Will These 3 Brands Make a Major Retail Comeback in 2026?
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 26 2026
0mins
Should l Buy MELI?
Source: Marketbeat
Market Performance Overview: Some top-performing stocks have outpaced the broader market, with notable gains from companies like Valaris PLC, which has risen 80% since the start of the year, despite the S&P 500 being up less than 1% year-to-date.
Investment Focus: Investors are increasingly concerned with future performance rather than past returns, with three retail companies showing potential for growth, suggesting they may be worth watching as 2026 approaches.
Mercado Libre's Growth: Mercado Libre Inc. has rapidly expanded its buyer base and revenue, achieving a 39% year-over-year increase, and is expected to double its e-commerce business in the coming years, driven by structural advantages in the Latin American market.
Chewy's Resilience: Despite recent challenges, Chewy Inc. has seen a rise in sales and profitability, with a significant increase in gross margin and cash flow, indicating potential for continued growth in the pet e-commerce sector.
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Analyst Views on MELI
Wall Street analysts forecast MELI stock price to rise
11 Analyst Rating
10 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 1769.520
Low
2500
Averages
2783
High
2950
Current: 1769.520
Low
2500
Averages
2783
High
2950
About MELI
MercadoLibre Inc is a Uruguay-based e-commerce business facilitator of Argentinian origins. The e-commerce products enable retail and wholesale via Internet platforms designed to provide users with a portfolio of services to facilitate commercial transactions. The Company's geographic coverage includes 18 countries of Latin America. The primary offer is an ecosystem of six integrated e-commerce services: the Mercado Libre Marketplace, the Mercado Libre Classifieds service, the Mercado Pago payments solution, the Mercado Credito financial solutions, the Mercado Envios logistic solutions including shipping, the Mercado Ads advertising platform and the Mercado Shops digital storefront solution.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
MercadoLibre and Lululemon Show Strong Growth Potential
- Market Leadership: MercadoLibre, as Latin America's leading e-commerce and fintech platform, reported a 45% year-over-year revenue increase in Q4, with its online marketplace reaching 121 million unique buyers, highlighting its strong growth potential in underserved populations.
- Surge in Credit Products: Mercado Pago's credit portfolio surged 90% year-over-year last quarter, indicating significant market opportunities in countries like Mexico where basic financial service penetration is low.
- International Expansion Opportunities: Lululemon has achieved a 19% compound annual revenue growth over the past decade, and despite recent slowdowns in the U.S. market, its sales in China grew 46% year-over-year, showcasing its brand's strong international appeal.
- Steady Membership Growth: Costco has attracted 81 million paid members through its low-price strategy, with a 6.2% membership increase in fiscal 2025, indicating substantial expansion potential both domestically and internationally over the next 20 years.
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Three Compelling Long-Term Stock Investments
- MercadoLibre Growth Potential: As Latin America's leading e-commerce and fintech platform, MercadoLibre achieved a 45% revenue increase in Q4, highlighting its significant potential to expand financial services to underserved populations, which could drive future revenue and profit growth.
- Lululemon International Expansion: Lululemon has seen a 19% compound annual growth rate over the past decade, and despite a recent 7% revenue increase, its 46% year-over-year growth in China indicates strong international demand, positioning it for greater market share in the global athletic apparel sector.
- Costco Membership Growth: Costco has attracted 81 million paid members through its low-price strategy and membership fee model, with a 6.2% increase in memberships in fiscal 2025, demonstrating robust performance in the U.S. market while also showcasing significant international expansion potential, particularly in China and Europe.
- Long-Term Investment Value: All three companies exhibit strong growth potential and market demand; despite facing short-term challenges, their long-term investment value is substantial, making them suitable for holding to accumulate wealth over time.
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- Acquisition Dynamics: Netflix's initial plan to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for $27.75 per share was thwarted by Paramount's higher bid of $31 per share, indicating increased market competition, and Netflix shareholders should feel relieved as they avoided taking on significant debt.
- Transaction Uncertainty: While Paramount's offer is more attractive, the complexity and regulatory hurdles surrounding the deal remain, especially considering Paramount's smaller size may face fewer regulatory challenges, adding uncertainty to the transaction's success.
- Financial Flexibility: By not acquiring Warner Bros., Netflix retains greater financial flexibility, avoiding the heavy debt burden that could have deteriorated its financial health, thus providing more options for future investments and expansions.
- Changing Competitive Landscape: The merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. could create a new competitor, and while Netflix still holds an advantage in content acquisition, the future market competition will intensify, necessitating continued innovation from Netflix to maintain its market leadership.
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Paramount's Acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery: Key Developments
- Acquisition Price Increase: Paramount Skydance is set to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery at $31 per share, which is a significant increase from Netflix's previous offer of $27.75, indicating a reassessment of Warner's asset value and potentially enhancing Paramount's competitive position in the market.
- Increased Uncertainty: While Paramount's higher bid suggests confidence, the deal still faces regulatory scrutiny, particularly given Paramount's smaller market share, which may influence the future competitive landscape and the deal's likelihood of closing.
- Cash Flow Assurance: The acquisition includes a daily ticking fee of $0.25 per share and a $7 billion regulatory termination fee, adding complexity to the transaction but also providing cash flow assurances that enhance the deal's attractiveness to investors.
- Changing Competitive Landscape: The merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. could create a new formidable competitor in the market, which may lead to increased debt for Warner Bros. but also prompt Netflix and others to adjust their content acquisition strategies and market approaches.
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Three Retail Stocks to Buy This Month
- Amazon's Growth Potential: Amazon (AMZN), as the world's largest e-commerce operator with a market cap of $2.3 trillion, showcases significant operating leverage with a 24% increase in North American operating income in Q4, driven by advancements in logistics and AI.
