BLX
Financial ServicesBanco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. · Banks - Regional · $2B
What is Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A.?
Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. — widely known as Bladex — is a multinational bank specializing in foreign trade finance across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Panama City, it serves financial institutions, corporations, and sovereign entities throughout the region.
Bladex operates through two segments: Commercial and Treasury. The Commercial segment provides short and medium-term bilateral loans, syndicated credits, structured trade financing, letters of credit, and financial guarantees. The Treasury segment offers term deposits and private placements. Rather than serving retail customers, Bladex focuses on facilitating cross-border commerce by providing credit and risk solutions to banks, corporations, and government-linked entities across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Bladex was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Panama City, Republic of Panama.
- Short and medium-term bilateral trade loans
- Structured and syndicated credit facilities
- Letters of credit and financial guarantees
- Factoring, vendor financing, and financial leasing
- Treasury term deposits and private placements
Is BLX a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates BLX as Good overall, reflecting a balanced but nuanced profile across its five pillars.
Bladex's strongest pillar is Quality, which ranks among the more favorable readings in its peer group — a reflection of the bank's disciplined approach to trade finance and its focused business model. Valuation is rated Attractive, suggesting the market may not be fully pricing in the bank's fundamentals relative to peers.
Growth, Moat, and Risk are all rated Weak, indicating that Bladex faces meaningful headwinds in expanding its business, limited structural competitive advantages, and elevated risk factors worth monitoring closely.
See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does BLX pay dividends?
Yes — Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. pays a dividend.
Bladex pays a regular dividend, which is consistent with its identity as a mature, regionally focused trade finance institution. For income-oriented investors, the dividend reflects the bank's ability to return capital while maintaining its lending operations. Cadence and yield details are available through the company's investor relations page.
When does BLX report earnings?
Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed financial institutions.
Bladex's Quality pillar suggests the bank has maintained a degree of financial discipline in its lending and treasury operations. However, the Weak Growth pillar indicates that recent top-line expansion has been limited relative to broader sector trends.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Bladex's official investor relations page.
BLX Price History
+389.1% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A.?
Based on Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
BLX Long-term Outlook
Bladex's fundamental outlook is shaped by its Weak Growth and Weak Risk pillar ratings, suggesting the near-term trajectory carries meaningful uncertainty. The bank's focus on Latin American trade finance ties its performance closely to regional economic cycles, commodity flows, and currency dynamics — all of which introduce variability. On the positive side, an Attractive Valuation rating implies that current pricing may already reflect some of these concerns, potentially limiting downside for patient investors.
Growth drivers
- Expansion of trade finance volumes as Latin American cross-border commerce recovers
- Treasury segment growth through private placements and term deposit activity
- Potential syndicated credit mandates from sovereign and corporate clients
Key risks
- Regional economic and political instability across Latin America and the Caribbean
- Weak Moat rating signals limited pricing power and competitive differentiation
- Elevated Risk pillar reflects credit and currency exposure in emerging markets
BLX vs Peers
While Bladex occupies a unique niche in Latin American trade finance, it is sometimes benchmarked against US-based regional banks of comparable size.
Stock Yards Bancorp operates as a community bank focused on the US Midwest, with a retail and commercial banking model distinct from Bladex's trade finance specialization.
Enterprise Financial Services serves US-based small and mid-sized businesses, offering a domestically oriented commercial banking model rather than cross-border trade finance.
Banner Corporation is a Pacific Northwest regional bank focused on consumer and commercial lending within the United States, contrasting with Bladex's emerging-market trade finance mandate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior do?
Bladex is a multinational bank that finances foreign trade across Latin America and the Caribbean. It provides loans, letters of credit, syndicated credit facilities, and treasury solutions to financial institutions, corporations, and sovereign entities. Its business model is built around facilitating cross-border commerce rather than serving retail depositors.
Does BLX pay dividends?
Yes, Bladex pays a regular dividend. The bank's mature, regionally focused business model supports consistent capital returns to shareholders. For current yield and payment schedule details, investors should consult Bladex's investor relations page or their brokerage platform.
When does BLX report earnings?
Bladex reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, in line with standard practice for US-listed financial institutions. Specific dates for upcoming reports are not available through our data source — check Bladex's investor relations page for the current earnings calendar.
Is BLX a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates BLX as Good overall. The Quality pillar is Strong and Valuation is Attractive, but Growth, Moat, and Risk are all rated Weak. Whether BLX fits your portfolio depends on your risk tolerance and investment goals. The full pillar breakdown is available to UQS Pro members.
