Isn't it all due to people making money on "shorting" the stocks? If I remember correctly (from the GME thing), one aspect of Big Finance bets that Budweiser stock is going to go down in price. Another aspect of Big Finance advises the company to do something incredibly stupid (Budweiser - "How about putting a tranny in your ads?"). People stop buying the products, the stock price tanks and the people who shorted the stock pick up all their winnings.

Then they find another company to loot and repeat the process. At some further point, other Financial Parasites swoop in and buy up what's left of the company for pennies on the dollar and either try to make a go of it or just sell off the buildings/machinery/land for more $$$.