MercadoLibre and the Long View

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Osborne Partners, a firm not given to frivolous speculation – or, at least, one that conceals it with admirable discretion – has augmented its holdings in MercadoLibre. A further 1,918 shares, acquired at a cost of some $4.03 million, brings their total position to 10,095 shares. One notes the increase of $1.22 million in value, a figure attributable, naturally, to both the firm’s perspicacity and the vagaries of the market. It is, of course, always gratifying when one’s investments perform well, though one suspects Osborne Partners is more interested in the decades than the quarters.

This modest accretion brings MercadoLibre to 1.05% of Osborne Partners’ $1.94 billion in reportable U.S. equity assets. A percentage, one might observe, that is unlikely to disturb the firm’s composure, but which nonetheless suggests a degree of confidence in the Latin American giant.

  • Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF: $136.51 million (7.0% of AUM)
  • Apple: $77.31 million (4.0% of AUM)
  • Alphabet: $66.20 million (3.4% of AUM)
  • Microsoft: $64.93 million (3.3% of AUM)
  • Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock ETF: $63.83 million (3.3% of AUM)

As of January 26th, 2026, MercadoLibre shares were trading at $2,212.62, a gain of 24.48% over the past year. A performance which, while commendable, merely confirms what any diligent observer of the region has long suspected. It also, incidentally, outperformed the S&P 500 by a mere 6 percentage points. One suspects the market, as always, is slow to appreciate genuine value.

Metric Value
Revenue (TTM) $26.19 billion
Net Income (TTM) $2.08 billion
Price (as of market close Jan. 26, 2026) $2,212.62
One-Year Price Change 24.48%

MercadoLibre, for those unfamiliar with its operations, offers a comprehensive suite of services across Latin America, encompassing e-commerce, fintech, logistics, and the rather more dubious world of classified listings. It generates revenue primarily through transaction fees, a practice which, while hardly novel, remains remarkably effective. Its target demographic consists of businesses, merchants, and consumers – a broad church, admittedly, but one with a demonstrable appetite for digital solutions.

  • Offers an integrated suite of e-commerce, fintech, logistics, advertising, and classified listing services across Latin America, including the Mercado Libre Marketplace, Mercado Pago, Mercado Envios, Mercado Fondo, Mercado Credito, Mercado Libre Classifieds, Mercado Libre Ads, and Mercado Shops.
  • Generates revenue primarily through transaction fees on its marketplace and fintech platforms, payment processing, logistics services, advertising sales, and credit products for merchants and consumers.
  • Targets businesses, merchants, and individual consumers seeking online commerce, digital payments, and related financial solutions in Latin America.

The company’s scale and technology-driven approach enable it to capture significant transaction volumes and expand its reach across diverse markets. One suspects, however, that its true strength lies in its ability to exploit the inherent inefficiencies of the region. It is, in essence, a highly efficient engine for extracting value from a rather chaotic environment.

Osborne Partners, it is said, holds many of its positions for decades. The firm’s patience is, therefore, noteworthy. To see them adding to MercadoLibre, a holding of only five years, suggests a degree of optimism. One hopes, for their sake, that this optimism is well-founded. Across Latin America, 1.8 million families reportedly rely on MercadoLibre as a primary source of income – a statistic which, while impressive, also hints at a certain… dependence. Powered by nearly 77 million active buyers and 72 million fintech users, MercadoLibre has become a regional powerhouse, generating annualized total returns of 27% since its debut in 2007. A remarkable achievement, though one suspects the best is yet to come.

Despite this impressive run, MercadoLibre’s growth potential remains considerable. Whether through expansion into new countries, the development of its advertising unit, or the launch of business-to-business sales, the company’s story is far from over. To see a firm like Osborne Partners adding to its holdings is, therefore, a reassuring sign. One trusts they have done their due diligence. It is, after all, a jungle out there.

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2026-01-28 03:34