Is BLX overvalued?
UQS Score's Valuation pillar rates BLX as Attractive, suggesting the stock may be trading at a reasonable or favorable level relative to its fundamentals and sector peers. This does not constitute a price target or buy recommendation — see the full analysis for context.
How does BLX compare to its competitors?
Bladex occupies a distinctive niche in Latin American trade finance, which sets it apart from US regional banks like Stock Yards Bancorp, Enterprise Financial Services, and Banner Corporation. Those peers focus on domestic commercial and consumer banking, while Bladex's mandate is cross-border emerging-market trade finance.
What is BLX's market cap bracket?
BLX is classified as a mid-cap stock. This places it in a range that typically offers more liquidity than small-cap names while remaining more nimble than large-cap financial institutions. Mid-cap financials can carry distinct risk and growth characteristics worth evaluating carefully.
Who founded Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior?
Bladex was founded in 1977 as Banco Latinoamericano de Exportaciones, S.A. It was established to support foreign trade financing in Latin America and the Caribbean. The bank changed its name to Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior in June 2009. Full founding history is publicly available through the company's official disclosures.
Is BLX a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, BLX's Strong Quality pillar is a positive signal, but the Weak Moat and Weak Growth ratings suggest the bank faces structural challenges in compounding value over time. Long-term investors should weigh the Attractive Valuation against the limited competitive differentiation highlighted by the UQS Score.
What is the main competitive advantage of Bladex?
Bladex's primary advantage is its specialized focus on Latin American trade finance and its relationships with regional financial institutions, corporations, and sovereigns. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates this advantage as Weak, indicating that the bank's competitive position may not be strongly protected against regional or global competitors.
What sector does BLX belong to?
BLX operates in the Financial Services sector, specifically within trade finance and multinational banking. Its focus on Latin American and Caribbean cross-border commerce gives it a more specialized profile than typical commercial or retail banks in the same broad sector.
Is BLX a growth stock or value stock?
Based on UQS pillar labels, BLX leans toward value territory — the Valuation pillar is Attractive while the Growth pillar is Weak. This profile is more consistent with a value-oriented holding than a high-growth opportunity, though investors should review the full analysis before drawing conclusions.
Unlock Full BLX Analysis
Sign in to unlock the detailed analysis behind the UQS Score.
- ✓View the exact UQS Score and all five pillar scores
- ✓Access full financial metrics and trend data
- ✓Compare BLX against sector peers side by side
- ✓See the complete Quality and Valuation breakdown
- ✓Get alerts when BLX's UQS Score changes
- ✓Explore curated screeners for trade finance stocks
Pro Analysis
BLX — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2026 | 48.6 | 92.2 | 28.0 | 32.5 | 0.0 | 80.4 | +0.1 |
| May 22, 2026 | 48.5 | 92.2 | 28.0 | 32.5 | 0.0 | 79.8 | 0.0 |
| May 21, 2026 | 48.5 | 92.2 | 28.0 | 32.5 | 0.0 | 79.9 | -0.2 |
| May 20, 2026 | 48.7 | 92.2 | 28.0 | 32.5 | 0.0 | 81.2 | 0.0 |
| May 19, 2026 | 48.7 | 92.2 | 28.0 | 32.5 | 0.0 | 80.8 | +0.1 |
| May 17, 2026 | 48.6 | 92.2 | 28.0 | 32.5 | 0.0 | 80.6 | -0.1 |
| May 16, 2026 | 48.7 | 92.2 | 28.0 | 32.5 | 0.0 | 81.4 | +0.1 |
| May 15, 2026 | 48.6 | 92.2 | 28.0 | 32.5 | 0.0 | 80.5 | 0.0 |
| May 14, 2026 | 48.6 | 92.2 | 28.0 | 32.5 | 0.0 | 80.7 | 0.0 |
| May 12, 2026 | 48.6 | 92.2 | 28.0 | 32.5 | 0.0 | 80.2 | 0.0 |
BLX — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 92.2/100 (25%)Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. demonstrates outstanding capital efficiency and profitability, placing it among the highest-quality businesses in the market.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 32.5/100 (20%)Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 0.0/100 (15%)Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 83.2/100 (15%)Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 28/100 (25%)Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for BLX.
Score Composition
Financial Data
More Stock Analysis
How is the BLX UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.