Jefferies' latest coverage of Latin American equities casts a spotlight on several companies that, according to the firm's analysis, are delivering operational traction and creating opportunities for investors seeking exposure to the region. The firms on the watchlist span consumer-facing retail, real estate development, pulp and packaging, and higher education services, each bringing distinct catalysts and near-term investor touchpoints.
Arcos Dorados
The largest McDonald’s franchisee in Latin America is reporting a firmer start to the year than some market commentary had anticipated. Management has clarified expectations for first-quarter 2026, signaling that systemwide comparable sales growth is projected to be higher in 1Q26 than in the fourth quarter of 2025. That guidance contrasts with earlier market discussion that suggested a potential sales decline driven by regional economic pressures.
In addition to the sales outlook, Arcos Dorados expects currency movements in local markets to lift reported U.S. dollar revenue in the quarter. Investors will have scheduled corporate disclosures to watch: the company will publish its fourth-quarter results on March 19, 2026, before the market opens, with first-quarter 2026 results slated for mid-May 2026.
On the operational front, Arcos Dorados has announced plans to open between 105 and 115 new restaurants during 2026, underscoring a continued emphasis on unit growth. The company has also initiated a cash tender offer for its 2029 notes, which is being financed with new bank debt. Management frames that move as part of an effort to lower overall financing costs.
IRSA
In Argentina, real estate developer IRSA has entered into a barter arrangement tied to the extended first stage of the Ramblas del Plata project. The parcel in question measures 2,111 square meters and is associated with approximately 7,557 square meters of saleable area, with the transaction valued at $6.35 million. That valuation corresponds to about $1,140 per square meter, a figure that sits materially above IRSA’s reported net asset value of $850 per square meter.
The structure of the agreement calls for settlement via an upfront cash payment coupled with additional saleable square meters to be transferred to IRSA over time. Jefferies frames this as a transaction that will enhance the company’s asset portfolio, while the staggered transfer element highlights a phased contribution to IRSA’s inventory of saleable area.
Klabin
Brazilian paper and packaging company Klabin is scheduled to participate in Jefferies’ 2026 Pulp & Packaging Summit in London on March 3. Both the company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer will attend in person at Jefferies’ London offices. The summit is intended to provide institutional investors with direct access to management to discuss 2026 trading and the company’s outlook. Meetings will be organized in one-on-one and small group formats to facilitate detailed conversations between investors and Klabin’s leadership.
Laureate Education
Laureate Education will host a virtual group meeting on February 20, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time with CEO Eilif Serck-Hanssen and CFO Rick Buskirk. The company is emphasizing a strategy built around digital transformation and campus optimization alongside a student-centric approach. Jefferies’ note highlights that those elements have been supporting steady growth and margin expansion. Management has also signaled a commitment to returning capital to shareholders, using what is described as a cash-accretive business model to create shareholder value.
Taken together, the companies on Jefferies’ watchlist illustrate several threads that are informing investor interest across Latin America: operational expansion in consumer retail, high-value asset transactions in real estate development, direct investor engagement by industrials, and strategic execution in education services. Each story provides specific near-term dates and metrics that investors can monitor as indicators of progress.