Independent research on the U.S. markets, Baptista Research

Baptista Research

Independent research on the U.S. markets

Baptista Research is an independent financial research house focused on the U.S. markets. We provide equity research as well as credit research reports on the top-listed U.S. companies with most of our focus on technology, consumer goods and services, automobiles, industrials, oil and gas, pharma, and healthcare. Our research has served more than 3000 institutional investors including mutual funds, hedge funds, banks, family offices, and various buy-side firms. We operate a research subscription service where institutions, as well as retail investors, can have priority access to all our research. We also have a wide distribution of our research reports across some of the top global financial platforms. Apart from equity research and credit research, we also provide advisory services with respect to mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity/ venture capital fundraising, valuation reports, and investment management services for corporates.
Baptista Research is owned and managed by Ishan Majumdar, an ex-Venture Capitalist/ Investment Banker, a Chartered Accountant, and a Masters’ degree holder in Management from HEC Paris. Ishan has nearly a decade of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs), Venture Capital Investing, Corporate Strategy, and Valuation in front-office roles at the likes of BNP Paribas CIB, Credit Agricole CIB, Groupe Danone, and TIW Private Equity. He has worked on and closed multiple acquisition deals, leveraged buyouts, and start-up investment transactions.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>MercadoLibre reported robust financial results for the third quarter of 2024, showcasing strong performance across its e-commerce and fintech sectors in Latin America.</li><li>The company's gross merchandise volume (GMV) saw significant growth, with Brazil witnessing a 34% increase year-on-year and Mexico a 27% rise.</li><li>Moreover, the company made substantial gains in market share in these key countries.</li></ul>

MercadoLibre reported robust financial results for the third quarter of 2024, showcasing strong performance across its e-commerce and fintech sectors in Latin America.The company's gross merchandise volume (GMV) saw significant growth, with Brazil witnessing a 34% increase year-on-year and Mexico a 27% rise.Moreover, the company made substantial gains in market share in these key countries.

MercadoLibre Inc.: How Are They Successfully Tackling Supply Chain and Fulfillment Challenges? - Major Drivers

ASEAN Insight Provider, CrossASEAN Research

Angus Mackintosh

ASEAN Insight Provider

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

<ul>
<li>In 3Q2024, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd</a> demonstrated its ability to turn a profit at Shopee, whilst booking strong growth, with sales &amp; marketing kept well in check and active users increasing substantially.</li>
<li>E-Commerce registered higher take rates, through higher commissions, more paid advertising, and increasing levels of self-fulfilment through SPX Express, whilst Digital Financial Services saw a rapid acceleration in loan growth.</li>
<li>Digital Entertainment was back on form with strong growth in bookings, active users, ARPU, and adjusted EBITDA. Management remains confident about 4Q2024 and the outlook for 2025.</li>
</ul>


In 3Q2024, Sea Ltd demonstrated its ability to turn a profit at Shopee, whilst booking strong growth, with sales &amp; marketing kept well in check and active users increasing substantially.
E-Commerce registered higher take rates, through higher commissions, more paid advertising, and increasing levels of self-fulfilment through SPX Express, whilst Digital Financial Services saw a rapid acceleration in loan growth.
Digital Entertainment was back on form with strong growth in bookings, active users, ARPU, and adjusted EBITDA. Management remains confident about 4Q2024 and the outlook for 2025.


Sea Ltd (SE US) - Firing Profitability On All Segments

Senior Credit Analyst - Emerging Markets, EM Spreads

Leandro Gubler

Senior Credit Analyst - Emerging Markets

EM Spreads

Credit

<ul>
<li>We remain optimistic about MELI’s financial and business risk profile.</li>
<li>If the company achieves investment-grade status in the short term, we believe MELI’s fundamental strengths are already reflected in current spreads.</li>
<li>Weaker-Than-Expected 3Q24 results. MELI's strategic investments in credit growth and logistics expansion significantly affected profitability, with the EBIT margin contracting by 950 bps year-over-year.</li>
</ul>


We remain optimistic about MELI’s financial and business risk profile.
If the company achieves investment-grade status in the short term, we believe MELI’s fundamental strengths are already reflected in current spreads.
Weaker-Than-Expected 3Q24 results. MELI's strategic investments in credit growth and logistics expansion significantly affected profitability, with the EBIT margin contracting by 950 bps year-over-year.


MELI 3Q24: Strategic Credit Growth and Logistics Investments Dampen Short-Term Profitability

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning, Copley Fund Research

Steven Holden

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning

Copley Fund Research

Copley Fund Research provide research and data on asset allocation among Global and Emerging Market equity funds.  The analysis details absolute and relative positioning across countries, sectors and industries together with highly granular data on single stock and single fund allocations.  The data is updated monthly with time series going back to January 2011.

