(MENAFN- The Rio Times) Brazil's economy is a story of contrasts, and nowhere is this clearer than in the latest results from three of its most important companies: Tegma, the country's top vehicle logistics firm; Pague Menos, a fast-growing pharmacy chain; and Energisa, a major energy group betting big on green fuel.

Their third-quarter performances reveal the cracks, the resilience, and the bold bets shaping Brazil's future.
Tegma: When One Client's Crisis Becomes Your Own
Tegma moves cars-lots of them. It transports about 800,000 new vehicles a year for automakers like Toyota, GM, and Hyundai.

But when a storm wrecked Toyota's engine plant in September, Tegma's profits dropped 5.4% to R$ 80 million ($14.5 million). Fewer cars meant fewer shipments, and its operating profit (EBITDA) fell 7% to R$ 117 million ($21 million).

Revenue actually rose 5% to R$ 634 million ($115 million), thanks to higher fees and longer delivery routes, but the damage was done: margins shrank, and the company warned of more pain ahead.

The real story: Tegma 's troubles show how dangerously dependent Brazil's logistics sector is on a handful of giant automakers. When one sneezes, the whole chain catches a cold.

With Toyota's plant back online, Tegma may bounce back-but the episode is a warning. In Brazil, if you're tied to manufacturing, you're tied to its risks.
Pague Menos: The Pharmacy Chain That Keeps Winning
Pague Menos sells medicine, cosmetics, and basic health products-things Brazilians need no matter what. That's why, even as many retailers struggle, it just posted a 50% profit jump to R$ 80.6 million ($14.7 million).

Sales at stores open over a year surged 17.6%, and the average customer spent 10% more per visit. With 1,667 stores (and counting), the company is expanding fast, while keeping its debt under control.

The real story: While Brazil's economy sputters, Pague Menos proves that some businesses are recession-proof.

People will always need medicine, and smart companies can grow by giving them what they can't live without. Its success isn't just about sales-it's about knowing what Brazilians will always prioritize.
Energisa: From Power Lines to Green Fuel
Energisa keeps the lights on for millions. But now, it's also getting into biomethane -a clean fuel made from organic waste.



It just spent R$ 62.7 million ($11.4 million) to buy a majority stake in Lurean, a waste-to-energy company, and plans to build a plant producing 28,000 m3 of biomethane daily.

That's on top of a R$ 6.2 billion ($1.1 billion) investment plan for 2025, much of it going into renewables.

The real story: Brazil's energy giants are racing to go green, and Energisa is leading the charge. The bet is risky-biomethane is still new in Brazil-but if it pays off, Energisa won't just be an electricity company.

It'll be a player in the country's energy transition. The question is whether the gamble will work before the world moves on to the next big thing.
What It All Means
These three companies tell us where Brazil stands today:

• Tegma shows the fragility of an economy still too reliant on old-school manufacturing.
  
• Pague Menos proves that domestic demand-especially for essentials-remains strong.
  
• Energisa represents Brazil's future, where big money is flowing into sustainability, but success is far from guaranteed.
  

Together, they're a microcosm of a country trying to balance its industrial past, its consumer present, and its green future. The next few quarters will show which path wins out.

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