DLocal (US:DLO)2025-09-09 23:07Summary of DLocal 2025 Conference Call Company Overview - Company: DLocal (NasdaqGS:DLO) - Industry: Cross-border payments, particularly in emerging markets Key Points Industry Dynamics - The cross-border payment space is highly fragmented with many sub-scale companies, leading to a declining take rate reality [1] - Emerging markets have a complex and varied payment ecosystem, differing significantly from developed markets [2][3] - Regulatory frameworks and tax regimes vary widely across different markets, adding to the complexity [2] Market Performance - DLocal experienced strong execution in Q2, with significant rebounds in Brazil and Mexico after a weak second half of 2024 [5] - Non-LATAM markets (Africa, Middle East, Asia) now represent nearly 25% of DLocal's business and are growing faster than LATAM [5] - The company anticipates a five to ten-year Total Addressable Market (TAM) in Africa and the Middle East [5] Growth Opportunities - DLocal aims to help global merchants navigate the complexities of emerging market payments, which supports sustainable high growth [11] - The average number of countries served for top merchants increased from 8 to 11, and payment methods from mid-30s to low 40s over the last 18 months [11] - The company has only 715 active merchants, indicating significant potential for growth as they can add thousands more [12] Merchant Concentration - The top 10 merchants account for 60% of revenue, but only half of them were in the top 10 cohort in 2023, indicating diversification [14] - DLocal processes only about 20% of payments for its existing merchant base in Latin America, suggesting room for growth [15] Take Rate and Profitability - There is an inverse relationship between volume growth and take rates due to volume discounts [18] - TPV growth has consistently offset take rate compression, leading to accelerated gross profit dollar growth [18] - The company focuses on gross profit dollar growth rather than take rates as an input for financial modeling [19] Operational Improvements - DLocal has made significant investments in operations, product, technology, and compliance, improving internal controls and operational robustness [21][23] - The company is pursuing licenses in multiple jurisdictions, including the UK, EU, and the U.S., indicating confidence in its operations [22] Future Investments and Margins - DLocal's business model is asset-light and cash flow positive, with potential for high EBITDA margins [24] - The company sees opportunities to leverage AI to reduce costs in manual processes, aiming to return to 75% EBITDA margins [25] Competitive Landscape - The fragmented market may invite competition, but DLocal believes that scale can provide pricing benefits to clients, potentially crowding out smaller competitors [26] - Take rates are expected to decline over the next 24 months but will stabilize at a higher level than developed world payment service providers [27] Regional Insights - Brazil's growth is attributed to stabilization with a previously large merchant and a pickup in installment payments [31] - Argentina's outlook is uncertain due to recent political changes and currency devaluation, but demand for cross-border trade remains strong [32][33] - Opportunities are seen in Africa and the Middle East, while Egypt is identified as a potential weak spot [34] Stablecoin and Product Development - DLocal views stablecoins as an opportunity for on-ramps and off-ramps in local currency transactions [35][36] - The company is piloting new products, including credit solutions and point-of-sale systems, to enhance its service offerings [41][43] Conclusion - DLocal is positioned for growth in a complex and fragmented market, with a focus on operational improvements, product diversification, and leveraging emerging market opportunities. The company remains optimistic about its future despite inherent market volatility [45][46]