Jim Cramer Blog

On Thursdays show, Cramer talked about the confusion in the markets, and how you should be looking to invest in companies that can control their own destiny and have strong customers. Cramer thinks that Quanta Services (PWR) is a stock that fits this profile. He said it is an infrastructure play, they have a large backlog, and they bought one of their major competitors in August, so they have less competition now. Cramer does not think this is the time to make a trade into this stock, but he thinks it will make money over the longer term.
After that Cramer went to the phonelines. The first caller asked if now is the time to buy transportation infrastructure stocks, and Cramer recommended Chicago Bridge and Iron (CBI), plus told the caller to watch for another pick later in the show. The next caller asked about Mueller Water (MWA), and Cramer said that he likes Tetra Tech (TTEK) instead because he thinks Mueller is poorly run. Third caller asked about Shaw Group (SGR) since it has dropped so much recently, and Cramer said that it is a strong company that is coining money, so you should stick with it.
Cramer's other big infrastructure recommendation, Aecom (ACM). He has a bullish position on the stock since the stock is off $9 from his 52 week high. Its biggest customer is the federal government so it knows it will get paid, and one of its biggest competitors was just bought out. Cramer has been promoting the stock for several months now, and the stock has gone up since his initial recommendation.
Sell Block: Cramer started off by talking about private equity, specifically Blackstone (BX) and Fortress (FIG). Cramer said he does not understand how these companies work, therefore doesn't want to invest in them. He's putting the entire sector in the Sell Block, including companies like Cerberus that are not public, but are considering an IPO.
The CEO of California Pizza Kitchen (CPKI) was on the show to talk about their growth plans and how they plan to contain their costs. Cramer said that although the restaurant business is difficult, the stock is near a 52 week low and it is a well run company. He wants you to do some homework and take a look at the stock.
Sudden Death: He was bearish on every stock mentioned. They were Coeur d'Alene Mines (CDE), Tata Motors (TTM), Build a Bear Workshop (BBW), Gerdau Ameristeel (GNA), and Hansen Medical (HNSN).

Labels: BBW, CBI, CDE, CPKI, GNA, Jim Cramer, Mad Money, Mad MOney Recap, MWA, PWR, SGR, TTEK, TTM

Stocks started the week on a positive note with all three major indexes posting gains of close to 1%. The move follows a down week last week as economic data indicated that, despite signs pointing to a slowing economy, inflation was not being held in check. Tomorrow, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee begins its next policy meeting. While a rate change isn't expected when the meeting wraps up on Wednesday, investors are hoping the FOMC's policy statement will shed some light on which way it is leaning when it comes to adjusting interest rates later this year.
While economic data and policy statements are on the radar, both were absent today, leaving investors to find direction from a wave of M&A activity. U.S. investors also took a cue from a strong move higher in overseas markets, where recent weakness had helped contribute to uneasiness in the U.S. market. Concerns about the subprime mortgage crisis, meanwhile, remained on the sidelines for today at least, even as the National Association of Home Builders said its index of sales activity for new single-family housing fell to 36 from a reading of 39 in February, which itself was revised down from 40.
Leading the merger headlines were Barclays (NYSE: BCS - News) and ABN AMRO (NYSE: ABN - News) on reports that the two European banks could combine in a deal worth as much as $80 billion. ABN AMRO later confirmed that it is in exclusive talks with Barclays. Community Health Systems (NYSE: CYH - News), meanwhile, topped a private equity bid with a $5.1 billion offer for Triad Hospitals (NYSE: TRI - News) in a deal that would create the country's largest publicly traded hospital operator.
The mergers extended to the oil patch as well, where shallow-water driller Hercules Offshore (Nasdaq: HERO - News) announced its plans to buy oil and natural gas driller TODCO (NYSE: THE - News) for about $2.4 billion. The deal would create the world's fourth-largest fleet of shallow-water rigs. Based on Friday's closing prices, Hercules' offer represents a 28% premium. Elsewhere, utility and telecom infrastructure contractor Quanta Services (NYSE: PWR - News) made a $1.3 billion offer for InfraSource Services (NYSE: IFS - News), a 17% premium. The deal expands Quanta's reach both in terms of geography and services offered.
Today's M&A activity also included a pair of firms announcing plans to be taken private. ServiceMaster (NYSE: SVM - News), parent of Terminix pest control and a provider of housecleaning and landscaping services, was the target of a $4.5 billion bid led by private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. Finally, shipping firm EGL (Nasdaq: EAGL - News) announced it has agreed to a management-led buyout worth $1.7 billion. The $38 per share bid eclipsed a prior offer by $2 per share. The stock ended up 6%.
The day's big loser was biotech AtheroGenics (Nasdaq: AGIX - News), which plunged -61% on news that its experimental pill to treat atherosclerosis -- a buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances in the inner lining of arteries -- failed to meet its target in a late-stage trial. AtheroGenics had partnered with AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN - News) on the trial, but Zeneca will now have the opportunity to break off the partnership.
By the BullMarket.com Staff

