Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights: Macy's, Amazon, Apple and Barnes & Noble

CHICAGO, March 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses the U.S. eCommerce, part 1, including Macy's (NYSE:M), Amazon (Nasdaq:AMZN), Apple (Nasdaq:AAPL) and Barnes & Noble (NYSE:BKS).

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A synopsis of today's Industry Outlook is presented below. The full article can be read at  

Link: http://www.zacks.com/commentary/26225/ecommerce-stock-outlook-mar-2013

Apparel is a huge market and although online sales are currently under 10% of total apparel sales, the category already generates the most dollars. Selling tools, such as zoom, color swatching and configurators are helping the process. Even primarily brick-and-mortar outfits like Macy's (NYSE:M) sees that consumers purchasing through multiple channels (online and offline stores) tend to spend more.

This is encouraging traditional retailers to offer an online store to supplement their physical stores. Online sales also show better conversions since searches usually draw consumers with a prior intention to purchase. eMarketer estimates that apparel will be the fastest-growing category over the next few years, making up around 20% of total retail e-commerce sales by 2016.

The increase in technology purchases over the Internet is driven by not only individual consumers, but also companies and governments. The efficient and timely processing of orders, choice of payment options, subscription-selling and sales under the SaaS model are all facilitators. eMarketer estimates that online sales of consumer electronics goods will nearly double over the next four years to touch $80.2 billion by 2016.

The Association of American Publishers says that ebook sales in the U.S. grew 34% in 2012, following triple-digit growth in the four preceding years. With a penetration of just 16%, scope for market expansion is possible. However, the shift in preference from e-readers to tablets that offer other forms of entertainment, such as movies, games, songs and so on, is a deterrent. (a Bowker Market Research survey and wsj.com).

U.S. players continue to see strength in international markets (sales up 333% in 2011).Amazon (Nasdaq:AMZN) and Apple (Nasdaq:AAPL) are the primary channels facilitating international expansion, althoughBarnes & Noble (NYSE:BKS) , other smaller players and local companies in international markets are also playing a part.

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