Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) vs Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST)

Amazon.com Inc. is a leading global e-commerce retailer and marketplace for third-party sellers. Retail-related operations account for about 74% of total revenue, followed by Amazon Web Services at 17% and advertising services at 9%. International business represents 22% of overall revenue, with Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan serving as the company’s largest foreign markets.

Founded in 1983, Costco Wholesale Corp operates a global network of membership-only warehouse clubs focused on offering high-quality products and services at consistently low prices. In its latest fiscal year, the company ran approximately 910 warehouses and served more than 80 million members across three geographic segments: Costco U.S., which generated about 73% of total revenue, Costco Canada at 13%, and Costco International at 14%. Costco’s core value proposition—quality merchandise at highly competitive prices—has supported strong membership renewal rates, reaching 93% in the U.S. and Canada and nearly 90% internationally. Roughly 55% of fiscal 2025 revenue came from grocery sales, while general merchandise contributed another 25%.