HEPS vs SE vs MELI vs BABA

For growth investors, D-Market Elektronik Hizmetler ve Ticaret A.

S. (HEPS) is the stronger pick with 61. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 7% for Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA). Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) offers the better valuation at 17. 3x trailing P/E (2. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sea Limited (SE) a "Buy" — based on 44 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, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) is the cheapest at 17.

3x versus MercadoLibre, Inc. at 40. 4x. On forward P/E, Alibaba Group Holding Limited is actually cheaper at 2. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, MercadoLibre, Inc.

(MELI) delivered a total return of +11. 0%, compared to -79. 2% for D-Market Elektronik Hizmetler ve Ticaret A. S. (HEPS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MELI returned +1093% versus HEPS's -79. 2%. 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), D-Market Elektronik Hizmetler ve Ticaret A.

S. (HEPS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 90β versus Sea Limited's 1. 58β — meaning SE is approximately 75% more volatile than HEPS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 23% versus 169% for MercadoLibre, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), D-Market Elektronik Hizmetler ve Ticaret A.

S. (HEPS) is pulling ahead at 61. 0% versus 2. 7% for Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Sea Limited grew EPS 245. 2% year-over-year, compared to -286. 4% for D-Market Elektronik Hizmetler ve Ticaret A. S.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MELI leads at 38. 9% 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.

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) is the more profitable company, earning 10.

1% net margin versus -6. 7% for D-Market Elektronik Hizmetler ve Ticaret A. S. — meaning it keeps 10. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MELI leads at 11. 1% versus -2. 4% for HEPS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SE leads at 44. 7%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) trades at 2.

6x forward P/E versus 40. 2x for MercadoLibre, Inc. — 37. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SE: 68. 4% to $139. 67.

In this comparison, BABA (1.

8% yield) pays a dividend. HEPS, SE, MELI do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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. 22), +1093% 10Y return). Sea Limited (SE) carries a higher beta of 1. 58 — 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: +1093%, SE: +417. 8%), 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 Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: HEPS is a small-cap high-growth stock; SE is a mid-cap high-growth stock; MELI is a mid-cap high-growth stock; BABA is a large-cap deep-value stock. BABA pays a dividend while HEPS, SE, MELI do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.