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The 15 biggest US ecommerce players aren鈥檛 a surprise (here鈥檚 looking at you, Amazon, Walmart, and Apple). User-friendly mobile apps, quick delivery, innovation, and converting sales are what turn retailers into ecommerce powerhouses. Here are the companies our analysts believe best exemplify those features within the 15 largest ecommerce players.

Key stat: The number of retail media networks (RMNs) worldwide offering competitive conquesting (the ability to target campaigns to competitors鈥� shoppers) has risen from 10 in Q2 2024 to 15 in Q2 2025, a 50% increase, according to data from Mars United Commerce.

颁补苍补诲补鈥檚 ecommerce market is catching up with global peers. A key factor: the growing digital presence of the 鈥渂ig three鈥� grocery players鈥攚hose ecommerce sales we鈥檙e forecasting for the first time.

Amazon closed its second annual Upfronts with 鈥渟ignificant growth鈥� across independent agencies and holding companies, per Adweek. An Amazon spokesperson cited excitement surrounding live sports offerings on Prime Video as a key driver of growth. Amazon is positioned for sustained ad growth if it continues relying on its sports properties to draw advertiser interest in Prime Video. With Prime Video only making up a fraction of Amazon鈥檚 overall ad revenues, the service is far from hitting its ceiling鈥攁nd future investment in tentpole sporting events will put Prime Video on par with its bigger competitors.

The trend: Inflation ticked higher in June as the impact of tariffs began to reach consumers. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index鈥攖he Fed鈥檚 preferred inflation gauge鈥攔ose 2.6% YoY, slightly above the 2.5% analysts expected and up from 2.4% in May, marking the highest level since February. On a monthly basis, it climbed 0.3%, in line with forecasts. Core PCE, which excludes volatile food and energy items, increased 2.8% YoY, ahead of the 2.7% analysts expected, and 0.3% MoM, in line with expectations. Our take: Inflation remains the top economic concern for US consumers and pressure is building. Companies ranging from Procter & Gamble and Kraft Heinz to Mattel, Stanley Black & Decker, and Walmart have all signaled plans to raise prices. With many households already tightening their budgets, even modest hikes could spur further pullbacks in spending, making an already tough retail environment even harder to navigate.

Snacks maker Mars said it plans to invest an additional $2 billion in US manufacturing through next year to build new facilities and upgrade existing ones in wake of the Trump administration鈥檚 tariffs. Tariffs are leading some businesses to boost their US footprint, and we may see more investment announcements. But a key consideration is whether these expansion announcements will represent substantive, job-creating initiatives, or if they are largely symbolic moves designed to support the US government鈥檚 current messaging around American manufacturing.

The news: Tesla鈥檚 Q2 earnings disappointed as fallout continues from Elon Musk鈥檚 political spotlight, highlighting the risks of a brand being tied to its leader鈥檚 actions. Revenues reached $22.49 billion and deliveries hit 384.1 million, down 12% and 13% YoY, respectively. Between January and June, EU car sales declined 44% YoY, per the European Automobile Manufacturers鈥� Association. Our take: While complicated to execute, brand equity should be as independent as possible to avoid tying company identity to a single leader. When CEOs make mistakes, companies can rebuild trust through honesty and accountability and by highlighting assets other than leaders, like employees, partnerships, or key products. Tesla seems to be on the path to recovery, but it may have a long road ahead.

The news: Amazon has partnered with delivery firm Gopuff to bring ultra-fast delivery to several UK markets, including Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, London, and Manchester. Our take: Amazon鈥檚 focus is crystal clear: Get orders to 蝉丑辞辫辫别谤蝉鈥� doors as fast as possible. In the US, it has pushed next-day delivery as the new standard鈥攅ven as it rapidly expands same-day service. In some cases, delivery happens within hours (for example, a Prime Day order we placed at 6 am today arrived at our door by noon.) To extend that promise beyond urban hubs, Amazon is investing over $4 billion through 2026 to triple the size of its rural delivery network. By year-end, it expects to bring same- or next-day delivery to more than 4,000 smaller cities and rural communities. Speed isn鈥檛 just a perk. It is the key component within Amazon鈥檚 growth strategy. The faster the company delivers, the more frequently consumers turn to Amazon for their everyday needs鈥攁nd the harder it becomes for competitors to keep up.

The news: Gen Z鈥檚 share of private label spending will overtake that of baby boomers by 2026, according to a Numerator report. Our take: Gen Z鈥檚 affinity for private labels is part of a broader behavioral shift鈥攐ne that retailers are making the most of. To encourage loyalty among this notoriously fickle cohort, companies will need to stay on top of emerging food trends, foster exclusivity and a sense of urgency with limited-edition releases, and make sure they satisfy Gen Zers鈥� desire for attractive packaging, transparent labeling, and sustainability.

The news: Cloudflare, which serves 20% of the web and 35% of the Fortune 500, launched beta tests of Pay per Crawl, a private marketplace that lets websites charge AI companies for scraping content. It鈥檚 a strategy other content delivery networks (CDNs) will likely follow that could signal the end of AI鈥檚 unchecked scraping. Key takeaway: Though still in beta, Pay per Crawl could give websites a new layer of protection鈥攁nd a path to profit鈥攊f AI companies agree to pay for content they've long used without compensation. If AI wants to keep reading the internet, it may finally have to pay the bill.

The trend: A perfect macroeconomic storm is causing younger consumers to cut back on spending. Our take: These pressures aren鈥檛 going away anytime soon. The Trump administration鈥檚 tariffs are leading retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, and Macy鈥檚 to raise prices鈥攑utting even more strain on young shoppers already feeling stretched. At the same time, job anxieties are growing. The white collar workforce is shrinking, and more companies are citing AI as a reason for layoffs. Put it all together, and it鈥檚 likely that younger consumers will remain cautious with their spending for some time, especially on nonessentials. Retailers that want to win over this group will need to focus on offering value such as high-quality, private label products.

The news: President Donald Trump鈥檚 immigration crackdown is chilling consumer spending and reducing the available labor force for key industries like construction and hospitality. Our take: The US economy depends heavily on immigrants, both documented or otherwise. The Trump administration鈥檚 aggressive deportation push could therefore deprive companies of crucial workers鈥攁nd drive up costs for essentials like housing and groceries鈥攁s well as eliminate a considerable source of tax revenues and consumer spending.

The news: GoodRx is rolling out a subscription service for erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment. Our take: GoodRx is in a great position to compete with the top D2C telehealth players since consumers are already on the site or app searching for prescription drug discounts鈥攊t has over 6 million active monthly consumers who use a coupon code. GoodRx might also be more trusted than pure-play telehealth companies in the eyes of consumers since its services help people save money on their healthcare.

The trend: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has lagged on delivering clear and coordinated messaging in recent weeks, creating confusion among consumers, physicians, and drugmakers. Our take: Inconsistency in messaging could result in patients, doctors, and healthcare entities not knowing where to turn for guidance and recommendations. Pharma companies should consider boosting consumer health messaging and offer healthcare providers鈥� science-based materials.

The news: Spirit Halloween canceled its annual kickoff event due to 鈥渋nternational disruptions and supply chain challenges,鈥� it said in a social media post. Our take: While the retailer did not directly cite tariffs, it is the latest warning sign that President Donald Trump鈥檚 鈥淟iberation Day鈥� duties could result in emptier shelves during key shopping seasons.

The payment services company hopes to win audiences connected to key international demographics.

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