Labels: ABN, AGIX, AZN, BCS, CYH, EAGL, HERO, IFS, PWR, SVM, THE, TRI

PG&E Corp. (NYSE:PCG - News) posted a fourth-quarter profit of $152 million, or 43 cents a share, down from $180 million, or 49 cents a share, a year earlier. The company attributed most of the decline to severance costs that resulted in an after-tax cost of 5 cents a share in the most recent period. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call had expected a profit of 44 cents a share. California's biggest utility raised its outlook for 2007 earnings by 5 cents a share to a range of $2.70 to $2.80 a share.
Quanta Services Inc., (NYSE:PWR - News) the Houston provider of contracting services and solutions for electric power, gas, telecommunications and cable television, swung to a fourth-quarter loss from a year-earlier profit on 13% higher revenue. For the first quarter Quanta expects to earn 10 cents to 12 cents a share compared with 7 cents in the year-earlier period. Revenues should range $540 million to $550 million, up from $496.5 million a year earlier.
Skechers USA Inc. (NYSE:SKX - News) reported fourth-quarter earnings more than doubled to 33 cents a share from 14 cents in the year-earlier period. The Manhattan Beach, Calif., footwear company posted revenue of $304.5 million vs. $223.5 million. Skechers expects first-quarter earnings of 50 cents to 55 cents a share on revenue of $325 million to $335 million.
Teekay Shipping Corp. (NYSE:TK - News) reported fourth-quarter earnings fell to 81 cents a share from $1.85 in the year-earlier period. The Bahamas shipper of oil and natural gas posted voyage revenue of $587 million, up 10%.
TRW Automotive Holdings (NYSE:TRW - News) earned 32 cents a share in the fourth quarter, down from 57 cents in the year-earlier period. The Livonia, Mich. maker of safety systems for cars said sales rose 4.3% to $3.3 billion. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Financial was earnings of 3 cents on revenue of $3.16 billion. TRW is forecasting sales of $13.4 billion to $13.8 billion for 2007, yielding earnings of $1.85 to $2.15. Thomson is looking for earnings of $2.10 and sales of $13.4 billion.
ValueClick Inc. (NasdaqGS:VCLK - News), an Internet marketing firm, reported profit increased 56% as sales rose 38%.
Wabtec Corp. (NYSE:WAB - News) Thursday reported fourth-quarter earnings of $26.2 million, or 53 cents a share, up from a year-ago profit of $16.3 million, or 34 cents a share. On a continuing operations basis, the company earned $26.9 million, or 55 cents a share, in the fourth quarter, up from a year-ago equivalent profit of $17.9 million, or 37 cents a share. The latest results include a net tax benefit of 8 cents a share. Excluding the gain, the Wilderming, Pa., maker of rail technology products said it earned 45 cents a share in the latest quarter. Sales rose 9% in the latest three months to $294.4 million from $270.3 million in the same period a year earlier. The company attributed the sales increase in the latest quarter to higher sales of transit locomotives, locomotive components and radiators for non-rail markets, as well as acquisitions. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Financial was for a profit of 44 cents a share in the December period. The company also affirmed its outlook for earnings of $2.10 a share for fiscal 2007, excluding restructuring expenses of roughly 5 cents a share. Wall Street's current consensus estimate is for a profit of $2.10 a share for the year.
WebMD Health Corp. (NasdaqGS:WBMD - News) reported fourth-quarter earnings of 15 cents a share, up from 11 cents in the year-earlier period. The New York provider of health information services posted revenue of $80.6 million vs. $49.1 million. WebMD raised its 2007 outlook and now expects per-share earnings of 35 cents to 48 cents on revenue of $336 million to $352 million.
Whole Foods (NasdaqGS:WFMI - News) agreed to acquire smaller rival Wild Oats Markets Inc. (NasdaqGM:OATS - News) for about $565 million, as it grapples with competition from conventional supermarkets.

Labels: OATS, PCG, PWR, SKX, TK, TRW, VCLK, WAB, WBMD, WFMI