Jim Cramer Blog

In November, 2007, Cramer identified five stocks that he felt were made of Kevlar and could withstand the ailing economy and sub-prime mortgage crisis. To date those five stocks are up 8.8%, while the S&P 500 is down, 3.3%.
Cramer said it wasn't smooth sailing for his "bullet-proof" stocks at the start. Just a week after he mentioned the names, the portfolio was down a quick 6%. "But that's the point," he said, "we bought these stocks because they bounce back."
Cramer's first pick in his portfolio is Altria (MO), a stock which he owns for his charitable trust Action Alerts PLUS. Since the recommendation, Altria has spun off its Phillip Morris International (PM) division, and collectively the stocks are up 4.7% since November.
Cramer said he's a fan of both companies, especially Altria's 5% dividend yield.
Next on the list was Freeport-McMoran (FCX), another stock which he owns for his charitable trust Action Alerts PLUS.
Cramer called Freeport, which is up 11.9% since he mentioned it, the best copper story in the world.
Third in the portfolio was another Action Alerts name: Foster Wheeler (FWLT). Although Foster has been a laggard in the portfolio, down 1% since November, Cramer said the company is still levered to high energy prices around the world and here too and he's been buying more shares.
Fourth was Transocean (RIG), the star performer in the group, up 27.6%. Cramer called Transocean the best deep-water contract driller out there with great earnings visibility. He advised viewers to take some profits, but remained bullish on the company.
Finally, Cramer revisited Medco Health (MHS), a stock which is up just 0.7% since the November mention. Cramer said that while Medco makes its money whether or not the economy does well, it has more competition that he originally thought and perhaps the traditional defensive stock wasn't right for this portfolio. He told viewers "if it rallies, I'd sell it."
Published By TheStreet.com

Labels: FCX, FWLT, Jim Cramer, Mad Money, MHS, MO, RIG

Buy:

Air Products and Chemicals Inc (APD)

BAIDU.COM, INC. (BIDU)

China Mobile Limited (CHL)

Focus Media Holding Ltd (FMCN)

Corning Inc (GLW)

Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS)

Hudson City Bancorp Inc (HCBK)

PetroChina Co Ltd (PTR)

Transocean Inc (RIG)

Siemens AG (SI)

Ultra Petroleum Corp (UPL)
Sell:

American International Group, Inc (AIG)

AXA (AXA)

Countrywide Financial Corp (CFC)

Capital One Financial Corp(COF)

Legg Mason Inc(LM)

Orion Energy Systems(OESX)

Qualcomm Inc (QCOM)

Labels: APD, BIDU, CHL, FMCN, GLW, GS, HCBK, Jim Cramer, Mad Money, PTR, RIG, SI, UPL

