Amazon dwarfs Internet retailers such as Overstock.com (Stock Quote: OSTK), with $19.2 billion in annual revenue versus $834.4 million. But taking online marketing very seriously are "bricks and mortar" giants such as the $375.4 billion revenue Wal-Mart (Stock Quote: WMT), $72.5 billion Costco (Stock Quote: COST) and $40 billion Best Buy (Stock Quote: BBY).

It has been a wild ride for long-term holders of Amazon stock. Its shares topped $106 in late 1999, during the tech bubble, before changing hands below $6 in September 2001. The shares stormed back to more than $100 in late 2007 and then drifted into the $30s last year before recovering to their recent range in the mid-$60s.

The stock's volatility is a factor in Amazon's "risk grade" of D-plus from TheStreet.com Ratings. Factors such as its valuation metrics, current financial position and consensus earnings growth estimates are weighed by TheStreet.com Ratings quantitative evaluation model in determining an "overall grade" of B-minus, equating with a soft "buy" recommendation.

 

 

 

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