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An industry-wide reckoning is weeding out unsustainable startups, leaving behind only the protocols with real cash flow and actual users.

Soccer purists spent June and July complaining that World Cup hydration breaks turned fast-moving matches into stop-start slogs padded with extra commercial time.Broadcasters cashed in on those minutes. So did Coca-Cola, the tournament’s longtime beverage sponsor, whose in-stadium marketing during those very breaks helped power one of the more unusual quarters in the company’s recent history.Coca-Cola is a 64-year Dividend King, the kind of stock retirees hold for consistency rather than surprises. Its latest numbers were not consistent in the usual sense.Volume, revenue and profit accelerated together, and management raised its full-year outlook for the second time this year.Coca-Cola revenue and profit grew faster than company’s own targetsSecond-quarter net revenue climbed 7% to $13.4 billion, according to Coca-Cola’s earnings release. Comparable earnings per share rose 11% to 97 cents, beating Wall Street estimates by five cents, Reuters reported.Global unit case volume grew 5%, a pace the company has not matched in years outside pandemic-recovery comparisons.Not all of that growth came from legacy Coke. Zero Sugar volume jumped 16% in the quarter, more than triple the company-wide pace, per the earnings release.That gap matters because it shows the acceleration is coming from a reshaped portfolio, not just price increases on old products.Diet Coke volume rose 7%, and Trademark Coca-Cola grew 5%, its strongest pace in 17 years outside pandemic-related swings, the company said on its earnings call.Powerade volume jumped 8%, helped by placement during actual World Cup hydration breaks. A soda company long defined by one flagship drink increasingly looks like one making several bets pay off at once.

Coca-Cola closed near its 52-week high on Friday, Aug. 7, as Wall Street kept raising price targets after the Q2 beat.Yona Elsner / Getty Images

The World Cup turned into more than a sponsorship dealCFO John Murphy told Reuters the company was “not unhappy” with how the hydration breaks played out for Powerade.The campaign also generated tens of millions of new first-party customer data records, executives said on the earnings call, a haul of consumer information a decades-old beverage company rarely collects this fast.Not everyone is convinced the bump will stick. One analyst quoted by Reuters framed the real question as whether World Cup-driven demand turns into sustained consumer behavior rather than a one-tournament spike.That skepticism sits at the center of the growth-stock framing investors are now testing on a name built for stability.Coca-Cola management raised guidance for second time this yearCoca-Cola now expects 2026 organic revenue growth of about 5%, up from a prior range of 4% to 5%, per the earnings release. It also raised comparable EPS growth guidance to 9% to 10%, from 8% to 9% previously.Two upward revisions in one year is not typical behavior for a stock known mainly for its payout.More Coca-Cola:Convenience store giant takes on Coca-Cola and PepsiCoca-Cola absorbs margin hit for expansion in key marketCoca-Cola keeps beating its rivals, and Wall Street noticedThat payout remains very real. Coca-Cola’s board approved its 64th consecutive annual dividend increase in February, lifting the quarterly payment 4% to 53 cents per share, according to the company’s dividend announcement.As a Dow Jones 30 component with a streak that long, Coca-Cola usually gets valued on consistency, not acceleration.India shows where the KO growth story runs into troubleWhile North American performance led the momentum, global operational challenges still tested the company’s supply chain.The quarter was not clean everywhere. Coca-Cola lost value share in India’s ready-to-drink beverage market, CFO Murphy told Reuters separately, as aluminum can shortages left the company without the right packaging at mid-tier price points.Rising aluminum and PET plastic costs are also pressuring margins company-wide.India market share loss: Aluminum can shortages limited mid-tier packaging just as demand recovered, Reuters noted.Input cost inflation: Aluminum and PET prices rose more than Coca-Cola had budgeted for 2026.World Cup fade risk: The tournament ended July 19, and the real test is whether the demand it generated shows up again once Coca-Cola reports results without a tournament behind it.Coca-Cola closed the week near a record highCoca-Cola (KO) shares closed at $87.05 on Friday, Aug. 7, up 0.23% on the day. That leaves the stock within about $4 shy of the 52-week high of $90.92 it set in the days after the July 28 earnings report.The stock is up roughly 26% so far this year, consistently beating its rivals like PepsiCo. That kind of gain is unusual for a stock most investors buy for its dividend rather than its price appreciation.Related: Convenience store giant takes on Coca-Cola and PepsiWall Street kept raising price targets for two weeks after the report. More than a dozen banks moved higher, with new targets ranging as high as $104 at Jefferies and UBS, and the average 12-month target now sits at $94.70 across 24 analysts with a consensus Buy rating.MarketWatch described the stock as bucking broader consumer weakness on its way toward that record.A defensive playbook is starting to look differentThe World Cup itself is already over, with Spain winning the final on July 19.The real test now arrives with Coca-Cola’s third-quarter report this fall, when the tournament’s marketing spend disappears from the comparison and volume growth has to justify itself on its own.If that momentum holds, other mature Dow components may face the same question soon: whether decades of dividend consistency can coexist with a genuine growth phase, or whether this was simply what one very good marketing year looks like on a balance sheet.Related: Coca-Cola keeps beating its rivals, and Wall Street noticed