Triple-S Management (GTS)
True success stories on The Street may be harder to find these days, but Cramer has observed the progress of non-profit Blue Cross Blue Shield companies that turn into public for-profit companies and found in their first four years the stocks had increased an average of 28%. He would consider Triple-S Management (GTS) which went public last week and has yet to set the sector on fire, since it opened only 16 cents above its $14.50 and undershot its projected range of $16-$18. Cramer said the companies contracts will become profitable and warned investors to do homework before buying and to use limit orders.
CEO Interview: Jack Cumming Hologic (HOLX)
Cramer likes HOLX for its visibility, growth and clean balance sheet and asked Jack Cumming about the merger with Cytic which was closed on Oct 22 and is running ahead of schedule. Cumming discussed the company's $1.3 billion convertible bond offering as a strategy to eliminate debt. Concerning competitors, He noted HOLX entered the scene two years behind its main rivals and is nine months ahead on the race for digital mammography. "We believe that when you have nine No 1. products, you're expected to grow at a fantastic rate," Cumming said.
Live with Regis' Portfolio: JDS Uniphase (JDSU), Time Warner (TWX), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), LSI Logic (LSI), Unisys (UIS), Freeport-McMoRan (FCX), McDonald's (MCD), CVS Caremark (CVS), Oceaneering (OII), Transocean (RIG), Chevron (CVX)
Regis told viewers not to worry about holiday retail sales, since people are lining up outside stores, and Cramer reviewed Regis' portfolio. First, he told Regis he missed the ideal opportunity to sell Time Warner, which rose recently, and would sell it now. He also told Regis to sell AMD, since the company is having trouble with its next chip and has Hector Ruiz at the helm. The ticker JDSU stands for "just don't sue us," said Cramer and he told Regis to sell. He gave LSI a "tepid buy" and added "it has a shot at coming back," but Cramer told Regis Unisys was one big "house of pain." Cramer suggested Regis replace these names with FCS, MCD, CVS, OII, RIG and CVX.
Teledyne Technologies (TDY), Ansys (ANSS)
Cramer says TDY and ANSS are two "Upod artists" that overpromise and underdeliver; "Upod works because the bedrock predictor is the trumping of earnings estimates," he said. TDY is tapped into aerospace and oil, has exceeded estimates an average of 15% per quarter, has made smart acquisitions and is cheap, but Cramer would wait for it to dip before buying. Ansys is the "market leader" in simulation and software, has strong overseas exposure, 68% return business and has exceeded estimates 40 consecutive times. The stock may seem expensive, but it is growing at an impressive 19% and should be trading at a higher multiple.
Published By SeekingAlpha

Labels: AMD, ANSS, CVS, CVX, FCX, GTS, HOLX, JDSU, Jim Cramer, LSI, Mad Money, MCD, OII, RIG, TDY, TWX, UIS

Bullish calls:
Vodafone (VOD): 'You know I like VOD!... It's part of my European invasion... ' Verizon (VZ): 'Ivan Seidenberg [CEO]... why have you been hiding? Why don't you come on the show? You know I love you... I do. I think he's fabulous.' Unilever (UN) Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI): 'I think the merger happens in the first quarter. I've been recommending this stock since $2.75 … you're going to get $6, when the deal comes across... At $6 bucks, then we're done.' Hologic (HOLX): 'This one is - buy, buy, buy! - my absolute favorite right now, when it comes to diagnostics. It was knocked down a couple of points because of that financing..' FCStone Group (FCSX): 'It's just unbelievable how good FCSX turned out to be, and I'm sorry that I gave it just a trade, and not an investment.' Best Buy (BBY): 'BBY is best in show.' Costco (COST): 'I like BBY. Not as much, though, as I like 52-week high, Costco!' Sonic (SONC): 'But SONC is in there buying back stock. It's a regional-to-national store chain. I reiterate that I like that stock very much!' Diamond Offshore (DO): 'Maybe you take a little off the table, but that is some great company!' Transocean (RIG): 'I don't like [Diamond Offshore] as much as I like Transocean.'
Bearish calls:
Broadcom (BRCM): 'No way, no way... sell, sell, sell! BRCM is just challenged.' LHC Group (LHCG): 'I 'm not a believer in that business.' Qualcomm (QCOM) Centex(CTX)
Published By SeekingAlpha

Labels: BBY, BRCM, COST, CTX, DO, FCSX, HOLX, Jim Cramer, LHCG, Lightning Round, Mad Money, QCOM, RIG, SIRI, SONC, UN, VOD, VZ

