Jim Cramer's Mad Money Review

"Today's market action should be getting your attention," Jim Cramer told viewers of his "Mad Money" TV show Wednesday.

He told viewers that every day the possibility of the next Great Depression is on the line and investors need to start taking notice.

Falling 427 points from Dow 8,000 is a lot more meaningful than falling 427 points from Dow 10,000, Cramer told viewers. "This market is in critical condition," he said, "and the solution is to save as many patients as you can."

Cramer said the two main "patients" in this market are the banks and the automakers, and both need help right away. He said while it's clear the doctors in this scenario, mainly the Treasury and Federal Reserve, are willing to save the banks, they are much more reluctant to save the automakers.

Cramer called this policy just wrong, stating that if the government lets the automakers fail, it will signal a death blow to the markets and the economy.

He said giving money to the "Wall Street gangsters" instead of to the millions of people who would be affected by the failure of General Motors (GM) would be catastrophic.

Cramer said the only solution to this market crisis is to give as much money as possible to as many "patients" as possible, and not to withhold money from those who need it most.

Source: TheStreet.com

Labels: General Motors Corp., GM, Jim Cramer, Mad Money

"Am I too negative?" That's the question Jim Cramer asked rhetorically on his "Mad Money" TV Show Monday. His reply: "No, I don't think so."

Cramer said every time the Dow Jones Industrial Average bounces off its lows of 8,200, he really wants to be a bull. But then, reality returns and he realizes the bad news is still getting worse, not better.

While the federal bailouts may have prevented everything in the economy from completely falling apart, Cramer said they still haven't addressed the real problem of home price deflation, nor have they created a single new job.

And while falling gas prices may give consumers much needed reprieve, Cramer said the dismal retail sales numbers prove that the consumer is still not spending.

Cramer said the fact of the matter is things aren't really improving. Home builders, he said, are still turning out new homes as fast as they can.

And the fate of General Motors (GM) still lingers over the economy like a huge black cloud.

Cramer said the only things that would change his mind on the markets are interest rate in China and Europe, or a resolution to the GM crisis. Until then, he said, "there are just too many negatives out there."

Published By TheStreet.com

Labels: General Motors Corp., GM, Jim Cramer, Mad Money

General Motors Corp. shares hit their lowest price since 1949 in the opening minutes of trading Friday as financial turmoil and a weakening global auto market heightened worries that the automaker may be unable to pull out of its nosedive before it runs out of cash.
The company's shares lost nearly one-third of their value Thursday, plunging to their lowest level in more than 58 years, after Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said the automaker's credit could fall further into junk status, making it even tougher to borrow money.
Just after Friday's session began, shares fell 76 cents to $4 as the Dow Jones industrial average fell nearly 700 points, but GM rebounded along with the Dow and was up 24 cents to $5 by midmorning.
The drop marked the first time GM shares hit the $4 mark since Nov. 16, 1949, according to the Center for Research in Security Prices at the University of Chicago.
GM issued a statement Friday saying that while it faces "unprecedented challenges" related to the ongoing problems in the financial markets and weakening economies across the globe, it still doesn't consider bankruptcy protection as an option.

Labels: General Motors, GM

Get into General Motors (GM), Jim Cramer said on CNBC's "Stop Trading!" segment Tuesday.
The auto giant is a "heavily unionized company, and it's going to be non-unionized," Cramer said. "This is a non-union company very soon. I salute GM." He recommended preferred shares for more conservative investors.
Cramer weighed in on Kynikos Associates' Jim Chanos' short position in bond insurers MBIA (MBI) and Ambac (ABK). The move makes "a huge amount of sense," Cramer said. "The Buffett thing is really bad" for these companies.
"I admit Chanos is a rigorous thinker. I have watched his thinking for 20 years," Cramer added, recalling the investor's excellent call on Boston Chicken, which filed for bankruptcy in the late 1990s.
Cramer also discussed Pershing Square Capital founder Bill Ackman's call on Sears (SHLD). Cramer agrees with Ackman's long position in the retailer. "In Eddie Lampert I trust," he proclaimed, referring to Sears' chairman. "I'm not going back on my view."
Cramer continued, "It's very clear that this is a housing recession and [Sears is] housing." He said he thinks critics have been too hard on Lampert and Sears.
Published By TheStreet.com

