Jim Cramer's Mad Money Review

Ford (F): Cramer began Monday's show by recommending investors buy Ford. Thinks that it will profit off the fact that GM broke the unions with its latest negotiations and that it is selling some of its units. Jim then took a couple of phone calls. The first call was about Tata Motors (TTM), which Cramer likes, but he thinks is too expensive. The second caller asked about Toyota (TM). Cramer won't back Toyota because the weak dollar hurts their sales and the Japanese market is the worst in the world.
In the next segment, Cramer continued to talk about investing opportunities related to GM's success against the UAW. He looked off the beaten path and found American Axle and Manufacturing (AXL) since the company makes auto parts, and has a labor contract that ends in the near future.
Cramer then took some more phone calls. He was asked about Garmin (GRMN), which Cramer thinks fell too much, but he will be concerned about it once the Navteq (NVT) and Nokia (NOK) merger is completed next year. Another caller asked about Eaton (ETN), and Cramer said that it’s one of his favorite manufacturing stocks. The next caller asked about CarMax (KMX), and Cramer said that you should think about pulling the trigger in late November to avoid tax-loss selling.
After the lightning round, Cramer talked about a stock that went public this summer without much attention and considers it an overlooked IPO. His pick is Dolan Media (DM), which helps process mortgage defaults.
Mad Mail:
Cramer read emails about NYSE-EuroNext (NYX), which Cramer thinks he "blew it" when he recommended the stock. Boeing (BA): Despite past devastating news, Cramer believes in it. Siemens (SI): Cramer thinks is in great shape and that you should hold onto it.

Labels: AXL, BA, DM, ETN, F, GRMN, Jim Cramer, KMX, Mad Money, Mad MOney Recap, NOK, NVT, NYX, SI, TM, TTM

Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE: FCX - News): 'A lot of people were shaking today when it was down $4. That was a mistake. The quarter was a thing of beauty. ... I think you should stay in FCX. Copper and gold? We need 'em both.'Celgene (NasdaqGS: CELG - News): 'Buy some Celgene!'Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB - News): 'This company is the best in show. I gotta tell you something. It ain't done. You know what this company is? It's $80 going to $120. ... Get some Schlumberger.'Ford (NYSE: F - News): 'Go buy the Ford preferred. Don't buy the common.'Bank of America (NYSE: BAC - News)Citigroup (NYSE: C - News)Hologic (NasdaqGS: HOLX - News): 'It has to close this deal. Until it closes this deal, you're not going to get the ramp that you want. ... This is going to own women's diagnostics. They're going to own it, and when they do, this stock is going to go up huge.'Dominos Pizza (NYSE: DPZ - News): 'It reported this great quarter. ... Remember, just up $2 almost. I prefer to buy it under $20. Be patient.'Tata Motors (NYSE: TTM - News): 'I'm going to give this only a lukewarm buy up here.'Accenture (NYSE: ACN - News)Trinity Industries (NYSE: TRN - News): ' I like Trinity because I like rails. When you think of rails, you think of a company that makes rail cars. That's Trinity.'Leucadia National (NYSE: LUK - News): 'It's just a couple of guys that run money. They do a good job. ... I'm never going to dis them.'Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM - News)Nike (NYSE: NKE - News)Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT - News): 'You need to be in Caterpillar.'Terex (NYSE: TEX - News)
Bearish calls:
Human Genome Sciences (NasdaqGM: HGSI - News): 'Don't mess with Human Genome Sciences. Buy some Celgene.'ING (NYSE: ING - News): 'That's a bank I don't really care for.'Spartan Motors (NasdaqGS: SPAR - News): 'This was a great trade. It has since turned into a bad one, and I've gotta tell you, bad ones don't come back. ... I don't want to own this anymore.'Joy Global (NasdaqGS: JOYG - News): 'Too levered to coal. That was a nasty, ugly quarter. I can't sugarcoat it.'Nokia (NYSE: NOK - News): 'Do I like Nokia? Absolutely. Do I think that you're being a hog? Absolutely. You're selling half tomorrow morning, my friend.'

