Alibaba Group (BABA) vs MercadoLibre (MELI)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
MercadoLibre (MELI) has outperformed Alibaba Group (BABA) over the past year, losing 14.4% versus a loss of 39.7%. Over five years, MELI leads with a +19.8% price change compared with -35.0% for BABA. Alibaba Group is the larger company by market cap ($261.65 billion vs $93.78 billion), about 2.8 times the size, while MercadoLibre is growing revenue faster (+39.1% vs +8.1%).
On valuation, Alibaba Group trades at a lower forward P/E (11.4x vs 32.9x for MercadoLibre). Alibaba Group pays a dividend yielding 6.89%, while MercadoLibre does not currently pay one. Alibaba Group converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 10.1% versus 6.9%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | BABA | MELI |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $105.18 | $1,849.73 |
| Market cap | $261.65B | $93.78B |
| 1-day change | -1.71% | -1.23% |
| YTD return | -25.46% | -7.02% |
| 1-year return | -39.75% | -14.39% |
| 5-year return | -34.96% | +19.81% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 25.47 | 50.31 |
| Forward P/E | 11.39 | 32.94 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.13 | $36.77 |
| Dividend yield | 6.89% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $7.24 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $148.40B | $28.89B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.09% | +39.06% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $15.02B | $2.00B |
| Gross margin | 39.81% | 44.50% |
| Operating margin | 4.90% | 11.08% |
| Net margin | 10.12% | 6.91% |
| 52-week high | $182.50 | $2,428.00 |
| 52-week low | $91.99 | $1,495.00 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -42.37% | -23.82% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +76.35% | +23.03% |
| Average volume | 10.46M | 510.70K |
| Shares outstanding | 2.49B | 50.70M |
| Employees | 132,165 | 123,670 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Business Services | Business Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Alibaba Group is about 2.8 times larger than MercadoLibre by market value ($261.65B vs $93.78B).
- MELI has outperformed BABA by 25.4 percentage points over the past year.
- MercadoLibre trades at a higher earnings multiple (50.3x vs 25.5x trailing P/E).
- Alibaba Group offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (6.89% vs 0.00%).
- MercadoLibre grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+39.06% vs +8.09%).
About Alibaba Group
BABA stock →Alibaba Group Holding Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides technology infrastructure and marketing reach to help merchants, brands, retailers, and other businesses in the People's Republic of China and internationally. It operates through the Alibaba China E-Commerce Group, Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group, Cloud Intelligence Group, and All Others segments.
Consumer Discretionary · Business Services · 132,165 employees
About MercadoLibre
MELI stock →MercadoLibre, Inc. operates online commerce platforms in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Business Services · 123,670 employees
BABA vs MELI FAQ
Which is bigger, Alibaba Group or MercadoLibre?
Alibaba Group (BABA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $261.65B compared with $93.78B for MercadoLibre (MELI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BABA or MELI?
MELI returned -14.39% over the past 12 months, compared with -39.75% for BABA (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BABA or MELI?
BABA has the lower trailing P/E at 25.5, versus 50.3 for MELI. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Alibaba Group or MercadoLibre?
Alibaba Group pays a dividend yielding 6.89%, while MercadoLibre does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Alibaba Group and MercadoLibre in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Business Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.