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

September 7, 2026

How do Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

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	114.71 billion USD	100.30 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	August 10, 2007
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

LOW

MELI

GSPC

Lowe's Companies (LOW) vs. MercadoLibre (MELI), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI)
Metric	LOW	MELI
Total Return (1Y)	-21.14%	-18.18%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-2.26%	11.64%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	1.80%	0.33%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

LOW

MELI

GSPC

Lowe's Companies (LOW) vs. MercadoLibre (MELI), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI)
Metric	LOW	MELI
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	27.12%	41.17%
Beta (5Y)	0.87	1.29
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-33.86%	-68.64%
Avg. Volume (3M)	3.04M	437.02K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

LOW and MELI are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI)
Metric	LOW	MELI
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.93	-0.54
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-1.33	-0.71

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: MercadoLibre (MELI) earns 27.50% 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: 32.42%
Median: 14.20%
Q1: 5.73%
Min: -27.22%
LOW: --

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

27.50%

Max: 63.82%
Q3: 32.42%
MELI: 27.50%
Median: 14.20%
Q1: 5.73%
Min: -27.22%

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 Margin (TTM)

Both Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 7.35% and MercadoLibre (MELI) at 5.30% 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

7.35%

Max: 20.45%
Q3: 9.06%
LOW: 7.35%
Median: 3.37%
Q1: 0.86%
Min: -10.82%

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

5.30%

Max: 20.45%
Q3: 9.06%
MELI: 5.30%
Median: 3.37%
Q1: 0.86%
Min: -10.82%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 13.37% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of MercadoLibre (MELI) at 6.72%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

13.37%

Max: 24.71%
LOW: 13.37%
Q3: 11.23%
Median: 5.44%
Q1: 2.16%
Min: -7.86%

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

6.72%

Max: 24.71%
Q3: 11.23%
MELI: 6.72%
Median: 5.44%
Q1: 2.16%
Min: -7.86%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI)
Metric	LOW	MELI
ROE (TTM)	--	27.50%
ROA (TTM)	12.52%	4.31%
Net Margin (TTM)	7.35%	5.30%
Operating Margin (TTM)	13.37%	6.72%
Gross Margin (TTM)	32.99%	47.75%

Growth

Revenue Growth

MercadoLibre (MELI) at 39.06% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 3.12%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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

EPS Growth

Both Lowe's Companies (LOW) at -3.11% and MercadoLibre (MELI) at 4.54% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI)
Metric	LOW	MELI
Revenue Growth (YoY)	3.12%	39.06%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-3.85%	38.91%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-3.11%	4.54%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.23%	60.50%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 1.11 and MercadoLibre (MELI) at 1.12 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.11

Max: 3.13
Q3: 1.88
Median: 1.41
LOW: 1.11
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.49

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.12

Max: 3.13
Q3: 1.88
Median: 1.41
MELI: 1.12
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.49

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: MercadoLibre (MELI) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69 against its industry range, while Lowe's Companies (LOW) reports no figure this period.

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

Max: 3.39
Q3: 1.76
Median: 1.08
Q1: 0.66
Min: 0.01
LOW: --

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.69

Max: 3.39
Q3: 1.76
MELI: 1.69
Median: 1.08
Q1: 0.66
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 Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI)
Metric	LOW	MELI
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.11	1.12
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	--	1.69
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.05	1.92

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 2.40%, ranking against industry peers normally.

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.40%

Max: 4.87%
Q3: 2.44%
LOW: 2.40%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max: 4.87%
Q3: 2.44%
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 41.00%, ranking against industry peers normally.

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

41.00%

Max: 67.85%
LOW: 41.00%
Q3: 31.80%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max: 67.85%
Q3: 31.80%
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.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI)
Metric	LOW	MELI
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.40%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	41.00%	0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 17.27 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while MercadoLibre (MELI) at 53.76 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for MELI’s trailing earnings.

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

17.27

Max: 43.60
Q3: 25.79
Median: 17.46
LOW: 17.27
Q1: 12.45
Min: 0.95

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

53.76

MELI: 53.76
Max: 43.60
Q3: 25.79
Median: 17.46
Q1: 12.45
Min: 0.95

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 1.27 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while MercadoLibre (MELI) at 2.85 sits in the pricier quartile — MELI costs more per dollar of sales.

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.27

Max: 3.35
Q3: 1.59
LOW: 1.27
Median: 0.73
Q1: 0.28
Min: 0.03

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.85

Max: 3.35
MELI: 2.85
Q3: 1.59
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.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Lowe's Companies (LOW) reports a negative P/B ratio of -15.42, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile MercadoLibre (MELI) reports 12.80, ranking against industry peers normally.

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

-15.42

Max: 9.86
Q3: 4.94
Median: 1.88
Q1: 1.17
Min: -3.73
LOW: -15.42

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

12.80

MELI: 12.80
Max: 9.86
Q3: 4.94
Median: 1.88
Q1: 1.17
Min: -3.73

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Lowe's Companies (LOW) and MercadoLibre (MELI)
Metric	LOW	MELI
P/E Ratio (TTM)	17.27	53.76
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.27	2.85
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	-15.42	12.80
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.02%	0.35%