As the U.S. stock market hovers near all-time highs, investors might recall Warren Buffett’s famous adage to “be fearful when others are greedy.” However, this doesn’t necessarily mean exiting the market entirely. In fact, Berkshire Hathaway was still actively buying stocks in the fourth quarter of 2025 (Buffett’s last as CEO). History has repeatedly shown that consistently investing in high-quality businesses is the true path to long-term wealth accumulation.
For investors with the patience to hold stocks for at least a decade, two companies—SoFi Technologies (SOFI) and MercadoLibre (MELI)—are worth watching. Despite recent pullbacks following their earnings reports, both are leaders in their respective sectors, and the massive market opportunities they face could translate into strong long-term returns.
SoFi is a small bank with big ambitions. Operating entirely digitally, it aspires to become one of the top ten financial institutions in the United States. If its current growth trajectory continues, this goal is highly achievable.
The company is consistently enhancing user engagement and attracting new members by rolling out new products and services. In the fourth quarter of 2025, its adjusted net revenue increased by 37% year-over-year. It added a record one million new members, bringing its total membership to 13.7 million. While still small compared to major U.S. banks, this also signifies a long runway for growth.
SoFi’s core user base consists of students and young professionals who are drawn to its simple, user-friendly digital interface and innovative services. This demographic has strong career prospects, and SoFi’s strategy is to grow alongside them as their financial management needs evolve. Currently, nearly 90% of the deposits in its SoFi Money accounts come from direct deposits, providing the platform with stable, high-quality recurring cash flow.
Management is also enthusiastic about launching new blockchain-based products, such as international wire transfers via the app and issuing a fully reserved stablecoin. This fully demonstrates its commitment to driving business development through innovation.
MercadoLibre is a leader in both e-commerce and financial technology in Latin America, two markets with immense room for penetration. Management believes its marketplace is structurally about a decade behind developed regions like the U.S., providing a vast arena for driving digital transformation.
As the platform attracts more customers, the company is demonstrating robust growth momentum. In the fourth quarter, its gross merchandise volume (GMV) grew 37% year-over-year (on a constant currency basis), while total payment volume surged 53%. Annual active buyers increased by 24%, and the number of items sold rose by 43%. A virtuous flywheel effect is at work within the company: more consumers attract more merchants, which in turn drives higher purchase frequency among buyers.
In its fintech business, monthly active users grew 27% year-over-year in the fourth quarter, and assets under management jumped an impressive 78%. In many of the markets where it operates, a large portion of the population is excluded from the traditional banking system, and MercadoLibre is seizing the opportunity to capture market share. The company’s plans to launch full-service digital banks in Mexico and Argentina will further expand its growth potential.
Looking ahead to the next decade, MercadoLibre is poised to grow into an even larger and stronger enterprise, potentially rewarding long-term shareholders handsomely.
