NEW YORK, Jan 13, 2026, 21:16 EST — The market has closed for the day.
- Shares of MercadoLibre dropped 3.55%, closing at $2,073.57 on Tuesday.
- Folha de S.Paulo reported that 119 employees were laid off across Latin America, with 38 of those in Brazil, as part of an AI-driven restructuring.
- MercadoLibre’s investor relations calendar currently shows Feb. 24 as the tentative date for releasing fourth-quarter results.
MercadoLibre shares dropped 3.5% Tuesday, closing at $2,073.57 after sliding to a low of $2,030.90. Investors remain unsettled ahead of Wednesday following news of AI-driven layoffs.
That headline is crucial at the moment as the company juggles protecting margins while investing in delivery and fintech expansion—a tricky balance in Latin America’s uneven economies. MercadoLibre’s Q3 profit fell short of expectations in October, despite revenue beating forecasts.
Wednesday morning’s U.S. retail sales report is on deck next, a key figure that often shakes up rate-sensitive growth stocks.
E-Commerce Brasil, referencing Folha de S.Paulo, reported that MercadoLibre laid off 119 workers across Latin America, with 38 of those in Brazil. The job cuts targeted user experience (UX) roles — the group responsible for how the app looks and feels — an area the company can rapidly overhaul using automation.
MercadoLibre told InfoMoney it is reshuffling its UX team to better fuse design and content, aiming for “more agile and collaborative” squads. The company called it a “one-off measure,” stressing it won’t alter its growth plans in Brazil or across the region. InfoMoney
Folhapress reported that most layoffs hit on Jan. 8, targeting UX writers—the team behind the words users see on apps and websites. Marcos Galperin, MercadoLibre’s cofounder, said last year that his focus would shift toward AI projects and mastering “this transition to the world of agents,” according to the report. otempo.com.br
U.S. stocks offered little support. The SPDR S&P 500 exchange-traded fund (SPY) dipped roughly 0.2%, while the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) edged down 0.1%. That put MercadoLibre’s decline in a company-specific light.
MercadoLibre kicked off 2026 with a leadership change: Ariel Szarfsztejn stepped in as CEO on Jan. 1, while Galperin shifted to executive chairman after 26 years at the helm.
Brazilian media report the group has long leaned on AI for fraud detection, risk analysis, and product recommendations. Now, it’s embedding the technology more deeply into daily UX tasks.
But AI-driven reshuffles can backfire. Investors will be closely watching for any signs that the changes slow product rollouts or hurt the customer experience. They’ll also keep an eye on credit losses in the fintech business, especially if regional demand cools.
Traders will be eyeing Wednesday for signs of follow-through after Tuesday’s drop, plus any updates on staffing or the AI rollout. MercadoLibre is set to release its fourth-quarter earnings around Feb. 24.