Published by SeekingAlpha

Labels: ACN, BAC, BAM, C, CAT, CELG, DPZ, F, FCX, HGSI, HOLX, ING, Jim Cramer, Lightning Round, LUK, NKE, SLB, TEX, TRN, TTM

Sole Survivor: Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM - News), Ford (NYSE: F - News), General Motors (NYSE: GM - News) and DaimlerChrysler (NYSE: DCX - News)
While Ford and General Motors are declining and Cerberus' acquisition of DCX should shrink it into a "teeny weeny auto company," Toyota will be the last big car company left, says Cramer. Although the stock is down after reporting disappointing numbers, Cramer believes TM will keep "growing and improving." Its decline in operating profit was the result of investing resources for growth, and Cramer notes TM is expanding while its competitors are shrinking. Cramer would buy TM while it is cheap.
Sweet as Honeywell (NYSE: HON - News)
Cramer continued his series on "transformational CEOs" with Dave Cote of Honeywell, who took the reins from "despised figure," Michael Bonsignore. The company was buried in asbestos problems, but since Dave Cote has taken over, the company has improved sales and cash flow. Athough it is up 10 points, Cramer is still bullish on HON.
Mad Mail: Level 3 Communications (NasdaqGS: LVLT), Syneron Medical (NasdaqGS: ELOS)
Cramer says LVLT is a good bandwith shortage play, and says CEO James Crowe is "bankable." While there is some concern over management change at ELOS, Cramer likes the company's recent numbers and says it is a "product story."
Published By SeekingAlpha

Labels: DCX, F, GM, HON, Jim Cramer, LVLT, Mad Money, TM

Six Flags (NYSE: SIX - News): 'We are big fans of Mark Shapiro... I like the advanced ticket sales. I like what he's doing. I am bullish on SIX, but I have to believe that you don't want to pull the trigger until it is below $6.'Ford (NYSE: F - News): 'People are believing in Alan Mulally [CEO}, and it's about time. He's shrinking the company ... we have heroes on Wall Street, not just villains, and Alan is one of the heroes!'Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC - News): 'Best in show bank. 14x multiple. Unbelievable. WFC is good - don't buy, don't buy - but I want you to pull the trigger on GS!'Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS - News): ' ... at $225, and I think it's going to $350... I want you to pull the trigger on GS.'Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU - News)Chemed (NYSE: CHE - News)Charter Communications (NasdaqGM: CHTR) 'CHTR's going higher! CHTR is now up almost a dollar from where we recommended it.'J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP - News)Kohl's (NYSE: KSS - News)Saks (NYSE: SKS - News): 'Somebody upgraded it today. They're finally getting on board. I like that one too!'Dick's Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS - News)Lowe's (NYSE: LOW - News)Federated Department Stores (NYSE: FD - News): 'That stock has gotten too cheap. I'd like to buy that. Buy, buy, buy.'Sears (NasdaqGS: SHLD): ' ... is a stock that everybody now hates... (buzzer sounds)... Meanwhile, I say, c'mon. The guy's making money. Give him the BOD - give him the benefit of the doubt!'Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT - News): ' ... why would you not buy Caterpillar instead, which is best in show, much too low versus the rest of the group.'Joy Global (NasdaqGS: JOYG): 'I like JOYG, but it is to CAT that I am pointing you to...'Syneron Medical (NasdaqGS: ELOS): 'We're still sticking with ELOS ... We like the lasers. We believe in the dental laser. Has it taken off yet? Not yet, but we still like it. I would stick with ELOS.'China Medical (NasdaqGS: CMED): 'The stock is good... A very strange combination of hospice and Roto Rooter... I am sticking by CMED. I would take a little off, because ... hogs get slaughtered... but CMED was a good one and it remains so.'New York Stock Exchange/Euronext (NYSE: NYX - News): '.... was so ugly today that... I've never seen such a bear raid on a stock ... The Euronext numbers that came out were great!'
Bearish calls:
Consol Energy (NYSE: CNX - News): 'Keep looking! Don't pull the trigger! Don't buy, don't buy.'Massey Energy (NYSE: MEE - News): ' ... that one is just awful! House of pain...'DivX (NasdaqGM: DIVX): 'I cannot get behind DIVX. That was one of the ugliest quarters out of the chute that I've ever seen... I cannot do the right thing when management screws up. I am not getting behind DIVX. No way, no how!'Big Lots (NYSE: BIG - News): 'BIG is not a favorite of mine.'Sport Chalet (NasdaqGM: SPCHB)Central Garden & Pet (NasdaqGS: CENT): 'Pass on CENT... Inconsistent. Not a great company. Way too levered to whether we have a good garden season, which is really bad. Sell, sell, sell!'
Published by SeekingAlpha

