Group 1: Bank of Nova Scotia - The Bank of Nova Scotia is considered a "very good" company by Jim Cramer, who highlighted its better-than-expected fourth-quarter results [1] - Bank of Nova Scotia shares gained 0.4% to close at $72.92 [6] Group 2: Strategy Inc - Bernstein analyst Gautam Chhugani maintained an Outperform rating for Strategy Inc but lowered the price target from $600 to $450 [2] - Strategy shares fell 0.7% to settle at $183.30 [6] Group 3: AST SpaceMobile, Inc. - Cramer described AST SpaceMobile as speculative, indicating potential for significant losses [2] - AST SpaceMobile shares rose 7.2% to settle at $84.75 [6] - The company announced the addition of two new manufacturing sites in Texas and Florida [2] Group 4: DexCom, Inc. - Cramer expressed a lack of interest in owning DexCom, despite Citigroup analyst Joanne Wuensch maintaining a Buy rating and raising the price target from $75 to $77 [3] - Dexcom shares gained 2% to close at $68.94 [6] Group 5: NRG Energy - Cramer recommended buying NRG Energy, citing its nuclear component and strong management [3] - UBS analyst William Appicelli initiated coverage on NRG Energy with a Buy rating and a price target of $211 [3] - NRG Energy shares rose 1.5% to settle at $170.64 [6] Group 6: MercadoLibre, Inc. - Cramer endorsed MercadoLibre as a buy, calling it "such a good company" [4] - BTIG analyst Marvin Fong reiterated a Buy rating on MercadoLibre with a price target of $2,750 [4] - MercadoLibre shares gained 2.5% to close at $2,019.81 [6]

Core Viewpoint - Several stock splits may occur in 2026, which could create investment opportunities as companies often see a rise in share prices following a split announcement [1][2]. Group 1: Microsoft - Microsoft has the lowest stock price on the list at just under $500 per share and has not split its stock since 2003, making a split overdue [4]. - The company's stock price has risen due to its significant role in the artificial intelligence sector and its investment in OpenAI, which could further boost its stock if OpenAI goes public [5]. Group 2: MercadoLibre - MercadoLibre has the highest stock price on the list at about $2,000 per share and has never split its stock, raising skepticism about a potential split [7]. - The company has built a robust e-commerce network in Latin America and a payments infrastructure, showing strong growth potential despite a sluggish 2025 [8]. Group 3: Goldman Sachs - Goldman Sachs has a stock price around $850 and is a significant component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, accounting for about 11% of its total weighting [9]. - The company may face a decision on whether to split its stock to maintain its position in the index or to reduce its weight within it [11][12]. Group 4: Caterpillar - Caterpillar has a stock price of about $600 and is the second-largest component of the Dow Jones index, making up nearly 8% of its total weighting [13]. - Similar to Goldman Sachs, Caterpillar may need to consider a stock split to manage its significant influence on the index [13]. Group 5: Costco - Costco's stock is valued at about $900 per share, and it has not split its stock in 25 years, indicating it is overdue for a split [14]. - Although not a member of the Dow Jones index, a stock split could enhance its chances of inclusion, making it a strong candidate for a split in 2026 [16].

The Trade Desk - The Trade Desk has seen its stock decline 71% from its record high, but analysts believe it is undervalued with a median target price of $60 per share, implying a 53% upside from the current price of $39 [10] - The company operates the largest demand-side platform (DSP) for the open internet, which allows media buyers to optimize digital campaigns without bias from owning media content [4][5] - The Trade Desk is particularly strong in connected TV (CTV) advertising, which is the fastest-growing segment in the industry [6] - Despite concerns about slowing growth and increased competition from Amazon, which is undercutting fees, analysts remain optimistic about The Trade Desk's ability to maintain its leadership position due to its independent business model [7][8] - The current valuation of The Trade Desk is 45 times earnings, with expected earnings growth of 20% annually over the next three years [9] MercadoLibre - MercadoLibre's stock has declined 24% from its record high, with a median target price of $2,842 per share, indicating a 42% upside from the current price of $1,999 [10] - The company operates the largest online marketplace in Latin America, benefiting from a strong network effect that enhances value for both buyers and sellers [11][12] - MercadoLibre reported a 39% increase in revenue to $7.4 billion, marking the 27th consecutive quarter of growth exceeding 30%, driven by strong performance in its fintech segment [13] - Although net income increased only 6% to $8.32 per diluted share due to strategic investments, these investments are expected to drive long-term growth [14] - Wall Street anticipates MercadoLibre's earnings will grow at 32% annually over the next three years, making its current valuation of 49 times earnings reasonable [15]

