superior innovation, dominance and management skill of US companies. Other enduring American franchises that have conquered international markets include Coca Cola, Starbucks, McDonald's, Disney, Apple and Colgate.  Chamber...

To continue reading this article...

Join Investment Week for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, analysis and opinion from the investment industry, including the Sustainable Hub covering fund news from the ESG space
  • Get ahead of regulatory and technological changes affecting fund management
  • Important and breaking news stories selected by the editors delivered straight to your inbox each day
  • Weekly members-only newsletter with exclusive opinion pieces from leading industry experts
  • Be the first to hear about our extensive events schedule and awards programmes

Join now

 

Already an Investment Week
member?

Login

More on US

Trump confirms copper tariffs and punishes Brazil with 50% levies
US

Trump confirms copper tariffs and punishes Brazil with 50% levies

Latest escalation in global trade war

Sorin Dojan
clock 10 July 2025 • 2 min read
Trump's 50% tariff threat sends copper prices to record highs
US

Trump's 50% tariff threat sends copper prices to record highs

Pharma imports also in danger

Sorin Dojan
clock 09 July 2025 • 1 min read
JPMAM's Katie Magee: US equities provide a lesson in long-term thinking

JPMAM's Katie Magee: US equities provide a lesson in long-term thinking

Test of investor resolve

Katie Magee
clock 04 July 2025 • 3 min read
Trustpilot