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Cramer's 'Mad Money Recap': How to Beat High Oil Prices

TheStreet.com Staff

06/09/08 - 07:48 PM EDT

Click here for an archive of Cramer's "Mad Money" recaps.

"Instead of freaking out over the price of gasoline, why not make some money from it," Jim Cramer told viewers of his "Mad Money" TV show Monday.

According to Cramer, the stratospheric rise in the price of oil is not being driven by speculators as many analysts and pundits claim.

Instead, he pointed out three reasons why oil is at $135 a barrel. First, the old oil fields are drying up. Second, it's getting more difficult to find new oil and get it out of the ground. And third, the demand for oil is growing every day, especially in China, India and the rest of the developing world.

"It now takes twice as many rigs to pull the same amount of oil out of the ground and now we need even more of it," he said. Because of this continuing trend, Cramer turned his attention to the wildcat drillers, who explore and drill previously untapped areas of the world.

Cramer added Petrohawk Energy (HK Quote) to his ever-growing list of "must own" oil and natural gas stocks, calling it one of the lowest-cost producers of oil and gas in the group.

The company currently boasts 1.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, and with new properties being developed in the shale fields of Arkansas and Louisiana, it could add 1.6 trillion cubic feet in its reserves.

Cramer called Petrohawk a $48 stock masquerading as $35 stock. He added the company to his other favorites, including Devon ( DVN Quote), Southwestern Energy ( SWN Quote), Apache ( APA Quote), XTO Energy ( XTO Quote), Chesapeake ( CHK Quote), Anadarko ( APC Quote) and Ultra Petroleum ( UPL Quote).

Cramer: If Your Stock Needs Oil, Don't Own It

Cramer owns XTO Energy and Southwestern for his charitable trust, Action Alerts PLUS.

A Stealth Green Play

Michael Thaman, chairman and CEO of Owens Corning (OC Quote) came on the show to discuss his company's growing wind power and energy conservation businesses.

Cramer last recommended Owens Corning back on May 12 at $24.74 a share. Since then, shares of Owens have climbed to $28.58, only to retreat to Cramer's original recommendation price.

Stockpickr

Thaman said that Owens Corning is the leader in insulation business, and that by their estimation, 60 million homes in the U.S. are under insulated. He reminded homeowners that insulation is the cheapest way to lower energy consumption.

Cramer noted Owens Corning's promising composite business, especially in the wake of the growth of wind power.

Thaman said that the wind power industry has historically underestimated demand, and he expects to see another five to 10 years of strong growth in the industry. He said Owens is now building up to eight tons of fiberglass for a single windmill blade, making it lighter, stronger and more efficient.

Thaman acknowledged the troubles in the company's roofing business, but he feels the situation has stabilized and the company is getting costs and demand realigned.

Cramer continued to back Owens Corning and Thaman, calling them important elements of his "new tech" thesis of companies that work on the world's most important problems.

The Genius of Icahn

Cramer pondered his own sanity before telling viewers that he actually recommends buying both Motorola (MOT Quote) and Yahoo! (YHOO Quote).

Cramer explained that while he hates both companies for turning great brands and franchises into mockeries, and while he loathed both company's CEOs enough to add them to his "Wall of Shame," he has faith that one man can turn them around.

He said activist investor Carl Icahn is the only one who can unlock the value in the two failing entities. He recommended piggy-backing off of Icahn's moves and taking advantage of what Cramer called a "proven strategy."

Cramer cited BEA Aerospace (BEAS Quote), Kerr McGee and Time Warner (TWX Quote) as recent examples of Icahn's success in turning around companies.

In addition to the Icahn factor, Cramer said both Motorola and Yahoo! are cheap. He told investors to absolutely not buy these companies for their on-going businesses, but only for the potential Icahn can potentially unleash from them.

Mad Mail

Cramer told a viewer that the recent insider selling in First Solar (FSLR Quote) was just so large that he couldn't continue to be behind the company. "No company will receive my backing with that much insider selling," he said.

Sudden Death

Cramer was bullish on Valmont Industries (VMI Quote) and Transocean (RIG Quote).

He was bearish on Dell (DELL Quote).

Lightning Round

Cramer was bullish on CVRD (RIO Quote), Discovery Holdings (DISCA Quote), Terex (TEX Quote), Caterpillar (CAT Quote) and Mechel Steel (MTL Quote).

He was bearish on Aircastle (AYR Quote), Dryships (DRYS Quote) and China Mobile (CHL Quote).

Want more Cramer? Check out Jim's rules and commandments for investing by clicking here.

For more of Cramer's insights during the Lightning Round, click here.

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