Labels: ABK, CNBC's Stop Trading, GM, Jim Cramer, MBI, SHLD, Stop Trading

The Dow closed down 211 points and the Nasdaq finishing down 34. The S&P 500 has now given up all of its gains on the year. Najarian continues to like the four horseman names like Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOG) and Research In Motion (RIMM) which showed strength on Wednesday. Adami recommended getting long General Motors (GM) right here with a specific stop price in mind. Finerman found it strange that Fannie Mae (FNM) went up Wednesday. Crude oil came close to $100 on Wednesday, but fell just short and finished the day at $97.19. Gartman feels the stock market is behaving horribly and he is short names like Harley-Davidson (HOG), Tiffany (TIF) and Coach (COH) and long Microsoft (MSFT)and Apple (AAPL). Gartman's favorite position right now is short Cummins (CMI).
CNBC Pharmaceuticals Reporter Mike Huckman joined the show to discuss his take on big pharma stocks. Huckman explained that Pfizer (PFE) is having issues with safety concerns on a stop smoking drug, falling Lipitor sales and generic competition. Huckman also mentioned that Merck (MRK), Eli Lilly (LLY) and Bristol Myers (BMY) were all down on Wednesday. Finerman likes Johnson & Johnson (JNJ).
Investors tend to sell their biggest losers towards the end of the year to reduce the tax hit they take from their winners. Some of the names at 52-week lows are Citigroup (C), Pfizer (PFE), Merck (MRK), J.C. Penny (JCP), Capital One Financial (COF), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and AIG (AIG).
Word on the Street
Macke recommended buying The Gap (GPS) on dips. Finerman likes Limited (LTD) on valuation. Adami suggested buying Citi Trends (CTRN) ahead of earnings for Monday. Najarian likes Target (TGT) for its valuation in retail.
Deere & Company (DE) traded up 5% after profits rose 52%.
Najarian suggests looking at Agco (AG)
Najarian noted strong call options trading activity on Tibco Software (TIBX).
Pops & Drops
Pops - Google (GOOG) traded up 2%
U.S. Steel (X) traded up 5% also bucking the down trend in the market.
Drops - Tesoro (TSO) fell 3%
American International Group (AIG) fell 6%.
Circuit City (CC) fell 6% after a JPMorgan analyst downgraded the stock.
Jamba Juice (JMBA) plunged 30%
Final Trade
Macke says don't buy stocks if you don't have to and Adami and Finerman just gave thanks in the holiday spirit.
Najarian likes Apple (AAPL) and he thinks the stock will explode into January.

Labels: AAPL, BMY, CMI, CNBC, CNBC's Fast Money, COF, COH, Fast Money Recap, FNM, GM, GOOG, HOG, LLY, LTD, MRK, MSFT, pfe, RIMM, TGT, TIF

