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After a long wait, Booking Holdings completed its first stock split in decades on April 6. The company, which had once engaged in a 1-for-6 reverse split to avoid being delisted from the Nasdaq, had seen its stock peak at over $5,800 per share, so one could argue its recent 25-for-1 split was long overdue. Still, Booking Holdings is not the only consumer discretionary stock that has reached a high nominal price. Knowing that, I believe that one company that has risen by almost 6,430% since its initial public offering could be next. The (possible) next stock split The next consumer stock overdue for a stock split is MercadoLibre (MELI) +1.36%. In terms of nominal price, it is now the eighth-most expensive stock on U.S. markets today. Admittedly, MercadoLibre has never instituted a stock split and has given investors no indication it plans such a move, and splits do not directly change the value of shareholders' positions. Other investors may wonder why I'm not singling out AutoZone, since it trades at nearly twice the nominal price per share. MercadoLibre may stand out due to a factor U.S. investors usually overlook -- its presence on the stock exchanges of its largest markets. Interestingly, on Mexico's stock exchange, the Bolsa, it's trading for around 32,000 pesos per share, roughly equivalent to the U.S. price. However, its average volume is only around 1,200 shares, an alarmingly low level of liquidity. That is also far below the 549,000-share average daily volume on the Nasdaq. This is not the case in Argentina, where it sells for less than 23,000 Argentine pesos (about $16.50) per share, or Brazil, where it sells for about 77 reais ($15.40) per share. Considering the average daily share volumes of around 490,000 in Argentina and over 1.3 million in Brazil, it might make sense for the company to more closely align its share prices across nations. MercadoLibre's future growth Moreover, MercadoLibre stock is on sale -- down by around 30% from its 52-week high. Its share price is more likely to rise than fall over time. MercadoLibre as a stock-split candidate MercadoLibre's stock price makes it a prime candidate as the next major stock split in the consumer space. Many other companies have split shares when their stock prices reached comparable prices to MercadoLibre's price today. Also, with the stock trading at a similar price in Mexico, its lower liquidity may be hampering stock trading in that country. Moreover, with 39% revenue growth in 2025 and a 34% increase forecast this year, the rapid increases are likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Ultimately, stock splits do not change the underlying value of companies. Still, if more small investors can buy whole shares, it could follow in Booking Holdings' footsteps, and that extra trading activity could help lift MercadoLibre stock.
Premium gym chains are entering a “golden era” that is ending or already in decline, as rising operating costs collide with shifting consumer preferences toward more flexible, community-based ways to exercise. Long-term memberships are shrinking, margins are pressured by higher rents and facility expenses, and competition from smaller, more personalized…
