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NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- Next week, it will be almost impossible to make money, Jim Cramer told "Mad Money" viewers Friday, but that doesn't mean investors can't listen and learn and prepare their next moves. Cramer reminded viewers that the heart of earnings season is the most difficult time to trade, which is why he recommends sitting on the sidelines until after companies report. So what will Cramer be listening to? He said that on Monday, he'll be listening to PPG ( PPG) to see how that company is faring as worldwide growth returns and commodity costs remain low. For Tuesday, Cramer said Lennar ( LEN) will provide an outlook on housing in the U.S., while on Wednesday JPMorgan Chase ( JPM) will offer a look into the banking world. Cramer said he'd be a buyer of eBay ( EBAY) on any weakness after that company reports on Wednesday, and would also pounce on Kinder Morgan Energy Partners ( KMP). Thursday brings more financials, including Bank of America ( BAC), Citigroup ( C) and Capital One ( COF). Cramer said he likes Bank of America in the long term but would buy Capital One on weakness. As for Intel ( INTC), which also reports on Thursday, Cramer said he prefers
Speculation Friday
For "Speculation Friday," Cramer featured sports apparel maker Quiksilver ( ZQK), telling viewers that timing is everything, and in this case the timing may be all wrong. Quiksilver has been in the crosshairs of the Wall Street analysts, with Goldman Sachs recently upgrading the stock while Piper Jaffray downgraded the company. Cramer said Quiksilver has been a wild ride, with the stock soaring in 2005 only to find itself near bankruptcy in 2008. The company does have a new CEO as of today however, something that Goldman noted as a big plus for the company. But Piper noted that while we don't yet have holiday sales data for Quiksilver, the evidence from those retailers that sell Quiksilver merchandise has not been promising. Cramer said he's siding with Piper's research, as Quiksilver has an inconsistent history of delivering on its promises, and any turnaround at the company will likely take time to bear fruit. The company is aggressively cutting costs but it also has a terrible balance sheet, he noted. Quiksilver also derives 35% of its revenue from Europe, which is a big number that won't likely turn around until later this year. So for now, Cramer said Quiksilver can't even be considered a speculative stock as it needs more time to solidify its turnaround efforts.
Stock Super Bowl
For his "Mad Money Stock Super Bowl," Cramer pitted Bank of America ( BAC) against Pulte Homes ( PHM) to see which stock reigns supreme for 2013. Cramer said that based on votes he received on Twitter, Back of America was heavily favored to win this showdown. Last year, Bank of America booked a solid 109% return, while Pulte rose by 188%. Since 50% of a stock's performance is based on its sector, Cramer took a hard look at both the banks and housing to help determine the winner. He said banks should have a great 2013, but the group is still hampered by lingering legal issues and new regulations that are still cloudy at best. The home builders, on the other hand, are getting ready for a multi-year boom, as home prices are finally stabilizing and new home formation is once again on the mend. Based on those facts, Cramer said the edge goes to Pulte. As for the companies themselves, Cramer said it's a draw. Both companies are equally hated on Wall Street, leaving a lot of room for upgrades. Both are also aggressively cutting costs, trying to firm up their balance sheets. Turning to valuation, Cramer said Bank of America is trading at 12 times earnings, which is a premium to its peers like JPMorgan Chase. Pulte, on the other hand, trades at 18 times earnings, which is still below its historical average. Going over the data, Cramer said both companies are good ones and should do well in 2013, but based on the evidence, Pulte should be the stock having the better year. He said that in the home building sector, Toll Brothers ( TOL) still remains his favorite, but as for this showdown, Pulte takes the Super Bowl trophy.