The Dow closed down 218 points and the Nasdaq fell 43 points on Monday. Finerman sees storm clouds are everywhere and the Goldman downgrade of Citigroup (C) really hurt the markets. Najarian had a fun day trading. He also thinks the financial sector is in big trouble and he is extremely worried about General Motors (GM) which fell below $27.
Louise Yamada, a highly ranked technician on Wall Street, joined the show to discuss her analysis on the technicals of the market. She is currently worried that the S&P 500 could break 1406, which would signal to her an end of the longer-term uptrend. Yamada is still bullish on Cisco Systems (CSCO) and she would look to buy pullbacks on the name. She looked at the chart on Broadcom (BRCM) calling it a sell because it hasn't followed through after a false break-out. The chart on Coca-Cola (KO) is initiating an uptrend according to Yamada, so she would be a buyer of KO. Bed Bath and Beyond (BBBY) should be sold.
Retail
Nordstrom (JWN) reported a 22% rise in third-quarter profits helped by an extra week of sales.
Sears Holdings (SHLD) disclosed it has taken a 13.7% stake in Restoration Hardware (RSTO) and the possibility of proposing an acquisition.
Target (TGT) is set to report earnings Tuesday before the opening bell.
Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) clocked a 28% jump in profits off of strong notebook sales.
Medtronic (MDT) reported a 2% decline in profits, but the stock trades 3% higher after hours.
Lowe's (LOW) dropped 7% after reporting a 10% decline in profits due to the weak housing market.
Celgene (CELG) bought Pharmion (PHRM) for $2.9 billion. Adami thinks that Phizer must make a similar acquisition.
EchoStar (DISH) shares exploded higher Monday after Citigroup said there was a 65% chance that AT&T (T) will buy DISH.
Ultimate Fighting is now the fasting growing spectator sport in the United States. Macke says look for growth in cable companies and satellite companies like Viacom (VIA) and EchoStar. He also thinks makers of energy drinks like Coca-Cola will benefit. He said avoid the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) because the UFC is taking share. Lastly, Macke speculated that Anheuser-Busch (BUD) could be near a beverage deal with the UFC.
Pops & Drops
Pops - Xerox (XRX) traded up 2%.
Intercontinental Exchange traded up 3%
VeriSign (VRSN) traded up 2%.
Drops - E*TRADE (ETFC) fell 13% even with speculation of a takeover by Ameritrade (AMTD)
Wynn Resorts (WYNN) fell 7%
Genesco (GCO) plunged 24%.
Disney (DIS) fell 4%
General Motors (GM) fell 8% after the automaker announced plans for year-end discounts to clear out inventory.
Dillard's (DDS) fell 5%.
Tween Brands (TWB) fell 13%
Final Trade
Macke would purchase Dicks Sporting Goods (DKS) and Target on any selloff Tuesday
Najarian advises buying EchoStar (DISH) on a pullback under $44.
Finerman is long Goldman Sachs Group (GS) and short Lehman Brothers Holdings (LEH).
Adami recommends Vodafone Group (VOD) for a play on China.

Labels: BBBY, BRCM, CELG, Citigroup Inc., CNBC, CNBC's Fast Money, CSCO, DISH, Dow Jones, Fast Money Recap, GM, HPQ, JWN, KO, LOW, MDT, Nasdaq, PHRM, SHLD, TGT

Trish Regan started the show by stating that Dow and S&P at biggest single day gain since September 18th. Nasdaq coming off best one day percentage gain since October 2006. Steve Liesman of CNBC economics says inflation can affect stocks in a positive way, but it does not necessarily mean that companies sold more. He says that inflation is very tame compared to what some expected it to be. Next, General Motors targets fuel efficiency in a hybrid truck. Two electric motors make a V8 truck get 20 miles or more to the gallon. Lutz; Vic Chairman of GM says that capabilities of a normal vehicle will not be lost. Environmental Issues and a higher focus on stricter fuel-effiency standards have driven this change to happen for General Motors. Lutz says that a gradual raise in fuel prices, say 25-30 per gallon per year, will make the transition for consumers much easier. Next, Bear Sterns (BSC) eases credit fears. They are up for a $3.2 m write-off, and will take over 3 years to earn back. Warren Buffet of Berkshire Hathaway says to do not kill estate tax. William Beach of the Heritage Foundation says rich people will always find a way to deal with taxes and they always have. But estate tax is counterproductive to invest and save, which is very much tied to the modern American Dream. It is said that estate taxes affect a very small percentage of Americans. Michael Farr of CNBC says if the estate tax is brought back after 2011, the limits should be raised or changed all together. You can get the full story at buffetwatch.cnbc.com. The NYSE is apparently holding an unscheduled meeting right now, and speculators are wondering why. James Cordier of Energy Analytics says $100 oil is a dead chance for 2007. He says the demand is simply not there for oil to reach $100/per barrel. Jane Wells of CNBC says that the Writers Guild of America on strike will affect much of the Hollywood production as well as the economic viewpoint for writers in America. Economic slow-down and sector rotation headlines the next report presented by Michael Farr. He says with a weak backdrop in almost every department of the the U.S, he is rallying for a much higher year to come in 2008.