Labels: BIG, BTU, CAT, CHE, CHTR, CNX, DKS, F, FD, GS, JCP, Jim Cramer, KSS, Lightning Round, LOW, NYX, SIX, SKS, WFC

DaimlerChrysler (NYSE: DCX - News): Cramer predicts DCX will go from $84 to $90 on Kirk Kekorian's $4.5 billion offer. He comments that Jerry York is a "smart guy" and people underestimate both Kekorian and York.
Ford (NYSE: F - News): Concerning controversy over the $28 million payout to Ford CEO Alan Mulally, Cramer commented Mulally is "worth every penny" and is doing a fantastic job saving Ford from bankruptcy.
Under Armour (NYSE: UA - News), Crocks (NasdaqGS: CROX): Although Cramer likes UA more than CROX, he says the shorts are "out of control," especially since everyone will be wearing the shoes this summer, and he would pick CROX; "I believe that this is another situation where the shorts should have their shoelaces and their belts removed, because I just don't want them to cause harm to themselves."
Published by SeekingAlpha

Labels: CROX, DCX, F, Hot Stocks, Jim Cramer, Stop Trading, UA

Bullish calls:
Denny's (NasdaqCM: DENN): 'I want to be candid. They did not have a good month. I am sticking by them because, what I liked them for is the restructuring that's fixing their balance sheet ... it's part of my little under-$10 package that I think is ramping, and that I think goes still higher. DENN is fine with me. I want to hold it.'Blockbuster (NYSE: BBI - News)Dynegy (NYSE: DYN - News)Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (NYSE: RIO - News): 'This company accomplished something that no other company could do in the western hemisphere... It literally merged with its #2 competitor ... and it has created a mineral powerhouse ... I think it's got $45 written on it. I have liked this company for 10 points. I bet you I like it for another 15! But, I've got to tell you - let's understand - it's had a big run. It is up 68% year over year. It goes to $40, and goes to $45. It probably pulls back a little, and ultimately goes to $50.'NYSE Group (NYSE: NYX - News): 'I think this is the most undervalued stock on the New York Stock Exchange - how ironic... I just bought some again for my charitable trust last week, and I am anxious to pull the trigger again, because I just think it is so darn undervalued versus when that Euronext deal closes. This one is a keeper.'Yahoo! (NasdaqGS: YHOO): ' ... there was an article in the Wall Street Journal that really said that the Yahoo AT&T relationship is ka-put, that it's just a trainwreck ... Now, over the weekend, YHOO and AT&T put out a series of releases that basically said that the Journal was dead wrong. Maybe it's something in between, but the people who tossed this stock out on Friday overreacted to what I think may have been a lot wrong in that article. I'm staying with YHOO.'eBay (NasdaqGS: EBAY)Big Lots (NYSE: BIG - News): ' ... As soon as I saw the Dollar General buyout, I said that someone is going to bid for this BIG, so I hit it up. Sure enough, 52-week high but, you know what? It probably has a little bit more to go. Now, let me caution... If I owned it, it's up 120% year-over-year, and that means bulls make money, bears make money, but hogs get slaughtered. So, if you owned it for the last year....'BEA Systems (NasdaqGS: BEAS): 'I recommended it at $12. Right now, I'm giving myself 30 lashes... I am disappointed in how this company reported. I still believe that Oracle could take them out ... I want to stick with it for now.'
Neutral calls:
Ford (NYSE: F - News): 'I don't mind the company, but the stock is wrong ... I think that Ford will be successful in its turnaround, but I like to play it with the right piece of paper - the convertible bond.'
Bearish calls:
USG (NYSE: USG - News): 'USG is a really interesting situation, because it never seems to ever go right where Warren Buffet says that he would buy the rest of it, which is mid-40s... Now, USG in the end, is deeply levered to the housing market, and you know that I am a bear on housing.'Heelys (HYLS): 'I think that HLYS is over-valued ... I went recently to a couple of sporting goods stores. They're stocked to the gills with Heely's. I don't like to see that. Sell, sell, sell!'News Corp. (NYSE: NWS - News): 'We're a dollar away from register ringing on NWS. It doesn't mean I dislike it. It does mean it's had a really big run.'Quiksilver (NYSE: ZQK - News): 'Awful. Awful. I've got to tell you. This is one of the worst quarters I have seen from any apparel company, and they're blaming the warm weather ... I hate those kind of excuses. In other words, what I'm saying is, it's probably too late to sell right now but, if that stock rallies, sell, sell, sell!'
Published By SeekingAlpha

