Liria Research

Coverage

Ten names under active coverage. Two fully initiated with published theses. Eight on watch.

INITIATED · 2 notes published
MELI
MercadoLibre · NASDAQ · Brazil / LatAmThe Amazon and PayPal of Latin America, trading 38% below its all-time high.
Conviction Long
$28.9B
FY25 Revenue
-38%
From ATH
1
Key Financials
FY2025 Revenue
$28.9B
+39% YoY · 28 qtrs above 30%
Q4 GMV
$19.9B
+37% YoY
Q4 Op. Margin
10.1%
Down from 13.5%
Pago MAU
78M
+27% YoY
Credit Book
$12.5B
+90% YoY · NPL 4.4%
P/S
2.9x
Cheapest since IPO
2
Business Overview

MercadoLibre runs three interlocking businesses: Marketplace (218M users across 18 countries), Mercado Pago (78M MAUs, $18.8B AUM, a full digital bank), and Mercado Envios (handles 95% of packages, delivers roughly three times faster than competitors in São Paulo). Mercado Ads grew 67% YoY in Q4 2025. New CEO Ariel Szarfsztejn took over on January 1, 2026.

3
Investment Thesis
▲ Bull Case

LatAm e-commerce penetration is still below 15%, compared to 20-25% in the US. At 2.9x trailing P/S, the market is pricing in permanent damage that history does not support. Mercado Pago at 78M users is on track to become the primary banking relationship for tens of millions of people who never had one. MELI also committed $3.4B to Argentina in 2026, up 30% from 2025.

⚠ Key Watch: Shopee Competition

Shopee has a proven track record of taking market share through zero-margin aggression. MELI cut free-shipping thresholds in response, which compresses margins. The key question is whether high-value buyers are staying or migrating. JPMorgan downgraded to Neutral on March 12, citing competition and margin pressure.

⚠ Key Watch: Agentic AI Disintermediation

AI shopping agents now compare prices across the entire web before a user opens any app. AI-referred retail traffic grew 800% YoY on Black Friday 2025. McKinsey projects $3-5T in redirected global retail spend by 2030. One partial offset: marketplace retailers appear in AI results 24% more often than single-vendor sites.

▼ Bear Case

Brazil accounts for 55% of revenue, so BRL/USD moves matter. The $12.5B credit book is growing at 90% YoY, which looks fine until a macro shock hits delinquency rates. The new CEO is unproven.

4
Revenue History
YearRevenueGrowthOp. Margin
FY2023$14.47B+37%~12%
FY2024$20.78B+43%~13.5%
FY2025$28.89B+39%~10.1%
Liria Research · Verdict
Bullish: Conviction Long

Margin compression here is deliberate and historically temporary. At 2.9x sales, the market is pricing in deterioration the fundamentals do not support. Shopee and agentic AI are genuine risks, which is exactly why this is a disciplined position rather than an uncritical one. BTIG maintains Buy, PT $2,400.

Read Full Note →
Quick Stats
Price~$1,639
From ATH ($2,645)-38%
P/S2.9x
Rev Growth+39% YoY
BTIG PT$2,400
Risk Register
Shopee escalation in Brazil
BRL depreciation (55% of rev)
Agentic AI disintermediation
Credit NPL spike in recession
Key Catalysts
May 2026 (est.)
Q1 2026 earnings: margin trajectory
Ongoing
Shopee Brazil market share data
Watch
AI agent adoption pace in LatAm
Price Targets
Base PT$2,400
Bull PT$3,100
Bear PT$1,100
NU
Nu Holdings · NYSE · Brazil / Mexico / Colombia131M customers, 33% ROE, $0.80 cost per customer per month. The most efficient financial institution ever built.
Conviction Long
$6.99B
FY25 Revenue
33%
ROE
1
Key Financials
Revenue FY25
$6.99B
+26.8% YoY
Net Income
$2.87B
+45.5% YoY
ROE Q4
33%
Exceptional by any standard
Customers
131M
62% of Brazil adult pop.
Cost/Customer
$0.80
Structural, not promotional
ARPAC Q4
$15
+27% YoY · expanding
2
Investment Thesis
▲ Conviction Long

Nu is the largest private financial institution in Brazil by customer count, covering 62% of the adult population. It operates at $0.80 per customer per month — compared to $15–$20 for legacy banks. Net income grew 45% on 27% revenue growth in FY2025. The 24x trailing P/E on 45% NI growth implies the market expects growth to disappear imminently. The ARPU expansion, the Mexico trajectory, and the product roadmap suggest it does not.