Labels: CNBC, CNBC's The Call, General Motors, GM, The Call, trish regan

Wall Street traded mixed Tuesday, selling off large companies' stocks but buying up those of smaller companies, as investors cashed in gains from Monday's big rally and poked around for new bargains.
Investors were only slightly fazed by the National Association of Realtors' report Tuesday that its seasonally adjusted index of pending sales for existing homes fell 6.5 percent in August from July and 21.5 percent from a year ago. The data suggest sales of existing homes will probably keep declining in the coming months -- bad news for the economy, but good news for those hoping for another interest rate cut.
After the Federal Reserve lowered rates on Sept. 18, the stock market is hoping for a similar move again at the Fed's Oct. 30-31 meeting. That optimism drove the Dow Jones industrial average up nearly 192 points Monday to close at 14,087.55 -- a new high and its first foray above the 14,000 level since mid-July, right before a credit market squeeze triggered a stock selloff.
On Tuesday, the Dow fell as investors sold some of their large-cap stocks, such as Honeywell International Inc., ExxonMobil Corp. and United Technologies Corp., which have recently performed well. Also, with commodities prices retreating and the dollar rebounding, big oil and mining companies -- such as Exxon Mobil -- may see smaller profit margins.
"The economy is soft, you have this big run-up, and the fact is people are just taking some profit," said Scott Fullman, director of investment strategy for I. A. Englander & Co. "There's not a ton of news to trade on, and investors are also looking ahead to the unemployment report on Friday."
Meanwhile, small-cap stocks rose as investors returned to companies that were unattractive during the summer's tight credit environment and now appear cheap.
"Larger-cap companies don't need to do borrowing. After the rate cut, those who believe there will be another rate cut would want own smaller-cap stocks," said Matt Kelmon, portfolio manager of the Kelmoore Strategy Funds.
In late afternoon trading, the Dow fell 56.01, or 0.40 percent, to 14,031.54.
Broader stock indicators were mixed. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 2.52, or 0.16 percent, to 1,544.52, while the Nasdaq composite index rose 0.94, or 0.03 percent, to 2,741.93.
Source: Madlen Read, AP Business Writer

Labels: ABX, C, CBH, GM, HON, NEM, TD, UTX, XOM

On today's show, Cramer started off by talking about the good news that General Motors (GM) received with the completion of their labor talks that he thinks will move the stock to $45, and the rumors that Warren Buffet is buying a stake in Bear Stearns (BSC) that will move it higher, along with other financial stocks Citigroup (C), AIG (AIG), J.P. Morgan (JPM), and American Express (AXP).

Cramer then started talking about buying inexpensive oil stocks when there is a pullback in oil prices. His stock choice is Gardner Denver (GDI) that will profit from higher oil prices and a weaker dollar. Compared with similar stocks such as Baker Hughes (BHI), National Oilwell Varco (NOV) and Schlumberger (SLB), Gardner Denver's multiple is too low.

Energy Stocks:
Transcanada (TRP): Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) is better.
Valero (VLO): Refining margins are killing the stock.
Transocean (RIG): He thinks the stock will go up when the GlobalSantaFe (GSF) merger is complete. Cramer also mentioned some Canadian Energy Trusts that he likes. The stocks are Canetic Resources (CNE), Pengrowth (PGH), Baytex (BTE), International PBX Ventures (PBX), Penn West Energy (PWE), and Advantage Energy (AAV).

Are You Diversified?:
Cramer recommended Caterpillar (CAT) to his first callers portfolio. He told his second caller to get rid of NYSE Euronext (NYX). Cramer told his third caller to hget rid of Pfizer (PFE).

Cramer spoke to the CEO of Genesis Lease (GLS) which Cramer recommended at $26. He said he was wrong to call the stock a buy then, but you should "back up the truck" now that it's at $22.

Finally, Cramer took three call in Sudden Death. He is unsure about Layne Christensen (LAYN), he likes Life Partners Holdings (LPHI) but is concerned about the large short interest, and thinks Danaher (DHR) is one of the best performing stocks in the S&P.

Labels: GDI, GM, Jim Cramer, JPM, Mad Money, Mad MOney Recap, NOV, SLB, TRP

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

Stocks pared their losses to trade flat Friday as some investors appeared to view weaker-than-expected economic readings as offering Federal Reserve policymakers further justification for cutting interest rates next week.
Stocks initially fell sharply following a government report that August retail sales excluding automobiles declined. The report suggested consumers held off spending in the face of turmoil in the financial markets, an unwelcome development that some on Wall Street are hoping could be reversed by a rate cut. Fed policy makers meet Tuesday.

