L'Oréal has moved ahead of LVMH to become the largest company by market capitalisation in France, according to reports from French outlets including 20 Minutes, Les Echos, Le Figaro and Boursorama. The change at the top of the CAC 40 was reported on Wednesday, 16 September 2026.
The shift in ranking came as the Paris stock exchange traded in decline, according to Boursorama. Several outlets described the move as L'Oréal taking the crown of France's biggest listed company from LVMH, the luxury group that had held the position.
Coverage of the change was carried by multiple French financial and general news publishers on the same day, with 20 Minutes framing it as a reshuffle at the head of the CAC 40. The reports did not, in the material available, set out the share prices or market values behind the new ordering.
Market capitalisation rankings among France's largest companies are closely watched because they reflect shifts in investor sentiment across sectors such as luxury, cosmetics and consumer goods. LVMH and L'Oréal have long been among the most valuable firms listed in Paris.
What to watch next: whether L'Oréal holds the top spot in the sessions ahead, and how the two companies' shares perform as the CAC 40 continues trading.