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The Social Security Administration considers your lifetime earnings to determine how much you will receive in benefits. But first, you have to have enough working credits to be eligible.
In 2026, a Social Security credit requires $1,890 in covered earnings, which means you need up to $7,560 in covered work to secure the maximum four work credits for the year. It’s a low barrier to entry for full-time employees, but people with spotty work histories or gig incomes may want to treat this number as a planning target.

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What is the 10-year Social Security rule?
You need at least 40 credits to be eligible for Social Security payments in retirement. Since you can receive up to four credits each year, you typically have to put in 10 years of work to receive benefits in retirement.
However, this 10-year window does not have to be 10 consecutive years. A gap year will not hurt your eligibility for Social Security, as long as you make it up later. Earnings from a job or gig must be covered by Social Security taxes to receive credits.
The 40-credit threshold just makes you eligible for Social Security, but earning any additional credits will not increase your benefits. You can increase your benefit by working 35 years, replacing low-earning years with high-earning ones, and delaying when you receive your benefits.

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How $7,560 buys a full year of credits in 2026
You don’t have to earn at least $1,890 in every quarter to hit $7,560 and receive all four credits. A seasonal job that pays $3,000 per month can qualify you for all four credits if you can work at that job for the last three months of the year. Not working the other nine months of the year won’t affect your ability to collect all four credits, but it will show up as a relatively low-earning year that may limit how much your benefit can grow.
But keep in mind that the Social Security Administration changes the amount of earnings required to earn a credit each year. Earning $7,560 in a year, regardless of whether you are a full-time worker or self-employed, makes you eligible this year, but the necessary amount may inch a little higher in 2027.
Who should pay attention
Most full-time workers will easily hit the minimum benchmark and receive their four credits each year. Caregivers, side hustlers and other people who have limited work histories and inconsistent income may want to pay attention to this limit.
These credits don’t just affect Social Security benefits. They also impact eligibility for disability benefits, Medicare and a family’s eligibility for survivors benefits. You can log into your “my Social Security” account or create one to see your current credits and earnings history. This account gives you the opportunity to correct any errors and see your projected benefit.

