The bar to qualify as one of the largest companies in the world is constantly rising. This is because as publicly traded businesses continue to increase revenue and earnings, they become more valuable over time.

But a trillion-dollar market capitalization will likely rank a company among the largest in the world for a very long time. With a $427 billion market capitalization, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is currently the 15th largest publicly traded business on the planet. But could the company realistically reach the 13-digit market cap milestone in 15 years? Let's examine the pharmaceutical industry and J&J's fundamentals to decide. 

Before considering Johnson & Johnson's potential, it's important to consider the state of the industry in which J&J primarily operates (pharmaceuticals). Sure, company quality matters a lot. But it's very difficult for a business to expand if it is operating in a dying industry.

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Source Fool.com