Labels: BBI, BEAS, BIG, DENN, DYN, EBAY, F, Jim Cramer, Lightning Round, Mad Money, NWS, NYX, RIO, USG, YHOO, ZQK

Cash-strapped Ford Motor Co. has sold a controlling stake in the Aston Martin brand, made famous by its exotic sports cars appearing in James Bond movies, raising $848 million to help fund its turnaround plan.
Aston Martin now will be run by a consortium of investors, including racing mogul David Richards, car collector John Sinders and Kuwaiti firms of Investment Dar and Adeem Investment Co.
Ford officials announced the sale Monday at Aston Martin's headquarters in Gaydon, England. The sale is expected to close in the second quarter.
Ford will retain a $77 million stake in the company. That values all of Aston Martin at $925 million. Ford shares slipped 3 cents to $7.90 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Labels: Aston Martin, F

Labels: ABG, AMD, AN, F, ID, Jim Cramer, JOYG, KMX, Lightning Round, LMC, LSI, Mad Money, MRVL, PMTI, SCI, SYMM, UAG, URBN

eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY - News) beat earnings expectations on Wednesday afternoon with $0.31 EPS over an estimated $0.28 EPS. EBAY's PowerRating is 4.
Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM - News) beat earnings on Wednesday afternoon, announcing $0.43 EPS over an expected $0.42 EPS. QCOM's PowerRating is 4.
AT&T (NYSE:T - News) announces earnings Thursday before the open; watch for $0.59 EPS. T's PowerRating is 5.
Dow Chemical (NYSE:DOW - News) looks set to announce $0.93 EPS on Thursday morning. DOW's PowerRating is 5.
Analysts are expecting Ford (NYSE:F - News) to report -$0.91 EPS on Thursday morning before the bell. F's PowerRating is 6.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT - News) is expected to report $1.45 EPS when the company reports quarterly earnings tomorrow. LMT's PowerRating is 5.
Nokia (NYSE:NOK - News) reports quarterly earnings Thursday morning; analysts expect $0.35 EPS. NOK's PowerRating is 4.
PowerRatings are courtesy of PowerRatings.net

Labels: DOW, EBAY, F, LMT, NOK, QCOM, T

Bullish calls:
Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB - News): 'I'm steering people toward SLB.'Transocean (NYSE: RIG - News): ' ... that's the cheapest international driller, now that SLB has run so much. That's a better buy.'Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (NYSE: RIO - News)Allegheny Technologies (NYSE: ATI - News)Wachovia (NYSE: WB - News): 'This is a 4% yielder with decent growth. Good quarter today. You know I like the regional banks. I say it's okay. I prefer BNS.'Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE: BNS - News): ' I prefer BNS [to WB].'Ford (NYSE: F - News)Marvell Technology (NASDAQ: MRVL - News): 'I am going to recommend - even at the price of perhaps a shortfall near term - MRVL. I think that's one down and 10 up. That's my gift to you.'Charles Schwab (SCHW): 'SCHW's good. ETFC's good. AMTD's good. They all trade more expensively, though, than the full-service brokers.'Ameritrade (NASDAQ: AMTD - News)E*Trade (NASDAQ: ETFC - News)Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS - News): 'I have been recommending GS. The stock's been down for two days and, you know what? (motions to back up the truck for a 'mon-back) - even that short of time, and I want to buy GS, because I'm using a $300 price target and it's one of my stock picks of the year - my value stock pick...'Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI - News)Adobe Systems (NASDAQ: ADBE - News): 'I think ADBE is unfairly being brought down. I think ADBE is right here ... I'd like to buy this one for my charitable trust. That's how great I think it is down here ... It's a triple buy. Buy, buy, buy! ... I want you to stay with it.'@Road (NASDAQ: ARDI - News): ' Good speculative play on the net. I like it, I'll endorse it.'Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI - News): 'Yes! That's a well-run company!'
Bearish calls:
Talisman Energy (NYSE: TLM - News): 'I don't want to be in TLM. I want to be in RIG.'Zoltek (NASDAQ: ZOLT - News): ' I don't like ZOLT. I think it's played out. We recommended it on this show at $12. When it doubled, we took our profits. And I'm not going back. I do not want to own ZOLT.'Syntax-Brillian (NASDAQ: BRLC - News): 'No can do, my friend. That's like hamburger helper. I'd rather go for the real thing; I'd rather go for the filet mignon [MRVL].'Fuel-Tech (NASDAQ: FTEK - News): 'I like pollution control stories somewhat ... I'm concerned that this is one of those 'State of the Union' plays, where it drops down tomorrow, so let's take profits today.'Visteon (VC)SAIC (NYSE: SAI - News): 'There is a sense that the consulting companies that report to the government for military purposes aren't doing well ... I think that SAI - which I liked a little too much, I now say - is just 'don't buy, don't buy' ... New position for me - new negativity.'Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ: ESLR - News): 'Another one of these (bear)... I am not going to countenance any of these solar plays with energy going down!'Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHI - News): 'BHI has a decent product portfolio, but RIG* is the name of the game ... because it's an international driller. 'Complete Production Services (NYSE: CPX - News): 'No, we're going to RIG.'
Published by SeekingAlpha

