Montevideo, Uruguay,, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mercado Libre (NASDAQ: MELI), the leading e-commerce and fintech platform in Latin America, released the sixth episode of its podcast series, Inside Mercado Libre, "Acquiring with Paula Arregui, Fintech Acquiring Senior Vice President.” The Inside Mercado Libre podcast, hosted by Investor Relations Officer, Richard Cathcart, provides investors with unique access to the company executives’ strategic perspectives.  In the latest episode, Paula Arregui r ...

The S&P 500 is making a slow rebound from its tariff-induced plunge a few weeks ago, and it's now down 6% year to date.Although investors use the index as a proxy for how the overall market is doing, it's important to keep in mind that the S&P 500 is a weighted-average index whose largest components account for a large portion of its performance. That means the market's largest U.S. companies, like Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia, will have an outsized impact on the whole.Any company that could be negatively a ...

Industry Overview - Recent tariff concerns from the U.S. government have negatively impacted the technology sector, leading to a decline in many tech stocks [1] - Parts of the tech industry that are less reliant on hardware may present investment opportunities as negative sentiment subsides [2] Company Analysis: Meta Platforms - Meta Platforms' shares have decreased nearly 30% from their all-time high and are down about 11% year-to-date [3] - Despite recent volatility, Meta continues to show strong growth potential, with an average quarterly earnings surprise of 12% and revenue surprise of 2% over the last five years [5] - Meta's revenue has more than doubled from $75 billion to $165 billion, and net income has nearly tripled from $21 billion to $62 billion during the same period [6] - Approximately 97% of Meta's revenue comes from advertising, making it less susceptible to the impacts of tariffs [7] Company Analysis: The Trade Desk - The Trade Desk's shares have fallen significantly, down 64% from their high, primarily due to a rare earnings miss in Q4 [8][10] - The company's transition to a new AI-powered technology platform is seen as a temporary setback, with digital advertising expected to continue growing [9] - In 2024, brands spent $12 billion on The Trade Desk, which operates in a $900 billion-plus market, indicating substantial growth potential [10] - The Trade Desk generated 87% of its gross billings in the U.S., suggesting that tariffs may not significantly impact its business [11] Company Analysis: MercadoLibre - MercadoLibre operates in e-commerce, fintech, and logistics across 18 Latin American countries, thriving despite regional challenges [14] - The company generated $20.8 billion in revenue in 2024, a 38% increase from the previous year, with net income rising 94% to $1.9 billion [16] - Despite tariff concerns, MercadoLibre's stock has risen over the past year and is currently down approximately 10% from its highs [17] - The company's P/E ratio has fallen significantly, making it an attractive option for investors looking to avoid tariff-related pressures [17]

The CEO of Argentina's MercadoLibre — often called the Amazon of Latin America — sees big opportunity for Latin America in the U.S.-China trade war."If Latin America plays its cards well, I think could benefit from this volatility," MercadoLibre CEO and founder Marcos Galperin told CNBC's Robert Frank on the sidelines of Riverwood Capital Management's LatAm Tech Forum in Miami.Galperin is Argentina's richest person with an $8.7 billion fortune by Forbes' estimate.Shares of MercadoLibre, an e-commerce and pa ...

The market expects MercadoLibre (MELI) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended March 2025. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report. On the other hand, if they miss, ...

While U.S. equities and global markets have struggled under the weight of economic uncertainty and intensifying trade tensions, some standout stocks have managed to defy the downtrend. With recession warnings for 2025 mounting from major institutions and analysts, fear has driven broad-based selling across global equities. Yet, even in this risk-off environment, a few bright spots remain, and one name that continues to shine is MercadoLibre, Inc. NASDAQ: MELI. Get MercadoLibre alerts:Latin America’s E-Comme ...

MercadoLibre’s (MELI) valuation may be a concern for some investors. The stock is trading at a premium compared to the broader Zacks Internet – Commerce industry. As of the latest data, MELI’s forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio hovers around 3.9, above the industry’s 2.08, reflecting investors' high growth expectations.With MELI stock trading at a premium, investors may be wondering how to approach it. While the company faces short-term pressures, such as macroeconomic uncertainties and increased competitio ...

