Where Wall Street Sees the Future of Retail

The holiday shopping season is still upon us, but Wall Street has already made a decision on who is this year’s big winner in retail: it’s Amazon. The company dominated Black Friday sales in the United States and is all but certain to be the number 1 source for last minute presents for many million people around the world. Amazon’s stock price more than doubled this year, bringing the company’s market cap to more than $300 billion.

Comparing Amazon’s stock performance in 2015 to that of some traditional retailers gives a clear indication of where Wall Street sees the future of retail. Industry heavyweights such as Best Buy and Walmart have all seen their stock price crumble in 2015 as they struggle to break Amazon’s dominance in the online world. For now, it appears as if Amazon’s relentless focus on growth over profit is paying off. However, it’ll be interesting to see if the company can maintain its dominant position AND operate profitably in the long run.