Here's My Best-Performing Stock of 2025 (So Far) -- and Why I'd Buy More of It Right Now

Core Insights - MercadoLibre has experienced a significant stock increase of 42% in the early months of 2025, making it the largest stock position in the portfolio of the analyst [1] - The company has shown strong performance due to two consecutive excellent earnings reports, reversing previous concerns about profitability [3][4] Financial Performance - The fourth-quarter report highlighted impressive revenue growth during the holiday season, alleviating margin concerns [4] - In the first quarter of 2025, the e-commerce marketplace sold 28% more items year-over-year, while total payment volume (TPV) increased by 43% [5] - The credit portfolio grew by 75% to $7.8 billion, and operating margin expanded by 70 basis points compared to the first quarter of 2024 [5][6] Future Growth Catalysts - The e-commerce marketplace and Mercado Pago payment platform are still in early stages of growth in key markets, indicating potential for further expansion [7] - The credit card segment presents a significant opportunity, with current adoption rates in Brazil being low despite recent growth [8] - The MELI+ subscription service and advertising revenue are also identified as areas for potential high-margin growth, with ad revenue increasing by 50% year-over-year [8] Valuation Perspective - Despite the stock's recent rise, it is considered a better value today compared to previous years, with improved profitability and lower P/E ratios [7][10] - Key growth rates are accelerating, with total payment volume growth in the first quarter of 2024 being 35%, which is now eight percentage points slower than the current rate [9]