Core Insights - Louis Stevens is a highly regarded investment analyst with a background as a former U.S. Army engineer officer, holding an MBA and a BA in political science [1] - He has established L.A. Stevens Research, where he manages the LAS Index, a stock basket that has consistently outperformed market indices since its inception [2] Company Overview - L.A. Stevens Research utilizes a proprietary method for selecting stocks, contributing to its strong performance in the investment community [2] - The LAS Index is designed to cater to a diverse audience, including beginners, busy professionals, and experienced fund managers [2]

Company Insights - MercadoLibre (MELI) is currently experiencing solid earnings estimate revisions, indicating a positive outlook from analysts for both short and long-term prospects [3][4]. - Over the past 60 days, earnings estimates for the current quarter have increased from $6.86 per share to $7.82 per share, and for the current year, estimates have risen from $43.76 per share to $47.50 per share [4]. Industry Analysis - The Retail-Wholesale sector, where MercadoLibre operates, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 72 out of 247 industries, suggesting it is well-positioned compared to other segments [2]. - The overall positive trends in the Retail-Wholesale space may benefit companies within the industry, including MercadoLibre, as a rising tide can lift all boats [2].

Core Insights - MercadoLibre (MELI) shares have returned 32.9% over the past 12 months, outperforming the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector and the Zacks Internet-Commerce industry's growth of 11% and 19.3% respectively [1] - The company has achieved significant milestones in 2024, surpassing 100 million unique buyers and reaching 60 million fintech monthly active users for the first time [2] Investment Plans - MercadoLibre plans to invest $3.4 billion in Mexico in 2025, a 38% increase from the previous year, to enhance technology, logistics, and fintech operations [5] - This investment is expected to strengthen the company's top line by driving higher transaction volumes and improving delivery efficiency [6] Competitive Strategies - MercadoLibre faces rising competition from Amazon and Walmart in Latin America, particularly in Mexico [7] - To counter competition, the company is investing in innovation, enhancing user interface, expanding free shipping, and optimizing inventory supply [8] - The company is also strengthening its advertising business to improve monetization and product visibility [9] Fintech Performance - In 2024, MELI's credit portfolio expanded 74% year-over-year to $6.6 billion, with the credit card segment growing 118% [10] - Assets under management grew 129% to $10.6 billion, driven by the success of the company's yielding account [10] - The company is actively managing credit risk amid rising interest rates and macroeconomic uncertainties [11] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q1 2025 earnings is $7.82 per share, revised upward by 13.9%, indicating 15.34% year-over-year growth [12] - The consensus for 2025 earnings is $47.50 per share, up 8%, suggesting 26.03% year-over-year growth [12] Stock Performance - MELI's shares are trading above the 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating a potential continuation of the upward trend [13] - The forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio of 3.85 exceeds the Zacks Internet-Commerce industry average of 2.09, reflecting investor confidence in the company's growth potential [15] Future Growth Prospects - The company plans to double its fulfillment centers in Brazil by the end of 2025 and increase same-day delivery capabilities by 40% [17] - MELI is targeting lower-risk customers with larger credit lines to expand market reach, indicating strong long-term growth prospects [17]

