BLX vs BMA

For growth investors, Banco Macro S.

A. (BMA) is the stronger pick with -33. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -58. 1% for Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. (BLX). Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. (BLX) offers the better valuation at 9. 0x trailing P/E (8. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. (BLX) a "Buy" — based on 3 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.

A. (BLX) is the cheapest at 9. 0x versus Banco Macro S. A. at 21. 1x. On forward P/E, Banco Macro S. A. is actually cheaper at 0. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Banco Macro S. A. wins at 0. 00x versus Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. 's 0. 28x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Banco Macro S.

A. (BMA) delivered a total return of +594. 5%, compared to +317. 9% for Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. (BLX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BLX returned +204. 0% versus BMA's +56. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.

A. (BLX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 55β versus Banco Macro S. A. 's 1. 76β — meaning BMA is approximately 222% more volatile than BLX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Banco Macro S. A. (BMA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 11% versus 2% for Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Banco Macro S.

A. (BMA) is pulling ahead at -33. 3% versus -58. 1% for Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. (BLX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. grew EPS 9. 1% year-over-year, compared to -44. 6% for Banco Macro S. A.. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.

A. (BLX) is the more profitable company, earning 66. 8% net margin versus 5. 0% for Banco Macro S. A. — meaning it keeps 66. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BLX leads at 66. 8% versus 5. 6% for BMA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BLX leads at 93. 5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Banco Macro S. A. (BMA) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 00x versus Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. 's 0. 28x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Banco Macro S. A. (BMA) trades at 0. 0x forward P/E versus 8. 7x for Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. — 8. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Banco Macro S. A. (BMA) offers the highest yield at 6. 8%, versus 4. 5% for Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. (BLX).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.

A. (BLX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 55), 4. 5% yield, +204. 0% 10Y return). Banco Macro S. A. (BMA) carries a higher beta of 1. 76 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (BLX: +204. 0%, BMA: +56. 3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: BLX is a small-cap deep-value stock; BMA is a small-cap income-oriented stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.