▼ Key Risks

BRL concentration: 82% of revenue in Brazil, so currency moves hit USD-reported earnings. Mexico NPL risk: thinner credit bureau data than Brazil. US bank charter ambition adds regulatory complexity.

Liria Research · Verdict
Conviction Long · Initiation at $14.32

The EM discount is partially rational — but irrational in magnitude when applied to a business with 33% ROE and 45% net income growth. Base PT $18. Bull case $26. Bear PT $9.

Read Full Note →
Quick Stats
Price at Init.$14.32
Net Income$2.87B
ROE33%
Customers131M
Cost/Customer$0.80/mo
NPL 90+4.4%
Risk Register
BRL depreciation (82% of rev)
Mexico NPL — thinner bureau data
$0.80 cost/customer is structural
Price Targets
Base PT$18
Bull PT$26
Bear PT$9
ON WATCH · 8 names
Pillar I · Emerging Markets (4)
IBN
ICICI Bank · NYSE ADR · IndiaIndia's best-managed private bank and the cleanest way to own its long-term credit growth story.
Bullish
$34.8B
FY25 Revenue
+21.7%
YoY
1
Key Financials
Revenue FY25
$34.8B
+21.7% YoY
PAT Growth
+15.5%
YoY Q1-2026
Net NPA
0.39%
Improving QoQ
Loan Growth
+11.5%
YoY domestic
CET1
16.46%
Well capitalised
Biz Banking
+29.7%
YoY fastest segment
2
Investment Thesis
▲ Bull Case: India's Structural Credit Story

India's credit-to-GDP ratio remains among the lowest in major economies. Manufacturing FDI reached $19B in FY2025, and the PLI scheme is reshaping India into a global manufacturing hub, creating fresh demand for working capital, equipment financing, and payroll banking. Foreign ownership of Indian equities hit a 15-year low in 2025, setting up a potential re-rating when global EM flows normalise.

▼ Bear Case

INR/USD currency drag is a real headwind for USD-denominated investors. Rate cuts expected through 2026 will compress net interest margins. The retail book grew only 6.9% YoY, a deceleration worth monitoring.

Liria Research · Verdict
Bullish: Structural Long

The cleanest vehicle to own India's 20-year financial deepening story. Balance sheet in good shape, management team proven, credit cycle still early. Any broad India selloff is an opportunity to add.

Quick Stats
Revenue FY25$34.8B
PAT Growth+15.5% YoY
Net NPA0.39%
CET116.46%
FY26 ResultsApr 18, 2026
Price Targets
Base PT$30
Bull PT$38
Bear PT$18
Risk Register
INR/USD currency drag
NIM compression from rate cuts
NPAs at cycle lows
SSNLF
Samsung Electronics · OTC / KRX · South KoreaThe world's most important memory company, now with HBM4 in mass production and a clear catch-up story.
Cautious-Bullish
₩333.6T
FY25 Revenue
+11%
YoY
1
Key Financials
Revenue FY25
₩333.6T
+11% YoY
Op. Profit
₩43.6T
Record high
HBM Share 2025
22%
vs SK Hynix at 57%
HBM Target 2026
35%
KB Securities estimate
Q4 Op. Margin
21.5%
AI memory driven
DRAM Prices
+40-50%
Forecast through H1 2026
2
Investment Thesis
▲ Bull Case: HBM4 Catch-Up

Samsung began mass production and commercial shipments of HBM4 in early 2026. Management confirmed that customer feedback is positive: "Samsung is back." The HBM market is projected to grow from $35B in 2025 to $100B by 2028. Samsung's share is recovering from 16% toward 35% in 2026 per KB Securities. DRAM prices are expected to rise 40-50% through H1 2026 as AI demand outpaces supply.

▼ Bear Case

SK Hynix beat Samsung in annual profit for the first time in 2025 and still holds 57% HBM revenue share. The 2nm foundry execution against TSMC remains uncertain. Consumer electronics margins face pressure from higher AI chip costs.

Liria Research · Verdict
Cautious-Bullish: Turnaround Bet

The catch-up thesis is credible and HBM4 momentum is real. The main risk is SK Hynix keeps its lead longer than expected. We hold with discipline rather than full conviction.

