NEW YORK, Feb 5, 2026, 15:41 (EST) — Regular session
- Shares of MercadoLibre are sliding amid a wider risk-off shift weighing on growth and consumer names.
- Traders are gearing up for increased volatility as Big Tech prepares to reveal spending plans and upcoming earnings reports.
- MELI’s next clear catalyst will be its results update due in late February.
Shares of MercadoLibre (MELI.O) dropped 1.1% to $2,029.60 Thursday afternoon, after hitting a high of $2,092.41 earlier in the session. The stock had closed at $2,052.78 previously.
The drop came after a tech-driven selloff shook investors, sparked by Alphabet’s warning of a significantly higher AI-related expense in 2026. “We’re seeing this volatility about whether this investment will translate, ultimately, into results,” noted Tom Hainlin, an investment strategist at U.S. Bank Wealth Management. (Reuters)
The broader market held under pressure late in the session, with the S&P 500 ETF SPY dropping roughly 1.3% and the Nasdaq-focused QQQ falling close to 1.5%.
E-commerce stocks took a hit as well. Amazon dropped roughly 4.4%, while Shopify slid about 2.1% during the session.
MercadoLibre is set to release its fourth-quarter results on Feb. 24, per the company’s investor relations calendar. (Mercado Libre | Investor Relations)
That report is crucial as it offers the next detailed look at demand across the marketplace and Mercado Pago, its fintech division specializing in payments and lending. This arm has emerged as a major growth engine.
At the moment, new company updates are scarce. MELI is behaving more like a stand-in for “risk-on” growth sentiment than following its own stock narrative.
Some analysts remain steadfast. BTIG’s Marvin Fong stuck with a Buy rating on Wednesday, maintaining his $2,750 price target, per GuruFocus. (GuruFocus)
There’s a downside scenario that barely needs spelling out: if the tech selloff worsens, investors will likely trim their stakes in stocks valued for rapid growth. For MercadoLibre, currency fluctuations in major markets and a rise in credit losses would only add pressure.
Next, traders will be eyeing if the wider selloff in growth stocks slows down — and if MercadoLibre’s earnings on Feb. 24 shift forecasts for 2026.
