Hi, today we explore: (1) The incredible growth of Visa and Mastercard, (2) The filmography of one Mr. Adam Sandler, and (3) iPhone hype cycles. TOGETHER WITH Today's Topics Hello! Good luck and safe travels this Labor Day weekend if youâre one of the 14 million passengers the TSA is expecting to screen from today [through Wednesday](. Today we're exploring: - It takes two: Visa & Mastercard dominate the world of payments.
- Sandman: Adam Sandler's latest movie is that rare thing â a hit with critics and audiences.
- Wonderlust: We are well past peak iPhone hype. Have feedback for us? Just hit reply â we'd love to hear from you! [Read this on the web instead]( Feeling fine Visa and Mastercard are gearing up to boost the fees that retailers typically shoulder when they accept payments from customers using credit cards, according to the [WSJ](. The fees, often concealed from shoppers and swallowed by the merchant, pose a growing headache for businesses of all sizes. When customers swipe or tap their cards, 2-3% of the transaction funnels to their card-issuing [bank](. Part of this "interchange fee" then loops back to payment networks, dominated by Visa and Mastercard, giving them an enormous amount of industry leverage. It takes two Although the planned fee increases are somewhat different â Mastercardâs is a new pre-authorization fee for credit card purchases, while Visaâs new fees are starting with online transactions in October â the timing is conspicuous for two companies that dominate the payment landscape. US merchants paid an eye-watering ~$93 billion in Mastercard and Visa credit card fees last year â an inescapable part of modern business that's made the two companies into absolute giants. Indeed, their combined operating profit has grown 40x in less than 20 years, to more than $31bn last year. And, despite splashy marketing like sponsoring the Olympic Games and MLB, the two companies remain pretty lean, with a colossal 50% to 65% of their revenue dropping through into operating profit. Taking a few pennies on the dollar is a simple formula, but it's one that can quickly add up to billions. The Sandman cometh 34 years after his first movie, and with over 80 acting credits to his name, Adam Sandler just bagged the best-reviewed film of his career according to review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, where it currently has a 97% approval rating [with critics](. Writers are heaping praise on the 56-year-oldâs latest straight-to-Netflix effort You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah, a comedic family affair with Sandlerâs wife and daughters also taking starring roles. Everyoneâs a critic Like or loathe Sandlerâs shtick, thereâs no denying the actorâs stopping power, having taken his first lead role in 1989âs Going Overboard. Since then, the Sandman has been a staple on the [big and small screen]( become an unlikely [fashion icon]( and been nominated for Emmys, Grammys, and Golden Globes. Despite all of that, however, hard-nosed critics havenât always been Sandlerâs biggest supporters. Early in Sandlerâs career, when the actorâs SNL days were coming to an [infamous end]( his movies were a hit with audiences, pumping out fan favorites like 1995âs Billy Madison and 1996âs Happy Gilmore. Critics, on the other hand, werenât so keen, and itâs taken Sandler a long time to fully win them around. Indeed, on Rotten Tomatoes, Sandlerâs 4 most critically acclaimed movies have all come in the last 6 years â though recent audience reviews haven't been quite as glowing as they were for his earlier work. However, 2022âs Hustle â one of the many movies Sandlerâs made for Netflix as part of a twice-extended, [ultra-lucrative]( deal with the streamer â bucked that trend and is the only film critics and audiences totally agree on, and both crowds are gushing about it with 93% approval ratings. [Sponsored by LMNT]( The hydration conversation You were probably never told to drink more salt. But an increasing body of research shows that a sodium intake 2-3x government recommendations can benefit active lifestyles. The issue is, most electrolyte products are either full of sugar, lacking in sodium, or both â so a biochemist-backed team at [LMNT]( started a salty rebellion. Zero sugar, all the right ratios Using a scientifically proven ratio of sodium, potassium and magnesium, [LMNTâs electrolyte mix]( optimizes hydration to stave off symptoms like headaches, fatigue and cramp. Thereâs no sugar, gluten, or dodgy ingredients â just a zesty range of [8 flavors](. And, Chartr readers get a [free sample pack]( with any purchase. Give it a go and start reaping the benefits of balanced, evidence-based hydration with [LMNT](. [Claim your exclusive LMNT sample pack here]( Wonderlust Even with some of us trying desperately to cling on to the final days of summer, September has finally arrived, bringing with it another inevitability of the changing seasons: a brand new [iPhone model](. The worldâs largest company has set aside September 12 for an oh-so-mysterious event called [Wonderlust]( where they will almost certainly debut the new iPhone 15. Rumors are circulating about improved satellite communication, better wireless charging, and, of course, a bigger screen. Phoning it in In a surprise to pretty much nobody â given [global inflation]( Appleâs ongoing [manufacturing struggles]( and the 14 previous editions of the phone â the iPhone 15 is likely to be the most expensive to date, with [Forbes]( forecasting prices ranging anywhere from $799-$2,000. Though the price point may be rising, the hype that new models generate seems to have faded. In the decade following Steve Jobsâ 2007 unveiling of Appleâs first [mobile phone]( worldwide Google Trends data shows that people would routinely rush to search ânew iphoneâ whenever the latest was announced, but recent releases havenât mustered the same online buzz. 2020âs iPhone 12 Pro amassed a third of the search volume as both 2018âs XS / Max and 2013âs 5C / 5S models. Go Deeper: [How Apple makes its money](. More Data ⢠Overwhelmed with choice on streaming services, viewers are now taking over 10 minutes on average to decide what to watch as the number of shows jumped 39% in [2 years](. ⢠The Dallas Cowboys have once again topped the Forbes list of the [most valuable NFL teams](. ⢠The FDA recommends 2-3g of sodium daily, but new research suggests 4-6g is optimal for active lifestyles. With a proven electrolyte formula, [LMNT]( is the drink athletes across the NFL and NBA are using for healthy hydration â and Chartr readers get a [free sample pack here]( ⢠This week saw the annual ultimate food fight, as ~15,000 people descended on the Spanish town of Buñol to throw 120 tons of [tomatoes](. ⢠71% of Americans polled now [approve of labor unions]( the highest figure recorded since 1965. **This is sponsored content. [Pure Green Franchise]( has been connecting Americans with superfoods since its first juice bar opening in 2014. Now, they have 100+ locations across the U.S and are on track to hit 1000. To support its exponential growth, [Pure Green]( has just opened a new equity crowdfunding round â you have [3 weeks left to invest]( Hi-Viz ⢠Thinking of buying a new house? Here's a tool for chart lovers to help work out the cost of a [mortgage](. ⢠The number of soft drinks on offer in the US is ever-expanding, but still remains dominated by 3 [companies](. Off the charts: After disrupting golf, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is now planning to rattle a [new sport]( dominated by which industry heavyweight that we charted about in January? [Answer here](. Thanks for reading. See you on Sunday for our deep dive!
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