Jim Cramer Blog

Microsoft (NasdaqGS: MSFT), aQuantive (NasdaqGS: AQNT), Yahoo (NasdaqGS: YHOO): Cramer calls MSFT's bid to buy AQNT at $6 billion a "game changer," and he doesn't see any reason why it wouldn't also buy YHOO for $50 billion. The bid may usher in the beginning of a "land grab against Google." While Cramer wouldn't buy a down company solely because of a potential takeover, he notes YHOO has great traffic and thinks the stock could reach $34 immediately if CEO Terry Semel takes a "permanent vacation."
Verizon (NYSE: VZ), Dicks Sporting Goods, (NYSE: DKS), UnderArmour (NYSE: UA): Cramer wished a good weekend to the Citigroup analyst who upgraded VZ, but added he is "late," and the good news at the company is not new. Cramer predicts DKS' conference call will indicate a comeback for UA which is "done going down."
Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHI), Canetic Resources Trust (NYSE: CNE), Nabors (NYSE: NBR - News), Halliburton (NYSE: HAL), Grant Pridecos (NYSE: GRP), Grey Wolf (AMEX: GW): On BHI's report of rising rig counts, Cramer sees a growth in natural gas drilling which had been "written off," and he would take a look at CNE, NBR, HAL, GRP and even GW.

Labels: AQNT, BHI, CNE, DKS, GRP, GW, HAL, Jim Cramer, Jim Cramer's Stop Trading, MSFT, NBR, UA, VZ, YHOO

Lights, Camera, Auction: Sotheby's (NYSE: BID)
Even though it has doubled from where he recommended it last year, Cramer still likes BID as an inflation stock and as a play on conspicuous consumption. When an inflation threat looms, it is time to pick up gold and collectibles, comments Cramer, and this auction house has seen a dramatic run up of 31% in four weeks, strong earnings growth, with numbers on the low end. While some may suspect that the huge auction in May is already priced into the stock, Cramer thinks the market is not behaving rationally, and would buy BID, sell it when the auctions begin on May 8, and pick it up again on a weakness for those who want BID as an investment.
Fertile Hopes: Mosaic (NYSE: MOS) and CF Industries (NYSE: CF)
Cramer commented the rest of the world is leaving the US behind when it comes to nuclear energy, and urged investors take a look at MOS or CF as speculative stocks. Both companies have the technology to turn phosphates from fertilizer into uranium. Although they have not been discussing this technology openly, Cramer thinks MOS and CF are being "coy" and will want to profit from uranium's rise to $113 per pound. Although Cramer wouldn't mind buying CF even after its big move, he prefers MOS, since "Mosaic is the largest producer of phosphate on earth," Cramer said. He thinks both companies are worth buying as long as uranium stays over $50 and would invest soon "before the market starts to price in the new uranium upside" for them.

Next Week's Game Plan: Saks (NYSE: SKS - News), Federated Department Stores (NYSE: FD ), Steel Dynamics Inc. (NasdaqGS: STLD), Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO), Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) and Washington Mutual Inc. (NYSE: WM), Annaly Capital Management (NYSE: NLY), United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), eBay Inc. (NasdaqGS: EBAY), American Standard Companies, Inc. (NYSE: ASD), Harley Davidson (NYSE: HOG - News), Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), Schering-Plough Corp. (NYSE: SGP), intuitive Surgical Inc. (NasdaqGS: ISRG), Schlumberger Limited (NYSE: SLB), Grey Wolf (AMEX: GW)
While SKS and FD are down because of disappointing quarters, Cramer reiterated his suggestion to give the companies the benefit of the doubt and would buy them on Monday. He commented STLD is in a "sweet spot" and is the perfect takeover target which would buy under $45. A "total breakout quarter" is in store for KO on Tuesday, according to Cramer, who points out that KO is an ideal weak dollar stock with good prospects in Japan, and he suggests paying up to $50.85. Cramer is wary of WM and WFC which have mortgage exposure and would hedge by picking up NLY. He admits UTX "humiliated" him when it rose as he was bearish, and now that he is impressed with the stock, Cramer calls it a "gift" below $65. On Wednesday, Cramer's "favorite internet stock" and value play, Ebay reports. Cramer would buy ASD before it splits next quarter and would not be intimidated by CEO Fred Poses' selling of the stock, since the move was planned. On the other hand, HOG has too much inventory, and Cramer calls it a heartbreaking stock. Thursday a "really big day,"Cramer commented, adding Quest Diagnostics has gone up, but is still cheap. He believes the takeover rumors and says, " I don't think you can afford not to be in DGX." Cramer also likes SGP which he believes is going to $30. He sees a "blowout" coming for ISRG because of its advanced surgery technology. Finally, Cramer would get into SLB if it is below $75 on Friday, because he predicts a "monster quarter." He would own SLB for a trade up to $80. In his "Mad Mail" segment, Cramer called the land driller GW "no good" and said "You have to be offshore."
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Labels: ASD, bid, CF, DGX, Ebay, FD, GW, HOG, Jim Cramer, KO, Mad Money, MOS, SGP, SKS, SLB, STLD, UTX, WFC, WM

Black & Decker (NYSE: BDK - News), Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT - News), Illinois Tool Works (NYSE: ITW - News), AT&T (NYSE: T - News), Verizon (NYSE: VZ - News), First Horizon (NYSE: FHN - News), Countrywide (NYSE: CFC - News), Transocean (NYSE: RIG - News), Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB - News), Grey Wolf (AMEX: GW - News)
Cramer calls Tuesday's cyclical rally an "amazing confluence of great things" and notes the rapid rise of struggling manufacturing stocks such as CAT, BDK and ITW which were presumed dead when they gave earnings warnings two months ago. Recession fears made the rally of T and VZ seem all the more impressive. The rise in FHN and CFC demonstrate that fears over the health of subprime lending and defaults are greatly exaggerated. Since Tuesday's rally precedes a Fed meeting on Wednesday and a jobs number on Friday: "It's hard not to be bullish," he said. Cramer concluded by commenting that he prefers oil service stocks RIG and SLB to natural gas, even GW.
Published by SeekingAlpha

Labels: BDK, BW, CAT, CFC, FHN, GW, ITW, Jim Cramer