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Amid a rash of retail bankruptcies and store closings, online giants Amazon and Alibaba are continuing to swiftly and unapologetically gain ground.

Amazon is now the world’s third-largest retailer and ranks No. 83rd on Forbes’ Global 2000 list of the world’s biggest and most powerful public companies, as measured by a composite score of revenues, profits, assets and market value. The e-commerce juggernaut jumped a whopping 154 spots from last year.

Amazon has been pushing further into areas like fashion, where it has rolled out private labels, snapped up online retailers and introduced the Echo Look that can take full-length photographs and suggest different outfits. It has doubled down on online groceries and is also now reportedly thinking about getting into the pharmacy business.


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Wal-Mart (No. 17) and CVS (No. 66) are still the two largest retailers on the planet, but Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba (No. 140) isn’t far behind in sixth place. Jack Ma’s empire is the only foreign retailer to appear in the top ten and has leapfrogged Target (No. 227).

Gallery: The World's Biggest Retail Companies In 2017
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Times are tough for traditional retailers with sprawling physical footprints, with stores like Payless and American Apparel forced to declare bankruptcy. Macy’s, J.C. Penney and others are shuttering stores and shifting resources to beefing up their e-commerce capabilities.

One bright spot is home improvement stores like Home Depot (No. 114) and Lowe’s (No. 186), which have benefited as consumers spend time and money on remodeling.

See Forbes Global 2000 List Here
Best Buy (No. 569) is also doing well. The electronics retailer jumped 68 spots this year as its turnaround efforts pay off. It has managed to defend its turf by offering competitive pricing, fast shipping and in-person help for shoppers looking to purchase smartphones, televisions and other gadgets.

For more coverage of the FORBES Global 2000 ranking of the world’s largest public companies, see below:

Global 2000: The Largest Companies In China In 2017

America’s Top Public Companies In 2017: A Buffett Buy List

2017 Global 2000: These Are The Largest Companies In Russia

Here’s How Much Of Russia’s Biggest Banks And Drillers The Kremlin Owns

Europe’s Largest Companies 2017: Shell Doubles Profit, Takes Top Spot

World’s Largest Banks In 2017: The American Bull Market Returns

 World’s Biggest Hotels 2017: Marriott Leads The Pack, Hilton Falls

World’s Largest Telecom Companies: AT&T And Verizon Top China Mobile

2017 Global 2000: The World’s Largest Transportation Companies

2017 Global 2000: The World’s Largest Insurers

World’s Largest Oil And Gas Companies 2017: Exxon Reigns Supreme, While Chevron Slips

World’s Largest Food And Beverage Companies 2017: Nestle, Pepsi And Coca-Cola Dominate The Field

Once Again, Christian Dior, Nike & Inditex Top World’s Largest Apparel Companies

World’s Largest Restaurant Companies, 2017: McDonald’s Slips While Darden Makes Gains

The World’s Largest Tech Companies 2017: Apple And Samsung Lead, Facebook Rises

Forbes Staff

Lauren Debter

I am a staff writer at Forbes covering retail. I have been at Forbes since 2013, first on the markets and investing team and then on the billionaires team. In the course of my reporting, I have interviewed the father of Indian gambling, the first female billionaire to enter the space race and the immigrant founder of one of the nation’s most secretive financial upstarts. My work has also appeared in Money Magazine and CNNMoney.com. Tips or story ideas? Email me at ldebter@forbes.com.

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