Why a Fund Made a $17 Million Bet on MercadoLibre Despite a 35% Stock Drop

0
1

On May 15, 2026, Moneda S.A. Administradora General de Fondos disclosed a buy of 8,653 MercadoLibre (NASDAQ:MELI) shares, an estimated $16.69 million trade based on quarterly average pricing.

What happened

According to its SEC filing dated May 15, 2026, Moneda S.A. Administradora General de Fondos increased its holding in MercadoLibre by 8,653 shares. The estimated transaction value, calculated using the average closing price for the quarter, was $16.69 million. The quarter-end value of the position rose by $10.85 million, a figure reflecting both share additions and price movement during the period. The fund now holds 24,151 shares valued at $41.94 million.

What else to know

  • This was a buy; the MercadoLibre stake now represents 34.2% of Moneda’s 13F assets, making it the largest reported holding.

  • Top holdings at quarter’s end:

  • As of May 14, 2026, MercadoLibre shares were priced at $1,607.37, down 35% over the past year and underperforming the S&P 500, which is instead up about 28%.

Company Overview

Metric

Value

Market Capitalization

$81.49 billion

Revenue (TTM)

$31.80 billion

Net Income (TTM)

$1.92 billion

Price (as of market close 2026-05-14)

$1,607.37

Company Snapshot

  • MercadoLibre offers an integrated suite of e-commerce, payments (Mercado Pago), logistics (Mercado Envios), credit, investment, and advertising solutions across Latin America.

  • The firm operates a dual-platform model generating revenue from marketplace transaction fees, financial services, advertising, logistics, and value-added digital services.

  • It targets consumers, small businesses, and large retailers in Latin America seeking online commerce, digital payments, and financial inclusion.

MercadoLibre, Inc. is the leading e-commerce and fintech platform in Latin America, leveraging a robust ecosystem that integrates marketplace, payments, logistics, and credit solutions at scale. The company’s strategy centers on expanding digital commerce and financial access in a region with significant growth potential. Its competitive edge is driven by technology innovation, network effects, and a comprehensive service offering that addresses both consumer and merchant needs.

What this transaction means for investors

Despite a difficult year for the stock, Moneda has made MercadoLibre its largest disclosed position by a wide margin, with the holding now accounting for more than a third of reported assets.

The timing is notable because MercadoLibre’s underlying business continues to grow at a pace rarely seen for a company of its size. First-quarter revenue and financial income surged 49% year over year to $8.8 billion, while gross merchandise volume climbed 42% to $19 billion and total payment volume jumped 50% to $87.2 billion. Fintech monthly active users reached 83 million, up 29% from a year earlier.

Management acknowledged that profitability took a back seat this quarter as the company aggressively invested in logistics, credit cards, fulfillment, AI, and cross-border commerce. Executives argued that the opportunity across Latin America’s digital economy remains in its early stages and repeatedly emphasized long-term market share gains over near-term margins. For long-term investors, that might be the most important thing to note here. MercadoLibre is choosing growth over maximizing current profits, and if management is right about the runway ahead, a 35% share-price decline may ultimately look more like volatility than deterioration.

We just issued ‘double down’ alerts on 3 stocks — find out if MercadoLibre made our list

Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this.

On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves:

  • Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $547,669!*

  • Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $59,476!*

  • Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $463,900!*

Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, available when you join Stock Advisor, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon.

See the 3 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of May 26, 2026

Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends MercadoLibre. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Why a Fund Made a $17 Million Bet on MercadoLibre Despite a 35% Stock Drop was originally published by The Motley Fool

Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: finance.yahoo.com