Retail businesses specialize in the sale of consumer goods and/or services. Retailers sell clothing, jewelry, housewares, small appliances, electronics, consumables, and medicinal products. Services include for example, tool and equipment rentals, pharmacies, auto care, and cloud computing. Retail sales volume is a component of consumer expenditure, which accounts for around two-thirds of all economic activity in the United States.

Historically, retail organizations have offered their products and services through physical storefronts, such as department stores, warehouses, convenience stores, supermarkets, and other types of outlets. However, many shops are rapidly offering their products online via websites, internet marketplaces, and mobile applications.

The top ten retail companies by 12-month trailing (TTM) revenue are listed below. This list is often restricted to firms that are publicly traded in the United States or Canada, either directly or via ADRs. International enterprises, on the other hand, are included to better reflect the sector. Because some corporations outside the United States disclose profits semi-annually rather than quarterly, the 12-month trailing statistics may be older than for companies that report quarterly. YCharts.com provided the data. All numbers are current as of December 22, 2022.

1. Walmart Inc. (WMT)

• Revenue (TTM): $600.1 billion
• Net Income (TTM): $9.0 billion
• Market Cap: $391.5 billion
• 1-Year Trailing Total 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.

Read Also: What is Sold The Most on Ecommerce?

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 program.

Small Shop Ideas That Make Good Money

Many people considering starting their first retail business wonder whether sort of store will be the most profitable. We have compiled a list of stores that are both required and profitable. Their order is compatible with each store’s profitability and potential maximum earnings, in our opinion.

1. Store with electronics, smartphones, laptops
The sale of valuable goods such as expensive electronics, smartphones, laptops, tablets or smartwatches is an effective way to earn big money even in a small store. However, the key condition for this is attracting the right number of customers. An example of this type of store is Apple Store selling Apple devices and accessories which is one of the most profitable store chains in the USA. Anyone can set up a similar store selling the highest quality electronics. Good design, selection of the best-selling and most profitable products, and good marketing will allow such a store to generate a really high income.

2. Jewelry store
A jewelry store is another very profitable business. Jewelry is characterized by a large profit margin, but it requires to have contact with good metalsmiths who will prepare and sell good quality jewelry to us. It is also profitable to buy cheap jewelry online (e.g. from Aliexpress) and then sell it with a huge margin (nice necklaces in China can be bought even for less than $ 1 per piece, and then can be sold 10 times more expensive).

3. Boutique
A good boutique selling good quality clothes is one of the best ideas for a business. People are willing to spend really big money to buy nice clothes, which is why the profit margin in this industry can be really high.

4. Stores selling sportswear
Stores selling sportswear are a good idea especially in large cities and in places where many people do sports, go to the gym and do yoga. Important for sportswear stores is also the fact that in recent years the fashion for athleisure has been increasing, which is wearing sportswear and clothing typical for athletic activity as a normal day outfit.

5. Shop with games and consoles
An ideal place to set up such a store is near every large school. In addition to games and consoles, you can also sell mice, keyboards, speakers, smartwatches, tablets, and various other gadgets with electronic accessories in such a store.

6. Organic food store
The popularity of organic food, especially in large cities, is increasing significantly and it is believed that they will be one of the most profitable businesses of the future. As you know, people are able to pay a lot of money for health. Meanwhile, organic food is equated with healthy food, while cheap food from supermarkets is considered unhealthy. This creates huge potential for organic food stores.

7. Gun store
The gun store is an interesting and profitable business, especially if there is no such store in your area and local people are interested in possessing a gun. To open a gun shop you must understand state and federal laws and meet their requirements.

8. Home Appliances
In every apartment or office, you need basic equipment such as a kettle, fridge or coffee maker, and often a TV. For this reason, a store like this is needed in every city, even in a small town.

9. Female Handbag store
Women’s fashion is one of the most profitable industries in business. Handbags, backpacks, purses, laptop bags or wallets are the most important examples of what can be sold in such a store. An example of high quality handbags store is suarezny.com in New York.

10. Men’s clothing
Men’s clothing is another important and large niche in business, without which a lot of people can’t live. It is important to give such a store friendly and attractive design and to make it have its own style.

11. Liquor store
People buy and drink alcohol, wine and various spirits in almost every place around the world. The sale of alcohol is one of the easiest small shop ideas and is generally a very profitable business, especially if the store is located in a busy area.

12. Makeup store
Most women, especially young ones, like to buy make-up accessories and things that allow them to look prettier, such as lipsticks, eye shadows, powders, and various new popular accessories, such as the popular beauty blender sponges that you can buy on Amazon and sell with high markup.

13. Beauty products store
Everyone needs things like shampoos, creams, toothpaste, deodorants, shower gels and more. Women especially like creams and conditioners and hair and skin masks. Small shop ideas like this are needed and profitable, provided they have no competition in the area and the products they sell are attractive to many nearby customers.

14. Kids’ accessories store
Families with children need many necessary accessories. The most important of them are baby prams, bottles, teats, pampers, baby carriers and many other accessories.

15. Gift shop
Among many other small shop ideas gift shop is a very interesting type of store, where there should be something good and attractive for everyone. Usually, small gifts, figurines, gadgets, decorations and useful and useful items are sold there.