Labels: ADBE, AMTD, ARDI, ATI, BNS, DRI, ETFC, F, GS, JCI, Jim Cramer, Mad Money, MRVL, RIG, RIO, SLB, WB

Bullish calls:
Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB - News): 'I'm steering people toward SLB.'Transocean (NYSE: RIG - News): ' ... that's the cheapest international driller, now that SLB has run so much. That's a better buy.'Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (NYSE: RIO - News)Allegheny Technologies (NYSE: ATI - News)Wachovia (NYSE: WB - News): 'This is a 4% yielder with decent growth. Good quarter today. You know I like the regional banks. I say it's okay. I prefer BNS.'Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE: BNS - News): ' I prefer BNS [to WB].'Ford (NYSE: F - News)Marvell Technology (NASDAQ: MRVL - News): 'I am going to recommend - even at the price of perhaps a shortfall near term - MRVL. I think that's one down and 10 up. That's my gift to you.'Charles Schwab (SCHW): 'SCHW's good. ETFC's good. AMTD's good. They all trade more expensively, though, than the full-service brokers.'Ameritrade (NASDAQ: AMTD - News)E*Trade (NASDAQ: ETFC - News)Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS - News): 'I have been recommending GS. The stock's been down for two days and, you know what? (motions to back up the truck for a 'mon-back) - even that short of time, and I want to buy GS, because I'm using a $300 price target and it's one of my stock picks of the year - my value stock pick...'Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI - News)Adobe Systems (NASDAQ: ADBE - News): 'I think ADBE is unfairly being brought down. I think ADBE is right here ... I'd like to buy this one for my charitable trust. That's how great I think it is down here ... It's a triple buy. Buy, buy, buy! ... I want you to stay with it.'@Road (NASDAQ: ARDI - News): ' Good speculative play on the net. I like it, I'll endorse it.'Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI - News): 'Yes! That's a well-run company!'
Bearish calls:
Talisman Energy (NYSE: TLM - News): 'I don't want to be in TLM. I want to be in RIG.'Zoltek (NASDAQ: ZOLT - News): ' I don't like ZOLT. I think it's played out. We recommended it on this show at $12. When it doubled, we took our profits. And I'm not going back. I do not want to own ZOLT.'Syntax-Brillian (NASDAQ: BRLC - News): 'No can do, my friend. That's like hamburger helper. I'd rather go for the real thing; I'd rather go for the filet mignon [MRVL].'Fuel-Tech (NASDAQ: FTEK - News): 'I like pollution control stories somewhat ... I'm concerned that this is one of those 'State of the Union' plays, where it drops down tomorrow, so let's take profits today.'Visteon (VC)SAIC (NYSE: SAI - News): 'There is a sense that the consulting companies that report to the government for military purposes aren't doing well ... I think that SAI - which I liked a little too much, I now say - is just 'don't buy, don't buy' ... New position for me - new negativity.'Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ: ESLR - News): 'Another one of these (bear)... I am not going to countenance any of these solar plays with energy going down!'Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHI - News): 'BHI has a decent product portfolio, but RIG* is the name of the game ... because it's an international driller. 'Complete Production Services (NYSE: CPX - News): 'No, we're going to RIG.'
Published By SeekingAlpha

