Amazon’s incredible growth and success have made it one of the market’s best stocks of all time. However, its size and market saturation mean that its highest-growth days are likely behind it. Enter MercadoLibre, often referred to as “the Amazon of Latin America,” which is currently where Amazon was about 10 to 15 years ago. With a focus on e-commerce and digital payments in Latin America, MercadoLibre has significant growth potential in a region that is experiencing a major evolution in connectivity and mobile penetration.
MercadoLibre’s Target Market and Diverse Business:
MercadoLibre’s primary focus is on building its e-commerce business in Latin America, where there is yet to be an overwhelming market leader. The company is often compared to Amazon, but it offers much more than just e-commerce. MercadoLibre’s digital payments platform resembles PayPal, and it also operates in logistics, digital advertising, and point-of-sale equipment. This diversification positions MercadoLibre as an incredibly diverse company with multiple revenue streams.
South America’s Growing Connectivity:
Latin America’s access to broadband connectivity, particularly mobile connectivity, is growing rapidly. As of the end of last year, about half of the region’s residents had access to at-home broadband, a significant increase from just a decade ago. This proliferation of high-speed connectivity is expected to drive the growth of e-commerce in South America, similar to what was seen in North America a decade ago. Additionally, mobile phone penetration is also increasing, with a growing number of Latin Americans owning mobile phones. This presents an opportunity for mobile shopping and mobile payments to gain popularity in the region.
MercadoLibre’s Success and Growth:
MercadoLibre is capitalizing on the growth of e-commerce and digital payments in Latin America. The company’s share of the region’s e-commerce market has reached 21%, making it a market leader. While this share may seem modest compared to Amazon’s dominance in the U.S., it is similar to where Amazon stood in the U.S. market around 2014. MercadoLibre’s growing share of a growing market is translating into impressive financial results, with last quarter’s gross merchandise volume up 32% year over year and revenue growing 40%.
Future Outlook and Expansion:
The International Monetary Fund predicts Latin America’s economy to grow 2.3% next year, and analysts expect MercadoLibre to deliver revenue growth of about 23% in 2022. The company’s strong sales growth is expected to continue through 2027. MercadoLibre is also expanding its payment technology’s reach, with its mobile payment and banking app experiencing a 47% increase in total payment volume year over year. By integrating its e-commerce platform with its payment platform, MercadoLibre is well-positioned for further growth.
Conclusion:
While investing always carries some level of risk, the parallels between Amazon’s growth trajectory and MercadoLibre’s current position in Latin America are hard to ignore. With a focus on e-commerce and digital payments in a region experiencing significant growth in connectivity and mobile penetration, MercadoLibre has the potential to become the next Amazon of Latin America. Investors should closely monitor the company’s financial performance and expansion efforts as it continues to capture the growing market in the region.
Leave a Reply