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Big food companies are grappling with an uncertain future as consumer preferences shift, growth stagnates, and regulatory pressures mount. Industry giants like Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, and Coca-Cola are reevaluating their US portfolios amid declining performance, with PepsiCo reporting a 2% volume drop in its North America beverage business. Strategic moves include acquisitions of smaller, high-growth brands like Poppi and Siete Foods by PepsiCo, and Hershey’s purchase of Lesser Evil. Meanwhile, breakups are on the table, with Kraft Heinz potentially splitting its condiments and grocery segments, and Kellogg’s recent division into WK Kellogg and Kellanova resulting in acquisitions by Ferrero and Mars Candy, respectively. Analysts note a reactive approach as core businesses falter, prompting companies to buy growth or restructure. Investor pressure for better returns is also driving change, with Kellogg’s breakup yielding significant gains. This period of flux, described as unusual for a typically stable sector, reflects a broader industry trend of adaptation and transformation.
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Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) has enjoyed a strong year, emerging as a favored stock amid economic pressures and tariff changes due to its stability and global presence. Despite historically lagging behind the S&P 500 over the past five years, the company has shown resilience, with organic revenue up 6% in Q1 2025, even as net revenue dipped 2%. As a Dividend King with 63 years of consecutive dividend increases, Coca-Cola remains a safe haven for investors, bolstered by its status as the world’s largest beverage company with nearly $47 billion in sales. Management projects 4-6% organic revenue growth long-term, driven by acquisitions like Costa coffee and market expansion, especially in developing regions where it holds just 7% market share. While economic challenges and pricing pressures loom, the company’s local production and strong fundamentals position it for potential growth over the next five years. However, it may not consistently beat the market as investors shift from safe stocks, though its dividend and safety make it a valuable portfolio addition.
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This article explores three midstream energy stocks as smart investment options for a $2,000 budget, highlighting their stable cash flows, high yields, and growth potential. Energy Transfer (ET) stands out with a 7.5% yield, improved financials, and $5 billion in growth projects targeting AI data centers and LNG exports, trading at a low valuation. Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) is presented as a dependable choice with a 6.9% yield, 26 years of distribution growth, and a focus on natural gas liquids, offering steady income for long-term investors. Genesis Energy (GEL), while riskier, shows promise as a turnaround story after selling its soda ash business to reduce debt, focusing on offshore pipelines and marine transportation with potential for significant cash flow and distribution increases. The midstream sector is noted for trading below historical valuations despite stronger financial positions, making it an attractive area for investment. The article emphasizes the recurring, fee-based revenue models of these companies, which provide insulation from commodity price volatility, positioning them as compelling choices for income and growth-focused investors in the current market.
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Bitcoin's price trajectory in 2025 has paralleled stock market patterns, dipping to a low in early April before climbing to a new high within six weeks. Influenced by economic uncertainties like President Trump’s tariff plans, bitcoin's role as a safe haven during volatility is debated, yet financial author Robert Kiyosaki remains a staunch advocate. In posts on X, Kiyosaki has called bitcoin "the biggest opportunity in history," suggesting it offers an easy path to wealth and warning against the fear of making mistakes that keeps many from investing. He predicts bitcoin could hit $250,000 by the end of 2025, though it currently stands at about $108,000, reflecting a 15.5% year-to-date gain—outpacing the S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq. Over five years, bitcoin’s value has skyrocketed by over 1,000%, fueling Kiyosaki’s optimism. He believes even a fraction of a bitcoin could become "priceless" in two years, potentially making investors very rich, and questions why more people aren’t seizing this chance.
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Vanguard, the world’s second-largest asset manager, has surprisingly become the largest institutional shareholder in MicroStrategy (MSTR), holding 20.5 million shares worth $9.26 billion, despite its historical skepticism toward Bitcoin as a speculative asset. MicroStrategy, the leading corporate Bitcoin holder with 601,550 BTC valued at $74 billion, has seen its stock soar over 3,700% in five years under Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin treasury strategy. This approach, while lucrative, involves significant risks due to the use of debt and leverage, making it vulnerable to Bitcoin price drops and market shifts. Vanguard’s investment suggests an indirect embrace of Bitcoin exposure, contrasting with its public stance and decision to avoid spot Bitcoin ETFs, unlike competitors like BlackRock. Meanwhile, MSTR stock remains popular among analysts, with most recommending a "Strong Buy," though concerns about overvaluation and the high cost of acquiring Bitcoin near $120,000 raise questions about sustainability. This dynamic highlights the evolving relationship between traditional finance and digital assets.
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Chicago Federal Reserve President Austan Goolsbee recently defended central bank independence and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell amid political pressure from President Trump and his allies. In a Yahoo Finance interview, Goolsbee stressed that independence from political interference is vital for economic stability, citing higher inflation and worse growth in countries lacking it. He praised Powell as honorable and highly capable, despite Trump’s frustration with Powell’s cautious approach to interest rates and concerns over potential inflation from tariffs. Goolsbee mirrored Powell’s “wait and see” stance on rate cuts, noting that while tariffs are raising goods prices, the impact hasn’t extended to services. He highlighted the uncertainty caused by staggered tariff implementations and geopolitical factors, suggesting that rate cuts depend on clearer inflation data. Meanwhile, internal Fed divisions persist, with Governor Christopher Waller advocating for a rate cut in July, contrasting with market expectations of a hold until September. Goolsbee refrained from predicting specific rate cut timelines, emphasizing the need to monitor inflation trends closely.
