Even Household Names Fall on Hard Times

Earlier today, I talked about the notion that we are seeing companies that used to be large-cap entities that simply can't be considered that anymore.

Consider that right now Whirlpool (WHR - commentary - Cramer's Take), which bought Maytag and has put together the appliance powerhouse of the world, is valued at $2 billion. That's amazing, that's incredible. It simply is real small, no longer a major company, and it seems as if, given the debt on its balance sheet, people believe its viability is totally in question.

It's also obvious that its dividend is in jeopardy.

Or consider Black & Decker (BDK - commentary - Cramer's Take): this once-major company is now a $1.5 billion little gem (I own this one for Action Alerts PLUS) that may have its worth in that brand equity. It is just inconceivable to me that this company isn't worth more, but nobody cares. Nobody at all, and there are worries galore about the dividend.

Or consider Newell-Rubbermaid (NWL - commentary - Cramer's Take). This one is also at about $2 billion, with a 6% yield. This company is a leader in products sold in the home and was a onetime great brand corporation with Sharpie, Rubbermaid, Little Tykes, Calphalon Levolor and Berol. As with Whirlpool and Black & Decker, I have used every one of this company's products. It's a household name, just like the rest of them.

You could roll all of these up and create one of the great household products companies in the world.

But it doesn't seem to matter. Not one whit. And so they languish until the economy turns.

Nobody cares.

Random musings: A financial bottom being called by Doug? I wish I could go along with him. I am simply not positive at all on this group. ... There are certain consumer stocks that are clearly hostage to the strikes: Altria (MO - commentary - Cramer's Take), General Mills (GIS - commentary - Cramer's Take), perhaps Procter & Gamble (PG - commentary - Cramer's Take), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ - commentary - Cramer's Take). Just be aware of it. ... Amazing decline and fall of one of my fave nat-gas plays, Ultra Petroleum (UPL - commentary - Cramer's Take). But that group is just toxic. ... The bogus tech rally is on again! Who the heck buys these stocks? Struggling to understand the rally in the drillers today. I figure it is some sort of Oil Service HOLDRs (OIH - commentary - Cramer's Take) shenanigans as we have often seen on this day ahead of expiration. ... I am surprised at the deterioration in Comcast (CMCSA - commentary - Cramer's Take), which initially looked so good. Subs were not so hot. Meanwhile, Verizon (VZ - commentary - Cramer's Take) should be a winner with FIOS, but, as Dan Fitzpatrick points out in a series of good videos today, Verizon looks awful.

At the time of publication, Cramer was long Black & Decker, General Mills, Johnson & Johnson and Altria.

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