MELI vs. ROST: MercadoLibre vs. Ross Stores Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do MercadoLibre (MELI) and Ross Stores (ROST) 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

MercadoLibre (MELI) and Ross Stores (ROST) both fall under the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group, but MELI is classified in Broadline Retail while ROST is classified in Specialty Retail.

Company profile comparison for MercadoLibre (MELI) and Ross Stores (ROST)
Profile Item	MELI	ROST
Name	MercadoLibre Inc.	Ross Stores Inc.
Country/Region	Uruguay	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Discretionary	Consumer Discretionary
GICS Industry Group	Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail	Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail
GICS Industry	Broadline Retail	Specialty Retail
GICS Sub-Industry	Broadline Retail	Apparel Retail
Market Capitalization	76.55 billion USD	74.13 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	August 10, 2007	August 8, 1985
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MELI

ROST

GSPC

MercadoLibre (MELI) vs. Ross Stores (ROST), 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 MercadoLibre (MELI) and Ross Stores (ROST). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for MercadoLibre (MELI) and Ross Stores (ROST). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for MercadoLibre (MELI) and Ross Stores (ROST)
Metric	MELI	ROST
Total Return (1Y)	-26.90%	49.04%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	4.74%	26.07%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-2.06%	16.09%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MELI

ROST

GSPC

MercadoLibre (MELI) vs. Ross Stores (ROST), 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 MercadoLibre (MELI) and Ross Stores (ROST). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for MercadoLibre (MELI) and Ross Stores (ROST)
Metric	MELI	ROST
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	42.09%	27.67%
Beta (5Y)	1.39	0.83
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-64.17%	-40.66%
Avg. Volume (3M)	581.53K	2.30M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

MELI and ROST 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 MercadoLibre (MELI) and Ross Stores (ROST)
Metric	MELI	ROST
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.74	1.62
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.97	2.70

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Ross Stores (ROST) at 42.63% sits in the top ROE quartile, while MercadoLibre (MELI) at 26.22% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ROST.

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

26.22%

Max: 62.17%
Q3: 29.44%
MELI: 26.22%
Median: 15.69%
Q1: 6.73%
Min: -12.16%

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

42.63%

Max: 62.17%
ROST: 42.63%
Q3: 29.44%
Median: 15.69%
Q1: 6.73%
Min: -12.16%

MercadoLibre (MELI) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Ross Stores (ROST) at 10.85% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of MercadoLibre (MELI) at 4.91%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

4.91%

Max: 16.94%
Q3: 8.69%
MELI: 4.91%
Median: 3.55%
Q1: 1.14%
Min: -9.41%

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

10.85%

Max: 16.94%
ROST: 10.85%
Q3: 8.69%
Median: 3.55%
Q1: 1.14%
Min: -9.41%

MercadoLibre (MELI) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Ross Stores (ROST) at 13.58% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of MercadoLibre (MELI) at 6.29%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

6.29%

Max: 21.45%
Q3: 10.89%
MELI: 6.29%
Median: 5.57%
Q1: 2.28%
Min: -7.12%

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

13.58%

Max: 21.45%
ROST: 13.58%
Q3: 10.89%
Median: 5.57%
Q1: 2.28%
Min: -7.12%

MercadoLibre (MELI) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for MercadoLibre (MELI) and Ross Stores (ROST)
Metric	MELI	ROST
ROE (TTM)	26.22%	42.63%
ROA (TTM)	3.80%	12.79%
Net Margin (TTM)	4.91%	10.85%
Operating Margin (TTM)	6.29%	13.58%
Gross Margin (TTM)	46.66%	33.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

MercadoLibre (MELI) at 39.06% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Ross Stores (ROST) at 7.67%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

MercadoLibre (MELI) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both MercadoLibre (MELI) at 4.54% and Ross Stores (ROST) at 4.59% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

MercadoLibre (MELI) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for MercadoLibre (MELI) and Ross Stores (ROST)
Metric	MELI	ROST
Revenue Growth (YoY)	39.06%	7.67%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	38.91%	6.76%
EPS Growth (YoY)	4.54%	4.59%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	60.50%	14.70%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both MercadoLibre (MELI) at 1.17 and Ross Stores (ROST) at 1.61 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.17

Max: 2.62
Q3: 1.75
Median: 1.35
MELI: 1.17
Q1: 1.00
Min: 0.48

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.61

Max: 2.62
Q3: 1.75
ROST: 1.61
Median: 1.35
Q1: 1.00
Min: 0.48

MercadoLibre (MELI) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Ross Stores (ROST) at 0.70 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while MercadoLibre (MELI) at 1.97 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.97

Max: 3.93
Q3: 2.14
MELI: 1.97
Median: 1.25
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.01

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.70

Max: 3.93
Q3: 2.14
Median: 1.25
Q1: 0.73
ROST: 0.70
Min: 0.01

MercadoLibre (MELI) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for MercadoLibre (MELI) and Ross Stores (ROST)
Metric	MELI	ROST
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.17	1.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.97	0.70
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.23	0.12

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 Ross Stores (ROST) reports a yield of 0.72%, ranking against industry peers normally.

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max: 5.84%
Q3: 2.50%
MELI: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.72%

Max: 5.84%
Q3: 2.50%
ROST: 0.72%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MercadoLibre (MELI) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): 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 Ross Stores (ROST) reports a payout of 20.56%, ranking against industry peers normally.

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max: 72.73%
Q3: 32.44%
MELI: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

20.56%

Max: 72.73%
Q3: 32.44%
ROST: 20.56%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MercadoLibre (MELI) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for MercadoLibre (MELI) and Ross Stores (ROST)
Metric	MELI	ROST
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	0.72%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	20.56%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both MercadoLibre (MELI) at 40.50 and Ross Stores (ROST) at 27.94 sit in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, so investors are paying more for TTM earnings than they pay for typical peers.

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

40.50

MELI: 40.50
Max: 40.50
Q3: 24.26
Median: 19.23
Q1: 12.64
Min: 4.67

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

27.94

Max: 40.50
ROST: 27.94
Q3: 24.26
Median: 19.23
Q1: 12.64
Min: 4.67

MercadoLibre (MELI) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

MercadoLibre (MELI) at 1.99 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Ross Stores (ROST) at 3.02 sits in the pricier quartile — ROST costs more per dollar of sales.

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.99

Max: 4.32
MELI: 1.99
Q3: 1.99
Median: 0.70
Q1: 0.26
Min: 0.03

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.02

Max: 4.32
ROST: 3.02
Q3: 1.99
Median: 0.70
Q1: 0.26
Min: 0.03

MercadoLibre (MELI) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both MercadoLibre (MELI) at 9.34 and Ross Stores (ROST) at 10.96 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

MELI

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

9.34

Max: 10.96
MELI: 9.34
Q3: 5.26
Median: 2.16
Q1: 1.08
Min: -4.45

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

10.96

ROST: 10.96
Max: 10.96
Q3: 5.26
Median: 2.16
Q1: 1.08
Min: -4.45

MercadoLibre (MELI) vs. Ross Stores (ROST): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for MercadoLibre (MELI) and Ross Stores (ROST)
Metric	MELI	ROST
P/E Ratio (TTM)	40.50	27.94
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.99	3.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	9.34	10.96
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-3.36%	2.70%