dLocal Down 81% – A Buying Opportunity?
POINTS
- dLocal (DLO) is a global fintech company enabling e-commerce payments in emerging markets.
- Despite an 81% decline from its all-time high, revenue has grown 600% since its IPO.
- Total Payment Volume (TPV) increased by 41% in 2024, with revenue up 13%.
- Currently valued at 27 times free cash flow (FCF), suggesting potential undervaluation.
- Key clients include Amazon, Spotify, Uber, and Netflix.
Details
dLocal (NASDAQ: DLO) Overview
- Business Model
- Operates in emerging markets (Latin America, Africa, and Asia), offering 900+ payment options to over 2 billion consumers.
- Facilitates payments for global enterprises without requiring international credit cards.
- Before dLocal, customers without international credit cards faced challenges making purchases, but dLocal enables local payment processing.
- Major Clients
- Amazon, Spotify, Uber, Shopify, Netflix, and other global companies.
Revenue and Financial Growth
- 600% revenue growth since IPO in 2021.
- Total Payment Volume (TPV) up 41% in 2024, revenue up 13%.
- Free Cash Flow (FCF) margin stable at 21%, ensuring strong cash generation.
- Outstanding shares reduced by 2%, signaling shareholder-friendly policies.
Year | Total Payment Volume (TPV, $B) | Revenue ($B) | Free Cash Flow (FCF) Margin |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 22% |
2022 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 21% |
2023 | 5.1 | 0.9 | 21% |
2024 | 7.2 | 1.02 | 21% |
Growth Drivers & Competitive Advantage
Increasing Demand for Digital Payments in Emerging Markets
- Rapid growth in internet penetration & e-commerce adoption in emerging markets.
- Projected digital payment market to reach $3.7 trillion by 2028.
- Emerging market urban GDP is growing 3.5 times faster than that of developed economies.
Strong Competitive Moat & Network Effect
- High entry barriers due to tax regulations, foreign exchange settlements, and compliance requirements in different countries.
- dLocal partners with local payment providers and regulators, making it difficult for competitors to replicate its network.
- Expanding presence in more countries strengthens its competitive advantage.
CEO Pedro Arnt's Leadership
- Former CFO of MercadoLibre, instrumental in the growth of MercadoPago, Latin America’s largest fintech.
- Played a key role in transforming MercadoLibre into the region’s e-commerce leader.
- Likely to drive dLocal’s expansion into the next stage of growth.
Strong Free Cash Flow & Share Buybacks
- Maintains a 21% FCF margin, indicating solid cash flow generation.
- Executed a $100M share buyback in 2022 and is halfway through a $200M buyback program in 2023.
- Unlike most growth stocks, which increase share dilution, dLocal is actively reducing outstanding shares, benefiting long-term investors.
Future Outlook
Margin Stabilization
- dLocal has sacrificed margins in favor of market expansion but is now showing signs of stabilization.
- FCF margins have remained consistent over recent quarters, suggesting improved cost control.
- Profitability is expected to improve as operational efficiencies increase.
Expansion of the Emerging Market Payment Sector
- dLocal’s key regions (Latin America, Africa, and Asia) are experiencing faster e-commerce growth than developed markets.
- As global companies expand into emerging markets, dLocal’s platform will become increasingly valuable.
Increasing Adoption by Global Enterprises
- Amazon, Netflix, Uber, and Spotify are already using dLocal’s services.
- More global corporations expanding into emerging markets will likely drive higher adoption of dLocal’s payment solutions.
Undervalued Stock with Growth Potential
- dLocal is currently trading at 27 times free cash flow (FCF), lower than the S&P 500 average.
- Given its growth potential, it could be significantly undervalued, making it an attractive long-term investment.
Conclusion
- dLocal is a fintech leader solving cross-border payment challenges in emerging markets.
- Despite an 81% stock decline, the company’s revenue and customer base continue to grow rapidly.
- Strong global client base and expansion in high-growth markets suggest long-term potential.
- Currently undervalued relative to its future growth prospects, making it a compelling long-term investment.
✅ Investors looking for fintech growth stocks should consider dLocal.
📌 Source: The Motley Fool, NASDAQ, dLocal 2024 Financial Reports.
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