Labels: ADBE, AMTD, ARDI, ATI, BNS, BRLC, DRI, ETFC, F, FTEK, GS, JCI, Jim Cramer, Lightning Round, Mad Money, MRVL, SAI, TLM, WB, ZOLT

Best Backdoor IPO: Dov Charney's sexual escapades are legendary in the fashion and apparel business. They would have made for fun reading in a prospectus, but American Apparel's founder and chief executive doesn't have to worry about that now. Charney sold his company last week to Endeavor Acquisition Corp. (AMEX: EDA - News), a "blank-check" company. The deal allows American Apparel to go public without dealing with the scrutiny of analysts, investors, and underwriters. Hopefully, the company will do a secondary offering at some point, if only to feed my need to read one trashy novel a year.
Sportsman Director of the Year: Lance Armstrong won seven-consecutive Tour de France titles, but to employees of Morgans Hotel Group Co. (Nasdaq: MHGC - News), he's best known as a member of the board of the directors. A boutique hotel owner and operator, Morgans went public in February at $20.00. Armstrong bought 1,000 shares during the initial public offering, but the investment has yet to pan out. If nothing else, Armstrong receives an annual fee of $25,000 for serving on the board, plus free or discounted rooms at Morgans' properties. Now, if he could only get Morgans to install bike racks outside of their properties.
Thanks For Nothing Award: After Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F - News) laid off thousands of workers as part of its "Way Forward" announcement, a former employee of the automaker put his alarm clock up for sale on eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY - News), writing, "This is a one-of-a-kind dual alarm clock with AM/FM radio and with 'INDIGLO Right Light' display that worked phenomenally for 7 years for a Ford Motor Company engineer. This alarm clock is SO reliable that it helped me achieve a Perfect Attendance award for 4 of my 7 years at the company!!! Since I was laid off last week as part of Ford's 'Way Forward' initiative, I no longer have the need for an alarm clock." The clock, which retails for about $20, sold for $152.50.
I Hope They're Hedged Award: The implosion of biotech firm Telik Inc. (Nasdaq: TELK - News) was a rude, unwanted, late Christmas gift for many investors, but none more so than Eastbourne Capital Management, which owns about 13 million shares of the stock, or an almost 25% stake in the company. From February 24th to December 22nd, Eastbourne, through its Black Bear Offshore Master Fund LP, bought approximately 3.7 million shares of Telik at an average price of $16.90, or an investment of about $65 million. Eastbourne is down more than -72% on that position alone, and based on the firm's historic holdings of Telik and Telik's historic stock price, the firm looks to be anywhere from $150 million to $200 million in the red on the position.
The Seven Dirty Words Award: David Farr of Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE: EMR - News) takes this year's honors. The chairman and CEO of the electrical products maker used the S-word a combined three times on conference calls in August and November. Farr's best use of the word came in August when he answered a question regarding tax rates and worked in a jibe about the ability of Congress to pass new laws: "S!&%, miracles do happen."
The Un-Midas Touch Award: Daniel Snyder made a fortune in direct marketing, but thus far his efforts to turn around amusement park operator Six Flags Inc. (NYSE: SIX - News) have been anything but fun, as the stock looks like it will end the year down about -25% to -30%. Snyder's bigger problem is the on-the-field performance of the Washington Redskins. While he's built the team into the most valuable franchise in all of sports (thanks in part to the fact that it owns the stadium in which it plays), Snyder can't seem to put a winner on the gridiron. The 'Skins are wrapping up what is probably the most disappointing season of any NFL team, and fans in the D.C. area are increasingly debating whether Snyder or Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos is the worst owner in all of sports. Disclosure: The author was born in Washington, D.C. and lived in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area for 24 years.
Quote of the Week: "The three-martini lunch is the epitome of American efficiency. Where else can you get an earful, a bellyful, and a snootful at the same time?" - President Gerald R. Ford in 1976.
Quote of the Year: "However it happens, the hedge fund managers of today are often amassing huge fortunes. They are stars in the financial firmament. But clearly their social utility to the nation and to the world is hard to see when compared with the social utility conferred by an Andrew Carnegie, an Andrew Mellon, a Henry Ford, or a John D. Rockefeller, who genuinely built a nation and a world. Providing liquidity for different kinds of variable-rate mortgages simply does not compare, at least as I view it." - Ben Stein in the December 24th edition of The New York Times, in a column entitled, "The Hedge Kings Are Rich, but Will They Be Noble?"
Published by Ben Silverman, FindProfit.com

