Amazon Surpasses Walmart to Become the World’s Largest Revenue Generating Company
In a historic turn of events, Amazon has officially surpassed Walmart to become the world’s largest company by annual revenue. Walmart reported a fiscal year revenue of $713.2 billion on February 19, 2026, which was marginally eclipsed by Amazon’s $716.9 billion reported earlier in the month.
This significant event marks the end of Walmart’s 13-year reign at the top of the Fortune 500 list. The ascension of Amazon to the top spot was primarily driven by the massive growth in its cloud computing division, Amazon Web Services (AWS), which alone generated $128.7 billion in revenue—a 24% increase in the final quarter. AWS accounted for approximately 18% of Amazon’s total sales, while third-party seller services contributed about 24%.
This shift in power signifies more than just a symbolic change. It indicates a fundamental transformation in the retail sector, where data-driven infrastructure and cloud services have become as valuable as physical products. Analysts have pointed out that without the explosive growth of AWS, Amazon would still be trailing Walmart in terms of pure retail volume.
Amazon has announced ambitious plans to invest $200 billion in AI infrastructure this year, with a focus on data centers, chips, and networking equipment. On the other hand, Walmart has authorized a $30 billion share repurchase program and is shifting towards a “digital-first” strategy, partnering with OpenAI and Google to enhance its shopping experience.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/19/amazon-revenue-passes-walmart-earnings-reports.html