Largest Retailers in the World (2026)

Amazon, founded in 1994 and headquartered in Seattle, sells consumer products online and in physical stores and operates Amazon Web Services (AWS), its cloud-computing business. Forbes records sales of US$742.8bn, 16.4% above the prior-year figure, which moved Amazon ahead of Walmart into first place on the Forbes sales measure. Its sales are not purely retail: Forbes describes North America and International segments that combine product sales, third-party seller services, advertising and subscriptions, and a separate AWS segment for computing, storage and database services. Because Amazon's total includes services revenue, the comparison with Walmart is not like for like. Amazon's profit of US$90.8bn is more than four times Walmart's, and its market value of US$2.84 trillion makes it by far the most valuable company in the list. Forbes counts 1,576,000 employees, the second-largest workforce here after Walmart.

Walmart, headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, runs retail and wholesale operations through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International and Sam's Club. Walmart U.S. is a mass merchandiser trading as Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market, including walmart.com; Walmart International covers wholly owned businesses in Canada, Chile, China and Africa and majority-owned operations in India, Mexico and Central America; and Sam's Club runs membership warehouse clubs. Forbes records sales of US$713.2bn, up 4.7%, and profit of US$21.9bn. Walmart was first on the prior-year figures but is now second to Amazon, though its revenue is almost entirely from selling goods. It has the largest workforce in this ranking, 2.1 million people, and a market value of US$1.05 trillion. Forbes gives 1962 as its founding year.

Costco Wholesale operates membership warehouses through wholly owned subsidiaries and reports three geographic segments: United States, Canada and Other International. Forbes records it was founded by James D. Sinegal and Jeffrey H. Brotman in 1983 and is headquartered in Issaquah, Washington. Its Forbes sales of US$286.3bn rose 8.4% on the prior-year figure, keeping it third, and profit was US$8.5bn. The warehouse-club model sells a limited range of goods in bulk to fee-paying members, which gives Costco high sales per employee: about US$840,000 on Forbes figures, roughly two-and-a-half times Walmart's ratio. Its market value of US$465.4bn is the third-highest in the ranking, after Amazon and Walmart and ahead of Alibaba.

JD.com is a Beijing-based e-commerce company that sells electronics and general merchandise directly and through an online marketplace, and reports JD Retail, JD Logistics and New Businesses segments. Forbes records that Qiang Dong Liu founded it on 18 June 1998. Sales of US$186.3bn, 15.8% above the prior-year figure, keep it fourth and make it the largest retailer outside the United States. Unlike Alibaba, JD.com buys and sells much of its merchandise itself, so its revenue is closer to a traditional retailer's. Its profit margin is about 1%, and its market value of US$44.8bn is one of the lowest relative to sales in this ranking. Forbes counts 776,682 employees, the third-largest workforce in the ranking.

The Home Depot sells building materials, home-improvement, lawn and garden and décor products, as well as installation services and tool and equipment rental, through segments in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Forbes records it was founded on 29 June 1978 by Bernard Marcus, Arthur M. Blank, Kenneth Langone and Pat Farrah and is headquartered in Atlanta. Sales were US$164.7bn, up 3.2%, and profit US$14.2bn, an 8.6% margin that is among the highest of the large store-based retailers here. Home Depot is the largest home-improvement retailer in the ranking, about twice the size of Lowe's, ranked twelfth. Forbes counts 472,400 employees and a market value of US$296.3bn.

Kroger, founded by Barney Kroger in 1883 and headquartered in Cincinnati, runs supermarkets with in-store pharmacies and fuel centres; its own brands include Simple Truth, Heritage Farm and Smart Way. Forbes records sales of US$147.6bn, almost unchanged (+0.4%) from the prior-year figure, and profit of US$1.0bn, a margin of 0.7%. Kroger is the largest supermarket operator in the ranking and the sixth-largest retailer overall. Its market value of US$40.4bn is less than a tenth of Costco's. Albertsons, ranked thirteenth, is its closest US supermarket rival in this list. Kroger employs 403,000 people.

Alibaba Group of Hangzhou describes itself as a provider of technology infrastructure and marketing reach; its segments include China Commerce, International Commerce, Local Consumer Services, Cainiao logistics, Cloud, and Digital Media and Entertainment. Forbes records sales of US$144.2bn, up 5.7%, and profit of US$14.9bn. Alibaba is included because its largest segments are commerce platforms, but its total also includes cloud, logistics, local services and media, which makes direct comparison with store retailers difficult. The group's market value of US$324.3bn is the fourth-highest in the list, and it generates about US$1.1m of sales per employee. Forbes records its founding year as 1999.

Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize, headquartered in Zaandam, the Netherlands, operates supermarkets and e-commerce through U.S., Europe and Other Retail segments. Its US brands include Stop & Shop, Food Lion, Giant, Martin's, Hannaford and Giant Food, and its European businesses include Albert Heijn, Etos, Gall & Gall, bol.com and Delhaize in Belgium and Luxembourg. Forbes records sales of US$105.9bn, up 9.5%, which moved it from ninth to eighth, ahead of Target. Profit was US$2.6bn. Ahold Delhaize is the largest European retailer in the ranking, ahead of Tesco and Carrefour. Forbes gives 1867 as the founding year of the business and counts 222,000 employees.

Target operates general-merchandise stores selling food, clothing, household goods, electronics and toys, with a large portfolio of owned brands such as Good & Gather, Cat & Jack and Room Essentials. It is headquartered in Minneapolis and Forbes gives its founding year as 1902. Target's Forbes sales fell 1.7% to US$104.8bn, the second-largest decline in this ranking after Seven & i, and it dropped from eighth to ninth. Profit was US$3.7bn and market value US$55.0bn. Forbes counts 415,000 employees.

Tesco is a grocery retailer with stores across the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, selling food, household goods, furniture and clothing in large stores, convenience stores and online. It is headquartered in Welwyn Garden City and Forbes gives 1947 as its founding year. Forbes records sales of US$98.5bn, 10.6% higher than the prior-year figure in dollar terms, which moved Tesco from eleventh to tenth, ahead of Carrefour. Profit was US$2.4bn and Forbes counts 342,303 employees. Tesco is the larger of the two British companies in the ranking; J Sainsbury is twenty-second.

Carrefour operates supermarkets and other retail stores and reports geographic segments for France, the rest of Europe and Latin America. Forbes records it was founded by Marcel Fournier on 11 July 1959 and is headquartered in Massy, France. Sales were US$94.8bn, almost unchanged (+0.5%), and profit US$360m, a margin of 0.4%, the second lowest among the 25 after Albertsons. Carrefour fell from tenth to eleventh as Tesco overtook it. Its market value of US$14.0bn is the third-lowest of the 25, and Forbes counts 298,604 employees.

Lowe's Companies sells home-improvement products for maintenance, repair, remodelling and decoration, in categories ranging from appliances and lumber to paint, tools, flooring and kitchens. It is headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, and Forbes gives 1946 as the founding year in its company profile. Forbes records sales of US$86.3bn, up 3.1%, profit of US$6.6bn and a market value of US$122.3bn. Its 7.7% profit margin is the third-highest among the US store-based retailers in the list, after TJX and Home Depot. Lowe's holds twelfth place, unchanged, and employs 276,000 people.

Albertsons Companies operates food and drug stores selling groceries, general merchandise, health and beauty products, pharmacy services and fuel. Forbes records it was founded by Joe Albertson on 21 July 1939 and is headquartered in Boise, Idaho. Sales were US$83.2bn, up 3.5%, while profit was US$217m, a margin of 0.3%, the thinnest among profitable companies in the ranking. Its market value of US$8.1bn is the lowest of the 25. Albertsons holds thirteenth place and employs 280,000 people.

Alimentation Couche-Tard of Laval, Quebec, operates convenience stores selling goods for immediate consumption, road-transport fuel and other products through company-operated and franchised stores in the United States, Europe and other regions, and Canada. Forbes records it was founded in 1980 by Alain Bouchard, Jacques D'Amours, Richard Fortin and Réal Plourde. Sales were US$73.3bn, 1.4% lower than the prior-year figure, and profit US$2.7bn. Despite the decline it moved from fifteenth to fourteenth because Seven & i's dollar sales fell further; the two companies are the largest convenience-store operators in the ranking. Forbes counts 146,000 employees.

Aeon is a holding company based in Chiba, Japan, whose segments include general merchandise stores, supermarkets, discount stores, health and wellness (drugstores and pharmacies), financial services, shopping-centre development, services and specialty stores, and international operations in ASEAN countries and China. Forbes records the business was founded by Sozaemon Okada in 1758. Sales were US$71.5bn, up 7.6%, and profit US$485m. Aeon moved from sixteenth to fifteenth and is now the largest Japanese retailer in the ranking, ahead of Seven & i. Its market value is US$26.1bn.

Seven & i Holdings plans and manages group companies operating 7-Eleven convenience stores in Japan and overseas, supermarkets and specialty stores, and financial services including a bank and credit cards. It is headquartered in Tokyo and was formed in September 2005, according to Forbes. Forbes records sales of US$69.6bn, 11.4% below the prior-year figure, the largest decline in this ranking, which moved it from fourteenth to sixteenth. Profit was US$1.95bn and market value US$27.1bn. The Forbes figures do not separate currency effects from changes in trading.

