LOW vs. MELI: Lowe's Companies vs. MercadoLibre Stock Comparison

June 13, 2026

This page compares Lowe's Companies (LOW) with MercadoLibre (MELI) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.

Performance

Cumulative Growth

LOW

MELI

Lowe's Companies (LOW) vs. MercadoLibre (MELI): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

Loading price history…

Trailing total returns for Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI). Returns over one year are annualized.

Performance at a Glance

Performance metrics for Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI)
Metric	LOW	MELI
1-Year Return	0.73%	-32.89%

Risk

Drawdown

LOW

MELI

Lowe's Companies (LOW) vs. MercadoLibre (MELI): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Risk at a Glance

Risk metrics for Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI)
Metric	LOW	MELI
1-Year Volatility	26.20%	39.56%
Beta	0.85	1.36
3-Month Avg. Volume	2.79M	547.24K

Company Profile

Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI) both fall under the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group, but LOW is classified in Specialty Retail while MELI is classified in Broadline Retail.

Company profile comparison for Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI)
Profile Item	LOW	MELI
Name	Lowe's Companies Inc.	MercadoLibre, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	Uruguay
GICS Sector	Consumer Discretionary	Consumer Discretionary
GICS Industry Group	Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail	Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail
GICS Industry	Specialty Retail	Broadline Retail
GICS Sub-Industry	Home Improvement Retail	Broadline Retail
Market Capitalization	123.79 billion USD	80.59 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	August 10, 2007
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 18.66 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while MercadoLibre (MELI) at 42.01 sits in the richer quartile — MELI needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

18.66

Max: 54.29
Q3: 31.64
Median: 20.61
LOW: 18.66
Q1: 12.78
Min: 1.13

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

42.01

Max: 54.29
MELI: 42.01
Q3: 31.64
Median: 20.61
Q1: 12.78
Min: 1.13

Lowe's Companies (LOW) vs. MercadoLibre (MELI): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 1.40 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while MercadoLibre (MELI) at 2.53 sits in the pricier quartile — MELI costs more per dollar of sales.

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.40

Max: 3.65
Q3: 1.78
LOW: 1.40
Median: 0.73
Q1: 0.28
Min: 0.03

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.53

Max: 3.65
MELI: 2.53
Q3: 1.78
Median: 0.73
Q1: 0.28
Min: 0.03

Lowe's Companies (LOW) vs. MercadoLibre (MELI): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Lowe's Companies (LOW) reports a negative P/B ratio of -13.36, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile MercadoLibre (MELI) reports 11.07, ranking against industry peers normally.

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

-13.36

Max: 11.07
Q3: 5.11
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.05
Min: -3.64
LOW: -13.36

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

11.07

MELI: 11.07
Max: 11.07
Q3: 5.11
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.05
Min: -3.64

Lowe's Companies (LOW) vs. MercadoLibre (MELI): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

Valuation metrics for Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI)
Metric	LOW	MELI
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	18.66	42.01
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	1.40	2.53
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	-13.36	11.07
Free Cash Flow Yield	3.89%	-5.09%

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: MercadoLibre (MELI) earns 31.26% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Lowe's Companies (LOW) has no ROE this period.

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

Max: 63.82%
Q3: 31.67%
Median: 12.96%
Q1: 4.89%
Min: -29.94%
LOW: --

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

31.26%

Max: 63.82%
Q3: 31.67%
MELI: 31.26%
Median: 12.96%
Q1: 4.89%
Min: -29.94%

Lowe's Companies (LOW) vs. MercadoLibre (MELI): LOW does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; MELI is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 7.51% and MercadoLibre (MELI) at 6.04% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

7.51%

Max: 20.45%
Q3: 8.75%
LOW: 7.51%
Median: 3.25%
Q1: 0.49%
Min: -11.15%

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

6.04%

Max: 20.45%
Q3: 8.75%
MELI: 6.04%
Median: 3.25%
Q1: 0.49%
Min: -11.15%

Lowe's Companies (LOW) vs. MercadoLibre (MELI): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 11.07% and MercadoLibre (MELI) at 6.91% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

11.07%

Max: 23.15%
Q3: 11.08%
LOW: 11.07%
Median: 4.61%
Q1: 1.68%
Min: -8.71%

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

6.91%

Max: 23.15%
Q3: 11.08%
MELI: 6.91%
Median: 4.61%
Q1: 1.68%
Min: -8.71%

Lowe's Companies (LOW) vs. MercadoLibre (MELI): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

Profitability metrics for Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI)
Metric	LOW	MELI
Return on Equity (TTM)	--	31.26%
Return on Assets (TTM)	12.79%	5.11%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	7.51%	6.04%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	11.07%	6.91%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	33.29%	49.47%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Lowe's Companies (LOW) vs. MercadoLibre (MELI): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

Revenue growth metrics for Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI)
Metric	LOW	MELI
1-Year Revenue Growth	3.12%	39.06%
3-Year Revenue CAGR	-3.85%	38.91%

EPS Growth

Lowe's Companies (LOW) vs. MercadoLibre (MELI): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

EPS growth metrics for Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI)
Metric	LOW	MELI
1-Year EPS Growth	-3.11%	4.54%
3-Year EPS CAGR	5.23%	60.50%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 1.09 and MercadoLibre (MELI) at 1.16 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.09

Max: 2.97
Q3: 1.87
Median: 1.38
LOW: 1.09
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.46

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.16

Max: 2.97
Q3: 1.87
Median: 1.38
MELI: 1.16
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.46

Lowe's Companies (LOW) vs. MercadoLibre (MELI): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: MercadoLibre (MELI) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.70 against its industry range, while Lowe's Companies (LOW) reports no figure this period.

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

Max: 3.27
Q3: 1.82
Median: 1.09
Q1: 0.67
Min: 0.01
LOW: --

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.70

Max: 3.27
Q3: 1.82
MELI: 1.70
Median: 1.09
Q1: 0.67
Min: 0.01

Lowe's Companies (LOW) vs. MercadoLibre (MELI): LOW does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; MELI is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Financial strength metrics for Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI)
Metric	LOW	MELI
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.09	1.16
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	--	1.70
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.32	1.70

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

MercadoLibre (MELI) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Lowe's Companies (LOW) reports a yield of 2.26%, ranking against industry peers normally.

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.26%

Max: 6.62%
Q3: 2.66%
LOW: 2.26%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max: 6.62%
Q3: 2.66%
MELI: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Lowe's Companies (LOW) vs. MercadoLibre (MELI): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

MercadoLibre (MELI) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Lowe's Companies (LOW) reports a payout of 40.57%, ranking against industry peers normally.

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

40.57%

Max: 78.51%
LOW: 40.57%
Q3: 33.46%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max: 78.51%
Q3: 33.46%
MELI: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Lowe's Companies (LOW) vs. MercadoLibre (MELI): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividends at a Glance

Dividend metrics for Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI)
Metric	LOW	MELI
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.26%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	40.57%	0.00%