Quick Stats
Revenue FY25₩333.6T
Op. Profit₩43.6T
HBM Share 202522%
HBM Target 202635%
Risk Register
SK Hynix HBM lead widens
2nm foundry yield risk
Cheap vs. peers if HBM4 executes
Price Targets
Base PT₩180,000
Bull PT₩220,000
Bear PT₩110,000
GGAL
Grupo Financiero Galicia · NASDAQ · ArgentinaArgentina's largest private bank, with an asymmetric payoff if Milei's reforms hold and a near-zero outcome if they don't.
High Risk
~$48.80
Price
11% GDP
Credit Penetration
1
Key Data
ROE Target 2026
11-12%
Recovering from HSBC merger
ROE Target 2027
15-20%
If macro holds
Loan Growth 2026
+25%
Real terms guidance
Credit Penetration
11%
LatAm peers at 30-40%
Bull Upside
5x
Book value potential
52w Range
$26-$74
Extreme volatility
2
The Binary Thesis
▲ If Milei Succeeds

Argentina's credit penetration rising from 11% to 30% of GDP would require the banking sector's loan book to roughly triple in real terms. Book values could grow 5x. GGAL, as the dominant private bank post the HSBC acquisition, captures disproportionate share. A Carrhae Capital $8.7M institutional position was disclosed on March 18, a sign of renewed confidence from sophisticated money.

▼ If Reforms Fail

Argentina has defaulted nine times in its history. A 2027 election reversal could unwind the entire reform programme within 12 months. Short interest rose 16.6% in February 2026. The 52-week range of $26-$74 tells you everything about the volatility regime. This is not a core position. It is a calculated, small, asymmetric bet.

Liria Research · Verdict
High Risk · Asymmetric · Small Size Only

Reform success produces extraordinary upside. Failure produces near-zero. Size discipline is the whole thesis here. We carry a small, defined position and watch the 2027 election calendar closely.

Quick Stats
Price~$48.80
52w Range$25.89-$74.01
Short Interest4.5%, up 16.6%
Shareholder MtgApr 28, 2026
Risk Register
2027 election reversal
Peso devaluation
5x book value if reforms hold
Price Targets
Reform Bull$120+
Base$55
Reform Fail$10
RJHI
Al Rajhi Bank · Tadawul · Saudi ArabiaThe world's largest Islamic bank, growing net income at 26% YoY and systematically under-owned by Western investors.
Bullish
SAR 24.8B
Net Income FY25
+26%
YoY
1
Key Financials
Net Income FY25
SAR 24.8B
+26% YoY
Op. Income FY25
SAR 39.1B
+22% YoY
ROE
23.5%
Above sector average
Total Assets
SAR 1.04T
+7% YoY
Cost-to-Income
<24.5%
World-class efficiency
CET1
16.0%
Well capitalised
2
Investment Thesis
▲ Bull Case: Under-Owned Compounder

Al Rajhi is compounding net income at 26% YoY with a 23.5% ROE and a cost-to-income ratio below 24.5%. Most Western EM funds are structurally underweight Islamic banking, which means the market is less efficiently analysed. Saudi GDP is expected to grow 4.5% in 2026. Vision 2030 is a trillion-dollar economic transformation requiring massive domestic financial infrastructure throughout. Structural growth combined with under-ownership and operational excellence is a rare combination.

▼ Bear Case

Saudi macro is ultimately linked to oil. Two rate cuts are anticipated in H2 2026, which will pressure net financing margins. Access via the Tadawul creates friction for Western investors using ADR structures.

Liria Research · Verdict
Bullish: Under-Owned Compounder

A quality compounder that Western investors systematically overlook. That structural under-ownership creates a pricing gap that patient capital can exploit.

Quick Stats
Net Income FY25SAR 24.8B
Growth+26% YoY
ROE23.5%
Cost-to-Income<24.5%
Total AssetsSAR 1.04T
Risk Register
Oil price macro dependency
H2 2026 rate cuts: NIM pressure
Under-ownership = alpha source
Price Targets
Base PTSAR 135
Bull PTSAR 165
Bear PTSAR 85
Pillar II · Futurist Bets (4)
ASTS
AST SpaceMobile · NASDAQ · Space InfrastructureThe technology works. The model is elegant. The valuation requires execution the company has not yet demonstrated.
Watch for Entry
$70.9M
FY25 Revenue
367x
P/S
1
Key Financials
FY2025 Revenue
$70.9M
+1,505% YoY
Net Loss
-$342M
Widening
Liquidity
$3.9B
Runway secured
Satellites Up
6
Need 45-60
MNO Reach
3B+
50+ operators
Backlog
$1.2B
Committed
2
Investment Thesis
▲ What We Like

Mobile network operators white-label SpaceMobile at roughly a 50/50 revenue share. There is no customer acquisition cost, no billing infrastructure needed, and near-zero marginal cost per additional user once the constellation is in place. The $1.2B committed backlog from Verizon, AT&T, and stc is real money. Defense applications add a second revenue stream from the same hardware.

