After making a name for itself with its $16 salads and health-conscious bowls, the company is hoping its new offering, “Ripple Fries,” will help boost its profitability. These air-fried fries are made from just five ingredients and boast a lighter calorie count — 240 calories per serving, which is significantly fewer than the same portion of McDonald’s fries. But with Sweetgreen still grappling with a hefty net loss despite impressive revenue growth, the question remains: will fries be the game-changer the brand needs to turn a profit?

In its most recent annual report for fiscal year 2024, Sweetgreen revealed a troubling reality. Despite its revenue rising by 16% year-over-year to $677 million, the company posted a net loss of nearly $90 million. For context, this means that the company lost about $2.26 for each salad sold, considering that the average cost of a meal item is around $16. Even with a high-end menu offering that appeals to the office lunch crowd, Sweetgreen is still struggling to reach profitability.

While the announcement of Ripple Fries did give the stock a brief bump, it wasn't enough to overcome the overall downturn for the company. Shares fell nearly 1% after the news broke, adding to a painful month in which the stock has plummeted by 34% since February. Despite the hype surrounding the launch of the fries, it seems Sweetgreen’s struggles to achieve profitability may require more than just a new menu item to win over investors.

Interestingly, Sweetgreen's foray into fries may have been inspired by one of last summer's viral food trends — the “ultimate girl dinner,” which featured a Caesar salad, fries, and a Diet Coke. The viral trend, popularized on TikTok, garnered over 60 million views and may have contributed to Sweetgreen’s decision to try its hand at this fan-favorite combination. But whether this culinary gamble will ultimately pay off for Sweetgreen remains to be seen.

Alibaba shares surged nearly 8% in early afternoon trading on the back of positive news from China’s leadership.

The boost came after Premier Li Qiang reaffirmed the country’s 5% GDP growth target for 2025, signaling the government’s determination to maintain economic momentum despite trade tensions, weak domestic demand, and a continuing property slump. This announcement was made as Chinese officials gathered to discuss policy measures aimed at addressing economic challenges, with a particular focus on boosting domestic consumption.

The prioritization of domestic consumption is a significant shift in China’s economic strategy, as it moves to the forefront of policy objectives for 2025. This marks an increase from its position last year, when it was ranked third. According to Citigroup strategists, including Pierre Lau, this renewed emphasis on retail spending bodes well for businesses in the commerce and e-commerce sectors. As one of China’s largest e-commerce players, Alibaba stands to benefit from this policy shift, potentially seeing increased demand for its platform as consumer spending rises.

On top of the positive economic outlook, Alibaba has also posted strong financial results. The company exceeded expectations for Q2 FY 2025, with revenue climbing 5% to $33.7 billion and net income soaring by 58% to $6 billion. This impressive performance, combined with the country’s renewed focus on consumption, has helped propel Alibaba’s stock price, which has surged 93% over the past year. With China’s leaders pushing for measures to stimulate the economy, Alibaba is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing focus on domestic retail spending.

The latest chatter surrounding Fort Knox has sparked a curious conversation, with Elon Musk recently questioning whether the gold reserves stored there are truly intact.

In a recent post on X, Musk mused, “Who is confirming that gold wasn’t stolen from Fort Knox? Maybe it’s there, maybe it’s not.” This speculation gained further traction when former President Trump threw his support behind the idea of auditing the gold holdings at Fort Knox, which has since drawn attention from crypto advocates.

These discussions have led to a growing call among crypto proponents to consider Bitcoin as a potential strategic reserve asset for the United States. Some believe that any discrepancy or shortfall in the gold stored at Fort Knox would further underscore the case for Bitcoin, which they argue is more transparent and traceable than gold. Rachel Lin, CEO of SynFutures, explained to Sherwood News, “Unlike gold, Bitcoin is fully transparent and traceable and auditable in real time while being resistant to centralized control.” With Bitcoin's auditability, many see it as a more secure and verifiable alternative to traditional reserve assets like gold.

The U.S. Mint states that Fort Knox currently holds 147.3 million ounces of gold, but the last audit of this gold took place in 1974. The idea of auditing this precious metal has gained momentum, with some even suggesting that the process could be livestreamed, despite the Mint's policy of restricting visitors to the facility. David Siemer, CEO of Wave Digital Assets, emphasized that if the audit reveals a gold shortfall, it could erode confidence in traditional reserves and strengthen Bitcoin’s case as a reserve asset. Siemer added that this would likely push discussions about diversifying reserves beyond gold and underscore one of Bitcoin’s key advantages: its public auditability.

Senator Cynthia Lummis, one of Bitcoin’s most ardent advocates, also voiced her support for the idea of a Fort Knox audit. Lummis, who introduced the BITCOIN Act in July, has long championed the notion of a national Bitcoin reserve. Her proposal aims for the U.S. government to acquire 1 million Bitcoin over five years, purchasing up to 200,000 coins annually. While efforts at the federal level have stalled, Lummis and others remain hopeful. In fact, at the state level, 32 states are pushing forward with legislative efforts related to Bitcoin and digital assets in 2025, according to the Satoshi Act Fund.

If an audit of Fort Knox’s gold holdings were to reveal a shortfall, experts believe it could have significant implications for Bitcoin’s price. Ermin Sharich, co-founder of Aegis, a platform for Bitcoin-backed stablecoins, noted that Bitcoin could see increased demand as a result. “Speculation alone could drive price action,” Sharich said, “but a serious conversation about Bitcoin as a reserve asset would be an even bigger catalyst.” Whether or not the gold at Fort Knox is exactly as advertised, these discussions about Bitcoin’s potential as a national reserve asset are gaining serious traction and could shape the future of both cryptocurrency and traditional finance.

Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) saw a solid performance last quarter, driven by strong demand for its popular beverages, including soda and energy drinks.

The company reported adjusted earnings per share of $0.58, slightly surpassing Wall Street's expectations by a penny. Sales for the period climbed 5% year-over-year to reach $4.07 billion, coming in ahead of the $4.01 billion analysts had predicted. The positive results and investor enthusiasm gave the stock a 2% bump in premarket trading, signaling a favorable market reaction.

The key driver behind the sales beat was impressive growth in the company’s U.S. beverages division, which includes well-known brands like 7UP, Crush, Snapple, and Dr Pepper. In addition, Keurig Dr Pepper made a successful push into the energy drink market with partners like Electrolit, C4, and a recent acquisition of Ghost for over $1 billion. This diversification helped fuel a 10% increase in U.S. beverage sales, reaching $2.4 billion. The company also saw modest growth internationally, with international sales ticking up by 1% to $499 million.

On the downside, the company’s U.S. coffee segment struggled, continuing a trend from previous quarters. Sales in this segment fell by more than 2%, as price hikes were unable to fully offset the increased competition and higher input costs that have plagued the coffee industry. The company had been offering discounts and promotions to maintain customer loyalty amidst inflation, but with pressure on margins, Keurig Dr Pepper indicated that it would raise prices again in early 2025 to combat the challenges in this area.

Looking ahead, the company is optimistic about its prospects. Management is forecasting adjusted earnings per share growth in the high-single-digit range for 2025, alongside net sales growth in the mid-single-digit range. However, they did note that currency fluctuations would likely dampen their full-year growth by 1 to 2 percentage points, making it clear that there are some external challenges to navigate. Despite these headwinds, the overall outlook remains positive for the beverage giant.

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