Labels: EBAY, EDA, EMR, F, MHGC, SIX, TELK

Ford Motor Co. president and CEO Alan Mullally met with officials from Toyota Motor Corp. last week, according to Japanese business newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun. Toyota chairman Fujio Cho and Ford executive vice president Mark Fields attended the meeting, which might be the start of potential partnership negotiations, the newspaper said. Both companies have ties to Kentucky. Toyota (NYSE: TM - News) bases its North American manufacturing operations in Erlanger, Ky. It also has a plant in Georgetown, Ky., which is the company's largest manufacturing facility in North America. Ford (NYSE: F - News) operates two plants in Louisville: the Kentucky Truck Plant on Chamberlain Lane and the Louisville Assembly Plant on Fern Valley Road.
Source: Bizjournals.com

Labels: F, Ford, TM, Toyota Motor

Best Buy (NYSE: BBY - News), Circuit City (NYSE: CC - News), Exxon (NYSE: XOM - News), Apple (Other OTC: APPL.PK - News), Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL - News), Fed EX (NYSE: FDX - News), Altria (NYSE: MO - News), Colgate (NYSE: CL - News), Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG - News), Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM - News), New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: NYX - News), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS - News), Ford (NYSE: F - News), Sotheby's (NYSE: BID - News), Bank of America (NYSE: BAC - News), Valassis Communications' (NYSE: VCI - News), Advo (NYSE: AD - News): Cramer observed that the performance of BBY and CC is an indication of strong consumer spending, adding: "As soon as you cut price for anything in this market, the consumer is ready." Since CC is losing a lot of its TV sales to BBY, Cramer suggests buying BBY. Cramer attributes the reverse in the market (although oil is up) to end of the year buying and that Monday's sellers are finished; "Do not forget how little stock there is around. So when the futures trade up, they are able to move absolutely everything." Cramer noted that futures did trade up and added that he would pick up oils like Exxon, since mutual funds are doing the same thing. He recommends buying Apple at $86, Oracle, and FedEx after it comes down, and says that the reason he is interested in these "broken situations" is that "Everyone needs a bargain to get in because then they feel like they've missed it. They don't want to show that they don't have enough equity in an unbelievable Dow year." Cramer noted that many companies reported that a weak dollar helped them in terms of translation, and believes that this is the reason Altria, Colgate and Procter and Gamble are too low. He suggests looking at TM, NYX and GS, adding that GS can ramp as the window is stil open to sell, that it had a great quarter and is cheaper than comparable stocks. He thinks that the NYX's merger with Euronext will be worthwhile in spite of the lack of sponsorship. Cramer warns against Ford upgrades because the company has to do some banking. He commented that BID looks cheap, BAC gave a good report and that VCI's merger with AD is at the right price.
Published By SeekingAlpha

Labels: AAPL, AD, BAC, BBY, bid, CC, CL, F, FDX, GS, Jim Cramer, Market Minute, MO, NYX, ORCL, PG, TM, VCI, XOM

Hangover Remedy with Stocks: Boeing (NYSE: BA - News), Honeywell (NYSE: HON - News) and Ford (NYSE: F - News): In an interview with Alan Task of TheStreet.com, Cramer described the sluggish market as an "options hangover" that usually happens in the morning until 1 pm as investors with call options are anxiously awaiting good news. These investors exercise options, get common stock and tend to be margin players and "kick it out" if there is good news. As mutual funds put money in the market after 1 p.m., the market experiences "a bountiful afternoon." Cramer has noted this hangover pattern since the Fed raised rates in May, and while it "freaks people out," he suggests giving the market a chance. His message to retail and mutual fund investors who haven't gotten into the market yet was: "You will have to pay higher prices this time next year." Looking at the fees companies like Goldman Sachs are making, returns from private equity firms and the cash they are putting to work, and a bond market that "is desperate for any kind of high yield," Cramer concludes that moving away from the market would be "premature." Concerning comments that the current market is a bubble, Cramer points out that this was also said of real estate in 2003, and the bubble lasted two years. He suggested staying away from industrials with the possible exception of Honeywell and Boeing. Cramer remarked that the Fed tends to cut on a crisis and "I believe the crisis is going to be with Ford." Even though he likes CEO Alan Mulally, he doesn't think that Ford can get itself out of its tailspin, and although it has raised $18 billion, he thinks that the money will go fast. Cramer adds that he "loves the fact that is subprime is blowing up," which should also encourage the Fed to cut rates.

