Four Chinese companies grabbed their spots in the global club of the top 10 companies that earned the most in 2017, according to a list by cn.nikkei.com.

Based on the companies' performance and the financial database Quick FactSet, the media organization analyzed data involving 8,700 companies in approximately 100 countries.

Apple Inc topped the list for the third consecutive year with a net profit increase of 6 percent to $48.4 billion, followed by British American Tobacco and Berkshire Hathaway Inc, with respective net profits of $48.3 billion and $44.9 billion.

At the same time, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank of China and Bank of China took the fourth, sixth, ninth and 10th spots.

Here's the full top 10 list:

No 10 Bank of China

Net profits: $24.5 billion