- MercadoLibre's Market Edge: MercadoLibre (MELI) has consistently grown revenue by over 30% each quarter for seven years, including a 45% increase last quarter, leveraging free shipping and AI to enhance ad revenue and solidify its position in the Latin American e-commerce market.
- Chewy's Defensive Business Model: Chewy (CHWY) benefits from a loyal customer base, with over 80% of sales from autoship customers, leading to an 8.4% revenue growth in the first nine months of the fiscal year, while expanding its high-margin advertising business.
- Investment Opportunity Assessment: Despite Chewy's forward P/E ratio of 16.5 indicating low market recognition of its growth potential, its expansion into pet food and medicine, along with a new membership program, suggests significant long-term investment value.
See More
MercadoLibre and Lululemon Show Strong Growth Potential
- Market Leadership: MercadoLibre, as Latin America's leading e-commerce and fintech platform, reported a 45% year-over-year revenue increase in Q4, with its online marketplace reaching 121 million unique buyers, highlighting its strong growth potential in underserved populations.
- Surge in Credit Products: Mercado Pago's credit portfolio surged 90% year-over-year last quarter, indicating significant market opportunities in countries like Mexico where basic financial service penetration is low.
- International Expansion Opportunities: Lululemon has achieved a 19% compound annual revenue growth over the past decade, and despite recent slowdowns in the U.S. market, its sales in China grew 46% year-over-year, showcasing its brand's strong international appeal.
- Steady Membership Growth: Costco has attracted 81 million paid members through its low-price strategy, with a 6.2% membership increase in fiscal 2025, indicating substantial expansion potential both domestically and internationally over the next 20 years.
See More
Three Compelling Long-Term Stock Investments
- MercadoLibre Growth Potential: As Latin America's leading e-commerce and fintech platform, MercadoLibre achieved a 45% revenue increase in Q4, highlighting its significant potential to expand financial services to underserved populations, which could drive future revenue and profit growth.
- Lululemon International Expansion: Lululemon has seen a 19% compound annual growth rate over the past decade, and despite a recent 7% revenue increase, its 46% year-over-year growth in China indicates strong international demand, positioning it for greater market share in the global athletic apparel sector.
- Costco Membership Growth: Costco has attracted 81 million paid members through its low-price strategy and membership fee model, with a 6.2% increase in memberships in fiscal 2025, demonstrating robust performance in the U.S. market while also showcasing significant international expansion potential, particularly in China and Europe.
- Long-Term Investment Value: All three companies exhibit strong growth potential and market demand; despite facing short-term challenges, their long-term investment value is substantial, making them suitable for holding to accumulate wealth over time.
See More
Top 11 Stocks to Consider Buying Now: Schwab, Disney, and More
- Stock Market Trends: The stock market is experiencing a decline, presenting opportunities for investors to find bargains.
- Insider Purchases: Many of these bargains are being purchased by company insiders, indicating potential confidence in the stocks.
See More
Netflix Abandons Warner Bros. Acquisition as Paramount Steps In
- Acquisition Dynamics: Netflix's initial plan to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for $27.75 per share was thwarted by Paramount's higher bid of $31 per share, indicating increased market competition, and Netflix shareholders should feel relieved as they avoided taking on significant debt.
- Transaction Uncertainty: While Paramount's offer is more attractive, the complexity and regulatory hurdles surrounding the deal remain, especially considering Paramount's smaller size may face fewer regulatory challenges, adding uncertainty to the transaction's success.
- Financial Flexibility: By not acquiring Warner Bros., Netflix retains greater financial flexibility, avoiding the heavy debt burden that could have deteriorated its financial health, thus providing more options for future investments and expansions.
- Changing Competitive Landscape: The merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. could create a new competitor, and while Netflix still holds an advantage in content acquisition, the future market competition will intensify, necessitating continued innovation from Netflix to maintain its market leadership.
See More
Paramount's Acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery: Key Developments
- Acquisition Price Increase: Paramount Skydance is set to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery at $31 per share, which is a significant increase from Netflix's previous offer of $27.75, indicating a reassessment of Warner's asset value and potentially enhancing Paramount's competitive position in the market.
- Increased Uncertainty: While Paramount's higher bid suggests confidence, the deal still faces regulatory scrutiny, particularly given Paramount's smaller market share, which may influence the future competitive landscape and the deal's likelihood of closing.
- Cash Flow Assurance: The acquisition includes a daily ticking fee of $0.25 per share and a $7 billion regulatory termination fee, adding complexity to the transaction but also providing cash flow assurances that enhance the deal's attractiveness to investors.
- Changing Competitive Landscape: The merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. could create a new formidable competitor in the market, which may lead to increased debt for Warner Bros. but also prompt Netflix and others to adjust their content acquisition strategies and market approaches.
See More
Three Retail Stocks to Buy This Month
- Amazon's Growth Potential: Amazon (AMZN), as the world's largest e-commerce operator with a market cap of $2.3 trillion, showcases significant operating leverage with a 24% increase in North American operating income in Q4, driven by advancements in logistics and AI.
- MercadoLibre's Market Edge: MercadoLibre (MELI) has consistently grown revenue by over 30% each quarter for seven years, including a 45% increase last quarter, leveraging free shipping and AI to enhance ad revenue and solidify its position in the Latin American e-commerce market.
- Chewy's Defensive Business Model: Chewy (CHWY) benefits from a loyal customer base, with over 80% of sales from autoship customers, leading to an 8.4% revenue growth in the first nine months of the fiscal year, while expanding its high-margin advertising business.
- Investment Opportunity Assessment: Despite Chewy's forward P/E ratio of 16.5 indicating low market recognition of its growth potential, its expansion into pet food and medicine, along with a new membership program, suggests significant long-term investment value.
See More