Labels: BA, F, HON, Jim Cramer, Market Minute

Ford Motor Co. (F.N: Quote, Profile , Research) will sell the plants of its Automotive Components Holdings unit to Cooper-Standard and Flex-N-Gate, the automaker said on Monday. Cooper-Standard will buy a fuel rail factory in El Jarudo, Mexico, that employs about 500 people, and Flex-N-Gate will buy a Milan, Michigan, plant that makes fuel tanks and automotive trim and employs about 700 people, Ford said. Separate memorandums of understanding for the sales have been signed. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Automotive Components Holdings is a Ford-managed holding company formed in October 2005, when Ford took back 23 facilities from struggling former parts subsidiary Visteon Corp. (VC.N: Quote, Profile , Research). Ford said earlier this month said it would sell its climate-control business to French car parts maker Valeo (VLOF.PA: Quote, Profile , Research).
Ford, struggling with falling U.S. market share and rising costs, plans to sell or close all ACH facilities by the end of 2008 as part of its restructuring plan that aims to return the automaker's North American unit to profitability.
Source: Reuters.com

Labels: F, Ford, Valeo, VC

Movin' on Up: Dolby (NYSE: DLB - News), Mastercard (NYSE: MA - News)
Cramer says that Dolby is still a buy even though it has risen substantially in the past month, and the stock reminds him of Mastercard which has kept going up. He comments that Dolby did not raise its estimates high enough and that it should fetch $1 per share in 2007. Dolby is "a great play on the flat-panel TV upgrade cycle, "and is starting to produce gaming consoles, notes Cramer who also likes that fact that 79% of its revenue comes from licensing which has big margins which should increase as it pursues the video market.
Trading Truce: eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY - News), Google (NASDAQ: GOOG - News), Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO - News), Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU - News)
Although Cramer has been picking on eBay all summer, he finally declares that at $31.30 "it has become the ultimate value stock." First of all, he says that it is cheaper than it should be, it owns PayPal which web Goliath Google has not been successful in supplanting with its own service. Cramer admits that he was too critical of CEO Margaret Whitman, who has been negotiating advertising deals with Yahoo and Google, as well as an agreement with Baidu which will help distribute PayPal in China. In addition, eBay is flush with cash and is implementing buybacks, notes Cramer, who says that while he felt eBay was overpriced in the past, now "not only is it cheap, it's good."

Sell Block: Hershey (NYSE: HSY - News), Sirius Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI - News), Panera (NASDAQ: PNRA - News), XM Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: XMSR - News), Ford (NYSE: F - News), Smith & Wesson (NASDAQ: SWHC - News) and Bankrate (NASDAQ: RATE - News)
After hearing that Hershey lowered its earnings estimates, Cramer admits that he was wrong about the stock and suggested selling once it reaches $50 from$49.34. He also admitted a mistake in thinking that SIRI doesn't need to merge with XMSR. After SIRI lowered its sales outlook, Cramer thinks that the stock won't go anywhere "except slightly down unless it gets that merger with XM Radio." Yet another company, Panera, reduced its earnings estimates, blaming Midwestern stores. However, since only a small percentage of stores are affected, Cramer suspects that sluggish growth is the real reason for the reduction."It is running out of steam and I was wrong to recommend it. Get rid of it." Ford, which Cramer had recommended, is issuing convertible bonds with a 4% yield. "Now ... the common stock is plain wrong," Cramer said. "If you want to play Ford, then play it with the convertible bond for less-risky exposure." Finally, Cramer suggested taking some SWHC and RATE off the table.

CEO Interview: Sally Smith, Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ: BWLD - News)
Cramer asked Sally Smith if BWLD could maintain its 11.8% company-owned sales growth, and she responded confidently that providing a good dining experience would encourage customers to come back. She added that the company could "absolutely" expand from 400 to 1,000 stores and noted that a new store was opened in Brooklyn, addressing a demand to go national: "We started getting letters from all over the country," she said. "They were craving the sauces and the wings and were wondering when we were going to their towns." Cramer commented on the restaurant chains "multiyear growth plan" and says that if it ever dips "back up the stock and buy some."
-Miriam Metzinger

Labels: BIDU, BWLD, DLB,