Analysis
The most interesting business stories sit beneath the headline numbers.
Each analysis follows a real company through the choices it makes, the investments behind them, and the economics underneath. The focus is on understanding what is really driving the trajectory, where value is being created or lost, and the strategic lessons that can be applied to other businesses facing similar choices.
Walmart × Dunkin': Within Arm's Reach of Someone Else's Demand
Dunkin' now sells inside the Walmart app, and the question is whether Walmart is merely delivering coffee or taking over the moment in which it gets chosen.
Nike Is Relearning How to Create Demand
Nike's fiscal 2026 results show demand and margin moving in opposite directions across markets, testing whether owning the transaction was ever the same thing as creating demand.
How 7 Brew Turned Choice Into a Growth Machine
7 Brew keeps drink customization expensive and cuts nearly everything else, turning strong demand into industry-leading unit economics and a franchise land rush.
Lululemon Needs Its Trench Coat
Lululemon's falling traffic, conversion and core-product demand point to a problem that more stores cannot solve.
Cracker Barrel's Real Problem Was Never The Logo
Cracker Barrel's recovery will depend on rebuilding a reason to visit, then proving that repeat demand can support durable margins and cash.