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The Best Super Bowl 50 Commercials

By U.S. News & World Report

A $5 million ad buy

Sure, Super Bowl 50 was awesome, assuming you like the Broncos, are a fan of Peyton Manning or love good defense. But was anyone really watching the game? For many, Super Bowl Sunday is all about the commercials, as businesses doled out $5 million for a 30-second spot to be seen by the biggest TV audience of the year. Here are some of the largest publicly traded companies that are banking on a Super Bowl sales bump after the big game.

T-Mobile US (ticker: TMUS)

The company that famously brought us the pink-sundressed T-Mobile girl a few years ago was strong on Sunday, getting Steve Harvey to play off his infamous Miss Universe blunder — when he crowned the wrong winner — to counter Verizon Communications’ (VZ) bouncing-ball ad campaign spots. “I’m not taking responsibility on this one,” Harvey crowed. “Verizon got it wrong. Yes! Not me!”

12-month performance for TMUS stock: 13.9 percent

Kraft Heinz Co. (KHC)

Kraft Heinz may have taken top prize with its weiner dog spot. Honestly, who can resist the sight of a pack of dachshunds dressed as hot dogs joyfully running through a field and into the arms of some folks dressed as ketchup bottles? Having the spot set to the sappy Air Supply tune “I Can’t Live (If Living Is Without You),” struck the perfect note.

12-month performance for KHC stock: -0.25 percent

Anheuser Busch (BUD)

The maker of Budweiser and Bud Light always brings it hard during the Super Bowl, and Super Bowl 50 was no exception. Powerhouse comedy team Seth Rogen and Amy Schumer poked fun at politics with their Bud Light Party spot. (“We got the biggest caucus in the country!”) But even more powerful was British actress Helen Mirren’s message urging people not to drive drunk. “If you drive drunk,” says Mirren, seated in a swanky restaurant, “you, simply put, are a short-sighted, utterly useless, oxygen-wasting human form of pollution, a Darwin-award deserving, selfish coward.” Well done.

12-month performance for BUD stock: -3.1 percent

Unilever (UL)

The parent company of Axe body spray typically targets its ads to young men, suggesting not so subtly that should they coat themselves with the spray to make women find them irresistible. But in this year’s spot, Axe seems to be broadening its appeal the masses by urging men to stay true to themselves and find confidence — “find your magic” — in themselves.

12-month performance for UL stock: -0.23 percent

Fitbit (FIT)

If anyone needs a boost from the Super Bowl, it’s Fitbit, which has cratered in recent months following a highly successful initial public offering. It’s banking on a spot that features a variety of people sporting the Fitbit Blaze, a fitness tracker/sleep monitor/watch that it hopes will not only compete with the Apple (AAPL) watch, but help give FIT stock some positive momentum.

12-month performance for FIT stock: -50 percent

PepsiCo (PEP)

Pepsi has long been a titan of Super Bowl commericals — remember the 1980s spots featuring Michael Jackson and a young Alfonso Ribeiro? The company was feeling pretty nostalgic this year, having Janelle Monae happily dancing through a series of songs by The Contours and Madonna. And its Frito-Lay division, which owns Doritos, is also making waves with its spot about a Doritos-loving dad causing mayhem by snacking during his wife’s ultrasound appointment.

12-month performance for PEP stock: -2.2 percent

Toyota Motor Corp. (TM)

Toyota surely got some smiles with its game day spot that featured a middle-aged guy climbing into his Toyota Prius and belting out a G-rated hard-rock song proclaiming him “heck on wheels” because the only time he feels like a tough guy is when he’s driving his car. On the way to work, he impresses an elderly lady, dodges some ducklings and celebrates with co-workers when he makes it to the office. In another spot, Toyota reunited the cast of “The Wire” and had them steal a speedy Prius after a bank robbery.

12-month performance for TM stock: -15.8 percent

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The Best Super Bowl 50 Commercials originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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