Amazon, Walmart Among ‘Healthiest' Retailers: Report

Alan Wolf -- TWICE, 6/14/2010

New York - Amazon.com is the world's "healthiest" publicly traded retailer, followed by Walmart at No. 5 and Best Buy at No. 23, according to a new financial ranking by Consensus Advisors.

The investment bank's list of the 160 healthiest public retailers is based on such criteria as asset utilization, balance-sheet strength, sound growth and pricing power as tracked over a five-year period.

Consensus Advisors believes its retail performance metric can serve as a key benchmarking tool to complement same-store sales.

CEO Michael O' Hara attributed Amazon's top-rated performance to the increasing availability of broadband Internet and mobile technology, which the e-tailer successfully exploited to build "a fast-growing and highly efficient retailing super-power."

Other CE industry leaders include Systemax (No. 45), hhgregg (No. 66), PC Connection (No. 78), PC Mall (No. 92), Conn's (No. 102), RadioShack (No. 104) and Brookstone (No. 150).

Rounding out the Top 5 are Aeropostale (No. 2), Urban Outfitters No. 3) and CVS (No. 4).

  Consensus Advisors will reveal its complete 2009-2010 Retailer Health Ratings June 15 during a webcast at 1:00 p.m. EDT. To register, visit www.consensusadvisors.com.