Jim Cramer's Mad Money Review

Texas Utilities (NYSE: TXU - News), Exelon Corp. (NYSE: EXC - News), Edison International (NYSE: EIX - News), Dominion (NYSE: D - News): Since the Texas Utilities buyout "changed the equation," Cramer says he is "scared to death to bet against this group," and adds that EXC, EIX and D are all undervalued.
Total System (NYSE: TSS - News), Synovus (NYSE: SNV - News), Aon (NYSE: AOC - News), Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC - News), Ross Stores (NasdaqGS: ROST - News), Cheesecake Factory (NasdaqGS: CAKE - News): Cramer lists companies that could get snapped up it the private-equity buyout frenzy: TSS and parent company SNV, Aon and "headless horseman" MMC (whose CEO Michael Cherkasky may soon end up on Cramer's CEO Wall of Shame), ROST, and CAKE.

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Labels: AOC, CAKE, D, EIX, EXC, Jim Cramer, MMC, ROST, SNV, Stop Trading, TSS, TXU

On Speculation: Landec Corp (NasdaqGS: LNDC)Cramer announced that he was going to discuss speculative stocks on Fridays to give investors a weekend to cool off before pulling the trigger on potentially risky companies. Friday's speculative play was LNDC, a $12 stock that, according to Cramer, is in the hottest part of one of the hottest sectors, which is seed technology. LNDC's technology, "intellicoat," prevents seeds from germinating and absorbing water too early, and allows farmers to plant up to four weeks ahead of time. Cramer says, "if corn is the next oil, LNDC is the equivalent of a pressure pumper that gets more oil out of the well." He advised investors to use limit orders and not to buy an entire position at one time.The Week Ahead: Prudential (NYSE: PRU - News), Metlife (NYSE: MET - News), Aon Corp (NYSE: AOC - News)Cramer commented that he doesn't like the market here, that the financials are "acting terrible," the real estate market is a "total collapsed bubble," and that gold, "ever the enemy of paper" is going up and that gold investors should take profits. In this "glass is half-empty" environment, Cramer warns of selloffs in even the best companies, and suggests buying only half of the intended amount and making a move at the end of the week after the "selling squall." He likes Prudential, which reported a "beautiful quarter," AOC, and MET, which is best-of-breed and is the "big sleeper" of next week with 10% accelerated growth. Cramer would buy it before and after its earnings report and recommends patience if it doesn't rise immediately.Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG - News) and Denny's (NasdaqCM: DENN)Concerning CMG and DENN, Cramer says he doesn't mind fact that these companies have debt because their financials are still good, they can refinance at low rates thanks to the strong bond market, and can raise earnings per share by decreasing interest payments. He calls Denny's a "bad going to good" story, but would wait, and calls CMG a "good going to better" story which will have a "fantastic quarter." However, Cramer would hold off until CMG gets hit and would buy it low.Life Time Fitness (NYSE: LTM - News), Baidu.com (NasdaqGM: BIDU), Psychiatric Solutions (NasdaqGS: PSYS)LTM has "come in a tad" from where Cramer recommended it as a generational play, but he would still buy it as a long-term stock. He comments that BIDU has just a fraction of Google's value and better growth potential, but is in a precarious position because of China's Communist government. Since BIDU tends to trade wildly after it reports, he would use a downturn as an opportunity to buy it cheaply. Cramer notes that PSYS' management has been bullish ahead of the quarter, and would buy some stocks ahead of time, since PSYS has been acquiring companies, and Cramer expects a "big number bump" next week.Masco Corp. (NYSE: MAS - News), KBH Home (NYSE: KBH - News), Daktronics (NasdaqGS: DAKT), Reliance Steel (NYSE: RS - News)Cramer would ring the register on MAS before it reports, since it has had a big run. He predicts that KBH will see a huge selloff, and would sell it before it reports and buy the stock back lower. Cramer likes DAKT which is "remaking the billboard industry in its own digital image" and is building huge billboards at sports stadiums. He would use the 8% dip as an opportunity to get in before it reports. Cramer would take profits in RS because it has risen 8 points since he recommended it.Published By SeekingAlpha

Labels: AOC, BIDU, CMG, DAKT, DENN, Jim Cramer, KBH, LNDC, LTM, Mad Money, MAS, MET, PRU, PSYS, RS

Marsh & McLennan Companies has announced the signing of a definitive agreement to sell Putnam Investments for $3.9 billion in cash to Great-West Lifeco, a financial services holding company controlled by Canada-based Power Financial Corporation. The deal is set to close by mid-year subject to regulatory and client approval. Putnam had $192b under management at the end of '06. Regarding the deal, MMC's president and CEO commented, "We will receive an attractive price for Putnam, strengthen our ability to focus on our core businesses, and significantly enhance our financial flexibility." He mentions the possibility of using the proceeds along with cash flow to further invest in core businesses as well as stock repurchases and debt reduction. The Wall Street Journal reported of a provisional MMC-Power Financial deal last month. Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch advised MMC on the transaction. MMC's shares lost 0.3% closing at $29.50 in normal trading yesterday.
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Labels: AIG, AOC, Hot Stocks, ING, KIE, MMC