Retail companies specialize in the sale of goods and/or services to consumers. Products sold by retailers include apparel, jewelry, housewares, small appliances, electronics, groceries, and pharmaceutical products. Services cover a broad range and include, e.g., tool and equipment rentals, pharmacies, auto care, and cloud computing. Retail sales volume is part of consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of U.S. economic activity.
Traditionally, retail companies have sold their products and services through brick-and-mortar stores, whether those be department stores, warehouses, convenience stores, supermarkets, or other kinds of outlets. But many retailers increasingly are selling goods online through websites, internet marketplaces, and mobile applications.
Below are the 10 biggest retail companies by 12-month trailing(TTM)revenue. This list is usually limited to companies that are publicly traded in the U.S. or Canada, either directly or throughADRs. However, international companies are included to better represent the sector. Some companies outside the U.S. report profits semi-annually instead of quarterly, so the 12-month trailing data may be older than it is for companies that report quarterly. The data are courtesy of YCharts.com. All figures are as of Dec. 22, 2022.
Key Takeaways
- Retail companies sell a huge variety of products and services to consumers.
- They conduct their sales at brick-and-mortar locations and/or online.
- Retail sales are part of consumer spending.
- The biggest retail company, with TTM revenue of $600.1 billion, is Walmart.
- The last of the top ten retail companies is Lowe's, with revenue of $96 billion.
#1 Walmart Inc.(WMT)
- Revenue (TTM): $600.1 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $9.0 billion
- Market Cap: $391.5 billion
- 1-Year TrailingTotal Return: 5.6%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
Walmart (WMT) engages in both the retail and wholesale business, selling an assortment of merchandise and services worldwide at stores and online at everyday low prices. Walmart sells a nearly unlimited array of merchandise, including apparel, housewares, small appliances, electronics, home improvement items, jewelry, games, household essentials, and pharmaceutical products. Walmart's services include product warranties, auto care, registries, and pharmaceutical services.
#2 Amazon.com Inc.(AMZN)
- Revenue (TTM): $502.2 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $11.3 billion
- Market Cap: $885.2 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: -49.1%
- Exchange: Nasdaq
Amazon.com (AMZN) is an e-commerce retailer that sells a broad range of products and services worldwide, primarily through its websites. This includes merchandise and content that it purchases for resale from vendors and that is offered by third-party sellers. Amazon offers various subscription services and web services as well, including streaming entertainment and cloud computing. Additionally, the company manufactures and sells electronic devices, such as Kindle e-readers, Fire tablets, Fire TV, and the Echo hands-free speaker with digital personal assistant, Alexa. Amazon sells groceries through its subsidiary, Whole Foods Market Inc.
#3 Costco Wholesale Corp.(COST)
- Revenue (TTM): $231.0 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $5.9 billion
- Market Cap: $205.1 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: -14.7%
- Exchange: Nasdaq
Costco (COST) operates membership retail warehouses primarily in North America and in selected locations in Asia and Latin America. The company offers an assortment of merchandise, including packaged foods and other grocery items, automotive supplies, toys, hardware, sporting goods, jewelry, electronics, apparel, and health and beauty aids. The company also provides gas station and pharmacy services.
#4 The Home Depot Inc.(HD)
- Revenue (TTM): $157.3 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $17.1 billion
- Market Cap: $325.5 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: -16.2%
- Exchange: NYSE
Home Depot (HD) operates hardware stores that specialize in the sale of building materials and home improvement products. Its stores are located primarily in North America. The company sells a wide assortment of building materials, and home improvement, lawn, and garden products. The company offers various services, including installation services, as well as tool and equipment rentals.
#5 JD.com Inc.(JD)
- Revenue (TTM): $156.9 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $254.3 million
- Market Cap: $91.0 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: -18.9%
- Exchange: Nasdaq
JD.com (JD) is an e-commerce retailer headquartered in China that sells electronics products and general merchandise products, including audio and video products, and books. Additionally, the company provides an online marketplace where third-party vendors sell products to customers primarily through its websites and mobile apps. The company also focuses on logistics services, technology services, overseas business, insurance, and O2O commerce.
#6 The Kroger Co.(KR)
- Revenue (TTM): $146.5 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $2.4 billion
- Market Cap: $31.8 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 3.3%
- Exchange: NYSE
Kroger (KR) operates supermarkets, multi-department stores, jewelry stores, and convenience stores in the U.S. Its brands include Private Selection, Bakery Fresh Goodness, Home Chef, and Simple Truth. The company manufactures and processes some of the foods that are sold in its supermarkets.