Global Research - Analysis of 165 prominent Global equity funds, combined AUM $335bn
GEM Research - Analysis of 127 prominent global EM equity funds, combined AUM $250bn

Asset Allocation - Global and GEM Equity

<ul>
<li>MercadoLibre continues its climb, hitting new highs in both Average Weight (0.4%) and Funds Invested (23.42%).</li>
<li>In the last six months, 4.2% of funds have added MercadoLibre to their portfolios, while key EM holdings HDFC Bank and AIA Group have seen declining ownership.</li>
<li>20 new positions have been opened over the last 6-months, with Goldman Sachs Global Impact Opportunities and Fidelity Special Situations among the fresh buyers, against only 6 closures.</li>
</ul>


MercadoLibre continues its climb, hitting new highs in both Average Weight (0.4%) and Funds Invested (23.42%).
In the last six months, 4.2% of funds have added MercadoLibre to their portfolios, while key EM holdings HDFC Bank and AIA Group have seen declining ownership.
20 new positions have been opened over the last 6-months, with Goldman Sachs Global Impact Opportunities and Fidelity Special Situations among the fresh buyers, against only 6 closures.


MercadoLibre:  Entering the Global Stage

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd</a>'s 2Q2024 results reflected both the success of its bold strategies to drive growth in areas such as live-streaming whilst at the same time increasing take rates and profitability.</li>
<li>Its core focus on competitive pricing, content, logistics, and especially advertising will help to drive growth, retention, and profitability as unit economics improve, whilst it rolls out its lending products.</li>
<li>Competitive intensity has stabilised which should allow for take rates to rise higher, whilst Shopee is well positioned to further increase its lead. Valuations look reasonable given <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sea-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8509:1" rel="noopener">Sea Ltd's</a> profitable status.</li>
</ul>



Sea Ltd's 2Q2024 results reflected both the success of its bold strategies to drive growth in areas such as live-streaming whilst at the same time increasing take rates and profitability.
Its core focus on competitive pricing, content, logistics, and especially advertising will help to drive growth, retention, and profitability as unit economics improve, whilst it rolls out its lending products.
Competitive intensity has stabilised which should allow for take rates to rise higher, whilst Shopee is well positioned to further increase its lead. Valuations look reasonable given Sea Ltd's profitable status.


Brazil

MercadoLibre, Inc. operates an online trading site for the Latin American markets. The Company's website allows businesses and individuals to list items, conduct sales, and purchases online in either a fixed-price and auction format. MercadoLibre offers classified advertisements for motor vehicles, vessels, aircraft, and real estate, as well as online payment services.

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MercadoLibre (MELI US)

MercadoLibre Inc.: How Are They Successfully Tackling Supply Chain and Fulfillment Challenges? - Major Drivers

MercadoLibre reported robust financial results for the third quarter of 2024, showcasing strong performance across its e-commerce and fintech...

Baptista Research

Sea Ltd (SE US) - Firing Profitability On All Segments

In 3Q2024, Sea Ltd demonstrated its ability to turn a profit at Shopee, whilst booking strong growth, with sales & marketing kept well in check and...

Angus Mackintosh

MELI 3Q24: Strategic Credit Growth and Logistics Investments Dampen Short-Term Profitability

A positive outlook on MELI's financial and business risk profile, with potential for slight spread improvement if the investment-grade status is...

Leandro Gubler

MercadoLibre: Entering the Global Stage

MercadoLibre continues its climb, hitting new highs in both Average Weight (0.4%) and Funds Invested (23.42%) among active Global managers.

Steven Holden

Sea Ltd (SE US) - Take Rate Tiger

Sea Ltd's 2Q2024 results reflected both the success of its bold strategies to drive growth in areas such as live-streaming whilst at the same time...

Angus Mackintosh

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

MercadoLibre Inc.: How Are They Successfully Tackling Supply Chain and Fulfillment Challenges? - Major Drivers

MercadoLibre reported robust financial results for the third quarter of 2024, showcasing strong performance across its e-commerce and fintech...

Baptista Research

Sea Ltd (SE US) - Firing Profitability On All Segments

In 3Q2024, Sea Ltd demonstrated its ability to turn a profit at Shopee, whilst booking strong growth, with sales & marketing kept well in check and...

Angus Mackintosh

MELI 3Q24: Strategic Credit Growth and Logistics Investments Dampen Short-Term Profitability

​A positive outlook on MELI's financial and business risk profile, with potential for slight spread improvement if the investment-grade status is...

Leandro Gubler

MercadoLibre: Entering the Global Stage

MercadoLibre continues its climb, hitting new highs in both Average Weight (0.4%) and Funds Invested (23.42%) among active Global managers.

Steven Holden

Sea Ltd (SE US) - Take Rate Tiger

Sea Ltd's 2Q2024 results reflected both the success of its bold strategies to drive growth in areas such as live-streaming whilst at the same time...

Angus Mackintosh

A positive outlook on MELI's financial and business risk profile, with potential for slight spread improvement if the investment-grade status is...