The e-commerce industry was already growing before the pandemic hit. But what used to be a convenience is now a necessity. Even as the economy opens up, e-commerce is here to stay and is poised for growth. In addition to providing an overview of the industry, David Cohne evaluates five of the biggest e-commerce stocks such as Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN), eBay (EBAY), Shopify (NYSE:SHOP), Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:BABA), and Wayfair (NYSE:W).One of the biggest beneficiaries of the coronavirus pandemic was the e-commerce industry. The pandemic's initial lockdowns resulted in people working from home, social distancing, and, more importantly, shopping online. Out of an abundance of fear of catching the virus, people ordered essentials and electronics on Amazon (AMZN) and other online shops and used Instacart for groceries.
While e-commerce was already growing by leaps and bounds, 2020 was a game-changing year for the industry and e-commerce stocks. E-commerce went from a convenience to a necessity. It changed how we shop and how retail companies operate. Even as the economy continues to open up and more stores and businesses open their doors again, these changes are here to stay.
E-commerce as a percentage of overall U.S. retail sales increased from 16% in 2019 to 21% in 2020, and there's a lot more room for growth. Long-term, the industry is a great investment opportunity, but there are some hurdles in the months ahead. In this article, I will evaluate 5 of the biggest names in e-commerce at the moment: Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN), eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY), Shopify Inc . (SHOP), Alibaba Group Holding (BABA), and Wayfair Inc . (W).