Core Insights - Billionaire Stan Druckenmiller, known for his investments in Nvidia, has fully sold his position in the company and is now investing in Amazon and MercadoLibre, which he views as strong long-term opportunities [2][3]. Group 1: Amazon - At the end of Q4 2024, Amazon constituted approximately 2% of Druckenmiller's U.S.-listed investments, benefiting from the AI boom and trading at a lower valuation compared to Nvidia [3][5]. - Amazon Web Services (AWS) reported a 19% year-over-year revenue increase, reaching $28.8 billion in Q4, with a 37% operating margin over the last 12 months [3][4]. - The North American operating margin for Amazon's e-commerce division has improved to 6.4%, up from nearly zero a few years ago, indicating significant profit growth potential [4][6]. - Amazon's stock is currently trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 35, its lowest in five years, with a consolidated operating margin of 11% in 2024 and an 11% revenue growth compared to 2023 [5][6]. Group 2: MercadoLibre - MercadoLibre represents a larger portion of Druckenmiller's portfolio at 2.45%, showing strong performance in Latin America, particularly in markets like Mexico [7]. - The company's commerce division experienced a remarkable 44% growth in Q4 2024, with a staggering 3,430% revenue increase over the past decade [8][11]. - MercadoLibre's fintech division, driven by the MercadoPago app, saw a 29% year-over-year revenue growth in Q4, with 61.2 million monthly active users, reflecting a 34% increase from the previous year [9][10]. - With total revenue of $21 billion compared to Amazon's $638 billion, MercadoLibre has significant growth potential in the underpenetrated Latin American e-commerce market [11][12]. - Despite a high P/E ratio of 53, long-term investors like Druckenmiller recognize that durable growth can lead to a rapid decrease in P/E over time [12].

Group 1: Market Overview - The S&P 500 is currently down in 2025, presenting a potential buying opportunity as economic uncertainty drives investor fear [1] - Despite market conditions, many companies are performing well and have significant growth opportunities [1] Group 2: MercadoLibre - MercadoLibre stock has increased by 41% over the past year and is the only stock on the list that is up in 2025 [3] - The company operates an e-commerce platform in Latin America, which is still underpenetrated at about 13% compared to 24% in the U.S., benefiting from a growing customer base [4] - Revenue for MercadoLibre increased by 96% year over year in Q4 2024, with gross merchandise volume (GMV) up 56% [4] - The company has developed a fintech infrastructure that supports digital payments, with total payment volume increasing by 49% year over year in Q4 [6] - MercadoLibre is the leading fintech company in three of its four largest markets by monthly active users [6] - The company is positioned for significant growth as it drives a digital revolution in its region [7] Group 3: Shopify - Shopify stock has risen by 25% over the past year, with strong growth and increasing profitability [8] - The company has expanded beyond e-commerce websites to become a full commerce platform, with most sales now coming from payment processing [9] - International sales grew by 33% year over year in 2024, accounting for 30% of total revenue [10] - Shopify has reported seven consecutive quarters of revenue growth of at least 25%, with a free-cash-flow margin reaching 22% in Q4 [11] - The company has substantial long-term opportunities and is rolling out more services in international markets [10][11] Group 4: On Holding - On Holding stock has increased by 45% over the past year, recognized for its unique sneaker soles and growing brand presence [12] - The company reported a 41% year-over-year revenue increase in Q4 2024, driven by a 48% rise in direct-to-consumer sales [14] - On's gross margin expanded from 60.4% to 62.1% year over year in Q4, with net income increasing by 435% [14] - The management has a four-pillar strategy focused on brand awareness, omnichannel strategy, product assortment expansion, and operational efficiency [15]

Core Insights - MercadoLibre (NASDAQ: MELI) has outperformed the S&P 500 with a 28% return over the past year despite poor performance in Mexican and Brazilian equities [1] - The company generates 77.3% of its revenues from Mexico and Brazil, indicating a strong reliance on these markets for its financial performance [1] Company Performance - The stock of MercadoLibre has doubled the S&P 500's performance in the last year, showcasing its strong growth trajectory [1] - The company is based in Argentina but has significant revenue exposure to Mexico and Brazil, which are critical markets for its operations [1]