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Radio host and bestselling personal finance author Dave Ramsey has a straightforward recommendation for retirement savers considering 401(k)s and IRAs. “A traditional 401(k) and a Roth IRA are two of the most powerful tools you can use to save for retirement,” he wrote for Ramsey Solutions. “For most people, the best strategy is to use both a Roth IRA and traditional 401(k) to save for retirement.” And Ramsey offers a specific approach to help Americans begin their retirement savings accounts.”Start by contributing enough to your 401(k) to get the full employer match, then max out a Roth IRA for tax-free growth,” he wrote. “After that, you can return to your 401(k) to increase contributions.”Ramsey explains the advantages of Roth IRAs and traditional 401(k)s.”A Roth IRA is an account that allows you to save a certain amount each year for retirement,” he explained. “But what makes a Roth IRA one of the best retirement savings options is that it includes tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals once you retire.”Ramsey clarifies that a traditional 401(k) is a retirement savings plan that’s sponsored by one’s employer. In many cases, the employer will match employee contributions, up to a certain percentage of their income.”With a traditional 401(k), you decide how much of your paycheck to invest, and it’s automatically deposited into your account,” he wrote. “The money you put in is tax-deferred, meaning you won’t pay income taxes on it … yet.” “But years from now, when you retire and start pulling from your 401(k) savings, that money will be taxed at whatever your income tax rate is at the time.”Vanguard explains 2026 401(k) plan contributionsOffered through one’s employer, a 401(k) allows people to set aside money for the future straight from their paycheck. Since companies set their own rules and not every workplace provides one, it’s important that employees check their specific workplace benefits to see what their options are, Vanguard emphasizes.”At a minimum, it can benefit you to contribute enough to receive the full employer match,” wrote Vanguard. “Otherwise, you’re passing up extra compensation that’s already offered and can significantly strengthen your long‑term savings.”More on personal finance:Charles Schwab, Fidelity alert workers to forced 401(k) ruleDave Ramsey warns Americans on 401(k)s, IRAs (he’s not wrong)Congress research arm warns Americans on 401(k), IRA penaltyIn 2026, the annual 401(k) contribution limit for individuals is $24,500, with an additional catch-up allowance raising the limit to $32,500 for those 50 and older, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Certain employers may also allow an enhanced catch-up threshold for workers between 60 and 63. These caps apply solely to personal contributions, not to any matching funds provided by a company.Charles Schwab clarifies Roth IRA rulesA Roth IRA is a personal retirement account funded with post-tax dollars, explains Charles Schwab. Because one pays taxes upfront, investments accumulate earnings tax-free, and a person can pull out their growth completely tax- and penalty-free once they hit age 59½ and have held the account for at least five years.”A Roth IRA can be a good savings option for those who expect to be in a higher tax bracket in the future, making tax-free withdrawals even more advantageous,” wrote Schwab.For 2026, the total contributions one makes each year to Roth IRAs can’t be more than $7,500 ($8,600 for those age 50 or older), according to the IRS.The IRA contribution limit does not apply to rollover contributions.”If you have a 401(k) with a previous employer, you may be able to transfer those assets into a rollover IRA,” wrote Fidelity Investments. “Transferring an old 401(k) into a rollover IRA doesn’t count toward your annual IRA contribution limit.”Dave Ramsey spells out Roth IRA income limitsRamsey notes an important rule regarding Roth IRAs in 2026.”As amazing as the Roth IRA is, there’s a chance you might not even be eligible to put money into one,” he wrote.As amazing as the Roth IRA is, there’s a chance you might not even be eligible to put money into one.”That’s because if one’s modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is more than $168,000 as a single person or $252,000 as a married couple filing jointly, they are unable to contribute to a Roth IRA, according to the IRS.”But don’t worry, the traditional IRA is still an option — and it’s better than nothing,” Ramsey stressed.

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Ramsey highlights the Roth IRA 5-year ruleThere is another important consideration to keep in mind regarding Roth IRAs: the 5-year rule.”This won’t be an issue for most folks, but the five-year rule says you can’t take any investment earnings out of your Roth IRA until it’s been at least five years since you first contributed to the account,” Ramsey wrote.”You can withdraw contributions at any time, but that would be a bad idea,” he added. “You’ll get hit with taxes and penalties if you break that rule (so don’t do that).”Related: Fidelity 401(k) change seen on unexpected move