Bullish calls:
CVS Caremark (CVS): 'I think it's unbelievably strong ... you should get in right here. ... CVS remains one of my favorite stocks in this environment.'), Hewlett-Packard (HPQ): 'That was a monster-good quarter. That was an All-Aboard quarter. ... That company is smoking. ... It's not done. I wanna own Hewlett-Packard ... and so should you.' Monster Worldwide (MNST): 'I thought that the new management team would turn things around ... Monster, I still think, is being set up to be bought.' St. Jude Medical (STJ): 'If you want to be in that cohort, it's gotta be S-T-J.' Freeport-McMoran (FCX): 'I'm willing to have you in Freeport (FCX - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr - Rating), cause that's copper and gold.' Transocean (RIG): 'This is a great opportunity. ... In the last three days ... Transocean went from $138 to $127 because they did financing.' Schlumberger (SLB) Raytheon (RTN) Wolverine World Wide (WWW) Nike (NKE) Vimpel Communications (VIP) Shaw Group (SGR) Countrywide Financial (CFC): 'It's a very technical situation. ... If the Fed cuts 50 basis points, Countrywide will work.'
Bearish calls:
Sysco (SYY): 'It's OK ... as long as the consumer's out there spending ... going to a lot of restaurants ... the problem is they're not going to restaurants as much. Don'tBuy.' Boston Scientific (BSX): 'Let me be very clear. I have disliked Boston Scientific for more than 10 points.' Titanium Metals (TIE) Taser (TASR): 'In this market, it's too hard for me. ... I do not want to buy Taser here. Don'tBuy.'

Labels: BSX, CFC, CVS, FCX, HPQ, Jim Cramer, Lightning Round, Mad Money, MNST, NKE, RIG, RTN, SGR, SLB, STJ, SYY, TASR, TIE, VIP, WWW

Bullish:
Global Industries (GLBL) – Cramer will not walk away from.
Transocean (RIG) – Is really behind.
Trico Marine (TRMA) – Is not bad.
Core Labs (CLB) – Nothing is better.
FMC (FMC) – Likes as well.
Compellent Tech (CML) – Reminds Cramer of a “mini- VMware.
VMWare (VMW)
Oilsands Quest (BQI) – With the right tax regime in Alberta, there would be some pin action up there.
Novagold (NG) – Could become the depositor of an incredible amount of cheap gold.

Bearish:
Jones Soda (JSDA)- Says no. Sell Jones.
Jamba (JMBA) - Sell
Hansen (HANS) - Sell
Radian Group (RDN) – Does not believe they can raise the capital they need.
Fannie Mae (FNM) – Cramer can not get behind.
Rediff.com (REDF) – Another Baidu.
Countrywide (CFC) – Does not like. Would buy Wells Fargo.
AIG (AIG) – Sell sell sell.
Home Depot (HD) – Rather be in Lowes.
Level 3 (LVLT) – Can’t get CEO on the show.
Old National Bank (ONB) – People are not buying these banks right now.
Superior Offshore (DEEP) – Sticking with Transocean.

Labels: BQI, CLB, CML, DEEP, FMC, GLBL, HANS, HD, Jim Cramer, JMBA, JSDA, Lightning Round, LVLT, Mad Money, NG, ONB, RDN, RIG, TRMA, VMW

Bullish
AT&T (T),
Verizon (VZ),
Boeing (BA)- Bullish
Sears (SHLD)- bullish because they are buying back a lot of stock, they have large real estate holdings, and their earnings from Sears Canada will be strong.
National Oilwell Varco (NOV) and Transocean (RIG)- likes both.
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX),
comScore (SCOR)- recommended a couple weeks ago..still bullish.
Oshkosh Truck (OSK),
Masimo (MASI)- Cramer had the CEO on the show a couple weeks ago and he was bullish on the stock, and now Cramer agrees.
First Solar (FSLR),
SunPower (SPWR)
MEMC Electronic Materials (WFR).

Bearish
MetroPCS Communications (PCS)- thinks AT&T (T) and Verizon (VZ) are better wireless plays. Titanium Metals (TIE)- recommended Freeport McMoran (FCX) instead.
Allegheny Technologies (ATI),
Spartan Motors (SPAR)- likes Oshkosh Truck (OSK) instead.
LDK Solar (LDK)- stay away.
lululemon (LULU)- ring the register.