Labels: Federal Reserve, GM, Interest Rates, MCD

Dow but not Out: JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM - News), General Motors (NYSE: GM - News), Citigroup (NYSE: C - News), AIG (NYSE: AIG - News), Honeywell (NYSE: HON - News), DuPont (NYSE: DD - News) and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ - News), AT&T (NYSE: T - News), Verizon (NYSE: VZ - News), Pfizer (NYSE: PFE - News) and Merck (NYSE: MRK - News)
After its mid-week drop, the Dow's rally on Thursday inspired Cramer to express confidence in the market and to repeat his prediction that the Dow will reach 14, 548 by the end of the year. He notes only four Dow stocks, JPM, GM, C and AIG are levered to current problems and only JPM and C are directly connected to mortgages. However, he commented HON, DD and HPQ have "beautiful" balance sheets and T, VZ, PFE and MRK will be able to survive the current market. Because of the strength of these stocks, the Dow wasn't crushed yesterday like it was "supposed to be," Cramer said.
The Windy City Merger: CME Group (NYSE: CME - News)
A good way to profit from the vicissitudes of the current market is to invest in CME, which Cramer recommends following its acquisition of the Chicago Board of Trade. Cramer likes the merger so much he thinks the Justice Department should never have allowed it to happen, since CME now has its "hands into everything" and can charge whatever it wants. While CME is trading at 30 x earnings, it is growing at a 20% clip this year, and its growth rate should reach 30% in 2008.
Sell Block: Buffalo Wild Wings (NasdaqGS: BWLD - News), General Cable (NYSE: BGC - News), Mastercard (NYSE: MA - News)
Since BWLD, BGC and MA got crushed after reporting better-than-expected quarters, Cramer explained "why bad things happen to good stocks." First, since all three had been rising rapidly, the bar was raised and "better-than-expected" just wasn't good enough for The Street. Second, there was a "hair" on each quarter, which is Wall Street jargon for a small flaw, or "hair" on a better-than-expected number. It was alleged that MA experienced domestic slowing, BWLD had slightly lower same-store sales and BGC had a downbeat outlook. However, Cramer said the main trick is knowing when to get rid of stock; "You can't count on me to tell you when to sell," he warned listeners, adding he can't always call a top. He said it is safe to sell the stocks now, since they are still high.
CEO Interview: Gregory Milzcik Barnes Group (NYSE: B - News)
Gregory Milzcik says his company is in the "sweet spot" of the current cycle; "We focus on difficult-to-manufacture parts but are also positioned great on high-volume, high-growth platforms, like that of the 787." He adds analysts are not really disappointed with the company, but want to see sales and margin growth, which Barnes Group can deliver. The company has expanded into Europe's "booming" market. Cramer commented; "Let the downgrades come, and then I would buy some. This stock's just way too cheap when it gets down to $20."
Published by SeekingAlpha

Labels: AIG, B, BGC, BWLD, C, CME, DD, GM, HON, HPQ, Jim Cramer, JPM, MA, Mad Money, MRK, pfe, T, VZ

Wall Street found a foothold Monday as investors, still anxious that a credit crunch could crimp U.S. growth, took advantage of low prices after last week's steep losses. The Dow Jones industrial average briefly surged 100 points.
Some strong earnings reports and merger-and-acquisition activity boosted the stock market, which is coming off the Dow's and the Standard & Poor's 500 index's biggest weekly drops in five years. The Dow is down about 4.5 percent from its July 19 record close of 14,000.41, having caved under worries about a shakier lending climate.
In a sign that dealmaking hasn't yet been stanched by aversion to debt, industrial equipment manufacturer Ingersoll-Rand said it's selling its Bobcat earth-moving division and two other units to Korea's Doosan Infracore for $4.9 billion.
And despite rising defaults and delinquencies in mortgage lending, HSBC Holdings PLC, Europe's largest bank by market value, posted a 25 percent rise in first-half earnings. Also, General Motors Corp.'s GMAC Financial Services said second-quarter profit declined but that it expects its residential lending business to improve in the second half of the year.
The market initially wavered between positive and negative territory Monday, but then drove higher in afternoon trading as investors re-entered the market to scoop up bargains.

