Cramer's 'Mad Money' Recap: Energize with EnerSys

05/21/08 - 07:36 PM EDT

TheStreet.com Staff

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


Jim Cramer returned to his "new tech" thesis, highlighting battery maker EnerSys (ENS Quote - Cramer on ENS - Stock Picks) on his "Mad Money" TV show Tuesday. Cramer said it's companies like EnerSys that are solving the world's problems -- and hold the greatest investment potential.

EnerSys is the world's largest manufacturer of industrial batteries. The company's products can be found in forklifts and in mining and railroad equipment. EnerSys also has a backup power division that provides emergency power for telco and other infrastructure companies.

However, Cramer said the real potential of EnerSys lies in its proprietary Thin Pure Plate Lead (TPPL) battery technology. Using this technology, EnerSys is manufacturing batteries that run longer with less maintenance and come in smaller packages. Cramer said these batteries could soon replace traditional lithium-ion batteries used in hybrid cars.

EnerSys' TPPL business currently only accounts for 10% of the company's sales, but with demand outstripping supply, Cramer sees the technology playing a much bigger role for the company in the future. EnerSys, he said, is also in a position to pass most of its rising commodity costs directly onto the consumers, helping its bottom line.

Shares of EnerSys have been up big since the company preannounced a better-than-expected quarter, but Cramer said with its recent pullback Wednesday, now is the perfect time to buy into the long-term potential of EnerSys. "EnerSys," he said, "is your new tech battery play."

Housing Help

Cramer welcomed Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd to the show to discuss the anti-foreclosure bill working its way through Congress. The bill, which now heads to the full Senate for a vote, would offer federal assistance to homeowners via the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), letting them refinance their homes at affordable rates.

Cramer called the bill "the beginning of the end of the housing crisis," and commended Dodd for his involvement. Dodd explained that under the plan, at-risk homeowners would simply need to contact their banks and initiate the process. Once qualified, the FHA would allow for refinancing at reasonable rates and back the loans so they get approved in a timely fashion.

Dodd also explained that the bill reforms the country's affordable housing program and offers reforms to both Fannie Mae (FNM Quote - Cramer on FNM - Stock Picks) and Freddie Mac (FRE Quote - Cramer on FRE - Stock Picks). One thing not included in the bill is a $600 billion tax credit for home builders, which Dodd said he didn't support.

According to Dodd, between 9%-12% of all the homes in the U.S. are now in a situation where debt exceeds the value of the home. He said that the last thing homeowners want are foreclosures on their street holding down home prices. "The heart of the problem is housing, and the heart of the housing problem is foreclosures," said Dodd.

Stockpickr

When asked why it took so long to act on the housing crisis, Dodd explained that many in Congress shy from the word "bailout", but he explained that this bill isn't a bailout, but rather a much needed and long-overdue assistance for the victims of what he called rampant mortgage fraud.

Am I Diversified?

Cramer played "Am I Diversified?" with callers to see if their portfolios have what it takes. The first caller's portfolio included US Steel (X Quote - Cramer on X - Stock Picks), GrafTech (GTI Quote - Cramer on GTI - Stock Picks), Gran Tierra Energy (GTE Quote - Cramer on GTE - Stock Picks), Trinity Industries (TRN Quote - Cramer on TRN - Stock Picks) and Owens-Corning (OC Quote - Cramer on OC - Stock Picks). Cramer said this portfolio was too weighted in steel, and recommended selling GrafTech and buying a health-care company.

The second caller's top holdings included Berkshire Hathaway (BRKB Quote - Cramer on BRKB - Stock Picks), ConocoPhillips (COP Quote - Cramer on COP - Stock Picks), Dow Chemical (DOW Quote - Cramer on DOW - Stock Picks), Goldman Sachs (GS Quote - Cramer on GS - Stock Picks) and Itron (ITRI Quote - Cramer on ITRI - Stock Picks). Cramer said he was in love with this portfolio and wouldn't make any changes.

The third caller had Yamana Gold (AUY Quote - Cramer on AUY - Stock Picks), Goldman Sachs, Starbucks (SBUX Quote - Cramer on SBUX - Stock Picks), EMC (EMC Quote - Cramer on EMC - Stock Picks) and Disney (DIS Quote - Cramer on DIS - Stock Picks) as their top five stocks. Cramer said this portfolio also had a perfect combination of stocks.

Mad Mail

In the "Mad Mail" viewer feedback segment, Cramer told a viewer that he had been considering DeVry (DV Quote - Cramer on DV - Stock Picks) as a possible recommendation, but accounting issues always equals "sell" in his book.

Sudden Death

In Sudden Death, Cramer was bullish on Frontline (FRO Quote - Cramer on FRO - Stock Picks).

Cramer was bearish on Ford Motor (F Quote - Cramer on F - Stock Picks) and Teekay Tankers (TNK Quote - Cramer on TNK - Stock Picks).

Lightning Round

In the Lightning Round, Cramer was bullish on CSX Corp (CSX Quote - Cramer on CSX - Stock Picks), McMoRan Exploration (MMR Quote - Cramer on MMR - Stock Picks) and Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF Quote - Cramer on CLF - Stock Picks).

Cramer was bearish on USEC (USU Quote - Cramer on USU - Stock Picks), Sara Lee (SLE Quote - Cramer on SLE - Stock Picks), Nordstrom (JWN Quote - Cramer on JWN - Stock Picks), Crown Holdings (CCK Quote - Cramer on CCK - Stock Picks) and Symantec (SYMC Quote - Cramer on SYMC - Stock Picks).


Jim Cramer writes about all the stock trades in his charitable trust for TheStreet.com in Action Alerts Plus. Recent stocks he's traded in this account include Schering-Plough(SPG Quote - Cramer on SPG - Stock Picks), Yamana Gold(AUY Quote - Cramer on AUY - Stock Picks) and Abbott Laboratories(ABT Quote - Cramer on ABT - Stock Picks).

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

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