Better Buy: Amazon.com vs. Walmart
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Walmart (NYSE: WMT) continue their battle for retail supremacy in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Amazon's emergence had once created fear among investors that it would dominate the retail scene. Amid this concern, Walmart has found a way to foster growth through a combined online and in-store presence -- but those improvements may not translate into gains for investors. Let's take a closer look to find out why.
In the middle of the last decade, the rise of Amazon amid Walmart's stagnant sales left the company reeling. However, Walmart began its turnaround when Doug McMillon became its CEO in 2014. The purchase of jet.com and other e-retailers took Walmart online in earnest, allowing the company to build a competitive advantage on a combined in-store and online shopping experience.
Thanks to this offering, customers could shop online when they preferred and, if what they wanted was available at the store, could pick up items rather than waiting on deliveries. With more than 90% of Americans living within 10 miles of a Walmart, the company was uniquely positioned to make this work.
Source Fool.com
