Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare MercadoLibre, Inc. (MELI) vs Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | MELI | 39.1% revenue growth vs BABA's 5.9% |
| Value | BABA | Lower P/E (3.4x vs 30.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | BABA | 12.2% net margin vs MELI's 6.9% |
| Stability / Safety | MELI | Beta 0.88 vs BABA's 0.90 |
| Dividends | BABA | 1.2% yield; 2-year raise streak; MELI pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | BABA | +10.2% vs MELI's -17.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | BABA | 6.5% ROA vs MELI's 4.7%, ROIC 9.6% vs 20.8% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
MercadoLibre is the dominant e-commerce and fintech platform across Latin America, operating online marketplaces and financial services. It generates revenue primarily from marketplace commissions and advertising fees (roughly 60%) and fintech services including payments, credit, and digital wallets (roughly 40%). The company's moat comes from its integrated ecosystem—combining e-commerce, payments, logistics, and credit—which creates powerful network effects and high switching costs across Latin America's fragmented markets.
Alibaba is a Chinese e-commerce and technology conglomerate that operates digital marketplaces connecting buyers and sellers. It generates revenue primarily from its core commerce segments — China Commerce (~65%) and International Commerce (~10%) — along with cloud services (~10%) and logistics through Cainiao. Its key competitive advantage is its massive ecosystem network effect, where its platforms like Taobao and Tmall create a self-reinforcing cycle of merchants and consumers that's difficult for competitors to replicate.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
MELI leads in 2 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). BABA leads in 2 (Total Returns, Analyst Outlook). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
BABA is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.01T annually — 35.0x MELI's $28.9B. BABA is the more profitable business, keeping 12.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to MELI's 6.9%. On growth, MELI holds the edge at +44.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | MELIMercadoLibre, Inc. | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $28.9B | $1.01T |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $4.0B | $114.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.0B | $123.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $10.1B | $2.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +44.5% | +41.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.1% | +10.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +6.9% | +12.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +35.0% | +0.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +44.6% | +4.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -12.5% | -52.0% |
Valuation Metrics
At 18.4x trailing earnings, BABA trades at a 59% valuation discount to MELI's 44.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, MELI's 24.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than BABA's 104.2x.
| Metric | MELIMercadoLibre, Inc. | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $89.1B | $2.66T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $96.8B | $2.67T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 44.62x | 18.44x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 30.76x | 3.42x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 24.09x | 104.23x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.08x | 18.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 13.20x | 2.19x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 8.27x | 233.68x |
Profitability & Efficiency
MELI delivers a 29.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $30 in annual profit, vs $11 for BABA. BABA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.23x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MELI's 1.69x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BABA scores 7/9 vs MELI's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | MELIMercadoLibre, Inc. | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +29.6% | +11.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.7% | +6.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +20.8% | +9.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +28.3% | +10.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.69x | 0.23x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $7.7B | $66.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.7B | $181.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $11.4B | $248.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 15.74x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in MELI five years ago would be worth $10,259 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,154 for BABA. Over the past 12 months, BABA leads with a +10.2% total return vs MELI's -17.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BABA at 19.2% vs MELI's 12.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | MELIMercadoLibre, Inc. | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -10.9% | -7.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -17.2% | +10.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +44.1% | +69.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +2.6% | -38.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1628.4% | +116.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +12.9% | +19.2% |
Risk & Volatility
MELI is the less volatile stock with a 0.88 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BABA's 0.90 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BABA currently trades 74.8% from its 52-week high vs MELI's 66.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | MELIMercadoLibre, Inc. | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.88x | 0.90x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $2645.22 | $192.67 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $1665.00 | $95.73 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +66.4% | +74.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 28.7 | 33.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 418K | 10.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates MELI as "Buy" and BABA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 59.9% upside for MELI (target: $2810) vs 30.9% for BABA (target: $189). BABA is the only dividend payer here at 1.23% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | MELIMercadoLibre, Inc. | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $2810.00 | $188.62 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 33 | 58 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +1.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $12.14 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.0% | +0.5% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| MercadoLibre, Inc. (MELI) | 100 | 334.4 | +234.4% |
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | 100 | 79.81 | -20.2% |
MercadoLibre, Inc. (MELI) returned +3% over 5 years vs Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA)'s -38%. A $10,000 investment in MELI 5 years ago would be worth $10,259 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| MercadoLibre, Inc. (MELI) | $844M | $28.9B | +3321.7% |
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | $101.1B | $996.3B | +885.1% |
MercadoLibre, Inc.'s revenue grew from $844M (2016) to $28.9B (2025) — a 48.1% CAGR. Alibaba Group Holding Limited's revenue grew from $101.1B (2016) to $996.3B (2025) — a 28.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| MercadoLibre, Inc. (MELI) | 16.1% | 6.9% | -57.2% |
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | 70.7% | 13.1% | -81.5% |
MercadoLibre, Inc.'s net margin went from 16% (2016) to 7% (2025). Alibaba Group Holding Limited's net margin went from 71% (2016) to 13% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| MercadoLibre, Inc. (MELI) | 88.8 | 51.1 | -42.5% |
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | 8.8 | 2.7 | -69.3% |
MercadoLibre, Inc. has traded in a 45x–89x P/E range over 4 years; current trailing P/E is ~45x. Alibaba Group Holding Limited has traded in a 2x–9x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~18x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| MercadoLibre, Inc. (MELI) | 3.09 | 39.39 | +1174.8% |
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | 34 | 53.6 | +57.6% |
MercadoLibre, Inc.'s EPS grew from $3.09 (2016) to $39.39 (2025) — a 33% CAGR. Alibaba Group Holding Limited's EPS grew from $34.00 (2016) to $53.60 (2025) — a 5% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
MercadoLibre, Inc. generated $11B FCF in 2025 (+2930% vs 2021). Alibaba Group Holding Limited generated $78B FCF in 2025 (-57% vs 2021).
MELI vs BABA: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MELI or BABA a better buy right now?
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) offers the better valuation at 18.4x trailing P/E (3.4x 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 — MELI or BABA?
On trailing P/E, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) is the cheapest at 18.4x versus MercadoLibre, Inc. at 44.6x. On forward P/E, Alibaba Group Holding Limited is actually cheaper at 3.4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — MELI or BABA?
Over the past 5 years, MercadoLibre, Inc. (MELI) delivered a total return of +2.6%, compared to -38.5% for Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA). A $10,000 investment in MELI five years ago would be worth approximately $10K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MELI returned +1628% versus BABA's +116.1%. 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 — MELI or BABA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), MercadoLibre, Inc. (MELI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.88β versus Alibaba Group Holding Limited's 0.90β — meaning BABA is approximately 2% more volatile than MELI 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.
05Which has better profit margins — MELI or BABA?
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) is the more profitable company, earning 13.1% net margin versus 6.9% for MercadoLibre, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13.1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BABA leads at 14.1% versus 11.1% for MELI. 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.
06Is MELI or BABA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) trades at 3.4x forward P/E versus 30.8x for MercadoLibre, Inc. — 27.3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MELI: 59.9% to $2810.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — MELI or BABA?
In this comparison, BABA (1.2% yield) pays a dividend. MELI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is MELI or BABA 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 0.88), +1628% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MELI: +1628%, BABA: +116.1%), 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.
09What are the main differences between MELI and BABA?
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. BABA pays a dividend while MELI does 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.
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