Cramer's 'Mad Money' Recap: July 1
Scott Rutt
07/01/08 - 07:44 PM EDT
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"Today we saw leadership from a group that's been hated all year," Jim Cramer told viewers of his "Mad Money" TV show Tuesday.
Healthcare stocks, he said, are on the ascent because they stand to benefit from the upcoming Medicare spending bill that will give investors a unique opportunity "to have the wind at their backs."
According to Cramer, the new Medicare spending bill now provides incentives for using electronic prescriptions, as opposed to paper, through 2010, and mandates electronic prescriptions thereafter. The provisions, now in both the House and Senate versions of the bill, will be a windfall for
Allscripts(MDRX Quote), a company with a lock in the e-prescription business, he said.
Allscripts currently has a client base of 150,000 doctors, nearly one quarter of all the doctors in the U.S., along with 700 hospitals. Yet, Cramer noted only 2% of prescriptions were sent electronically in 2007, leaving a huge market for Allscripts to tap. The company's ERX software provides doctors with a free way to start sending prescriptions electronically with no upfront costs.
Shares of Allscripts have been hit hard in recent months due to bugs in their electronic healthcare platform and what Cramer called overall poor execution. But the management has proclaimed the platform ready for prime time. Cramer said now is the time to invest in the company, especially with electronic prescriptions expected to grow 400% in 2008.
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Allscripts trades at just 18 times its earnings, despite a 23.5% long-term growth rate. Cramer expects the company will soon return to a 25 multiple on its 2009 earnings, which translates into a 44% gain in the stock.
"Allscripts is the one I want you to own," he asserted.
Another Medicare Play
Cramer also recommended
ResMed (RMD Quote), one of the two biggest companies making equipment to treat sleep apnea, as his next Medicare spending play.
With a 40% share of the market, ResMed enjoys a happy duopoly with Respironics, a company recently acquired by
Philips Electronics (PHG Quote), said Cramer.
According to Cramer, shares of ResMed have been unfairly hit by a recent announcement that Medicare will begin competitive bidding for durable medical equipment. "The earnings won't be hit nearly as hard as Wall Street thinks," said Cramer.
Better still, Cramer said Congress may even postpone the second round of competitive bidding, further enhancing ResMed's earnings.
Cramer also noted that beginning this fall, Medicare will make it easier for patients to obtain sleep apnea equipment. With the sleep apnea market only 10% penetrated, Cramer said the growth potential for ResMed is significant, with or without competitive bidding.
New Medicare rules also allow provide reimbursements for in-home testing of sleep apnea, which Cramer predicts will allow for more patients to be diagnosed and treated for the illness. ResMed, he noted, also makes the in-home testing equipment.
Cramer expects ResMed could see $50 to $53 a share, translating into a 30% gain from current levels. He called the shares "way underpriced."
Chopper Profits
Cramer recommended
Bristow Group (BRS Quote) as another play on increased drilling, both on and off-shore, in the U.S.
Bristow provides helicopter services to transport manpower to off-shore oil platforms. With more off-shore rigs heading to deeper waters, Cramer says demand for Bristow's services should increase over time. He said the barriers to enter the market are high, giving Bristow pricing power not seen in other industries.
Bristow is currently a $1.1 billion company, with 77% of the company's revenues coming from overseas. With the continuing war in Iraq, Cramer said helicopters have been in short supply, further helping fuel Bristow's growth. "We've got a chopper shortage brewing, and Bristow's the way to play it," said Cramer.
Cramer said Bristow's private placement of additional shares on June 19 hurt the common stock, but with money now in hand to purchase 19 additional choppers, the upside of the deal will be realized quickly.
Mad Mail
In this segment, Cramer told a viewer that his recommendation of
Watts Water (WTS Quote) on November 2, 2006 was wrong, adding he needs to see a bottom in residential housing before he can recommend the stock again.
Cramer told a second viewer that he's still bullish on
Hornbeck Offshore (HOS Quote),
Anadarko (APC Quote),
Nabors (NBR Quote) and
Transocean (RIG Quote).
Sudden Death
Cramer was bullish on
Newfield Exploration (NFX Quote)
and
Intel (INTC Quote).
He was bearish on
SAP AG (SAP Quote).
Lightning Round
Cramer was bullish on
United Technologies (UTX Quote),
Honeywell (HON Quote),
Exelon (EXC Quote),
Duke Energy (DUK Quote),
Consolidated Edison (ED Quote),
Verizon (VZ Quote),
AT&T (T Quote),
Ener1 (HEV Quote)
and
Sociedad Quimica (SQM Quote).
Cramer was bearish on
Pep Boys (PBY Quote),
Brush Engineered Materials (BW Quote),
SunTrust Banks (STI Quote),
Owens Illinois (OI Quote),
Wachovia (WB Quote)
and
Emcore (EMKR Quote).
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