Core Insights - Emerging-market (EM) economies are projected to grow at 4.2% in 2025, significantly outpacing the 1.6% growth expected for advanced economies according to the IMF [1] - EM economies now account for 50.6% of global GDP in 2025 and 66.5% of global GDP growth over the past decade [2] - Emerging-market equities are trading at a 35% discount compared to developed-market equities, the largest discount in 15 years, indicating potential for valuation re-rating [3] Sector Analysis - Easing monetary policies in developing nations are fostering healthier financing conditions, leading to double-digit year-over-year bank credit growth in countries like India, the Philippines, and Vietnam [5] - Global supply-chain diversification is boosting manufacturing activity in EMs, with India attracting $19.04 billion in manufacturing FDI and mobile phone exports reaching $20.5 billion in 2024 [6] Company Highlights - **ICICI Bank**: Focused on enhancing digital banking services, with significant growth in its mobile banking app and strong loan demand across key EM regions. Expected earnings growth of 13.9% for fiscal 2027 [7][9] - **Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC)**: Dominates the semiconductor foundry space with advanced production capabilities, expected to report earnings growth of 20.2% in 2026 [10][11] - **MercadoLibre**: A leader in e-commerce and digital banking in Latin America, showing 39% revenue growth and 41% total payment volume expansion in Q3 2025, with expected earnings growth of 50.3% in 2026 [12][13]

Core Insights - MercadoLibre has successfully transformed challenges into revenue streams, particularly in online commerce and fintech, but faces emerging challenges that could impact its stock outlook in 2026 and beyond [1][2] Group 1: Financial Performance - In the first nine months of 2025, MercadoLibre's revenue increased by 37% year over year to $20 billion, but the provision for doubtful accounts rose by 58%, indicating rising credit risks [5] - Net income for the same period was $1.4 billion, reflecting a modest 13% increase compared to the previous year, which has contributed to a slower stock price increase of just over 20% in 2025 [6] Group 2: Challenges - High loan defaults in Mercado Pago, the company's fintech arm, have become a significant concern as bad debt accumulates, impacting investor sentiment [4] - Increased competition in e-commerce from companies like Amazon and Sea Limited, as well as local platforms, poses a threat to MercadoLibre's market share and could pressure profit margins [7][8] Group 3: Competitive Advantages - Despite competition, MercadoLibre maintains competitive advantages through its logistics arm, Mercado Envios, which allows for lower shipping costs and faster delivery, helping to attract merchants [9] - The company continues to leverage its first-mover advantage in Latin American fintech and e-commerce, although it must address the issue of unpaid loans to sustain growth [10][11]

Core Insights - MercadoLibre's lending arm is significantly enhancing user engagement within Mercado Pago, with rapid credit portfolio expansion shaping the company's operational profile [1] - The total credit portfolio surged 83% year-over-year to $11 billion in Q3 2025, with growth across consumer, merchant, and asset-backed segments [2] - Fintech revenues are projected to reach $3.63 billion in Q4 2025, reflecting a 45% year-over-year increase, indicating robust credit-driven revenue growth [3] Credit Portfolio and Financial Performance - The credit card segment is increasingly dominating originations, leading to a shift towards longer-duration products [2] - Net Interest Margin After Losses decreased to 21% due to rising funding costs in Argentina, while asset quality remained stable with 6.8% of loans 15-90 days past due and 17.6% over 90 days past due [2][4] - The expansion of the credit book may introduce margin strain despite improved user engagement, with longer-duration credit cards and rising funding costs impacting profitability [4] Competitive Landscape - Competition is intensifying from Sea Limited and Nu Holdings, which are expanding their digital lending operations in Latin America, directly competing with MercadoLibre in key markets [5] - The aggressive expansion of Sea Limited and Nu Holdings may pressure MercadoLibre's credit pricing, acquisition costs, and lending margins [5][8] Stock Performance and Valuation - MercadoLibre's shares have declined 13.1% over the past six months, underperforming the Zacks Internet-Commerce industry and the Retail-Wholesale sector [6] - The stock is currently trading at a forward Price/Sales ratio of 2.9X, compared to the industry's 2.13X, with a Value Score of C [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q4 2025 earnings is $11.85 per share, indicating a 6.03% year-over-year decline [12]

“Real power is choosing when to step away,” says Argentina’s richest person, Marcos Galperin, who’s stepping down as CEO of MercadoLibre at the end of the year https://t.co/K5uXsGQFO2 ...

