As the Federal Reserve’s rate-cutting cycle took hold in 2024-2025, capital rushed back into growth stocks, fueling a powerful rally from prior lows. With markets hovering near highs, investors are asking: Is this the tail end of a short-term rebound, or the beginning of a new long-term growth phase? We believe that for companies with genuine structural growth drivers, the upside story is far from over.
Global mobility giant Uber (UBER) and Latin American digital ecosystem leader MercadoLibre (MELI) are prime examples of stocks that may still have meaningful runway ahead.
Uber has successfully transformed from a ride-hailing pioneer into an integrated everyday services platform. As of Q3 2025, its monthly active platform consumers reached 189 million, more than doubling from its pandemic-era trough. This growth stems not only from the recovery in rides but also from steady expansion in food delivery, geographical pushes—especially in Asia and Latin America—and the powerful user loyalty built through its Uber One subscription service, which counted 36 million members by the end of Q3 2025.
While some worry about peak growth, the data tells a different story. Analysts project Uber’s revenue and adjusted EBITDA to grow at CAGRs of 16% and 28%, respectively, from 2024 to 2027. With an enterprise value of $174 billion, the stock trades at just 15 times its projected 2026 adjusted EBITDA—a relatively modest multiple given its double-digit profit growth outlook.
Critically, Uber is positioned in two long-term, high-growth markets. Market Research Future forecasts the global ride-hailing sector to expand at a 19.2% CAGR from 2025 to 2035, while Grand View Research expects the food delivery market to grow at a 9.4% CAGR over a similar period. Uber’s leading scale and network effects should allow it to capture a lasting share of these expanding industries. Its journey looks set to extend well beyond a mere cyclical rebound.
If Uber’s story is about global integration, MercadoLibre’s is about deep regional cultivation. As the undisputed leader in Latin American e-commerce and fintech, it has built an extensive ecosystem spanning online marketplace, digital payments (Mercado Pago), and digital banking. The platform reported 76.8 million unique active buyers and 72.2 million monthly active fintech users as of Q3 2025.
Its growth engines are firing on all cylinders: while core markets Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico deliver steady cash flow, emerging fronts like Colombia, Chile, and Peru are accelerating. Recent geopolitical shifts could even reopen the door to Venezuela, a market it effectively exited in 2017. Analysts expect revenue and EPS to grow at impressive CAGRs of 29% and 30%, respectively, from 2024 through 2027.
These striking estimates are supported by durable structural trends in Latin America. E-commerce penetration and financial inclusion in the region remain well below developed market levels, leaving ample room for growth. Research indicates the region’s e-commerce market (2024–2030) and fintech market (2026–2034) are projected to expand at CAGRs of 17.4% and 15.1%, respectively. Trading at 33 times its 2026 earnings estimate, MercadoLibre’s valuation reflects its role as the region’s primary digital pioneer—not just fleeting market sentiment. Its ascent is built on solid, expansive ground.
Market volatility is inevitable, but true growth investing involves identifying companies that can navigate cycles and are propelled by sustainable tailwinds. Uber and MercadoLibre are each anchored in powerful long-term themes—global mobility/delivery and Latin American digitalization—and have established strong competitive advantages with clear visibility into profitability.
Their recent performance is not merely a function of rotational flows in a lower-rate environment, but rather a reflection of their underlying business momentum. For investors with a long-term view, these growth stocks may be preparing for the next leg of their flight.