Labels: ATT. T, BA, FCX, Jim Cramer, Lightning Round, Mad Money Lightning Round, RIG, SCOR, SHLD, VZ

Cramer continued his Back to School Tour today at Georgia Tech. He began by talking about InterContinental Exchange (ICE), which is up 131% since Cramer recommended it last March, and he thinks it still has room to go up since it profits off the volatility in the commodity markets. Cramer also thinks that this exchange might be bought out by NYSE EuroNext (NYX) which will bail him out of his NYX recommendation, which has been killing him all year. He believes NYX could pay up to $200 per share for the company. Cramer then took some questions from the audience. The first question was about exchanges investing in China, and Cramer said that he thinks Coca-Cola (KO) and Yum! Brands (YUM) are the best ways to play China.
Cramer then interviewed the CEO of Coca-Cola (KO), and they talked about the earning prospects for the stock and its international growth plans. Cramer is bullish on the stock, and is a fan of the CEO.
After the lightning round Cramer went over some stock picks with the Georgia Tech investment club. Nokia (NOK): Cramer thinks this stock is a winner. Grant Prideco (GRP): Cramer likes TransOcean (RIG), Halliburton (HAL), Schlumberger (SLB) and National Oilwell Varco (NOV) are better stocks. J Crew (JCG): Cramer said to back up the truck and buy this stock. Fossil (FOSL): Cramer doesn't like it as much as J Crew, and that he is worried about retailers that have had good runs recently.
Finally, Cramer ended the show by spending some time talking to students about the stock market and the economy.

Labels: Georgia Tech, GRP, HAL, Jim Cramer, KO, Mad Money, Mad MOney Recap, NYX, RIG, SLB, YUM

Bullish:
China Mobile (CHL) instead of KONG
Enterprise Product Parners (EPD)
Schering-Plough (SGP),
Celgene (CELG),
Sanofi-Aventis (SNY): likes Novartis (NVS) and Schering-Plough (SGP) better
Manulife (MFC), Prudential (PRU), Metlife (MET): Likes all three
E-Trade Financial (ETFC): It's a buy.
Furmanite (FRM): Cramer prefers ITT.
ITT (ITT),
Transocean (RIG),
Schlumberger (SLB)
Hudson City (HCBK): Better than NYB.
Bearish:
KongZhong (KONG): Cramer recommended China Mobile (CHL) instead.
Pioneer Drill (PDC); Cramer wants you to sell this driller
NightHawk (NIHK): Don't buy
New York Community Bank (NYB): Cramer thinks Hudson City (HCBK) is a better bank.
MDU (MDU): Don't buy.

Labels: CELG, CHL, EPD, ETFC, FRM, ITT, Jim Cramer, Lightning Round, Mad Money, MET, MFC, NVS, PRU, RIG, SGP, SNY

Bullish
Indevus Pharmaceuticals (IDEV): I recommended this as a speculative play.
Nastech Pharmaceutical (NSTK)
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD): I recommended this
Foster Wheeler (FWLT) than I would be in GLDD
Halliburton (HAL): If you're looking for a stock to keep you afloat, it can't be Haliburton.
AT&T (T)- Stock that has a dividend.
Verizon (VZ)
ConEd (ED). Any one of those is better than Halliburton
GameStop (GME): Cramer was hoping we would get a chance to buy it at $56, but it's not gonna go there.
Transocean (RIG), Diamond Offshore (DO), China Digital (STV), McDonald's (MCD), Yum! Brands (YUM), Intel (INTC) and ConocoPhillips (COP).

Bearish
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD)- would rather be in Foster Wheeler (FWLT)
InterDigital (IDCC)- ixnay on InterDigitalnay.

