2 Stocks Down Over 30% to Buy Right Now and Hold for the Next Decade
Written by John Ballard for The Motley Fool -> MercadoLibre continues to attract new users to its e-commerce platform. Axon Enterprise is widening its competitive moat AI tools for law enforcement.
MercadoLibre continues to attract new users to its e-commerce platform. Axon Enterprise is widening its competitive moat AI tools for law enforcement
Read Full Story at Nasdaq News →Why This Matters
The steep declines in these two stocks present a paradox: when markets panic, long-term value often emerges. MercadoLibre and Axon Enterprise aren’t just down—they’re trading at levels that imply existential doubt about their future dominance. Yet their respective moats in e-commerce and public safety tech remain structurally intact, making this a rare moment to buy quality at a discount.
Background Context
MercadoLibre has spent over two decades building the backbone of Latin America’s digital economy, surviving currency crises, regulatory shifts, and competitive incursions. Axon, meanwhile, has quietly transitioned from stun guns to a data-driven policing platform, winning contracts by framing AI tools as necessary infrastructure for cash-strapped municipalities.
What Happens Next
For MercadoLibre, the next 12–18 months will reveal whether its logistics network can absorb sustained volume without margin erosion. Axon’s growth hinges on policy rollbacks of police reform laws—if those stall, its AI pipeline could face slower adoption. Both stocks will likely remain volatile until broader emerging market sentiment improves.
Bigger Picture
These stocks exemplify a broader decoupling between short-term sentiment and long-term secular trends. As digital infrastructure becomes critical even in emerging markets, and as public safety tech evolves beyond hardware, investors are being forced to choose between noise and fundamentals—a choice that rarely rewards patience less than once a decade.