⚠ The Valuation Problem

A $26B market cap on $70.9M in revenue is a 367x P/S multiple. Scaling to 45-60 satellites in 2026 requires a launch cadence the company has never demonstrated. ASTS launched one satellite in all of 2025. BlueBird 7 is encapsulated at Cape Canaveral awaiting launch. Our preferred entry point is $50-60 with at least 20 satellites in orbit and commercial service activation confirmed.

▼ Structural Risk

Starlink is building direct-to-cell capability with thousands of satellites already in orbit and a profitable launch business subsidising everything. Dilution from capital raises is unavoidable at current loss levels.

3
Revenue Scenarios
YearRevenueScenarioP/S at $26B
FY2025$70.9MHardware and milestones367x
FY2026~$200-400MInitial commercial~65-130x
FY2027~$830MConstellation partial~31x
FY2028~$2.54BScale commercial~10x
Liria Research · Verdict
Cautious: Watch for Entry

Technology validated, model elegant, partner roster serious. At $90 you are paying for perfect execution in a business that has not demonstrated it yet. Entry at $50-60 with 20+ satellites in orbit dramatically improves the risk/reward profile.

Quick Stats
Price~$90
YTD+21%
P/S367x
Liquidity$3.9B
Risk Register
Launch cadence unproven
Starlink direct-to-cell
Structural dilution
Key Catalysts
H1 2026
BlueBird 7-20 launches
H2 2026
Verizon/AT&T commercial activation
Price Targets
Bull (on-sched)$140
Base (6mo delay)$65
Bear (12mo)$30
RKLB
Rocket Lab · NASDAQ · Space InfrastructureThe only credible challenger to SpaceX. $602M revenue, $1.85B backlog, 100% launch success rate, Neutron on track for Q4 2026.
Bullish
$602M
FY25 Revenue
+38%
YoY
1
Key Financials
FY2025 Revenue
$602M
+38% YoY, record
Backlog
$1.85B
+73% YoY, record
Q4 Gross Margin
38%
Record
2025 Launches
21
100% success rate
Q1 2026 Guide
$192M
midpoint, +57% YoY
Total Backlog
>$2B
After HASTE contract
2
Investment Thesis
▲ Bull Case: Neutron Opens the Medium Market

Electron proves Rocket Lab can build, launch, and operate reliably at scale. Neutron, targeting its first launch in Q4 2026, would open the medium launch market currently owned by SpaceX's Falcon 9. The $816M SDA satellite contract confirms Rocket Lab is a prime contractor, not just a launch vendor. The new $190M HASTE hypersonic contract pushes total backlog above $2B. If Neutron flies successfully, the total addressable market roughly doubles.

⚠ $1B Equity Offering

Rocket Lab announced a $1B equity offering in late March 2026, causing an initial 10-11% drop before partial recovery. Dilutive in the short term, but the capital funds Neutron development and space power ambitions. Clear Street initiated coverage at Buy immediately following the offering.

▼ Bear Case

SpaceX competes in every segment Rocket Lab operates in and has vastly more capital. The first-stage tank test failure pushed Neutron from Q1 to Q4 2026. Any further slip is a meaningful downside event at current valuation levels.

Liria Research · Verdict
Bullish: Best Non-SpaceX Space Play

Our highest-conviction Futurist Bet. The business today generates real revenue, real backlog, and expanding margins. Neutron is the call option sitting on top of an already-valuable company. We own this with conviction and add on launch-related dips.