Core Viewpoint - Investing in U.S. stocks faces near-term uncertainty due to fluctuating tariff levels, making international stocks, such as MercadoLibre, more appealing as they are not affected by U.S. tariffs [1][2] Company Overview - MercadoLibre operates in e-commerce, fintech, and logistics within Latin America, allowing it to remain unaffected by U.S. economic conditions and tariffs [3][4] - The company has established itself as the leading e-commerce platform in Latin America since its inception in 1999, providing a competitive edge over newer entrants like Amazon [5] Business Performance - In 2024, MercadoLibre generated nearly $21 billion in revenue, marking a 38% increase year-over-year, with gross merchandise volumes rising by 15% [8] - The fintech segment, Mercado Pago, reported a total payment volume of $197 billion in 2024, up from $147 billion the previous year, indicating significant growth in this area [8] Financial Metrics - Despite a 49% increase in the cost of revenue, the company managed to grow its net income to $1.9 billion in 2024, a 94% increase from 2023, aided by reduced foreign currency losses and income taxes [9] - The company's P/E ratio stands at 55, reflecting a growth phase similar to Amazon's in the 2000s, while its market cap of $105 billion is significantly smaller than Amazon's $1.9 trillion, suggesting potential for faster revenue growth [10] Strategic Positioning - MercadoLibre's minimal exposure to U.S. tariffs positions it as a potential shelter for investors looking to avoid the impacts of U.S. trade policies [12] - The company continues to thrive by addressing regional needs in Latin America, which may mitigate concerns over slowing revenue growth in the near term [13]

Core Viewpoint - MercadoLibre is positioned as a strong growth opportunity in the e-commerce sector of Latin America, with significant potential for future gains despite recent market volatility [1][2]. Group 1: Growth Potential - MercadoLibre has experienced substantial growth, with a revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 55% from 2019 to 2024, and the number of annual unique buyers increasing from 44 million to 100 million during the same period [4]. - The company has established a strong foothold in 19 Latin American countries, primarily serving customers in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico [3]. - Analysts project a revenue CAGR of 22% from 2024 to 2027, indicating continued growth potential as internet penetration and income levels rise in the region [6]. Group 2: Profitability - MercadoLibre achieved consistent profitability on a GAAP basis in 2021, with net income growing at a CAGR of 184% in USD terms over the subsequent three years [7]. - The company's profits are driven by a shift towards more profitable products, expansion of higher-margin services, and operational efficiencies that reduce costs [8]. - Analysts expect net income to continue rising at a CAGR of 31% from 2024 to 2027, reflecting ongoing profitability improvements [7]. Group 3: Valuation - As of the latest data, MercadoLibre trades at $1,826 per share, valued at 38 times this year's earnings and 27 times next year's earnings, which is relatively reasonable compared to Amazon's valuation [9]. - The stock's valuation may be impacted by inflationary pressures and political uncertainties in its core markets, which could compress near-term valuations [10]. Group 4: Future Outlook - If MercadoLibre meets analysts' expectations and achieves a robust earnings per share CAGR of 20% through 2027, the stock could potentially double to approximately $3,646 per share by early 2030 [11]. - The company is viewed as a strong investment opportunity for patient investors willing to navigate market volatility and uncertainties [12].

Company Overview - MercadoLibre is a leading e-commerce and fintech company operating in 18 Latin American countries, with a significant focus on expanding its financial services platform [3][4] - The company has a strong brand presence and is recognized as a market leader in the region, benefiting from a first-mover advantage [7] Financial Performance - In Q4 2024, MercadoLibre reported a 96% year-over-year increase in revenue (currency neutral), with gross merchandise volume up 56% and unique buyers exceeding 100 million for the first time [4] - The fintech segment saw total payment volume increase by 49%, with a credit portfolio growth of 74% to $6.6 billion and assets under management rising 129% to $10.6 billion [4][5] - Operating income rose from $335 million to $820 million year over year, with the operating margin expanding from 13.5% to 14.1% [5] Market Opportunities - E-commerce penetration in Latin America is approximately 14.4%, significantly lower than the U.S. (28.8%) and China (38.1%), indicating substantial growth potential [6] - The Latin American fintech market is underdeveloped, with less than half of Mexico's population having a bank account, presenting a ripe opportunity for MercadoLibre to expand its services [8] - The overall market for e-commerce in the region is projected to grow from $151 billion in 2023 to $232 billion by 2028, further enhancing MercadoLibre's growth prospects [7] Stock Performance - MercadoLibre's stock has increased by 7% year to date, contrasting with a 15% decline in the S&P 500, indicating strong investor confidence [10] - The stock trades at a forward one-year P/E ratio of 28, which is considered attractive given the company's growth potential [11]