Labels: ED, FWLT, GLDD, GME, HAL, IDEV, Jim Cramer, Lightning Round, Mad Money, NSTK, RIG, T, VZ

Bullish:
Google (GOOG): Cramer thinks the estimates are too low, and that the stock could go to $700.
Norsk Hydro (NHY): A great resource company in a market that loves resource plays.
National Oilwell (NOV): Cramer likes the stock and thinks they have a "hammerlock" on oil well building.
Apple (AAPL): Cramer is most bullish on Apple out of his "Four Horsemen of Tech." But thinks you should wait for a pullback.
Transocean (RIG): Thinks the stock is going back up to its 52-week highs.
Cytyc Corp (CYTC): "Buy, buy, buy!"

Bearish:
Bucyrus (BUCY): Cramer likes the stock, but he likes Caterpillar (CAT) better.
Vasco Data Security (VDSI): Rrecommends Oracle (ORCL) in the software sector.
ViroPharma (VPHM): Cramer said this is one of his worst picks ever. "Sell, sell, sell!"
Xinhua Finance (XFML): Cramer can't get any financial information, so he can't recommend the stock.
Terra Nitrogen (TNH): This stock is too hot for Cramer.
Halozyme Therapeutics (HALO): Cramer thinks Nastech Pharma (NSTK) is the better stock in that sector.
Sirius (SIRI): Waiting for a pull back before he will recommend it again.
Wynn Resorts (WYNN): Cramer thinks it's too hot, so he recommends investors be careful. "Don't buy."
Force Protection (FRPT): "Sell, sell, sell!"

Labels: AAPL, BUCY, CYTC, GOOG, Jim Cramer, Lightning Round, Mad Money Lightning Round, NHY, NOV, ORCL, RIG, VDSI

Bullish:
PepsiCo (PEP), BEA Systems (BEAS), General Motors (GM), RRSat Global Communications Network (RRST), Zumiez (ZUMZ), Superior Offshore International (DEEP), Oshkosh Truck (OSK), Northrop Grumman, L-3 Communications (LLL), Lockheed Martin (LMT), General Dynamics (GD), Cisco Systems (CSCO), XTO Energy (XTO), GMX Resources (GMXR), Siemens (SI), Transocean (RIG), Schlumberger (SLB), Prudential Financial (PRU), MetLife (MET) and Halliburton (HAL).
Bearish:
Smart Balance (SMBL), Parametric Technology (PMTC), DirecTV (DTV), Parker Drilling (PKD) and Assurant (AIZ).

Labels: BEAS, CSCO, DEEP, GD, GM, GMXR, Jim Cramer, Lightning Round, LLL, LMT, Mad Money, OSK, PEP, PRU, RIG, RRST, SI, SLB, XTO, ZUMZ

Here are 7 trading ideas for today. These lists come directly from the TradingMarkets Stock Indicators page and are based upon our latest quantitative research.
Bullish
Gaps Down 5% or More: These are stocks that gap down by 5% or more and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that gap down by more than 5% have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.

Tesco Corporation (NasdaqGS:TESO - News). TESO's PowerRating is 5.
Laps Down 5% or More: These are stocks that lap down by 5% or more and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that lap down by more than 5% have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Leap Wireless (NasdaqGS:LEAP - News). LEAP's PowerRating is 7.
5+ Consecutive Down Days: These are stocks that have closed down for five or more consecutive days and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that close down for five or more days have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Transocean (NYSE:RIG - News). RIG's PowerRating is 7.
5+ Consecutive Lower Lows: These are stocks that have made a lower low for five or more consecutive days and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that make lower lows for five or more days have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Tyson Foods (NYSE:TSN - News). TSN's PowerRating is 7.
2-Period RSI Below 2: These are stocks that have a 2-period RSI reading below 2 and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving with a 2-period RSI reading below 2 have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Diamond Offshore (NYSE:DO - News). DO's PowerRating is 7.
Bearish
5+ Consecutive Up Days: These are stocks that have made a higher high for five or more consecutive days and are trading below their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading below their 200-day moving average that make higher highs for five or more days have shown negative returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
AmeriGroup (NYSE:AGP - News). AGP's PowerRating is 2.
5+ Consecutive Higher Highs: These are stocks that have made a higher high for five or more consecutive days and are trading below their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading below their 200-day moving average that make higher highs for five or more days have shown negative returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH - News). CAH's PowerRating is 4.
PowerRatings (for Traders) are courtesy of TradingMarkets.com

