- Dogs
- Question Marks
- Cash Cows
- Stars
A BCG Matrix compares products or business units using market growth and relative market share. The four quadrants are Stars, Cash Cows, Question Marks, and Dogs, and the point is not simply to label products but to decide where a company may invest, maintain, harvest, or reconsider resources.
The examples below use recognizable brands to show how the same framework can look in different industries. As you compare Coca-Cola, Samsung, Apple, Nestlé and other companies, focus on the two axes, why an item falls into a quadrant, and how a BCG example can change when market growth or competitive position changes. That makes the examples more useful for students than memorizing a fixed four-box answer.
15 Examples of BCG Matrix (of famous companies)
Try the app & get 500 free AI tokens
1. BCG Matrix of Coca-Cola
Stage 1. Choose the Product/Firm/Brand
Stage 2. Calculate Relative Market Share & Find out the Market Growth Rate
By and tremendous Growth rate in Coke is that it is no: in more than 200 countries.
Stage 3. Draw the Circles on a Matrix
2. BCG Matrix of Samsung
Stage 1. Choose the product/firm/brand
We picked the firm Samsung for investigation.
Stage 2. Calculate Relative Market Share & Find out the Market Growth Rate
The picked market is the consumer electronics industry which incorporates smartphones, computers, tablets, etc.
Stage 3. Calculate Relative Market Share
By and tremendous Growth rate in Samsung home appliances by making 60% of the sales.
Stage 4. Draw the circles on a matrix
3. BCG Matrix of L'Oréal
Stage 1. Choose the product/firm/brand
We pick the firm L'Oréal for investigation.
Stage 2. Identify Market
The picked market is the Cosmetics Industry, which essentially incorporates Skincare, Makeup, Haircare, Hair shading, and Fragrances.
Stage 3. Calculate Relative Market Share
Stage 4. Find out the Market Growth rate
By and tremendous Growth rate in Cosmetics Industry (starting at 2018) = 4.8%
Stage 5. Draw the circles on a matrix
4. BCG Matrix of PepsiCo
5. BCG Matrix of Apple
6. BCG Matrix of Nestle
7. BCG Matrix of Unilever
BCG Matrix Examples 8-15
- McDonald's: compare business or product categories by growth and relative share.
- KFC: compare mature and faster-growth markets.
- Amazon: contrast e-commerce, cloud, devices, and subscriptions.
- Toyota: compare established vehicle lines with newer technologies.
- P&G: assess consumer brands across categories.
- Google: compare mature advertising with newer growth areas.
- Nike: compare product categories or market segments.
- Microsoft: compare cloud, productivity, gaming, and other businesses.
These are learning examples. Use current market data and a clear market definition before assigning any quadrant.
When Is a BCG Matrix Most Useful?
Best fit: comparing a portfolio of products or business units by market growth and relative market share. Limitation: the two-axis model does not capture profitability, synergies, or every strategic factor, and quadrant positions can change as markets mature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the four BCG Matrix quadrants mean?
Stars are high-growth/high-share; Cash Cows high-share/lower-growth; Question Marks high-growth/lower-share; Dogs lower-growth/lower-share.
Can a product move between BCG quadrants?
Yes. A product can move as market growth and relative share change, so the matrix should be updated rather than treated as a permanent label.
EdrawMind
AppsEdrawMind Online