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Chevron (CVX) is poised to complete a $53 billion acquisition of Hess (HES) after nearly two years of contention, securing a 30% stake in Guyana’s Stabroek offshore block, estimated to contain over 11 billion barrels of oil. An arbitration panel in Paris ruled in Chevron’s favor, sidelining ExxonMobil (XOM), which holds a 45% stake and contested the deal citing preemptive rights. Despite initial stock gains, Chevron’s shares fell 1.5% post-ruling. The merger, one of the largest in the energy sector recently, is expected to bolster Chevron’s growth, free cash flow, and global diversification, especially as it lags behind Exxon in earnings and stock performance. Chevron’s leadership views the deal as a strategic enhancement for long-term shareholder value. Meanwhile, Exxon, partnered with Hess since 2014, expressed disagreement but respected the arbitration process. The deal’s significance extends beyond Chevron, contributing to Guyana’s economic boom and potentially triggering further industry mergers, as noted by experts. This follows Exxon’s $60 billion acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources, highlighting a trend of major consolidation in the oil and gas sector amidst evolving energy demands.
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President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law, marking a historic integration of stablecoins into the U.S. financial system with bipartisan Congressional backing. The signing event at the White House featured key industry leaders like Tether CEO Paulo Ardoino, Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire, and Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong. Ardoino outlined Tether’s plans to comply with the new law as a foreign issuer, including audits and a new U.S.-focused stablecoin for institutional markets. Allaire emphasized that the legislation aligns with Circle’s transparent practices and noted growing interest from major tech and financial firms. Armstrong called the law a financial revolution, while advocating for further crypto market regulations, backed by Coinbase’s significant political contributions through the Fairshake PAC. The GENIUS Act mandates stablecoins be backed by highly liquid assets like U.S. Treasuries and undergo rigorous audits. Trump and his administration, including crypto adviser David Sacks, expressed strong support for modernizing the financial system with crypto technology, with the president touting the bill as a 21st-century upgrade. The event underscored a shift in the crypto industry’s relationship with U.S. regulators, highlighted by Tether’s past legal challenges and newfound presidential recognition. Industry leaders expressed optimism about future innovations and legislative efforts, with a focus on upcoming market structure reforms.
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Dogecoin (DOGE) experienced a significant 8% price surge in 24 hours as of Friday at 6:40 p.m. ET, outperforming Bitcoin and Ethereum, which saw mixed results. This rally was spurred by the U.S. House of Representatives' approval of the Genius Act, marking the first clear legislation to regulate the cryptocurrency industry. The bill's passage is seen as a potential catalyst for growth, as it establishes definitive guidelines that could encourage wider adoption of crypto tokens like Dogecoin, despite the token's 30% year-to-date decline. Additionally, the trend of companies adopting crypto investment strategies is gaining traction, exemplified by Bit Origin's $500 million funding to build a Dogecoin treasury. Such moves could provide valuation support if more firms signal long-term commitment to the meme coin. While Dogecoin faces volatile pricing, the legislative win and corporate interest highlight potential bullish catalysts. However, investors are cautioned to consider broader market insights, as Dogecoin did not make The Motley Fool's list of top 10 stocks to buy, suggesting alternative investment opportunities may offer stronger returns.
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In his second term, President Donald Trump has unprecedentedly used his office for personal financial gain, with Trump family businesses earning hundreds of millions from cryptocurrencies, overseas deals, and merchandise like bibles and shoes. Ventures such as a crypto coin worth $320 million and a $2 billion foreign investment highlight the scale of these profits, often from entities with federal interests, raising ethical concerns. Critics, including academics and Democrats, decry this as corruption, contrasting it with past presidents’ use of blind trusts to avoid conflicts. Despite his earlier "drain the swamp" promise, Trump faces little oversight due to a supportive Congress, loyal administration, and Supreme Court immunity rulings. His direct promotion of family businesses, including crypto initiatives he once called a scam, underscores a policy-profit overlap, with plans to deregulate the industry further. While the White House insists Trump’s actions aim to position the U.S. as a crypto leader, the intertwining of personal and presidential interests remains a central controversy of his tenure.
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Shiba Inu (SHIB) has seen a dramatic 869.74% increase in its burn rate over the past 24 hours, with nearly 5.89 million tokens permanently removed from circulation, as reported by Shibburn. This deflationary measure, which sends tokens to unrecoverable wallets, aims to reduce SHIB’s circulating supply—currently at 584.57 trillion out of a total 589.25 trillion—and potentially boost its value. Over 410 trillion tokens have been burned since SHIB’s launch, cutting its initial 1 quadrillion supply by more than 40%. Alongside this, trading activity has exploded, with SHIB derivatives volume up 25.34% to $586.29 million and open interest rising 13.5% to $287.41 million, per CoinGlass. Bullish sentiment is evident, with a long/short ratio of 2.27 on OKX and more short positions liquidated than long ones. SHIB’s price reflects this momentum, up 2% to $0.00001479. This surge in burn rate and trading activity highlights growing community efforts and market interest, as originally reported by TheStreet on July 18, 2025.