Core Insights - MercadoLibre has experienced significant stock growth since its IPO in 2007, increasing over 110 times from an initial price of $18 per share [1] - Despite concerns about its high P/E ratio of 53 and operating in a volatile Latin American market, there are reasons to believe the stock still has considerable growth potential [2] Company Overview - MercadoLibre operates across 18 Latin American countries, generating revenue primarily from e-commerce, fintech, and logistics services [3] - The company has adapted to regional challenges by launching Mercado Pago for fintech services and Mercado Envios for shipping and fulfillment [4] Financial Performance - In 2024, MercadoLibre achieved a revenue growth of 37%, with net income reaching $1.9 billion, marking a 94% increase year-over-year [5] - Analysts project a revenue increase of 25% in 2025 and 23% in 2026, which could support a forward P/E ratio of 42 [5] Market Position - MercadoLibre's market capitalization is approximately $100 billion, significantly smaller than Amazon's $2.1 trillion market cap, indicating potential for future growth [6] - As the company continues to expand its services and improve the lives of Latin Americans, it is positioned for substantial returns in the coming years [6]

Core Insights - The Zacks Premium service provides tools for investors to enhance their stock market engagement and confidence through daily updates, research reports, and stock screens [1] Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are indicators that assist investors in selecting stocks likely to outperform the market within 30 days, rated from A to F based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics [2] - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios like P/E, PEG, and Price/Sales [3] - The Growth Score emphasizes a company's financial health and future outlook, analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow [4] - The Momentum Score leverages trends in stock prices and earnings estimates to identify optimal times for investment [5] - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for evaluating stocks based on value, growth, and momentum [6] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that utilizes earnings estimate revisions to facilitate portfolio building, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [7][8] - Investors are encouraged to select stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B to maximize potential success [9] - Stocks with lower ranks, such as 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell), may still have high Style Scores but are likely to experience declining earnings forecasts [10] Company Spotlight: MercadoLibre - MercadoLibre, Inc., based in Buenos Aires, is a leading e-commerce platform in South America, dominating markets in several countries including Brazil and Argentina based on unique visitors and page views [11] - The company holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and a VGM Score of A, making it an attractive option for growth investors [11] - MercadoLibre is projected to achieve year-over-year earnings growth of 26% for the current fiscal year, with recent earnings estimates revised upward by six analysts [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MercadoLibre's earnings has increased by $3.74 to $47.50 per share, alongside an average earnings surprise of 16.4% [12]

Core Insights - Mercado Libre launched a new podcast series titled CFO Perspectives, featuring CFO Martin de los Santos discussing the company's performance and future outlook following Q4 2024 results [1][2] - 2024 was a historic year for Mercado Libre, marking its 25th anniversary and achieving significant milestones, including 100 million unique buyers and 61 million monthly active users [3] Financial Performance - In 2024, Mercado Libre achieved consolidated net revenue of US$21 billion and gross merchandise value (GMV) of US$51.5 billion, with over 1.8 billion products sold through Mercado Envios [5] - The company emphasizes its commitment to investing in logistics, credit growth, and advertising to capture opportunities in the Latin American market [2][3] Strategic Focus - The company aims to enhance online commerce participation, promote financial inclusion, and expand its advertising business [3] - Mercado Libre operates a comprehensive ecosystem that includes e-commerce, digital banking, and various services, catering to over 100 million annual active buyers [5]

Core Insights - Mercado Libre launched a new podcast series titled CFO Perspectives, featuring CFO Martin de los Santos discussing the company's performance and future outlook following Q4 2024 results [1][2] - 2024 was a historic year for Mercado Libre, marking its 25th anniversary and achieving significant milestones, including 100 million unique buyers and 61 million monthly active users [3] Financial Performance - In 2024, Mercado Libre achieved consolidated net revenue of US$21 billion and gross merchandise value (GMV) of US$51.5 billion, with over 1.8 billion products sold through Mercado Envios [5] - The company aims to continue investing in online commerce, financial inclusion, and advertising to capture growth opportunities in Latin America [3] Company Overview - Founded in 1999, Mercado Libre operates in 18 countries and employs over 84,000 people, providing a comprehensive ecosystem for e-commerce and fintech solutions [5] - The platform facilitates various services, including buying, selling, advertising, credit, insurance, and payment solutions, catering to both online and offline transactions [5]