Here Are the 10 Largest San Diego Publicly Traded Companies

San Diego is known as America’s Finest City for its weather, beaches, and vibrant culture. However, the Southern California city also has a booming local economy helmed by a few major corporations. But what are the top publicly traded companies in San Diego?

Although its local economy is dominated by biotechnology, tourism, and the military, San Diego’s top publicly traded firms are relatively diverse and cover industries from cellular technology to pet retail.

Here’s everything you need to know about San Diego’s biggest companies.

1. Qualcomm

Qualcomm is one of San Diego’s largest publicly traded companies, and its technology might go a lot further than you think. Qualcomm is a major chip manufacturer for consumer technology, and its semiconductor technologies are seen in everything from Apple smartphones to Android devices. Founded in 1985, Qualcomm is also pioneering advanced wireless and semiconductor technology, including 5G connectivity and artificial intelligence. As a Fortune 500 company, the tech giant is a major contributor to San Diego’s economy.

IPO Date: 1991
$1,000 Invested Today (June 2025): 15 shares worth $159 as of writing
$1,000 Invested 5 Years Ago: $2,172 today, a return of 117.2%.
$1,000 Invested 10 Years Ago: $3,157 today, a return of 215.71%
$1,000 Invested 20 Years Ago: $6,915, a return of 591.54%

2. Sempra

Based in San Diego, Sempra is a public utility holding company that owns and operates both electric and natural gas utilities around the country. Some of its subsidiaries include San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and the Southern California Gas Company. Along with its utility holdings, the company is also a major developer of natural gas export equipment and infrastructure.

IPO Date: 1998
$1,000 Invested Today (June 2025): 13 shares worth $76.23 as of writing
$1,000 Invested 5 Years Ago: $1,200, return of 20%
$1,000 Invested 10 Years Ago: $1,500, return of 50%
$1,000 Invested 20 Years Ago: $2,300, return of 130%

3. Realty Income

One of the largest publicly traded companies in San Diego is a real estate investment trust that invests in commercial properties across the globe, including the U.S., U.K., and six other countries in Europe. It currently holds more than 13,000 properties, and its tenants include a number of high-profile brands like Dollar General and Walgreens. It’s a popular choice among income-focused investors thanks to its generally recession-proof clients.

IPO Date: 1994
$1,000 Invested Today (June 2025): 17 shares worth $57.96 as of writing
$1,000 Invested 5 Years Ago: $1,100, return of 10%
$1,000 Invested 10 Years Ago: $1,650, return of 65%
$1,000 Invested 20 Years Ago: $2,600, return of 160%

4. Illumina

San Diego is well-known to be a hotspot for biotechnology and genomic research, so it’s no wonder that one of its most prominent publicly traded companies is Illumina. The firm is a global innovator in DNA sequencing and genomic technology, and its intellectual property is used in a plethora of modern genetic research, from cancer diagnostics to DNA ancestry tests.

IPO Date: 2000
$1,000 Invested Today (June 2025): 11 shares worth $88.13 as of writing
$1,000 Invested 5 Years Ago: $900, loss of -10%
$1,000 Invested 10 Years Ago: $1,000, return of 0%
$1,000 Invested 20 Years Ago: $5,000, return of 400%

5. ResMed

ResMed is a San Diego-based manufacturer of medical devices that was first founded in 1989. It designs, tests, and manufactures a number of consumer and medical equipment, though it’s primarily focused on respiratory conditions. For example, ResMed’s popular technology includes devices aimed at treating sleep apnea or COPD. Although based in San Diego, ResMed has a significant international presence, and its software and hardware offerings are used across the world.

IPO Date: 1995
$1,000 Invested Today (June 2025): 4 shares worth $252.21 as of writing
$1,000 Invested 5 Years Ago: $1,600, return of 60%
$1,000 Invested 10 Years Ago: $2,200, return of 120%
$1,000 Invested 20 Years Ago: $4,500, return of 350%

6. Dexcom

Dexcom is a national firm specializing in diabetes management technology. Founded in 1999, the company makes a number of different continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) for diabetes management and treatment. In recent years, it has become a major leader in the growing health wearables space, since its G-series CGMs are able to integrate into existing technology like Apple Health and other platforms.

IPO Date: 2005
$1,000 Invested Today (June 2025): 12 shares worth $82.85 as of writing
$1,000 Invested 5 Years Ago: $3,300, return of 230%
$1,000 Invested 10 Years Ago: $4,500, return of 350%
$1,000 Invested 20 Years Ago: $20,000, return of 1,900%

7. Petco

If you own a pet, you already know what Petco is. The company operates more than 1,500 pet stores in the U.S. and Mexico, offering a wide variety of different treats, food, accessories, and other products for all types of furry friends. Along with its retail storefront, Petco also provides both digital services and veterinary clinics for pet owners. It has gone public and private multiple times during its run, but its most recent IPO was in 2021.

IPO Date: 2002, but re-IPO in 2021
$1,000 Invested Today (June 2025): 384 shares worth $2.60 as of writing
$1,000 Invested Since 2021 IPO: $900, loss of -10%
$1,000 Invested at 2002 IPO: $5,000, return of 400%

8. LPL Financial

IPO Date: 2010
$1,000 Invested Today (June 2025): 12 shares worth $82.85 as of writing
$1,000 Invested 5 Years Ago: $1,500, return of 50%
$1,000 Invested 10 Years Ago: $2,200, return of 120%
$1,000 Invested 20 Years Ago: $5,000, return of 400%

9. Mirati Therapeutics

Mirati Therapeutics is a San Diego biotechnology company that specializes in oncology. Its targeted cancer therapies focus on a range of different diseases, including treatments for rare genetic mutations like KRAS. It was acquired by another San Diego biopharmaceutical company – Bristol Myers Squibb – in 2023, but is still trading as an independent entity.

IPO Date: 2013
$1,000 Invested Today (June 2025): 17 shares worth $58.70 as of writing
$1,000 Invested 5 Years Ago: $1,400, return of 40%
$1,000 Invested 10 Years Ago: $2,200, return of 120%
$1,000 Invested Since IPO (2013): $4,000, return of 300%

10. Fate Therapeutics

Founded in 2013, Fate Therapeutics is a San Diego-based cell therapy and biotechnology company. It’s best known for its pioneering off-the-shelf therapies using innovative modalities, such as induced pluripotent stem cell technology. Its therapies can treat cancer and immune disorders. While its stock has historically been volatile, it’s still in its early, pre-revenue stage as a firm.

IPO Date: 2013
$1,000 Invested Today (June 2025): 714 shares worth $1.40 as of writing
$1,000 Invested 5 Years Ago: $1,200, return of 20%
$1,000 Invested 10 Years Ago: $1,800, return of 80%
$1,000 Invested Since IPO (2013): $4,000, return of 300%

San Diego Isn’t Just a Beach Town

Although often overshadowed by San Francisco and Los Angeles, San Diego has a robust and growing economy all its own. From tech giants to innovative medical research firms, the city has a number of high-profile companies that might just be the next best investment you can make.