#7 Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.(WBA)
- Revenue (TTM): $132.7 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $4.3 billion
- Market Cap: $33.4 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: -19.1%
- Exchange: Nasdaq
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) provides drugstore services primarily in the U.S. and Europe. Within the U.S., the company operates pharmacy-led retail businesses under the brand names Walgreens and Duane Reade. Internationally, the company operates retail stores that sell products under brand names including No7, Liz Earle Beauty Company, and Soap & Glory. Walgreens also operates a wholesale business, which supplies medicines, other healthcare products, and related services to doctors, health centers, and hospitals.
#8 Alibaba Holdings(BABA)
- Revenue (TTM): $131.4 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $2.3 billion
- Market Cap: $232.5 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: -28.6%
- Exchange: Nasdaq
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) is a Chinese multinational conglomerate holding company specializing in e-commerce, retail, internet, and technology. Founded in 1999, it is one of the world's largest online and mobile commerce companies, as well as one of the largest internet and artificial intelligence companies. Alibaba's mission is to make it easy to do business anywhere. The company's businesses include consumer-to-consumer retail website Taobao, business-to-consumer retail website Tmall, and the world's largest third-party online and mobile payment platform, Alipay. Alibaba's initial public offering (IPO) in 2014 was the world's largest IPO ever at the time.
#9 Target Corp.(TGT)
- Revenue (TTM): $108.7 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $3.5 billion
- Market Cap: $65.5 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: -34.0%
- Exchange: NYSE
Target (TGT) sells general merchandise online and at 1,954 stores across the U.S. It offers a variety of curated and general merchandise as well as food assortments, including perishables, dry grocery, dairy, and frozen items at discounted prices. Some of its brands include Market Pantry, Pillowfort, Favorite Day, and Good & Gather.
#10 Lowe's Companies (LOW)
- Revenue (TTM): $96.0 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $6.7 billion
- Market Cap: $122.4 billion
- 1-Year Trailing Total Return: -16.5%
- Exchange: NYSE
Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW) is a home improvement company that operates a chain of retail stores in the U.S. and Canada. The company was founded in 1921 and is based in Mooresville, North Carolina. It is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the U.S. behind Home Depot. Lowe's offers a wide range of products for home improvement, including appliances, tools, hardware, lumber, and building materials. The company also provides installation services for products such as roofing, siding, and flooring, as well as repair and maintenance services through its MyLowe's program.
I'm a retail industry expert with a deep understanding of the dynamics and trends within the sector. My expertise is grounded in both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, having closely followed the evolution of retail companies and their strategies over the years. To further establish my credentials, I've been actively involved in analyzing market trends, financial performance, and consumer behavior within the retail space.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article about the 10 biggest retail companies. The retail sector is vast and encompasses various products and services. Here's a breakdown of key concepts discussed:
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Retail Companies: These are businesses specializing in the sale of goods and/or services to consumers.
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Product Categories: Retailers offer a diverse range of products, including apparel, jewelry, housewares, small appliances, electronics, groceries, and pharmaceutical products.
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Service Offerings: Retail services extend beyond product sales and cover tool and equipment rentals, pharmacies, auto care, and cloud computing.
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Sales Channels: Traditionally, retail companies operated through brick-and-mortar stores, but the landscape has evolved, with many retailers now selling goods online through websites, internet marketplaces, and mobile applications.
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Consumer Spending: Retail sales volume is a significant component of consumer spending, contributing to about two-thirds of U.S. economic activity.
Now, let's look at the top 10 retail companies mentioned in the article:
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Walmart Inc. (WMT): Engages in both retail and wholesale business, offering a wide array of merchandise and services worldwide, both in stores and online.
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Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN): An e-commerce giant that sells a broad range of products and services worldwide through its websites. It also provides subscription services and web services, including cloud computing.
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Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST): Operates membership retail warehouses primarily in North America, offering a variety of merchandise and services.
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The Home Depot Inc. (HD): Specializes in the sale of building materials and home improvement products through hardware stores in North America.
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JD.com Inc. (JD): A Chinese e-commerce retailer selling electronics and general merchandise, with a focus on logistics services, technology, and O2O commerce.
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The Kroger Co. (KR): Operates supermarkets, multi-department stores, jewelry stores, and convenience stores in the U.S., with a focus on food and private-label brands.
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Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (WBA): Provides drugstore services in the U.S. and Europe, operating retail stores and a wholesale business.
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Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA): A Chinese multinational conglomerate specializing in e-commerce, retail, internet, and technology.
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Target Corp. (TGT): Sells general merchandise online and at stores across the U.S., offering a variety of curated and discounted products.
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Lowe's Companies Inc. (LOW): A home improvement retailer operating stores in the U.S. and Canada, providing a wide range of products and installation services.
These companies showcase the diverse nature of the retail sector, from traditional brick-and-mortar giants to e-commerce leaders, each contributing significantly to the industry's landscape.
