Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc (ARCO)vsMercadoLibre Inc. (MELI)
ARCO
Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc
$7.94
-0.87%
CONSUMER CYCLICAL · Cap: $1.70B
MELI
MercadoLibre Inc.
$1,900.24
+0.15%
CONSUMER CYCLICAL · Cap: $96.19B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
MercadoLibre Inc. generates 606% more annual revenue ($35.18B vs $4.98B). MELI leads profitability with a 5.3% profit margin vs 5.2%. ARCO appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.54. ARCO earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 72/100 (B).
ARCO
Strong Buy72
out of 100
Grade: B
MELI
Buy60
out of 100
Grade: C+
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
+28.2%
Fair Value
$11.71
Current Price
$7.94
$3.77 discount
Margin of Safety
+64.8%
Fair Value
$5728.38
Current Price
$1900.24
$3828.14 discount
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Every $100 of equity generates 30 in profit
Earnings expanding 99.3% YoY
Growing faster than its price suggests
Reasonable price relative to book value
Revenue surging 49.8% year-over-year
Large-cap with strong market position
Every $100 of equity generates 24 in profit
Growing faster than its price suggests
Generating 3.4B in free cash flow
Areas to Watch
Grey zone — moderate risk
Smaller company, higher risk/reward
5.2% margin — thin
Elevated debt levels
Trading at 12.3x book value
5.3% margin — thin
Elevated debt levels
Weak financial health signals
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : ARCO
The strongest argument for ARCO centers on P/E Ratio, Return on Equity, EPS Growth. Revenue growth of 14.3% demonstrates continued momentum. PEG of 0.54 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bull Case : MELI
The strongest argument for MELI centers on Revenue Growth, Market Cap, Return on Equity. Revenue growth of 49.8% demonstrates continued momentum. PEG of 0.92 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bear Case : ARCO
The primary concerns for ARCO are Altman Z-Score, Market Cap, Profit Margin. Debt-to-equity of 2.65 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Bear Case : MELI
The primary concerns for MELI are Price/Book, Profit Margin, Debt/Equity. A P/E of 51.8x leaves little room for execution misses. Debt-to-equity of 1.68 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
ARCO profiles as a value stock while MELI is a hypergrowth play — different risk/reward profiles.
MELI carries more volatility with a beta of 1.31 — expect wider price swings.
MELI is growing revenue faster at 49.8% — sustainability is the question.
MELI generates stronger free cash flow (3.4B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
ARCO scores higher overall (72/100 vs 60/100) and 14.3% revenue growth. MELI offers better value entry with a 64.8% margin of safety. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc
CONSUMER CYCLICAL · RESTAURANTS · USA
Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. is a McDonald's restaurant franchise. The company is headquartered in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Visit Website →MercadoLibre Inc.
CONSUMER CYCLICAL · INTERNET RETAIL · USA
MercadoLibre, Inc. operates online trading platforms in Latin America. The company is headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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