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Bitcoin (BTCUSD) has soared past $122,000 as of July 14, doubling its value this year and capturing global attention amid a favorable political and financial climate. Dubbed “Crypto Week,” the U.S. House is debating legislation to make the U.S. a crypto innovation hub, while Bitcoin ETFs recorded $2.7 billion in inflows last week. Coinbase Global (COIN), a leading crypto exchange, hit a 52-week high of $415.96 on July 17, with its stock up 65% over the past year and 135% in three months. Despite high valuations, Coinbase reported $2.03 billion in Q1 2025 revenue, slightly below expectations, but saw growth in transaction and subscription services. Its acquisition of Deribit strengthens its position in the global crypto derivatives market. Analysts remain optimistic, with a “Moderate Buy” consensus and price targets up to $510, though challenges like rising costs and projected EPS declines persist. The crypto industry's alignment with political shifts and monetary policy easing suggests sustained growth potential.
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Meta Platforms Inc. is intensifying its pursuit of AI dominance by hiring key researchers Mark Lee and Tom Gunter from Apple Inc. for its Superintelligence Labs team, shortly after recruiting their former boss, Ruoming Pang, with a compensation package exceeding $200 million. This reflects a broader tech industry race for AI talent, with Meta, under CEO Mark Zuckerberg, prioritizing artificial intelligence through massive investments in personnel and infrastructure to rival companies like OpenAI and Google. Meanwhile, Apple’s AI division, the Apple Foundation Models team, faces uncertainty as it considers integrating external models such as ChatGPT or Claude for features like Siri, while struggling to retain staff against Meta’s lucrative offers. Despite Apple’s efforts to offer raises, the disparity in compensation—Meta’s packages often multiples higher—continues to drive talent away. Zuckerberg’s vision includes investing hundreds of billions in computing power to achieve superintelligence, with top hires working closely with him at Meta’s headquarters, underscoring his commitment to building an elite AI team.
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China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao expressed a strong desire to stabilize trade relations with the United States, emphasizing the economic interdependence between the two nations despite recent tensions. Speaking to reporters, Wang urged the U.S. to act as a responsible superpower and highlighted the importance of dialogue, citing productive talks in Geneva and London as evidence that a tariff war is avoidable. With an August 12 deadline looming for a durable tariff agreement, failure to reach a deal could disrupt global supply chains with duties exceeding 100%. Wang also met with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who confirmed the resumption of H20 AI chip sales to China, a move tied to negotiations on rare earths, which saw a 32% export increase in June. Despite high U.S. tariffs on China at 53.6%, Wang stressed that forced decoupling is unfeasible due to the irreplaceable nature of traded goods and services. China remains committed to avoiding a trade war but is prepared to defend its interests if necessary, seeking a path toward healthy and sustainable economic ties with the U.S. through continued communication and cooperation.
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Federal Reserve governor Christopher Waller has made a compelling case for a rate cut at the July 29-30 meeting, proposing a target rate of 3%, well below the current 4.25%-4.5%. Speaking in New York, Waller emphasized that inflation from tariffs is temporary and urged the Fed to prioritize employment, noting slowing private job growth and rising labor market risks. His position, supported by colleague Michelle Bowman and aligning with President Trump’s calls for lower rates, contrasts with other Fed officials like Adriana Kugler and John Williams, who caution against cuts due to potential inflation from tariffs, predicting increases through 2026. Fed Chair Jerome Powell also favors waiting for clearer inflation data, highlighting a deepening divide within the central bank. This debate underscores differing views on balancing inflation control with employment goals amid external pressures and tariff impacts.
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Uber has teamed up with electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid and autonomous tech firm Nuro to introduce a premium global robotaxi program exclusively for the Uber platform. Announced recently, the initiative will integrate Nuro’s Level 4 autonomous software into Lucid’s Gravity SUV, with plans to deploy over 20,000 vehicles in the next six years, starting in a major US city in 2025. Uber will invest $300 million in Lucid and a comparable sum in Nuro, while the vehicles will be managed by Uber or third-party fleet partners. Lucid’s stock jumped nearly 30% on the news, bolstered by the company’s strong Q2 deliveries and ambitious 2025 production goals for its Air sedans and Gravity SUVs. This partnership signifies Uber’s re-entry into the robotaxi market after a hiatus following a 2018 accident, positioning it against competitors like Waymo and Tesla, who are also advancing in autonomous driving. The collaboration is further contextualized by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund’s significant stakes in both Uber and Lucid, potentially influencing the strategic alliance. A prototype is already under testing at Nuro’s Las Vegas facility, marking a significant step toward realizing the vision of accessible, safe autonomous transport.
