The retail sector is truly massive. In the U.S. alone, $7.3 trillion was spent in 2024. And within this market, there are certainly some huge companies that might make for smart investment opportunities.Two top retail companies that come to mind are Costco (COST -1.67%) and Home Depot (HD -0.40%). In their separate niches, both have generated substantial wealth for their shareholders since their respective initial public offerings in the 1980s. But between Costco and Home Depot, which would be the better st ...