E-commerce business has been the great success story of the pandemic. The lockdown has accelerated the trend towards online sales. In fact, Australia Post data shows that e-commerce growth rose by 80% in the 8 weeks following the World Health Organization's (WHO) announcement. They believe that this year online sales will reach 15% of all retail sales. That is 3–5 years ahead of previous forecasts.
Furthermore, we saw evidence of this among many of the revenue reports companies have posted throughout the pandemic.
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Traditional e-commerce business
It sounds strange to be talking about traditional e-commerce. However, Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN) definitely fits that mould. Kogan is an online marketplace similar to that of Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) and started out selling home electronics. Since Kogan listed on the ASX in 2016, it has purchased the old Dick Smith electronics business and recently purchased furniture retailer, Matt Blatt.
In a recent business report, Kogan announced an increase in online sales by 100% in 4Q FY20 to date. The company's profit for the same period also grew by 130%. Kogan currently sells at a price to earnings (P/E) ratio of 73.83.
A surprise entrant in this space is the online marketplace purchased by Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES). Catch is a general marketplace the same as Kogan. Wesfarmers recruited former Amazon executive, Peter Sauerborn to run the company. Catch reported growth in gross transaction value of 68.7% for 2H FY20 to date, compared to 21.4% for H1 FY20.
Wesfarmers also owns other retailers like Bunnings, Kmart and Officeworks. Financial year to date, total online sales across the Group increased by 60% to $1.4 billion or $1.9 billion.
Wesfarmers current holds a P/E ratio of 22.55.
Store-specific sales
City Chic Collective Ltd (ASX: CCX) is a multi-branded women's fashion apparel retailer. I think this is a red hot small-cap share to keep an eye on with its P/E ratio currently sitting at 33.91. The company prides itself on being an omnichannel retailer with online retail contributing two-thirds of the company's global sales.
During the period of store closures during the lockdown, the company saw an increase in sales of 57%. City Chic states they achieved this increase by quickly adjusting their product offering to cater to customer demand during the lockdown. The company is looking to maintain high online sales revenues as stores begin to open after the pandemic.
Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) is a furniture company that has an e-commerce business with a 'drop-shipping' operations model. For the uninitiated, this means that products are shipped directly to customers from the providers. Temple & Webster also have their own branded products.
For 2H FY20 up to the end of May, the company reported a 68% increase in revenue and a 68% increase in active customers. In addition, the company reported a +100% increase in June revenue thus far verse the previous corresponding period. This all plays into the company's current P/E ratio which sits at 199.93.
Foolish takeaway
This shortlist is just some of the e-commerce highlights across the market right now. I haven't included the impressive sales increases by other recognised brands such as JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH) or Harvey Norman Holdings Limited (ASX: HVN). However, the overall online shopping trend is clear.
With e-commerce business rapidly racing towards 15% of total retail sales, it has become an essential element of retail. Of the companies listed here, the high P/E ratios show that the market thinks there is a big future in these sales channels.