Labels: AGP, CAH, DO, Hot Stocks, LEAP, RIG, TESO, TSN

PepsiCo (P'EP), Kellogg (NYSE: K - News), Nova Chemicals (NYSE: NCX - News), Schering-Plough (NYSE: SGP - News) and Celgene (NasdaqGS: CELG - News), EMC (NYSE: EMC - News)
In the aftermath 0f last week's carnage, Cramer urged investors to search in the rubble for damaged stocks but not damaged companies. One indicator that the damage is only skin deep is if the companies reported great quarters right before the selloff. However, financial and housing stocks are simply no good, according to Cramer. While Pepsi and Kellogg both reported great quarters, Pepsi jumped and then gave back its gain while Kellogg went flat. He prefers Pepsi to Coke and thinks this $66 stock is really worth $80. Cramer predicted Kellogg will have a great quarter. He considers both stocks to be an antidote for a slowing economy. Concerning NCX, Cramer said the quarter was strong and he thinks the company will be taken over. Cramer likes SGP and CELG, even though the latter stock is up. Cramer liked EMC's quarter so much, he bought the stock, and he says the company's spinoff of VMWare will be VMware "the sexiest initial public offering of the year."
Boeing (NYSE: BA - News) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT - News)Cramer predicts BA and LMT will go to $120, since both had been at $80 and are now around the $100 mark. BA is producing fuel-efficient planes which hold more passengers and is not affected by the domestic economy. Cramer would buy a maximum of 100 shares incrementally. He adds LMT is a good play on the Iraq War, since the defense budget is "huge." Cramer added LMT is a good international stock and is a "buyback king."
Adobe (NasdaqGS: ADBE - News)
Cramer feels secure about the tech because the sector usuallly does well in the late summer and it has the least exposure to housing ills. He likes ADBE right now even more than Microsoft because he thinks the third and fourth quarter will benefit from sales of Creative Suite 3, the "best software for publishing."
Mad Mail: Transocean (NYSE: RIG - News) and Omniture (NasdaqGM: OMTR - News)
Cramer calls RIG the most creditworthy company apart from Schlumberger, but he would recommend selling some gains. He adds that he hopes those who saw a $4 jump for OMTR sold some stock.

Published By SeekingAlpha

Labels: ADBE, BA, CELG, EMC, Jim Cramer, K, Mad Money, NCX, OMTR, RIG, SGP

Apple (NasdaqGS: AAPL - News): Cramer would buy more Apple after it drops a bit. He is not concerned about iPhone sales after AT & T's earnings report. He says those who saw AAPL rise from $90 to $145 and are complaining about the decline were "being greedy... shame on you!"
Transocean (NYSE: RIG - News): Selling off index components on Tuesday went overboard, commented Cramer, adding the Dow Jones does not depend on a solid junk bond market; "Look at the market as not controlled by bonds," he said. He doesn't see why poor performances by financial stocks should pull down good industrials with growing demand, such as RIG.

