Shares of Amazon have come a long way since the company's 1997 initial public offering. Since then, Amazon shares have sky rocketed 48,197% from their May 15, 1997 debut of $18 a share.
Before Amazon was the "Everything Store" it was an online book store. Back in 1997, consumers still overwhelmingly preferred to buy books at brick-and-mortar retailers such as, Barnes & Noble and Borders. Since then, Borders has declared bankruptcy and Barnes & Noble has struggled to reinvent itself.
According to Charlie Bilello, director of research at Pension Partners, every $10,000 invested at Amazon's IPO in 1997 would today be worth $4.8 million.
Bilello points out that while an investment in Amazon in 1997 would have returned 48,197% today, the same investment in Barnes & Noble would have only returned 26%. Of course, a Borders investment is worth zero today.
Charlie Bilello Stockcharts.com
Bilello also highlighted the last 10 years, during which Amazon has gained 1,404%. Here's how that compares to other related companies, according to Bilello:
+Walmart: +96%
+Best Buy: +38%
+Macys:+19%
+Target: +4%
+Bed Bath & Beyond: -5%
+Kohl's: -38%
+Staples: -50%
+Sears: -92%
+JC Penny: -93%
Click here for a real-time Amazon chart.
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