Is Best Buy Going Out of Business? Real or Fake News

By: Abbot Ace

Published: September 4, 2026

is best buy going out of business

Table of Contents

No, Best Buy is not going out of business right now. The company is still operating hundreds of stores across North America, generating billions in annual revenue, and continuing to invest in new technology, online growth, and store upgrades.

However, Best Buy is facing slower electronics demand, declining store traffic, layoffs, and strong online competition, which has caused many people to question the company’s future.

The retail electronics industry has changed dramatically over the last decade. Online shopping, Amazon’s dominance, inflation, and cautious consumer spending have created pressure on traditional retailers. After seeing store closures, falling stock prices, and reports of slowing sales, many customers and investors began asking the same question: Is Best Buy going out of business?

Is Best Buy Going Out of Business?

No, Best Buy is not shutting down or filing for bankruptcy. The company remains profitable and recently reported more than $41 billion in annual revenue for fiscal year 2026.

Best Buy also continues paying dividends to shareholders and has maintained financial guidance for the upcoming year. The company recently increased its quarterly dividend and expects adjusted earnings per share between $6.30 and $6.60 for fiscal 2027.

Although the business is under pressure, there is currently no strong evidence suggesting that Best Buy is close to collapsing.

Why Do People Think Best Buy Is Struggling?

Many rumors started because Best Buy has faced several years of weak sales growth. Reports showed that the company experienced multiple quarters of declining comparable sales after the pandemic electronics boom ended.

During the COVID-19 period, demand for laptops, gaming systems, TVs, and home office products surged. But once consumer behavior normalized, electronics spending slowed significantly. Many shoppers also became more careful with expensive purchases because of inflation and economic uncertainty.

Best Buy has also closed some stores and reduced staffing over the last few years. Reports noted that the company closed more than 160 stores over time while also shrinking parts of its workforce.

These changes created fear online, especially on Reddit and social media, where some employees and customers claimed the company was slowly declining.

However, store closures and restructuring do not automatically mean a company is going out of business. Many retailers regularly close underperforming locations while investing in stronger markets.

Best Buy Is Still Making Billions

One of the biggest reasons Best Buy is not expected to fail anytime soon is its strong financial position. In its latest earnings report, the company reported annual enterprise revenue of approximately $41.7 billion.

The company also remained profitable, posting adjusted diluted earnings per share of $6.43 for fiscal 2026.

While comparable sales slightly declined by 0.8% during one quarter, Best Buy still maintained stable operating margins and continued investing in future growth.

These numbers show that Best Buy is still a major retailer with significant financial resources.

Online Competition Remains a Huge Challenge

The biggest challenge facing Best Buy is competition from online retailers, especially Amazon. Many consumers now prefer ordering electronics online rather than visiting physical stores.

Years ago, experts predicted Amazon would destroy Best Buy. However, Best Buy survived by adapting its business model. The company improved price matching, expanded delivery and pickup services, strengthened Geek Squad services, and partnered closely with major technology brands.

Even today, Best Buy remains one of the few large electronics retailers still operating successfully after competitors like Circuit City disappeared.

Still, competition continues to pressure profit margins and store traffic.

Best Buy Is Changing Its Strategy

Instead of shrinking completely, Best Buy is actively transforming its business. Reports show the company is investing in smaller-format stores, AI-powered shopping tools, third-party marketplace expansion, and new partnerships.

The retailer has also expanded partnerships with companies like IKEA and Meta to create more interactive in-store experiences.

In 2025 and 2026, Best Buy launched a marketplace platform that allows third-party sellers to list products online, similar to Amazon’s marketplace model.

Management hopes these changes will help Best Buy compete more effectively in the modern retail environment.

Store Closures Created Panic

Some of the bankruptcy rumors became stronger after local Best Buy stores announced closures. Several communities posted online discussions about nearby locations shutting down.

However, these closures are usually part of routine retail optimization rather than a nationwide collapse. Best Buy still operates hundreds of stores throughout the United States and Canada.

The company is also remodeling some stores and converting parts of stores into fulfillment centers for online orders.

This strategy reflects changing shopping habits, where more customers buy online and pick up products in-store.

Leadership Changes Also Raised Questions

Another reason people became worried is the recent CEO transition. Reports confirmed that longtime CEO Corie Barry plans to step down later in 2026, with executive Jason Bonfig taking over leadership.

Whenever major companies change leadership during difficult periods, investors often become nervous about the future.

Still, CEO changes are common in large corporations and do not necessarily signal bankruptcy. Best Buy’s new leadership appears focused on modernizing the company rather than preparing for shutdown.

What Investors and Analysts Are Saying

Investor opinions on Best Buy remain mixed. Some analysts believe the company is struggling with slow growth, reduced electronics demand, and online competition.

Others believe Best Buy still has strong long-term potential because of its brand reputation, services business, and ability to adapt to market changes.

Discussions on Reddit also show divided opinions. Some employees believe the company is slowly declining, while others point out that Best Buy still generates billions in revenue and continues investing heavily in stores and technology.

Most financial analysts do not currently believe Best Buy is near immediate bankruptcy.

Final Thoughts

Best Buy is not going out of business right now. The company remains profitable, generates billions in annual revenue, and continues adapting to modern shopping trends through online expansion, store redesigns, and new technology investments.

However, the company is definitely facing real challenges. Slower electronics demand, strong online competition, store closures, staffing reductions, and changing consumer behavior have all created pressure on the business.

For now, Best Buy appears to be going through a long-term transformation rather than heading toward collapse. Its future success will likely depend on how well it continues adapting to the changing retail and technology market.

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