MELI at Risk from Momentum Shift and High ValuationMELI has gained over 35% since the April dip, but momentum has been fading since September. The slowdown has become increasingly visible, and last week's high may remain the top for some time unless Wednesday’s earnings report surprises the market on the upside.
The consensus estimate for MELI’s revenue is $5,497.05 million, representing a 26.86% year-over-year increase but a 9.27% decline quarter-over-quarter. MELI is currently trading at a forward P/E of 41.9x, which is significantly higher than the 19.8x average of comparable companies. Its geographic advantage over U.S.-based peers gave MELI an edge in April, but without strong earnings to support the high valuation, the stock could become vulnerable.
Over the past five years, MELI averaged 56.2% annual sales growth. That figure is expected to fall to an average of 22.1% over the next three years, which remains solid but signals a clear deceleration.
MELI could move more than 7% on earnings day, depending on the report. If the stock falls below 2,000, it may present a buying opportunity. However, the loss of momentum is usually a negative signal for sustaining trends, so the risk of buying the dip is higher than before.