Labels: GM, HBC, RCCC, RSH, VOD, VZ

Six More Dow Stocks: 3M (NYSE: MMM - News), General Motors (NYSE: GM - News), Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ - News), Home Depot (NYSE: HD - News), Honeywell (NYSE: HON - News), Intel (NasdaqGS: INTC)
Cramer continued his coverage of 30 Dow stocks with MMM, which is up 11%, although Cramer thinks its buyback and dividend increase are already priced in the stock, and he doesn't see sufficient upside to justify buying. Cramer has not been bullish on GM since the resignation of Jerry York from the board, but recommends GM's bond which has a nice percentage return. HPQ is "about to take off" and although it reported a "really great" quarter, it hasn't gone up yet. Cramer says HPQ is the only tech stock worth owning for the duration of the summer. Admitting he was wrong in his prediction of an interest rate cut from the Fed, Cramer says there is not a strong incentive to own HD, and would buy Sears instead. Honeywell is four points ahead of target, and while Cramer thinks it could go to $63, the stock would be too pricey. Intel's preformance has been disappointing, its price war with Advanced Micro Devices has been "bitter," and it shouldn't rise much higher than $24, Cramer said.
In the Beginning: Genesis Lease (NYSE: GLS - News)
After listening to AIG's earnings call, Cramer became aware of the "hot" business of leasing airplanes. The demand for aircraft currently outstrips supply, and Boeing can't produce planes quickly enough. GLS is a pure play on aircraft finance and is a way to benefit from the health of the industry "while keeping airlines at arm's length." The company is strong internationally, has a great cash flow and a solid dividend.
CEO Interview: Dan Batrack, Tetra Tech (NasdaqGS: TTEK)
Dan Batrack says the water resource management and infrastructure company has a strong pipeline and is at an all-time high. Backlog has surpassed revenue for five straight quarters, and the company is also involved in wind and nuclear energy, areas where demand exceeds supply. Cramer says he likes TTEK and notes its government contracts.
Published by SeekingAlpha

Labels: GLS, GM, HD, HON, Hot Stocks, HPQ, INTC, Jim Cramer, Mad Money, MMM, TTEK

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

Toyota Motor Corp. on Tuesday said its U.S. auto sales climbed in March, as sales of its Prius hybrid more than doubled and demand for its luxury Lexus brand rose. Toyota -- which is close to elbowing Ford out of the No. 2 U.S. sales spot -- sold 242,675 vehicles in March, up 11.7 percent from 217,286 vehicles a year ago. Total car sales jumped 19.4 percent to 140,009, while truck sales edged up 2.7 percent to 102,666. Toyota sold 19,156 Prius hybrid cars in March, compared with 7,922 a year earlier. The car maker's popular Corolla and Camry sedans were top-selling models, as well. Corolla sales rose 6.3 percent to 34,355, while Camry sales increased 8.4 percent to 42,254. Offsetting the gains, sales of Toyota's Scion brand models all declined. In its truck division, Toyota saw stronger sales of both sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks. Adjusted for one additional selling day last month, total sales rose 7.7 percent in March. Year to date, total sales have risen 11.2 percent to 605,855 from 544,851. Adjusted for the two additional selling days in the 2007 period, sales climbed 8.3 percent. General Motors Corp. is the top seller of vehicles in the U.S. Toyota American Depositary Shares rose 18 cents to $127.10 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
Published by AP

