Main Street Research’s MercadoLibre Exit: Oy Vey!

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So, Main Street Research—those guys with more money than sense, apparently—dumped 15,000 shares of MercadoLibre. $37 million worth! A whole lotta pesos, if you ask me. They sold it all, lock, stock, and barrel. It’s like they decided their portfolio needed fewer Latin American adventures and more… well, whatever it is they do with all that money. I suspect a tiny bit of panic, but let’s not jump to conclusions. Though, frankly, I’m starting to think their analysts are all trained by pigeons.

What Happened, or “The Great MercadoLibre Offload”

This wasn’t a little trim around the edges, folks. This was a full-scale evacuation. They unloaded every single share of MercadoLibre they had during the last quarter. $37 million. That’s enough to buy a small country… or a very large collection of rubber chickens. The value of their holding shrunk by the same amount. It’s like watching your favorite toupee fly off in a hurricane. Not a pretty sight, but sometimes… inevitable.

What Else to Know (Besides the Obvious)

After this little fire sale, their top holdings look like this:

  • NASDAQ:NVDA: About $111.12 million (6.4% of their assets… they’re really into Nvidia).
  • NASDAQ:GOOGL: $99.44 million (5.7%… because everyone needs a search engine, right?).
  • NASDAQ:MSFT: $81.35 million (4.7%… they’re still using Windows, apparently).
  • NYSEMKT:ISCF: $79.14 million (4.5%… what is this, anyway?).
  • NASDAQ:AAPL: $79.09 million (4.5%… they’re hoping for the next iPhone to solve all their problems).

As of February 8th, MercadoLibre shares were trading at $1,970.15—down 1.3% over the year. Underperforming the S&P 500 by 15.3 percentage points. Ouch. That’s like bringing a slingshot to a laser gun fight. It’s not going to end well.

Company Overview (The Cliff’s Notes Version)

Metric Value
Revenue (TTM) $26.19 billion
Net income (TTM) $2.08 billion
Price (as of market close February 6, 2026) $1,970.15
One-year price change (1.3%)

Company Snapshot (For the Easily Distracted)

  • They run e-commerce marketplaces, digital payments (Mercado Pago), credit solutions, logistics (Mercado Envios), and advertising services all over Latin America. Busy people, these MercadoLibre folks.
  • They make money from transaction fees, payment processing, credit interest, logistics, and advertising. It’s a whole ecosystem of… stuff.
  • They serve consumers, merchants, and businesses who want to buy, sell, and pay for things in Latin America. It’s a simple concept, really.

MercadoLibre is a big deal in Latin America. They’ve built this whole system where people can buy and sell stuff online, pay for things, and get it delivered. It’s like Amazon, but with more passion… and possibly more tango. They’re integrated, they’re growing, and they’re trying to take over the world… or at least Latin America. And you know what? They’re doing a pretty good job.

What This Transaction Means for Investors (Or, “Follow the Money”)

This MercadoLibre sale was the biggest of 17 positions Main Street Research closed out last quarter. That’s a lot of jettisoned baggage. They don’t say why they sold, but I have a theory: They probably realized their analyst was a hamster in disguise. The stock underperformed the S&P 500, and they may not have made a profit. It’s like betting on a snail in the Kentucky Derby. You might get lucky, but… probably not.

And let’s not forget the competition! Amazon and Sea Limited are breathing down their necks. Plus, Mercado Pago had to set aside over $2.1 billion to cover losses on bad loans. That’s like throwing money into a volcano! It’s not a good sign.

But hold on! MercadoLibre is trying to fix things. They’re using AI and loan limits to reduce bad loans. And an economic recovery in Argentina and Venezuela could give them a boost. So, maybe, just maybe, Main Street Research jumped the gun. It’s like getting rid of your umbrella during a hurricane… you might regret it.

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So, what’s the takeaway? Main Street Research is playing it safe. They’re dumping anything that looks remotely risky. And that, my friends, is the story of MercadoLibre and the great offload of 2026. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go invest in rubber chickens. It’s a much safer bet.

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2026-02-12 00:23