The TJX Companies sells apparel and home fashions at off-price through four segments: Marmaxx (T.J. Maxx and Marshalls in the United States), HomeGoods, TJX Canada (Winners, Marshalls, HomeSense) and TJX International (T.K. Maxx and Homesense in Europe and Australia). It is headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts. Forbes records sales of US$60.4bn, up 7.1%, and profit of US$5.5bn, a 9.1% margin that is the highest among the US store-based retailers in the ranking. TJX's market value of US$163.2bn is higher than that of Lowe's and of every non-US retailer except Alibaba and Inditex. It employs 377,000 people.

PDD Holdings is a multinational commerce group that owns and operates a portfolio of businesses supported by its sourcing, logistics and fulfilment network; Forbes records it was founded by Hua Lin Cai and Zheng Huang in 2015 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Forbes records sales of US$60.1bn, up 9.9%, and profit of US$13.8bn, a margin of 23%, the highest in the ranking. With 25,474 employees it generates about US$2.4m of sales per employee, more than any other company here. Its market value of US$136.4bn is less than half of Alibaba's despite a higher margin.

George Weston is a Toronto holding company that operates through Loblaw and Choice Properties segments. Loblaw provides Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, financial services and wireless products, and Choice Properties owns and develops commercial and residential real estate across Canada. Forbes records it was founded by George Weston in 1882. Sales were US$46.9bn, up 4.4%, and profit US$843m. It moved from twentieth to nineteenth, overtaking Woolworths. Because Forbes ranks listed companies, George Weston appears here rather than its listed subsidiary Loblaw, whose results it consolidates. It employs 220,000 people.

Industria de Diseño Textil (Inditex) sells clothing, footwear and accessories through segments for Zara and Bershka and other brands including Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Stradivarius, Oysho and Zara Home. Forbes records it was founded by Amancio Ortega Gaona in 1963 and is headquartered in A Coruña, Spain. Sales were US$45.4bn, up 9.2%, and profit US$7.1bn, a 15.6% margin second only to PDD in this ranking. Inditex moved from twenty-second to twentieth. Its market value of US$179.3bn is higher than any European retailer's and above Lowe's, despite sales about half the size.

Woolworths Group runs supermarkets and general-merchandise stores in Australia and New Zealand, reporting Australian Food, Australian B2B, New Zealand Food, Big W and other segments. It is headquartered in Sydney, and Forbes gives 1924 as its founding year. Sales were US$45.3bn, 0.7% lower than the prior-year figure in dollar terms, and profit was US$386m. It dropped from nineteenth to twenty-first as George Weston and Inditex overtook it. Its domestic rival Coles Group is outside the top 25 with Forbes sales of US$29.1bn.

J Sainsbury operates retailing, financial services and property businesses through Retail-Food, Retail-General Merchandise and Clothing, and Financial Services segments; the financial services segment includes Sainsbury's Bank and Argos Financial Services. Forbes records it was founded by John James and Mary Ann Sainsbury in 1869 and is headquartered in London. Sales were US$45.0bn, up 7.5%, and profit US$513m. Sainsbury's fell one place, to twenty-second, because Inditex grew faster. Its market value is US$9.0bn, the second-lowest in the ranking.

Dollar General operates discount stores selling food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, basic apparel, housewares and seasonal items, including national brands from Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Unilever and Kimberly-Clark. Forbes records it was founded by J. L. Turner and Hurley Calister Turner Sr. in 1939 and is headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Sales were US$42.7bn, up 5.2%, and profit US$1.5bn. It moved from twenty-fourth to twenty-third, overtaking Best Buy, and employs 194,000 people.

Jerónimo Martins of Lisbon produces, distributes and sells food and other consumer goods through segments for Portugal Retail (Pingo Doce), Portugal Cash and Carry (Recheio), Poland Retail (Biedronka) and Colombia Retail (Ara). Forbes gives 1792 as its founding year, the earliest in this ranking apart from Aeon. Sales were US$42.3bn, up 16.9%, the fastest growth in the list, and profit US$740m. It moved from twenty-fifth to twenty-fourth and employs 147,709 people.

Best Buy sells consumer technology products and services through Domestic (United States) and International (Canada) segments, under names including Best Buy, Geek Squad, Magnolia and Pacific Kitchen and Home. Forbes records it was founded by Richard M. Schulze in 1966 and is headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota. Sales were US$41.7bn, up 0.4%, and profit US$1.1bn. Best Buy fell from twenty-third to twenty-fifth, overtaken by Dollar General and Jerónimo Martins, and is the only specialist electronics retailer in the ranking. It employs 82,000 people.