LI vs. MELI: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at LI and MELI, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
LI trades as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR), offering U.S. investors a convenient way to access its foreign-listed shares. In contrast, MELI is a standard domestic listing.
| Symbol | LI | MELI |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Li Auto Inc. | MercadoLibre, Inc. |
| Country | China | Uruguay |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| GICS Industry | Automobiles | Broadline Retail |
| Market Capitalization | 26.24 billion USD | 125.14 billion USD |
| Exchange | NasdaqGS | NasdaqGS |
| Listing Date | July 30, 2020 | August 10, 2007 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of LI and MELI by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | LI | MELI |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 2.68% | -6.93% |
| 13-Week Price Return | -2.12% | -10.59% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 1.40% | 12.63% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 142.14% | 13.18% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 10.58% | -5.50% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 7.93% | 37.43% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 20.70M | 0.39M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 18.59M | 0.35M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 46.20% | 28.90% |
| Beta | 1.25 | 1.54 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
LI
11.44%
Automobiles Industry
- Max
- 28.52%
- Q3
- 12.70%
- Median
- 5.15%
- Q1
- -1.62%
- Min
- -18.19%
LI’s Return on Equity of 11.44% is on par with the norm for the Automobiles industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
MELI
43.06%
Broadline Retail Industry
- Max
- 47.53%
- Q3
- 31.20%
- Median
- 16.63%
- Q1
- 10.81%
- Min
- -7.57%
In the upper quartile for the Broadline Retail industry, MELI’s Return on Equity of 43.06% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
LI
5.64%
Automobiles Industry
- Max
- 8.82%
- Q3
- 5.80%
- Median
- 2.77%
- Q1
- -1.08%
- Min
- -10.15%
LI’s Net Profit Margin of 5.64% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Automobiles industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
MELI
8.52%
Broadline Retail Industry
- Max
- 24.63%
- Q3
- 12.77%
- Median
- 8.63%
- Q1
- 4.50%
- Min
- -1.62%
MELI’s Net Profit Margin of 8.52% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Broadline Retail industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
LI
5.75%
Automobiles Industry
- Max
- 13.07%
- Q3
- 6.94%
- Median
- 4.50%
- Q1
- -2.17%
- Min
- -13.85%
LI’s Operating Profit Margin of 5.75% is around the midpoint for the Automobiles industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
MELI
12.30%
Broadline Retail Industry
- Max
- 27.48%
- Q3
- 17.60%
- Median
- 10.82%
- Q1
- 7.76%
- Min
- -6.73%
MELI’s Operating Profit Margin of 12.30% is around the midpoint for the Broadline Retail industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | LI | MELI |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 11.44% | 43.06% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 5.05% | 7.57% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 5.64% | 8.52% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 5.75% | 12.30% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 20.64% | 45.87% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
LI
1.73
Automobiles Industry
- Max
- 2.13
- Q3
- 1.52
- Median
- 1.29
- Q1
- 1.09
- Min
- 0.47
LI’s Current Ratio of 1.73 is in the upper quartile for the Automobiles industry. This signifies a strong liquidity position, suggesting the company is well-equipped to cover its immediate liabilities compared to its peers.
MELI
1.20
Broadline Retail Industry
- Max
- 3.54
- Q3
- 2.42
- Median
- 1.38
- Q1
- 1.20
- Min
- 0.69
MELI’s Current Ratio of 1.20 aligns with the median group of the Broadline Retail industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
LI
0.37
Automobiles Industry
- Max
- 2.07
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.60
- Q1
- 0.30
- Min
- 0.05
LI’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.37 is typical for the Automobiles industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
MELI
1.28
Broadline Retail Industry
- Max
- 2.01
- Q3
- 1.31
- Median
- 0.72
- Q1
- 0.32
- Min
- 0.00
MELI’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.28 is typical for the Broadline Retail industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
LI
-16.94
Automobiles Industry
- Max
- 77.87
- Q3
- 37.26
- Median
- 13.42
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- -49.07
LI has a negative Interest Coverage Ratio of -16.94. This indicates that its earnings were insufficient to cover even its operational costs, let alone its interest payments, signaling significant financial distress.
MELI
13.22
Broadline Retail Industry
- Max
- 37.34
- Q3
- 21.16
- Median
- 8.60
- Q1
- 3.22
- Min
- -19.29
MELI’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 13.22 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Broadline Retail industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | LI | MELI |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.73 | 1.20 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 1.50 | 1.18 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.37 | 1.28 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | -16.94 | 13.22 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
LI
0.00%
Automobiles Industry
- Max
- 10.85%
- Q3
- 4.84%
- Median
- 2.53%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
LI currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
MELI
0.00%
Broadline Retail Industry
- Max
- 4.06%
- Q3
- 2.07%
- Median
- 0.37%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
MELI currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
LI
0.00%
Automobiles Industry
- Max
- 131.16%
- Q3
- 60.59%
- Median
- 36.73%
- Q1
- 5.97%
- Min
- 0.00%
LI has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
MELI
0.00%
Broadline Retail Industry
- Max
- 114.82%
- Q3
- 62.39%
- Median
- 28.55%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
MELI has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | LI | MELI |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
LI
23.18
Automobiles Industry
- Max
- 31.95
- Q3
- 22.20
- Median
- 11.17
- Q1
- 7.39
- Min
- 4.54
A P/E Ratio of 23.18 places LI in the upper quartile for the Automobiles industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
MELI
56.65
Broadline Retail Industry
- Max
- 62.76
- Q3
- 32.50
- Median
- 17.65
- Q1
- 12.08
- Min
- 6.87
A P/E Ratio of 56.65 places MELI in the upper quartile for the Broadline Retail industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
LI
1.31
Automobiles Industry
- Max
- 1.49
- Q3
- 0.92
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.24
- Min
- 0.09
LI’s P/S Ratio of 1.31 is in the upper echelon for the Automobiles industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
MELI
4.83
Broadline Retail Industry
- Max
- 5.19
- Q3
- 3.25
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.21
MELI’s P/S Ratio of 4.83 is in the upper echelon for the Broadline Retail industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
LI
2.87
Automobiles Industry
- Max
- 2.87
- Q3
- 1.83
- Median
- 0.79
- Q1
- 0.47
- Min
- 0.18
LI’s P/B Ratio of 2.87 is in the upper tier for the Automobiles industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
MELI
23.19
Broadline Retail Industry
- Max
- 8.81
- Q3
- 5.19
- Median
- 3.42
- Q1
- 1.75
- Min
- 0.73
At 23.19, MELI’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Broadline Retail industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | LI | MELI |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 23.18 | 56.65 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 1.31 | 4.83 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 2.87 | 23.19 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 9.50 | 15.75 |