Amazon’s share of U.S. retail spending jumped 7.6% in Q2 2025, more than doubling in six years, whereas Walmart has remained flat at 7 to 8%.Amazon’s U.S. retail sales grew 9.5% year over year, outpacing Walmart’s 4.6% growth and signaling a structural shift in U.S. retail leadership.The story of American retail over the past quarter-century has largely been a two-horse race.By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our spo ...

Same-day delivery is free for orders worth more than $25 for Prime members. If an order doesn't meet the minimum amount, subscribers can still choose same-day delivery for a $2.99 fee. For customers without a Prime membership, the service is available with a $12.99 fee, regardless of the order size. Amazon is now letting shoppers in 1,000 cities across the U.S. order perishable food items through its Same- Day Delivery service, as the e-commerce giant seeks to compete more directly with Instacart and Walmar ...

Core Viewpoint - Amazon remains a dominant player in the market with a market cap of $2.2 trillion and has shown impressive stock performance over the past two decades, making it a potential addition to investment portfolios despite trading 15% off its peak [1][2]. Group 1: Growth Potential - Amazon's revenue increased by 36% from 2021 to 2024, with Wall Street analysts projecting a further 31% growth from 2024 to 2027, despite generating $638 billion in sales last year [4]. - The company is well-positioned to benefit from ongoing trends in online shopping, e-commerce, cloud computing (AWS), digital advertising, and artificial intelligence [5][6]. Group 2: Competitive Advantages - Amazon possesses multiple competitive advantages, including a powerful network effect in its marketplace, which attracts both buyers and sellers, and a Prime membership that enhances customer loyalty [7][8]. - The company benefits from a cost advantage due to its extensive logistics network, which keeps shipping costs low, and its scale provides significant buying power over suppliers [9]. - AWS has a switching cost advantage, as enterprise customers are likely to remain with Amazon due to the integration of AI tools, reducing the likelihood of them changing providers [9][10]. Group 3: Earnings Potential - Historically, Amazon has focused on revenue growth, but CEO Andy Jassy is now emphasizing profitability through operational efficiencies and expense controls, with operating income projected to rise from $24.9 billion in 2021 to $68.6 billion in 2024 [11][12]. - The company’s true earnings potential remains untapped, and continued investment in growth opportunities is essential for long-term success [13].