SE vs MELI vs GRAB vs AMZN vs PYPL

For growth investors, MercadoLibre, Inc.

(MELI) is the stronger pick with 39. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 3% for PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL). PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) offers the better valuation at 8. 5x trailing P/E (8. 7x 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, PayPal Holdings, Inc.

(PYPL) is the cheapest at 8. 5x versus Sea Limited at 121. 5x. On forward P/E, PayPal Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: PayPal Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 98x versus Amazon. com, Inc. 's 1. 24x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Amazon.

com, Inc. (AMZN) delivered a total return of +64. 8%, compared to -81. 6% for PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MELI returned +1370% versus GRAB's -68. 1%. 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), MercadoLibre, Inc.

(MELI) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 20β versus Amazon. com, Inc. 's 1. 51β — meaning AMZN is approximately 26% more volatile than MELI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Grab Holdings Limited (GRAB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 30% versus 169% for MercadoLibre, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), MercadoLibre, Inc.

(MELI) is pulling ahead at 39. 1% versus 4. 3% for PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Grab Holdings Limited grew EPS 342. 2% year-over-year, compared to 4. 5% for MercadoLibre, Inc.. 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.

PayPal Holdings, Inc.

(PYPL) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 8% net margin versus 2. 6% for Sea Limited — meaning it keeps 15. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PYPL leads at 18. 3% versus 3. 9% for SE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AMZN leads at 50. 3%, 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, PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 98x versus Amazon. com, Inc. 's 1. 24x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) trades at 8. 7x forward P/E versus 39. 2x for MercadoLibre, Inc. — 30. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GRAB: 76. 8% to $6. 70.

In this comparison, PYPL (0.

3% yield) pays a dividend. SE, MELI, GRAB, AMZN 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. 20), +1370% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MELI: +1370%, GRAB: -68. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (SE (Consumer Cyclical) and MELI (Consumer Cyclical) and GRAB (Technology) and AMZN (Consumer Cyclical) and PYPL (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: SE is a mid-cap high-growth stock; MELI is a mid-cap high-growth stock; GRAB is a mid-cap high-growth stock; AMZN is a mega-cap quality compounder stock; PYPL is a mid-cap deep-value 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.