Natura shares have risen over 500% since the BOVESPA debut in 2004; they trade as SAO:NATU3

What do you get when you combine top quality health and beauty products, competitive pricing, a direct sales model, a commitment to sustainability, a broad social media presence and robust sales channels in some of Latin America’s youngest and fastest-growing markets? You get the stock chart to the left. Sao Paulo-based Natura originally listed on the BOVESPA in 2004, and the shares have risen over 500% compared to a 250% gain for the BOVESPA.

Cronista’s Gabriela Helman says Natura is cleaning up in Argentina’s perfume, cosmetics and personal care sector where the company’s main competitors are L’Oreal, Unilever, P&G and Avon. Natura is now the number three preferred cosmetics brand in Argentina where sales rose 27% last year compared to 8.8% back home in Brazil.

CEO Alessandro Carlucci tells Cronista that Natura plans to start production in Mexico and Colombia this year and replicate the local production model they have carefully crafted in Brazil. Natura outsourced some production in 2010 to Argentina where the company already has a Distribution Center and dedicated business units based in Buenos Aires.

One of Natura’s greatest qualities for the uninitiated is the breadth, depth and transparency of their online presence: the Natural Ingredients site, the Twitter page with 27,000 followers, their Investor Relations site, their YouTube channel, the Natura blog, the list goes on. Obviously this is a great company with a great story, and that is reflected in market share gains in countries like Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Peru.

For more information on Natura, check out this Company Presentation PDF from the Credit Suisse 2011 Brazil Equity Ideas Conference.