The Latin America index derated significantly last year as fiscal pressures in Brazil, and a volatile political backdrop for Mexico squeezed equity markets. However, Chris Tennant, co-portfolio manager of Fidelity Emerging Markets Ltd (LON:FEML), outlines why there are reasons to be more optimistic on the region than valuations suggest and highlights the areas of the market where we see the best opportunities.
After a significant selloff over 2024, the Latin America index is now trading at extremely low valuations both relative to its own history and in absolute terms, of around eight times forward earnings. The index fell by c.30% last year, driven by a derating in the two largest markets, Brazil and Mexico.
Brazil: Fiscal pressures obscure a more positive macro backdrop
Brazil has sold off due to concerns about the rising fiscal deficit, with increasing inflation expectations prompting the central bank to start hiking interest rates again. While the fiscal backdrop has deteriorated, the broader macro backdrop remains reasonably robust, with good GDP growth and unemployment at decade lows.
Brazil: The fiscal deficit has widened but broader macro backdrop remains relatively robust
With no indications so far of asset quality deterioration or a rise in non-performing loans, we think that the fiscal backdrop should be resolved once there is a change of government policy – and with an election due at the end of 2026, there is light at the end of tunnel.
While we have looked to limit exposure to more rate sensitive names given the monetary policy backdrop in Brazil, we broadly expect any negative impact to be on the consumer and companies with debt on the balance sheet, rather than the high-quality, predominantly financials companies we own that are typically more driven by idiosyncratic factors, and which should prove resilient even in a weaker fiscal and higher-rate backdrop.
One name we particularly like is Inter & Co, the holding company for Banco Inter, a digital bank in Brazil. The stock has been hit by negative sentiment towards the country, but the impact that higher interest rates will have on fundamentals is very limited. We expect that net interest margins for the bank will keep expanding, and while operating expenditure took a step up in Q3, we should see the efficiency ratio improve in coming quarters. Cost of risk should also remain benign given a tight labour market, and loan growth will remain solid given much of this comes from the conversion of depositors that are customers already. The stock trades today at about 1.3 times price to book, an incredibly attractive valuation for a stock that should generate robust returns on equity this year.
Mexico: Opportunities in high quality stocks that have disproportionately derated
In Mexico, the derating has been driven largely by political turbulence both north and south of the border. Weakness last year was initially down to concerns about a lack of checks and balances on the government after a landslide victory for President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Although we are closely monitoring indications of institutional decay, for example with regards to the recent judicial reforms, we are broadly constructive on the new president who has indicated she will be focused on protecting central bank independence, investing in nearshoring infrastructure, and ensuring amiable relations with the US.
The US election result and concerns about higher tariffs prompted another leg down in the Mexican market and currency at the end of the year. While this is clearly a fast-evolving space and a risk to monitor closely, overall, we think that much of this concern is already priced in with the market trading at decade lows – and that there are plenty of companies in the index that are relatively resilient to both potentially higher tariffs and a weaker currency. More broadly, given the desire to decouple from China, we continue to think that Mexico is likely to remain a key trading partner for the US for some time to come. There was considerable anxiety around Mexican equities during the 2016-20 Trump presidency, which in fact represented a buying opportunity.
We continue to see opportunities among Mexican companies that have disproportionately derated. Here we have limited exposure to domestic names, and high conviction positions include tortilla maker Gruma, a company with excellent pricing power given its dominant position in the tortilla market, and which is enjoying margin expansion due to ongoing premiumisation opportunities. Given weakness in the Mexican market, the stock is trading at attractive valuations, which overlooks the fact that 72% of Gruma’s revenue comes from outside Mexico and that it is a US dollar earner, and that it should be relatively protected from any increase in tariffs given its localised production bases in the US.
Opportunities down the market cap spectrum – including in commodities
We scour the entire breath of the market cap spectrum for ideas and see opportunities across local Latin American markets. While the majority of the portfolio’s exposure is to the two main markets Brazil and Mexico, we see opportunities in some of the smaller markets, too.
One holding we particularly like is Peruvian gold and copper miner, Buenaventura. The share price has suffered due to local pension funds in Peru seeing outflows and selling equities. However operational performance has been strong, guidance was upgraded (something that is relatively rare in mining) and the backdrop for both commodities has been very strong. Copper is a particular area of conviction for us, with attractive supply-demand dynamics, underpinned by the copper-intensive energy transition and a very muted supply outlook. We also think the backdrop for gold is attractive, which we expect to benefit as central banks continue to move their FX reserves to gold over the next few decades.
Optimistic outlook
Overall, we are optimistic about the region, and believe that forward looking returns from Latin American stocks have the potential to be exceptionally high given the indiscriminate selloff that has taken place across the two largest markets.
The derating obscures the still-attractive quality characteristics of the index, where expectations have not been priced high enough currently, representing potential buying opportunities for those taking a selective approach.
Important information
The value of investments can go down as well as up and investors may not get back the amount invested. Reference to specific securities should not be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell these securities and is included for the purposes of illustration only. Overseas investments will be affected by movements in currency exchange rates. Investments in emerging markets can be more volatile than other more developed markets. The use of financial derivative instruments for investment purposes, may expose the fund to a higher degree of risk and can cause investments to experience larger than average price fluctuations. Investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. The shares in investment trusts are listed on the London Stock Exchange and their price is affected by supply and demand. Investment trusts can gain additional exposure to the market, known as gearing, potentially increasing volatility. This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to an authorised financial adviser.
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