SE vs MELI vs GRAB vs BABA vs JD

For growth investors, MercadoLibre, Inc.

(MELI) is the stronger pick with 39. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 9% for Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA). JD. com, Inc. (JD) offers the better valuation at 7. 6x trailing P/E (1. 4x 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, JD.

com, Inc. (JD) is the cheapest at 7. 6x versus Sea Limited at 121. 5x. On forward P/E, JD. com, Inc. is actually cheaper at 1. 4x.

Over the past 5 years, MercadoLibre, Inc.

(MELI) delivered a total return of +26. 2%, compared to -67. 5% for Grab Holdings Limited (GRAB). 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), JD.

com, Inc. (JD) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 06β versus Sea Limited's 1. 45β — meaning SE is approximately 36% more volatile than JD 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), MercadoLibre, Inc.

(MELI) is pulling ahead at 39. 1% versus 5. 9% for Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA). 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.

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) is the more profitable company, earning 13.

1% net margin versus 2. 6% for Sea Limited — 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 3. 3% for JD. 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.

On forward earnings alone, JD.

com, Inc. (JD) trades at 1. 4x forward P/E versus 39. 2x for MercadoLibre, Inc. — 37. 8x 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, JD (2.

6% yield), BABA (1. 3% yield) pay a dividend. SE, MELI, GRAB 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 BABA (Consumer Cyclical) and JD (Consumer Cyclical)), 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; BABA is a large-cap deep-value stock; JD is a mid-cap deep-value stock. BABA, JD pay a dividend while SE, MELI, GRAB 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.