Labels: AAPL, Jim Cramer, Jim Cramer's Stop Trading, RIG

Symantec (SYMC): "Can't recommend it, frankly." Cramer said to swap out of Symantec and into Oracle (ORCL).
Reliance Steel (RS): "Everybody's decided that all the steel stocks have to be SoldSoldSold. ... What Cramer's telling you is to pull the trigger on this weakness after that great quarter. Pretty simple."
Hercules Offshore (HERO): "The reason that it's not kept pace with the group is that it's shallow drilling. ... I cannot get behind that one." Cramer recommended instead deepwater drillers Transocean (RIG) and GlobalSantaFe (GSF).
"Goldman Sachs (GS) is challenged not as a company. ... I'm staying pat with Goldman Sachs for Action Alerts PLUS, my charitable trust." For dividend-paying stocks, Cramer recommended the following: the dry-bulk carriers; Consolidated Edison (ED), for a conservative dividend play; Altria (MO), for more risk; and AT&T (T), on a pullback. He also owns Altria for Action Alerts PLUS.
Flotek Industries (FTK): "I think Flotek is one of the kind of stocks ... that fits into my RIG and GlobalSantaFe thesis. ... This group is so in bull market mode, it is taking up everything!"
Brookfield Asset Management (BAM): "People have been dissin' it," Cramer said, but it depends on your time frame. CEO J. Bruce Flatt "is a great, great investor, and BAM ... should be bought here. I think people dissin' BAM are gonna have to face the music."
AT&T (T): "Reports this week, and I'm not concerned about the quarter." Cramer said that with a buyback or a dividend boost, "this stock goes to $42." But otherwise, he said, it stays where it is. "It's just not that exciting."
Valmont Industries (VMI): "I have been talking about this bull market in lighting, and it's really working here." Cramer said Valmont is at the crux of the agriculture, industrial and infrastructure bull markets. "It's a winner. I would stick with Valmont."
Published By TheStreet.com

Labels: BAM, ED, FTK, GS, GSF, HERO, Jim Cramer, Lightning Round, Mad Money, MO, ORCL, RIG, RS, SYMC, T, VMI

The start of the trading week got under way in the right direction, as the major market indices finished the session higher. The biggest gainer among the averages was the Dow, which rose 92 points. The Nasdaq rose 3 points on the session, while the S&P gained 7.5. Bulls were in the buying mood out of the gate as strong corporate earnings coupled with increased dealmaking led to bargain hunters picking up stocks after Friday's losses. In the energy sector, prices declined across the board, with crude finishing the day lower by -90 cents to close at $74.89 a barrel.
In earnings news, pharmaceutical giant Merck (NYSE: MRK - News) said net income rose to $1.68 billion, or 77 cents a share, compared to $1.5 billion, or 69 cents a share last year. Excluding restructuring charges, EPS would have been 82 cents. Sales rose 8% to $6.11 billion. The company also said it put away an additional $210 million into its reserve to help fight off Vioxx claims. In addition, it raised its full-year EPS guidance for 2007 to $2.80-2.95, or $3.00-3.10 excluding charges. Shares surged 6.9%
Elsewhere, oil services giant Halliburton (NYSE: HAL - News) rose 3.2% on the day after the company reported earnings from continuing operations of $595 million, or 63 cents a share. On a comparable basis, it earned $498 million, or 47 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue rose to $3.74 billion from $3.12 billion the same period a year ago. The company said its 19% rise in earnings from continuing operations was fueled by international contracts.
M&A is still alive and well on Wall Street as a plethora of deals were announced. Drilling giant Transocean (NYSE: RIG - News) agreed to buy rival GlobalSantaFe (NYSE: GSF - News) for nearly $18 billion. Under the terms of the deal, Transocean shareholders will receive $33.03 in cash and 0.6996 shares of the combined company. GlobalSantaFe shareholders will receive $22.46 in cash and 0.4757 shares of the new combined company. The cash and stock deal will create a behemoth with a combined $53 billion in enterprise value.
Also in the buyout space, Cerberus agreed to buy United Rentals (NYSE: URI - News) for $34.50 a share. The total deal amount, which includes $2.6 billion worth of debt, is $6.6 billion. In the tech space, Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ - News) agreed to buy software firm Opsware (Nasdaq: OPSW - News) for $14.25 a share, in an all cash tender offer. The deal represents a 38% premium to where the shares closed on Friday.
By the BullMarket.com Staff

Labels: GSF, HAL, HPQ, MRK, OPSW, RIG, URI