Cramer: These Are the Champions

Is it too early to pick winners from losers? Is it too early to anoint a company a survivor? The analysts sure don't think so.

We are seeing some Darwinian selection going on in many industries, so it might be pertinent to flag the winners and judge whether they are worth investing in.

First is Best Buy (BBY Quote). The destruction of Circuit City(CC Quote), as well as smaller outfits like Tweeter, has created an incredible opportunity for Best Buy to take a huge amount of share in the consumer electronic hardware business. I say tough one, as I have seen analysts put as much as 13 cents per share in winnings from closing Circuit City stores. But in the end I have to tell you that I do not like the business itself -- I fear the upside's been discounted as consumer electronics is easy to do without and I don't think 2009 will be a turn year for this kind of merchandise.

Wal-Mart (WMT Quote) is such a winner over Target (TGT Quote), JC Penney (JCP Quote) Kohl's (KSS Quote), Macy's (M Quote) and all the other major discounters that it is hard for me to believe it isn't game, set, match already -- except for Costco (COST Quote). I believe Wal-Mart is a big stock for next year precisely because it is the winner. (Odd, but Macy's is back to where it was before it got its credit agreement. That's a little too negative for me.)

Verizon (VZ Quote)and AT&T (T Quote): 2009 will be the year that these two feast off of everyone else and they will surprise in their share-take. It is time we call these two the winners vs. both cable and Sprint (S Quote), although the latter continues to stay in front of people in a way that makes Verizon and ATT spend tons, thereby hurting their bottom line.