Univision News

There are 79 equities from Latin American countries and Puerto Rico listed at the NYSE Euronext. (Photo NYSE Euronext) 

By MARIANA CRISTANCHO-AHN
Channel: Economics 

Latin American equities are getting noticed at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE Euronext). Back in the first quarter of 2006, the amount of money allocated to the region’s equities was about $120 billion. In the first quarter of 2011 that amount reached $520 billion.

“Every time I’m at the trading floor and I look at the most traded stock on a daily basis … I see three or four Latin American companies,” said Alexandre Ibrahim, Vice President and Regional Head of Latin America, Bermuda, and the Caribbean for the global corporate client group of NYSE Euronext.  “Four years ago, those companies would not even appear in the 100 most liquid stocks, but now they are. It’s amazing.”

There are 75 Latin American equities and four companies from Puerto Rico that trade at the NYSE Euronext. Below are the Top 10 based on their market capitalization (total number of outstanding shares multiplied by the current price of the stock) as of Oct. 24, 2010.  

 Seven of the Top Ten are from Brazil, two are from Mexico, and one is from Colombia. Brazilian oil company Petrobras tops the list.

 1. Petrobras - Petroleo Brasileiro SA

Symbol: PBR   Last price: $24.86  Market capitalization: $162.14B
Country or origin: Brazil  Listing date: 10 Aug. 2000

Description: Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras (Petrobras) is a Brazilian integrated oil and gas company. It operates in five segments: exploration and production; refining, commercialization and transport of oil and natural gas; petrochemicals; distribution of derivatives, electrical energy, biofuels and other renewable energy sources. As of December 31, 2010, it had 132 production platforms, 16 refineries, 291 vessels, 29,398 kilometers of pipelines, six biofuel plants, 16 thermoelectric plants, one pilot wind farm, 8,477 service stations and two fertilizer plants, as well as presence in 30 countries.

2. Vale SA (ADR)

Symbol: VALE  Last price: $24.58  Market capitalization: $128.27B
Country or origin: Brazil  Listing date: 21 Mar. 2002 

Description: Vale SA (Vale) is a Brazil-based metals and mining company. The Company’s product portfolio includes nickel, iron ore and iron ore pellets, manganese ore, ferroalloys, aluminum, fertilizers, copper and coal among others. Vale is engaged in the mineral exploration in 24 countries around the globe. In addition, the Company operates logistics systems in Brazil, including railroads, maritime terminals and ports, which are integrated with its mining operations and it has a maritime freight portfolio to transport iron ore.

 3. Fomento Economico Mexicano SAB de CV (FEMSA)

Symbol: FMX  Last price:  $64.45  Market capitalization: $124.25B
Country or origin: Mexico  Listing date: 11 May 1998

Description: Fomento Economico Mexicano SAB de CV (FEMSA) is a Mexico-based holding company. Femsa is integrated by a Coca-Cola bottler, OXXO convenience stores and its investments in Heineken. Through its business units such as Coca-Cola FEMSA SAB de CV, the Company is engaged in the production, distribution and marketing of soft drinks and through FEMSA Comercio SA de CV, operates the OXXO convenience-store chain in Latin America; additionally FEMSA holds a 20% economic interest in the Heineken Group.

 4. Ambev - Companhia de Bebidas das Americas

Symbol: ABV  Last price: $33.89Market capitalization: $105.20B
Country of origin: Brazil  Listing date: 04 Jun. 1997

Description: Companhia de Bebidas das Americas - Ambev (Ambev) is a Brazil-based company. AmBev and its subsidiaries produce, distribute and sell beer, carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) and other non-alcoholic and non-carbonated products in 14 countries across the Americas. The Company conducts its operations through three business units: Latin America North, Latin America South and Canada.