Labels: Auto Sales, GM, TM

Wall Street fluctuated Wednesday, seeking a direction a day after concerns about faltering subprime mortgage lenders sparked a broad selloff in stocks.
The market showed its continuing nervousness about soured loans among subprime lenders. H&R Block Inc. added to unease by announcing after the closing bell Tuesday that it would increase its losses for the third quarter because of a $29 million writedown at its mortgage arm.
The anxiety over mortgage lenders, particularly the subprime lenders that make loans to people with poor credit, pushed the Dow down by more than 240 points Tuesday, its second-biggest drop in nearly four years. The pullback resembled a 416-point drop in the Dow seen two weeks ago that began in part after a nearly 9 percent drop in stocks in Shanghai and amid concerns about subprime mortgages.
In morning trading, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 7.93, or 0.07 percent, to 12,068.03.
Broader stock indicators were little changed. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 0.82, or 0.06 percent, to 1,378.77, and the Nasdaq composite index fell 0.24, or 0.01 percent, to 2,350.33.
U.S. stocks were more stable in the early going than overseas markets were Wednesday. Japan's Nikkei stock average closed down 2.92 percent, while Hong Kong's Hang Sang index fell 2.57 percent and the sometimes volatile Shanghai Composite Index fell 1.97 percent. In afternoon trading, Britain's FTSE 100 fell 1.57 percent, Germany's DAX index fell 2.03 percent, and France's CAC-40 fell 1.85 percent.
Bonds were little changed; the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note remained flat at 4.50 percent from late Tuesday, while gold prices fell.
The dollar, which was mixed against other major currencies, rose against the yen. Some observers have fingered the ascendent yen with contributing to the volatility seen in recent weeks on Wall Street. A rise in the yen against the dollar stirred concern of a reduction in the so-called yen carry trade, which occurs when investors use the yen to acquire higher-yielding assets elsewhere.
Light sweet crude was unchanged at $57.93 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Following Tuesday's sobering declines in stocks, some investors might have found reassurance about the well-being of the economy in General Motors Corp. report that it turned a profit for the fourth quarter, its first since the first quarter of 2006. GM, which rose 40 cents to $30.91, benefited from a big gain from the sale of about half its stake in its General Motors Acceptance Corp. financing arm.
But trouble at GMAC's Residential Capital LLC real-estate financing business added to investor concern Tuesday after ResCap said it has struggled with a slower pace of loan originations and a further erosion in its subprime business.
H&R Block, the nation's largest tax preparer, said it would delay filing its annual report and said the reduced value of its mortgage business pushed its quarterly loss higher. The stock fell $1.05, or 5.2 percent, to $19.
In economic news, the deficit in the broadest measure of foreign trade narrowed by 14.6 percent in the final quarter of 2006 to $195.8 billion, the smallest quarterly imbalance since the summer of 2005, helped by a lower foreign oil bill. For 2006, the Commerce Department said the current account deficit, which reflects not only trade in goods and services but also investment flows between countries, set a record for the fifth consecutive year.
The Labor Department said the prices of imported goods rose 0.2 percent in February when excluding oil prices. In January, import prices fell 0.9 percent.
Weighing in again with mortgage data, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Wednesday its weekly mortgage index, which measures mortgage loan application volume, rose 2.8 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from the prior week. On Tuesday, the group's report that new foreclosures jumped to their highest-ever level in the fourth quarter of 2006 helped touch off the day's cavalcade of sell orders.
In other corporate news, Citigroup Inc. rose 10 cents to $48.85 after announcing plans to begin a tender offer for Nikko Cordial Corp. on Thursday after raising its offer for Japan's third-largest brokerage to quell shareholder opposition.
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., the fourth-largest U.S. investment house, credited robust trading and an expansion overseas with driving first-quarter profits. Lehman fell $3.52, or 4.9 percent, to $68.48 as it began a conference call with analysts.
The recent volatility in the U.S. markets, while perhaps normal, still drew concern from some investors who had grown accustomed to the calm conditions since U.S. stocks began their steep climb in July. Even before Wall Street's recent unease, volatility might have been expected to increase as the week neared the expiration of contracts for stock index futures, stock index options and stock options on Friday. The confluence of events, which Wall Street has dubbed triple witching, can bring volatility as investors try to square their options and futures orders.
Declining issues outnumbered advancers by about 5 to 4 on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume came to 247.9 million shares.
The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 1.65, or 0.21 percent, to 767.47.
Published by Tim Paradis, AP Business Writer

Labels: C, GM, HRB, LEH

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.
GFI Group (NasdaqGS:GFIG - News). GFIG's PowerRating is 7.
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.
A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts (NasdaqGS:ACMR - News). ACMR's PowerRating is 6.
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.
General Motors (NYSE:GM - News). GM's PowerRating is 8.
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.
Merrill Lynch (NYSE:MER - News). MER's PowerRating is 6.
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.
Home Depot (NYSE:HD - News). HD's PowerRating is 6..
Stocks Down 10% or More: These are stocks that have lost 10% or more over the past five days and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that have lost 10% or more over the past five 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.
Westlake Chemical (NYSE:WLK - News). WLK's PowerRating is 8.
Bearish
2-Period RSI Above 98: These are stocks that have a 2-period RSI reading above 98 and are trading below their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading below their 200-day moving with a 2-period RSI reading above 98 have shown negative returns, on average, 1-day and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU - News). BTU's PowerRating is 3.
PowerRatings are courtesy of PowerRatings.net

