McDonald's $2.99 Bet, SoftBank's Comeback, and Peloton's Painful Cuts

Money Masters' Market Pulse Week 31

August 08, 2025

In partnership with

Dear Money Master,

From McDonald’s losing low-income diners to Trump threatening 100% chip tariffs, this week saw bold moves. Apple pledged $100B for U.S. manufacturing to sidestep tariffs, while Tesla shut down its Dojo AI project following a major leadership exit. In retail, Claire’s filed for bankruptcy again, and Senator Warren is pushing to block the Dick’s–Foot Locker merger over monopoly concerns. 📉🛍️

On the space frontier, Firefly Aerospace’s IPO lifted off, raising $868M on a $6.3B valuation. Meanwhile, SoftBank’s Vision Fund staged a $4.8B comeback, and Airbnb, DoorDash, and Match all topped earnings expectations. But not all good news lasts: Peloton reported a surprise profit, then immediately announced new layoffs and $100M in cost cuts. ✂️

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📰 Your Daily Financial Digest - August 8th, 2025

🌍 Economics:

  1. Trump Threatens 100% Tariff on Foreign Chips 💣
    The former President plans to slap a 100% tariff on chip imports unless firms manufacture in the U.S. Unclear exemption rules are rattling global semiconductor players. Read More

  2. Warren Urges FTC to Block Dick’s–Foot Locker Merger 🛑
    Senator Warren argues the $2.4B merger could kill jobs and create a sneaker duopoly alongside JD Sports, urging a close antitrust review. Read More

  3. Claire’s Files for Bankruptcy Again Amid $500M Debt 💔
    Facing massive debt and stiff online competition, Claire’s seeks bankruptcy protection for the second time in 7 years as it scrambles to stay afloat. Read More

💻 Technology:

  1. Trump and Apple Announce $100B U.S. Investment 💼
    Apple expands U.S. chip production with key suppliers like Broadcom and Corning to sidestep potential tariffs and boost domestic manufacturing. Read More

  2. Firefly Aerospace IPO Lifts Off Above Range 🚀
    The rocket startup priced shares at $45, raising $868M and valuing the firm at $6.3B ahead of its Nasdaq debut under the ticker "FLY." Read More

  3. Tesla Shuts Down Dojo Supercomputer Project 🧠
    Following Pete Bannon’s exit, Tesla scraps the AI hardware group behind Dojo, as engineers are reassigned and Musk redirects focus. Read More

💹Earnings:

  1. Airbnb Beats Expectations, Sees Q3 Revenue Near $4.1B 🏠
    EPS came in at $1.03, topping estimates, with revenue up 13% YoY. Q3 forecast is slightly above Wall Street's $4.05B consensus. Read More

  2. DoorDash Reports Blowout Q2 📦
    Orders surged 20% to 761 million, and the company posted a 65-cent EPS, flipping from a loss a year ago. Revenue also beat expectations at $3.28B. Read More

  3. Peloton Returns to Profit—But Plans New Layoffs 💪
    Despite turning a $21.6M profit, Peloton is slashing another 6% of staff and trimming $100M in costs to streamline operations in FY2026. Read More

  4. Match Group Surges on Strong Forecast and New Features 💘
    New product updates across Tinder and Hinge seem to be paying off. Match raised guidance for Q3 and says Gen Z engagement is rebounding. Read More

  5. McDonald's Targets Budget-Conscious Diners with Value Menu 🍟
    The $2.99 Snack Wrap is back, but that’s just the start. McDonald’s aims to revive low-income foot traffic after a double-digit drop in visits, citing $10 drive-thru combos as a barrier. Read More

  6. SoftBank Vision Fund Posts $4.8B Gain in Q1 🚀
    The fund's strongest quarter since 2021 helped parent SoftBank smash earnings expectations, marking two consecutive profitable quarters after last year’s losses. Read More

Big investors are buying this “unlisted” stock

When the founder who sold his last company to Zillow for $120M starts a new venture, people notice. That’s why the same VCs behind Uber and eBay also backed Pacaso. They made $110M+ in gross profit to date. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO. Now, you can join, too.

Paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals.

To your financial empowerment, The Money Masters Team

P.S. Stay connected! Don't forget to follow us on social media! 📱🌐

DISCLAIMER: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The publisher does not accept any responsibility for any losses incurred as a result of actions taken based on the information provided. Always conduct your own research or consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.