Anyone watching late-night television has heard those ads that urge people to sell the rights to a structured settlement won in a lawsuit to get cash now. “If you agree to take your award or settlement as a structured settlement, instead of receiving one large amount from the plaintiff, you will receive periodic payments over the course of a fixed number of years,” according to Nolo.com.The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) explains why selling your settlement for quick cash can often be a very bad idea.”When you sign over some — or all — of your structured settlement payments to a company in exchange for a lump sum of money, it’s called ‘factoring.’ But you won’t get all the money you would’ve collected over time — and it might leave you without a way to pay your bills,” the FC warned.It’s a practice dangerous enough to consumers that “Last Week Tonight” host John Oliver did a segment on it, warning people to “run, don’t walk, run away” from factoring companies.Now, two struggling mall retailers, American Eagle Outfitters and The Children’s Place, have sold the rights to their federal tariff refunds for pennies on the dollar. The transactions differ in important ways. Structured settlements are designed to provide long-term income for individuals, while tariff refund sales are corporate financing decisions. The similarity is that both involve accepting less money today in exchange for giving up a larger future payment.American Eagle Outfitters has closed storesBoth American Eagle Outfitters and The Children’s Place have closed stores as part of a broader restructuring plan.”American Eagle Outfitters has closed three stores in Pennsylvania as part of its restructuring plan to close 35 locations nationwide,” TheStreet’s Kirk O’Neil reported in January. The chain also made additional cuts beyond its store closures.American Eagle will discontinue third-party logistics services over the next several months and will close operations at its Boston and Dallas fulfillment centers in the first half of 2026.The company had previously announced that its La Palma, Calif., fulfillment center would close this year, but its Atlanta fulfillment center will continue to provide distribution services for American Eagle brands.Turnaround efforts have generally shown progress, according to the company’s first-quarter earnings release.Total net revenue of $1.2 billion increased 10% to last year.Total comparable sales increased 8%.Aerie comparable sales grew 25%. American Eagle comparable sales decreased 2%.Gross profit of $456 million rose 41% from $322 million last year.American Eagle has a manageable debt load, with cash and cash equivalents at about $103.3 million as of May 2, 2026. The chain also has a revolving credit facility of up to $700 million with $85 million outstanding.The Children’s Place closed stores, tooThe Children’s Place began the process of closing stores in 2020.”Executives said 300 stores will permanently close in the next 20 months: about 100 by the end of the second quarter for a total of 200 closures this year, and another 100 set to close in 2021,” reported Retail Dive.The chain has continued to selectively close locations since that initial 300, but its recent financial results show less progress than American Eagle’s turnaround, according to the chain’s first-quarter earnings release.Net sales decreased $26.9 million, or 11.1%, to $215.2 million in the three months ended May 2, 2026, compared to $242.1 million in the three months ended May 3, 2025. The decrease in net sales was driven by a decrease in direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales of 10.2% due to lower traffic compared to the prior year period.Gross profit decreased $17.4 million to $53.4 million in the three months ended May 2, 2026, compared to $70.8 million in the three months ended May 3, 2025.Operating loss was $42.2 million in the three months ended May 2, 2026, compared to a loss of $24.1 million in the three months ended May 3, 2025.Unlike American Eagle, which still has a sizable liquidity cushion, The Children’s Place is operating with a much tighter financial position. The company ended the first quarter with $4.8 million in cash and $82.8 million in total liquidity, including available borrowing capacity, while carrying $150 million in revolver borrowings. It also burned $53.8 million in operating cash during the quarter.In response to the results, CEO Muhammad Umair shared that the company has sold the rights to its tariff refunds.More Retail:Dollar General copies Costco’s playbook with a discount twistPepsi and Coca-Cola bet big on soda Americans say they wantIconic supermarket chain closes more stores and facilities”While keeping our prices stable has narrowed our profit margins, further compounded by product cost headwinds from higher tariffs, we have filed for tariff refund claims amounting to approximately $40 million, which we expect to partially offset margin dilution during this fiscal year, and of which $5.5 million has already been received to date,” he said.The company, he noted, gave up some of its future payment in order to get its cash now.”Consistent with prior disclosures, we have monetized most of these claims at a discounted rate, by selling the future receipt of these funds to a purchaser,” he added.

American Eagle Outfitters has progressed with its turnaround plan.Shutterstock

American Eagle Outfitters also sold its refundsAmerican Eagle Outfitters Michael A. Mathias, who just transitioned from CFO to strategic advisor for the brand, discussed tariff refunds during the chain’s first-quarter earnings call.”We have applied for roughly $190 million in tariff refunds and anticipate a $140 million net cash benefit,” he said. The company, he explained, did sell the rights to some of its refunds.”We at the beginning of the year, we sold about $70 million worth of claims for roughly a $20 million net number. So our net number on the $190 million total filings will be around, should be $140 million if we do get it all back. And, again, we are a little over $100 million back so far, which our portion of that net is around $70 million,” he added.Selling refunds comes with a riskAmerican Eagle Outfitters and The Children’s Place are taking less cash overall to get their money faster. “For the seller, a lot of the risk is purely the economics of that transaction because of the uncertainty on exactly when an importer will receive their tariff refund,” BDO Managing Principal David Wong told Retail Dive. “That’s been the biggest risk. Do I want to take a discount on the amount that could be refunded to me and get upfront cash today, and how does that compare with the full amount plus interest if I got that amount at a later date?”American Eagle and The Children’s Place are not alone in selling their refund rights.With refunds rolling out in phases, some businesses in need of cash are growing impatient, Neil Seiden, managing director at business loan advisory firm Asset Enhancement Solutions, told The Wall Street Journal.“What we’re seeing now is an increase in folks looking to sell the claims,” he said, noting that inquiries have jumped by at least 50% since early June.Academy Sports and GoPro also sold rights to at least a portion of their refunds, according to the The Journal.Those companies sold their rights before the Supreme Court decision that paved the way for the actual refund payments to be made. When a company sold, and at what rate, makes it clear whether a company made the right choice, according to Gregory Husisian, a partner at law firm Foley & Lardner.“There is still a major category of refunds where both the timing and whether you will get it is uncertain,” he said. “If you’re getting something pretty close to a full recovery and you’re getting it quicker, that combination might be enough.”American Eagle Outfitters sold $68.9 million of the retailer’s refund claims for $18.6 million in cash, while The Children’s Place sold $38.2 million of its refund claims at a total purchase price of about $25.7 million, according to Retail Dive.Related: Another healthy fast-food chain closed after Chapter 11 filing

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“Right now, we’re withdrawing about $100,000 a year from our investments.”