Labels: ACMR, BTU, GFIG, GM, HD, Hot Stocks, MER, WLK

Watch TV, Make Money: Anheuser-Busch (NYSE: BUD - News), PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP - News), General Motors (NYSE: GM - News), Disney (NYSE: DIS - News), Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG - News), Time Warner (NYSE: TWX - News), Garmin (NasdaqGS: GRMN), Diamond Foods (NasdaqGS: DMND)
While many people tune out commercials, Cramer has noticed that the Superbowl' s main advertisers have great long-term gains, especially the top three: BUD, PEP and GM. "Despite GM holding the group back, if you owned these stocks for the last 20 years, you'd be up 739% vs. the S&P 500, which has been up 487%," he said. In addition, Pepsi, Bud, DIS, PG and TWX saw an upsurge in their stocks 3 months after their Superbowl commercials appeared last year. However, Cramer warned investors to watch out for poseurs who buy expensive advertising time they can't afford, and urges doing homework on stocks before buying. Cramer prefers companies which grow consistently rather than GRMN, and he doesn't think DMND will reap much benefit from its ad, given that it is a small company, but he likes the fact that it is involved in the healthy food trend, and thinks it will go higher. Cramer's favorite Superbowl advertiser is BUD.
Business is Booming: Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS - News), Legg Mason (NYSE: LM - News) and T. Rowe Price (NasdaqGS: TROW)
"Gaming the whims and needs of aging baby boomers represents the single greatest secular growth theme out there!" declares Cramer who believes that his generation is not only interested in having hard bodies and wrinkle-free skin, but is also "working longer, living longer and investing longer." One of the best ways to play boomer retirement is to benefit from the repositories of their money, says Cramer, who likes Goldman Sachs, but prefers pure asset managers such as LM and TROW. Of the two, Cramer prefers TROW because it puts more money into equities, whereas LM is "bond heavy."
CEO Interview: Roy Vallee, Avnet (NYSE: AVT - News)
Roy Vallee said that "a lot of hard work" went into Avnet's remarkable quarter, and when Cramer asked the CEO how the distributor had a stronger performance than its clients, the semiconductors, Vallee said that the company's broad base across various industries was responsible for Avnet's success, as well as its worldwide team effort. Cramer declared AVT's story "fabulous" and said that he should have included it on his list of tech stocks that are safe to own.
Published by SeekingAlpha

Labels: AVT, BUD, DIS, DMND, GM, GRMN, GS, Hot Stocks, Jim Cramer, LM, Mad Money, PEP, PG, TROW, TWX

Bullish calls:
NYSE Group (NYSE: NYX - News): 'NYX is still my growth stock of the year.'Altria (NYSE: MO - News): ' ... that's my number 1 value stock of the year, and we've been making money in that name. 'Public Storage (NYSE: PSA - News): 'PSA is one of those incredible situations where I believe... this group's in bull market mode, and it is not about to stop, and I think PSA is two thumbs up, way up!'Tower Group (NASDAQ: TWGP - News): ' I like the insurance business. Obviously, a little expensive versus price to book, because it sells at like 4x book. But it's growth rate is equal to its P/E multiple.'Transocean (NYSE: RIG - News)GlobalSantaFe (NYSE: GSF - News)Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC - News): 'WFC - best in show quarter.'JPMorgan (NYSE: JPM - News): 'I suggest you swap into JPM.' WFC - best in show quarterJ.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP - News): 'Let me just tell you to be in some JCP.'
Bearish calls:
General Motors (NYSE: GM - News): 'GM is in a holding pattern. It can't do anything until the numbers start getting better. Had they not lost Jerry York ... the stock would have gone to $40. Right now, it is strictly 'don't buy, don't buy...'Hertz Global (NYSE: HTZ - News): ' Take the money and run! I don