1. Bears in a bull market: The American economy is firing on all cylinders — but three of its storied companies are getting left behind.
General Motors has lost $1.5 billion in market value since its 2010 IPO. General Mills (GIS) is grappling with a sales slump in North America. And General Electric’s (GE) market cap is smaller than any time since the Great Recession.
These three American brands, for vastly different reasons, are stuck in bear markets during the longest bull market in Wall Street history. It’s a fresh reminder that even the most iconic companies are targets for disruption in today’s fast-moving world.
Take General Mills, the 152-year-old maker of Cheerios, Haagen-Dazs and Betty Crocker. Like other packaged food companies, General Mills was slow to adapt to the shifting preferences of shoppers.
Americans have shelved sugary cereals and yogurts in favor of healthier breakfast meals. That swing has hurt General Mills, which owns Yoplait, Trix, Lucky Charms and Cinnamon Toast Crunch.