Core Insights - MercadoLibre (MELI) shares have decreased by 15.6% over the past six months, underperforming the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector and the Zacks Internet-Commerce industry's growth of 4.3% and 5.2% respectively [1][7] Performance Overview - The decline in MELI's performance is attributed to investor concerns regarding margin compression due to aggressive strategic investments, heightened competitive intensity, and macroeconomic volatility in Latin America [2] - MELI's operational strategy focuses on market share expansion over short-term profitability, leading to significant volume growth but pressuring margins in both commerce and fintech segments [4] - In Q3 2025, Brazil's free-shipping threshold reduction resulted in record items sold, yet operating margin fell to 9.8%, down 70 basis points year-over-year, as logistics and fulfillment costs increased faster than revenue [4] Financial Metrics - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q4 2025 revenues is projected at $8.45 billion, reflecting a 39.5% year-over-year increase, indicating continued top-line momentum despite constrained margins [4] - In Q3, MELI's Net Income Margin decreased to 5.7% from 7.5% the previous year, while Net Interest Margin After Losses remained at 21%, highlighting the impact of higher funding costs and expanding younger credit cohorts [5] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q4 total payment volume is expected to reach $81.67 billion, up 38.6% year-over-year, indicating ongoing activity but a larger credit base to manage [5] Competitive Landscape - The Latin American e-commerce and fintech markets are increasingly competitive, with major players like Amazon and Sea Limited intensifying price and delivery competition, forcing MELI to increase spending on logistics and incentives [6][8] - MELI's forward price-to-earnings multiple stands at 34.91x, significantly above the Zacks Industry average of 24.37x and the broader sector multiple of 24.95x, indicating high expectations for sustained revenue growth and margin recovery [9] User Growth and Monetization Potential - Despite margin pressures, MELI's investment strategy is successfully expanding its user base, with unique active buyers growing 26% year-over-year to 76.8 million and monthly active fintech users increasing 29% to 72.2 million [12] - The potential for monetization exists through cross-selling opportunities between commerce and fintech services, with the credit card business in Brazil showing signs of profitability as older cohorts mature [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings per share is projected at $40.27, reflecting expectations for modest earnings growth despite ongoing margin pressures [12] Conclusion - MELI's investment case presents a balance of margin pressures against user growth momentum, with an expanding user base offering long-term potential while near-term profitability remains uncertain [14]

Core Insights - D1 Capital Partners has initiated a new position in MercadoLibre, acquiring 128,803 shares valued at approximately $301 million, indicating renewed institutional interest in the company [1][2][10]. Company Overview - MercadoLibre is the leading e-commerce and fintech platform in Latin America, leveraging an integrated ecosystem that includes marketplace, payments, credit, and logistics to enhance user engagement and cross-sell financial services [6][9]. - The company has a market capitalization of $104.8 billion, with a trailing twelve months (TTM) revenue of $26.2 billion and a net income of $2.1 billion [4]. Financial Performance - In the third quarter, MercadoLibre reported a revenue increase of 39% year over year, reaching $7.4 billion, marking its 27th consecutive quarter of over 30% growth [10]. - Operating income for the same period rose to $724 million, with a margin of 9.8%, while net income reached $421 million, driven by increased commerce and fintech adoption [10]. Investment Thesis - D1 Capital's investment reflects a broader strategy of acquiring dominant platforms with multi-vertical business models, suggesting that long-term investors view MercadoLibre as a durable growth opportunity [11]. - The company's expanding ecosystem across payments, credit, logistics, and advertising is seen as a central thesis for its investment attractiveness, particularly in key markets like Brazil and Mexico [11].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses three growth stocks that have recently underperformed but are expected to improve in the upcoming year due to various catalysts and market recognition of their potential [2]. Group 1: Roblox - Roblox has experienced a 30% decline since its peak in September, primarily due to concerns over slowing growth and profitability, despite a year-over-year revenue growth of 48% [4][6]. - The company has warned of a potential slight decline in operating margin due to increased development expenses and investments in infrastructure and safety [4]. - Analysts maintain a strong buy rating for Roblox, with a consensus price target of $146.28, indicating a potential upside of over 50% from its current price [7]. Group 2: Rocket Lab - Rocket Lab's stock has been volatile, recently declining due to the postponement of the first flight of a new rocket design to early next year, which disappointed investors [8][10]. - The company is positioned to enter the medium-lift segment of the orbital launch market, which is expected to grow at an average annual rate of nearly 15% through 2034 [10]. - Approximately two-thirds of Rocket Lab's revenue comes from technology and communication solutions for satellites, which remains unaffected by the timing of its new rocket launch [11]. Group 3: MercadoLibre - MercadoLibre, often referred to as the Amazon of Latin America, is the market leader in a fragmented e-commerce industry, with significant growth potential driven by increasing broadband and smartphone penetration [12][13]. - The e-commerce industry in South America is projected to grow by 21% year-over-year, doubling in size between 2023 and 2027 [13]. - Despite a nearly 20% decline in stock price since mid-year due to unexpected expenses from a free-shipping promotion, the company reported a 38% increase in commerce revenue on a constant-currency basis [15][16].