MercadoLibre Q3 Revenue and Financial Income Jump 45% to $10.75 Billion; Operating Income Slips
MercadoLibre kept growing at a blistering pace across Latin American commerce and fintech, even as it spent harder on free shipping and new warehouses and watched operating income edge down.
The Nasdaq-listed company reported net revenues and financial income of $10.75 billion for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2026, up 45% from $7.41 billion a year earlier and up 41% on an FX-neutral basis, according to its shareholder letter filed with an 8-K Wednesday. Net income rose 6% to $448 million, or $8.83 per diluted share, from $421 million, or $8.32. Income from operations fell 6% to $676 million, for a 6.3% margin, 40 basis points below the second quarter.
Gross merchandise volume was $22.8 billion, up 38% in dollars and 33% FX-neutral. Total payment volume hit $108.8 billion, up 53% and 51% FX-neutral. Unique active buyers in the quarter were 94 million, and fintech monthly active users reached 93 million, up 29% year over year.
Investment trade-off
Management said Brazil again led, with FX-neutral commerce growth still elevated after last year’s lower free-shipping threshold. Income from operations felt the cost of more free shipping, new fulfillment capacity ahead of peak season, and a tactical increase in affiliate marketing spend in Brazil. Shipping compressed gross margin even as cost per shipment improved with scale, the company said.
Ecosystem users who both shop and bank with MercadoLibre grew 33% year over year, faster than any other segment. Fintech credit portfolio balances reached an estimated $18 billion, up 62%, with NIMAL of 20.1%. Advertising revenue grew 51% FX-neutral, and management said AI tools now help manage campaigns for 56,000 sellers.
Adjusted EBITDA was $982 million, up from $933 million. Capex in the quarter was $503 million. In September the company completed a $1 billion investment-grade bond issue, it said.
Country and nine-month view
Brazil net revenues and financial income grew 50% in dollars and 41% FX-neutral. Mexico grew 47% and 36% FX-neutral; Argentina grew 26% in dollars and 42% FX-neutral. For the first nine months, net revenues and financial income were $29.76 billion, up from $20.13 billion, while net income was $1.33 billion versus $1.44 billion a year earlier.
By the numbers
- Q3 net revenues and financial income: $10.75 billion, up 45%
- FX-neutral revenue growth: 41%
- Q3 net income: $448 million, or $8.83 per share
- Income from operations: $676 million (6.3% margin)
- GMV: $22.8 billion, up 38%
- TPV: $108.8 billion, up 53%
- Fintech MAUs: 93 million, up 29%
Sources
- MercadoLibre Form 8-K with third-quarter 2026 shareholder letter, filed Nov. 4, 2026 (accession 0001099590-26-000027)
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