Mad Money Recap
Cramer's 'Mad Money' Recap for July 15
Scott Rutt
07/15/08 - 08:03 PM EDT
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"I think Thursday will be a landmark day for wind power," Jim Cramer proclaimed to the viewers of his "Mad Money" TV show Tuesday. At a cost of only 4 cents per kilowatt, Cramer said wind power is the cheapest form of renewable energy. He said the entire wind power industry could get a boost on Thursday when the Texas Public Utility Commission makes an important ruling that will significantly boost wind power in the state. Cramer said the proposal would create eight renewable energy zones in the state, providing much needed infrastructure to connect remotely located wind farms to the existing power grid. He said the decision will likely set the precedent for other states to get behind wind power. Cramer revisited his index of 10 wind power stocks levered to the growth of wind power created on May 28. Since its creation, the "Wind-ex" is down 11.8% along with the overall markets. But Cramer said after Thursday's expected ruling, the wind story will get better than ever. The "Mad Money" Wind-ex includes Trinity Industries (TRN), a stock which Jim owns for his charitable trust, Action Alerts PLUS, which is down 19.7%; Thomas & Betts (TNB), also down 19%; Owens Corning (OC), down 20%; Clipper Windpower (CRPWF), down 22%; Kaydon Corp (KDEN), down 15.8%; Broadwind Energy (BWND), down 18%; Woodward Governor (WGOV), down 11%; MasTec (MTZ), down 1.6%; Vestas Wind Systems (VWDRY), down 1.9%; and Otter Tail (OTTR), the only one in the group with a gain of 15.8%.
Cramer: It's the Year of Natural Gas |
More Wind Power
While most stocks levered to wind were getting hit again today, Cramer said he's still a buyer of Quanta Services (PWR), a stock which he's adding to the "Mad Money" Wind-Ex. Quanta, a stock owned by Jim's charitable trust, Action Alerts PLUS, was last mentioned on Nov. 15, 2007 at $27.28, and is up 6.3% since that recommendation. He said that Quanta, which builds and maintains energy infrastructure, is poised to take advantage of the coming boom in wind power. According to Cramer, the U.S. will invest $1.5 trillion on energy infrastructure between now and 2030, and Quanta will be a beneficiary. The proposed initiative currently in front of the Texas Utility Commission alone could provide for $3 billion to $9 billion in new infrastructure investments. Cramer said electricity, which accounts for only 60% of Quanta's business, is only part of its operations. He said that 17% of the company's revenue comes from natural gas services and 17% comes from telecom and cable services, which is in the midst of a major upgrade cycle. Quanta, which currently has $5.2 billion of work in its backlog, sports only a $5 billion marketcap. Cramer said whenever a company's backlog meets or exceeds its total marketcap, it's worth a look. He said he'd be a buyer under $29 a share.It's Already Illegal
"Today we heard something good from the SEC but also something misguided," Cramer told viewers. He noted earlier today Chris Cox, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), said he's banning naked shorting, the practice of shorting a stock without first borrowing shares from a broker, for shares of Freddie Mac (FRE) and Fannie Mae (FNM). But Cramer said the problem with Cox's statement is that naked shorting is already illegal. The SEC, he noted, just doesn't enforce their own rules. Cramer, a long time opponent of hedge funds pummeling certain stocks through excessive shorting, said the agency needs to stop misleading the public and instead start enforcing the existing rules. Cramer said the SEC has under regulated and failed to prosecute their own laws. He urged Cox and others at the SEC to start taking action to protect companies and small investors.A Bearish Overreaction
Shares of Eaton (ETN), a stock he's championed in recent weeks, got pounded today after it lowered its annual guidance by 20 cents. He talked with Sandy Cutler, Eaton's chairman, president and CEO, to find out what happened. Cutler defended Eaton's performance, saying it delivered record revenues and profits in the recent quarter. He said he lowered the company's guidance in recognition of a potential global economic slowdown. He said market overreacted. He said he still sees overall strength in Eaton's global electrical and hydraulics business. In his opinion, he said it was prudent to mention the slowing growth in Europe and elsewhere. Cramer reminded viewers that his "new-tech" stocks are performing 5.3% better than the overall S&P500. And he said he's standing behind Eaton and agreed the declines today were just an over-reaction.