 5. Ecopetrol (ADR)

Symbol: EC  Last price: $42.94  Market capitalization: $86.89B
Country of origin: Colombia  Listing date: 18 Sep. 2008 

Description: ECOPETROL S.A. (Ecopetrol) is the largest and primary oil company in Colombia. The Company divides its operations into four business segments: exploration and production, transportation, refining, and marketing and supply. In January 2011, it incorporated a holding company, Ecopetrol Global Capital SL. In January 2011, the Company announced the acquisition of BP Exploration Company (Colombia) Limited. On January 24, 2011, the Company acquired BP Exploration Company Colombia Limited, in which Ecopetrol held a 51% holding and Talisman held the remaining 49%.

6. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A.

Symbol: ITUB  Last price: $18.91  Market capitalization: $85.84B
Country of origin:  Brazil  Listing date: 21 Feb. 2002

Description: Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. is one of the largest banks in Brazil. The Company has four operational segments: Commercial Banking, Itau BBA, Consumer Credit and Corporate and Treasury. Commercial banking, including insurance, pension plan and capitalization products, credit cards, asset management and a variety of credit products and services for individuals, small and middle-market companies). Itau BBA includes corporate and investment banking.

 7. América Móvil S.A.B de C.V.

 Symbol: AMX  Last price: $24.14  Market capitalization: $82.07B
Country of origin: Mexico  Listing date: 07 Feb 2001

Description: America Movil SAB de CV (America Movil) is a Mexico-based company primarily engaged in providing wireless communications services in Latin America. The Company’s activities include offering mobile and landline telephony services, broadband access, as well as cable and satellite television. It distributes its services under the Telcel, Telmex, Comcel, Claro, Embratel, Net and TracFone brands. The Company has operations established in 18 countries, such as Mexico, Brasil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Peru and the United States, among others.

8. Banco Bradesco, S.A. (ADR)

Symbol: BBD  Last price: $17.79Market capitalization: $68.04B
Country of origin:  Brazil  Listing date: 22 Mar 2004

Description: Banco Bradesco SA (the Bank) is Brazil-based private-sector commercial bank. It offers a range of banking and financial products and services in Brazil and abroad. The Bank divides its operations in two main areas: banking services, including activities such as deposit-taking activities, individual and corporate banking services, credit operations, credit and debit cards, leasing operations, investment banking, international banking, asset management and consortium services; and insurance services, management of complementary private pension plans and savings bonds, with activities such as several types of insurance, pension plans (including individual and corporate plans), saving plans and pension investment contracts. 

9. Banco Santander (Brazil) S.A.

Symbol: BSBR  Last price: $8.89  Market capitalization: $33.79B
Country of origin: Brazil  Listing date: 07 Oct 2009 (IPO) (ADR)

Description: BANCO SANTANDER (Brasil) SA is a full-service bank in Brazil. The Bank operates through three segments: Commercial Bank, which focuses on personal loans, leasing, commercial loans, working capital lines and foreign trade financing; Global Wholesale Bank, which operate with commercial, exchange, investment, credit and financing, mortgage lending, leasing, credit cards, securities brokerage, and buying club management; and Asset Management and Insurance, which operates into insurance, pension plans, capitalization, asset management and insurance brokerage. It offers its products and services to individual clients, small and medium-sized companies, corporations, governmental agencies and institutions. The Bank is a member of the Santander Group.

10. Telefonica Brasil, S.A.

 Symbol: VIV  Last price: $28.50  Market capitalization: $32.07B 

Country of origin: Brazil  Listing date:  16 Nov 1998 (ADR)

Description: Telefonica Brasil SA, formerly Telecomunicacoes de Sao Paulo S.A. - TELESP (Telesp), provides fixed-line telecommunications services in the State of Sao Paulo. Telesp provides international and interregional long-distance services. The Company also provides multimedia communication services, such as audio, data, voice and other sounds, images, texts and other information. As of December 31, 2010, its telephone network included 11.3 million fixed lines in service, 3.3 million broadband clients and 0.5 million Pay television (TV) clients.