Quick Stats
Price~$68
FY2025 Revenue$602M
Backlog>$2B (post-HASTE)
Launches 20264 YTD
Risk Register
Neutron further delay
$1B equity offering dilution
Backlog >$2B: strong visibility
100% success rate commands premium
Key Catalysts
Q4 2026
Neutron first launch
Ongoing
SDA contract execution
Price Targets
Base PT$28
Neutron Bull$55
Bear PT$10
OKLO
Oklo Inc · NYSE · Advanced NuclearZero revenue today, but the DOE construction agreement signed in March 2026 marks a real shift in regulatory progress.
Speculative
$0
Revenue
$1.4B
Cash
1
Key Data
Revenue
$0
Pre-commercial
Cash
$1.4B
Multi-year runway
Pipeline
2.1 GW
Up 200% since listing
First Deploy
2027-28
Idaho, 75 MW
Meta Deal
1.2 GW
Ohio campus
DOE Agreement
Mar 18
Aurora INL construction
2
Investment Thesis
▲ Bull Case: Regulatory Momentum Accelerating

The DOE signed its Nuclear Safety Design Agreement for the Aurora powerhouse at Idaho National Laboratory on March 18, 2026, formalising the construction pathway. Oklo's Atomic Alchemy subsidiary also received its first NRC-issued license for isotope handling, which is the company's first revenue-generating authorisation. Pre-construction and site characterisation have begun for the Meta 1.2 GW campus in Ohio. Customer pipeline grew 200% to 2.1 GW since listing.

▼ Bear Case: Execution Is Still Years Away

Zero revenue. Net loss of $105M for 2025. NuScale and BWX are ahead on commercialisation, with NuScale already generating $8.2M per quarter from consulting. The regulatory path, while accelerating, is still complex. At a $10B market cap with no revenue, this is an entirely forward-looking bet.

Liria Research · Verdict
Speculative: Min Size, Max Conviction

The DOE construction agreement and first NRC license are genuine milestones, not press releases. Still strictly a small, defined position, but the regulatory roadmap is moving faster than skeptics expected.

Key Data
Revenue$0 (pre-commercial)
Cash$1.4B
DOE AgreementMar 18, 2026
First Deploy2027-28
Risk Register
Zero revenue, pre-commercial
Regulatory path still complex
DOE construction agreement signed
First NRC license issued
Price Targets
Deploy Bull 2027$45
Base 2028$18
Delay / Fail$3
LUNR
Intuitive Machines · NASDAQ · Lunar EconomyThe only private company to have landed on the Moon, with a $180.4M NASA contract awarded today, March 24 2026.
Cautious
$210M
FY25 Revenue
~$950M
2026 Guidance
1
Key Financials
FY2025 Revenue
$210M
vs $79.5M in FY2023
2026 Guidance
$900M-1B
Up 352%
NASA Contract
$180.4M
CLPS-5, March 24
NSNS Potential
$4.82B
Through 2034
Net Loss FY25
-$83.3M
Pre-profitability
Stock Today
+13.9%
On CLPS-5 news
2
Investment Thesis
▲ Bull Case: Building the Lunar Infrastructure Layer

Intuitive Machines is building the infrastructure of the commercial Moon economy before the commercial Moon economy exists, with NASA and DoD paying for it along the way. The NSNS contract alone, worth up to $4.82B through 2034, provides a durable revenue floor. Today's $180.4M CLPS-5 contract is the fifth such award and the first requiring the larger Nova-D lander, validating the company's expanding capabilities. The LTV contract, potentially worth up to $4.6B, is expected in Q1-Q2 2026.

▼ Bear Case: Execution Risk at Scale

Two consecutive hard Moon landings raise real questions about landing system reliability. The 2026 guidance of $900M-$1B is a fourfold jump that requires the $800M Lanteris acquisition to integrate cleanly while multiple large government contracts convert on time. Any single programme cancellation could materially damage the revenue profile.

Liria Research · Verdict
Cautious: Moon Economy Bet, Small Size

Today's NASA contract validates ongoing mission confidence. The NSNS anchor, the Lanteris acquisition, and the growing contract pipeline create a credible path to a diversified space infrastructure business. IM-3's lunar landing is the single most important near-term re-rating event. A clean landing restores the reliability narrative.

Quick Stats
FY2025 Revenue$210M
2026 Guidance$900M-$1B
Today's Contract$180.4M
NSNS Potential$4.82B
Risk Register
2026 guide relies on lumpy contracts
Two hard Moon landings
$180.4M NASA contract secured today
Key Catalysts
Today
$180.4M CLPS-5 contract awarded
Q2 2026
IM-3 lunar landing
Q1-Q2 2026
LTV contract decision (up to $4.6B)
Price Targets
Bull (guidance met)$30
Base$16
Bear (contract slip)$6