2 Brilliant Growth Stocks to Buy Before They Soar 75% and 150% in 2026, According to Certain Wall Street Analysts

Shares of The Trade Desk and MercadoLibre are trading well below their record highs—down 71% and 24% respectively—but analyst median targets imply meaningful upside (TTD median $60, ~53% upside, street-high $98; MELI median $2,842, ~42% upside, street-high $3,500). The Trade Desk’s independent DSP and leadership in connected-TV advertising underpin a durable competitive moat and an expected ~20% EPS CAGR over the next three years, yet recent market concerns center on intensified competition from Amazon (content deals with Netflix/Roku and fee undercutting), with the stock trading around 45x earnings. MercadoLibre’s dominant Latin American marketplace, fintech, logistics and ad businesses drove Q3 revenue growth of 39% to $7.4 billion, but GAAP EPS rose only 6% as heavy investments in shipping and card expansion compress near-term profits; analysts see roughly a 32% EPS CAGR, supporting a valuation near 49x earnings and a buy case for long-term investors.

Analysis

Wall Street analysts view The Trade Desk (TTD) and MercadoLibre (MELI) as materially below prior peaks with median upside implied by targets: TTD is down 71% from its high with a median target of $60 (≈53% upside) and a street-high of $98 (150% upside), while MELI is down 24% with a median target of $2,842 (≈42% upside) and a street-high of $3,500 (75% upside). Market sentiment on both is moderately positive, but market-impact signals are muted (market_impact_score 0.35).

The Trade Desk’s investment case rests on an independent DSP franchise, superior open-internet measurement and dominance in connected-TV (CTV). Near-term downside reflects intensified competition from Amazon (content deals with Netflix and Roku and reported fee undercutting); TTD trades at ~45x earnings with analysts forecasting ~20% EPS CAGR over the next three years, leading the author to recommend a small buy given the long-term moat but elevated competitive risk.

MercadoLibre benefits from network effects across marketplace, payments and logistics; Q3 revenue rose 39% to $7.4 billion (its 27th consecutive quarter >30% growth) while GAAP EPS rose only 6% to $8.32 due to heavy investments in shipping and credit-card expansion. Management cites Brazil free-shipping threshold cuts that accelerated GMV, items sold and buyer metrics; analysts forecast ~32% EPS CAGR and a ~49x earnings valuation, supporting a buy-for-growth stance while acknowledging near-term profit compression from strategic spending.

Key Decisions for Investors

• Initiate a modest position in TTD to gain exposure to its independent open-internet and CTV leadership, but size the trade conservatively and monitor Amazon’s CTV inventory deals and fee pressure
• Accumulate MELI on weakness given 39% revenue growth, strong buyer/product metrics and a 32% EPS CAGR forecast, while watching GMV, items sold, conversion rates and margin impact from logistics and card investments
• Use scaled entries and predefined re-evaluation triggers tied to valuation moves (TTD ~45x, MELI ~49x) and quarterly signs of sustained margin compression or slowing growth
• Employ position-sizing limits or modest hedges to protect against event risk from competitive fee undercutting or larger-than-expected incremental spending that could further depress near-term GAAP earnings