EDN
Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima
Regulated Electric
Market Cap$530M
5Y Perf.+738.8%
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Stock Comparison
EDN vs MELI
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
MELI
MercadoLibre, Inc.
Specialty Retail
Market Cap$93.34B
5Y Perf.+116.2%
EDN vs MELI — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | EDN | MELI |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Regulated Electric | Specialty Retail |
| Market Cap | $530M | $93.34B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.63T | $28.89B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $206.54B | $2.00B |
| Gross Margin | 20.9% | 44.5% |
| Operating Margin | 4.2% | 11.1% |
| Forward P/E | 0.1x | 38.6x |
| Total Debt | $476.36B | $11.39B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $23.92B | $3.67B |
EDN vs MELI — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
EDN
MELI
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empresa Distribuido… (EDN) | 100 | 838.8 | +738.8% |
| MercadoLibre, Inc. (MELI) | 100 | 216.2 | +116.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: EDN vs MELI
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: EDN leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. MercadoLibre, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and operational efficiency and capital deployment. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
EDN
Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima
The Income Pick
EDN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.94
- Rev growth 191.4%, EPS growth 59.9%, 3Y rev CAGR 43.7%
- 191.4% revenue growth vs MELI's 39.1%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
MELI
MercadoLibre, Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
MELI is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 13.4% 10Y total return vs EDN's 73.2%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.20, current ratio 1.17x
- Beta 1.20, current ratio 1.17x
Best for: long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | EDN | 191.4% revenue growth vs MELI's 39.1% |
| Value | EDN | Lower P/E (0.1x vs 38.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | EDN | 7.8% margin vs MELI's 6.9% |
| Stability / Safety | MELI | Beta 1.20 vs EDN's 1.94 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | EDN | -15.9% vs MELI's -17.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MELI | 5.7% ROA vs EDN's 4.6%, ROIC 20.8% vs 1.9% |
EDN vs MELI — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
EDN vs MELI — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLMELILAGGINGEDN
EDNEmpresa Distribuidora…
2leads
MELIMercadoLibre, Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs EDNMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
MELI5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
EDN5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
MELI7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
EDN4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
MELI2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
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Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MELI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
EDN is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.63T annually — 91.1x MELI's $28.9B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 7.8% (EDN) to 6.9% (MELI). On growth, MELI holds the edge at +44.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | EDNEmpresa Distribui… | MELIMercadoLibre, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.63T | $28.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $300.0B | $4.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $206.5B | $2.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$260.0B | $10.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +20.9% | +44.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +4.2% | +11.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.8% | +6.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -9.9% | +35.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +33.3% | +44.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -65.4% | -12.5% |
MELI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
EDN leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 5.1x trailing earnings, EDN trades at a 89% valuation discount to MELI's 46.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, EDN's 6.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MELI's 26.8x.
| Metric | EDNEmpresa Distribui… | MELIMercadoLibre, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $530M | $93.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $855M | $101.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 5.13x | 46.74x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 0.07x | 38.60x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.08x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.06x | 26.79x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.36x | 3.23x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.04x | 13.83x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 8.66x |
EDN leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MELI leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MELI delivers a 33.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $34 in annual profit, vs $12 for EDN. EDN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.32x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MELI's 1.69x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), EDN scores 6/9 vs MELI's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | EDNEmpresa Distribui… | MELIMercadoLibre, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.7% | +33.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.6% | +5.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.9% | +20.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.6% | +28.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.32x | 1.69x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $452.4B | $7.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $23.9B | $3.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $476.4B | $11.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.13x | 17.53x |
MELI leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
EDN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in EDN five years ago would be worth $72,946 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,730 for MELI. Over the past 12 months, EDN leads with a -15.9% total return vs MELI's -17.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors EDN at 39.5% vs MELI's 12.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | EDNEmpresa Distribui… | MELIMercadoLibre, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -13.5% | -6.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -15.9% | -17.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +171.6% | +43.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +629.5% | +27.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +73.2% | +1338.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +39.5% | +12.8% |
EDN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MELI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MELI is the less volatile stock with a 1.20 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than EDN's 1.94 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | EDNEmpresa Distribui… | MELIMercadoLibre, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.94x | 1.20x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $38.10 | $2645.22 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $14.38 | $1593.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +67.6% | +69.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 37.9 | 51.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 159K | 505K |
MELI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates EDN as "Hold" and MELI as "Buy".
| Metric | EDNEmpresa Distribui… | MELIMercadoLibre, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $2420.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 2 | 33 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
MELI leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). EDN leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns).
Best OverallMercadoLibre, Inc. (MELI)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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EDN vs MELI: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is EDN or MELI a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) is the stronger pick with 191.
4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 39. 1% for MercadoLibre, Inc. (MELI). Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) offers the better valuation at 5. 1x trailing P/E (0. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate MercadoLibre, Inc. (MELI) a "Buy" — based on 33 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.
02Which has the better valuation — EDN or MELI?
On trailing P/E, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) is the cheapest at 5.
1x versus MercadoLibre, Inc. at 46. 7x. On forward P/E, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima is actually cheaper at 0. 1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — EDN or MELI?
Over the past 5 years, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) delivered a total return of +629.
5%, compared to +27. 3% for MercadoLibre, Inc. (MELI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MELI returned +1339% versus EDN's +73. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — EDN or MELI?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), MercadoLibre, Inc.
(MELI) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 20β versus Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima's 1. 94β — meaning EDN is approximately 61% more volatile than MELI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 169% for MercadoLibre, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — EDN or MELI?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) is pulling ahead at 191.
4% versus 39. 1% for MercadoLibre, Inc. (MELI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima grew EPS 59. 9% year-over-year, compared to 4. 5% for MercadoLibre, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, EDN leads at 43. 7% annualised revenue growth. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — EDN or MELI?
Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) is the more profitable company, earning 13.
3% net margin versus 6. 9% for MercadoLibre, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MELI leads at 11. 1% versus 2. 1% for EDN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MELI leads at 44. 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.
07Is EDN or MELI more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) trades at 0.
1x forward P/E versus 38. 6x for MercadoLibre, Inc. — 38. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — EDN or MELI?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
09Is EDN or MELI better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, MercadoLibre, Inc.
(MELI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 20), +1339% 10Y return). Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) carries a higher beta of 1. 94 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MELI: +1339%, EDN: +73. 2%), 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.
10What are the main differences between EDN and MELI?
These companies operate in different sectors (EDN (Utilities) and MELI (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(EDN: 33.3% · MELI: 44.6%)Net Margin>
%
(EDN: 7.8% · MELI: 6.9%)P/E Ratio<
x
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