Cramer's Game Plan: Remember this market 'has no memory' this earnings season
"Even though earnings season kicked off with an amazingly bullish bang, we'll be right back where we started from once next week rolls around," CNBC's Jim Cramer says.
"In the cacophony of earnings reports next week, remember that this market has no memory," the "Mad Money" host says.
"Today was terrific, but come Monday we're at the mercy of the next news cycle," he says.
The major U.S. indexes all rallied Friday on the backs of Walt Disney DIS , J. P. Morgan Chase JPM , and Chevron CVX , but CNBC's Jim Cramer warned that "this positivity" will be hard to sustain.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average moved forward nearly 270 points, the S&P 500 advanced 0.66%, and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.46% during the session.
"Even though earnings season kicked off with an amazingly bullish bang, we'll be right back where we started from once next week rolls around," the "Mad Money" host said.
"In the cacophony of earnings reports next week, remember that this market has no memory. Today was terrific, but come Monday we're at the mercy of the next news cycle."
Here's what Cramer has circled on his calendar next week:
Monday: Citigroup, Goldman Sachs
Citigroup C : Citi reports earnings before the market opens. When it does, Cramer expects the stock to go the way of Wells Fargo WFC , when it fell 3% Friday after its earnings call.
"I doubt Citi will be as bad, but the stock's run up too much at this point, so don't get too excited here. People want revenue growth, not endless buybacks," he said.
Goldman Sachs GS : Goldman Sachs is out with its results in the morning as well. Cramer noted that the company is being investigated for its role in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal. The conclusion will hinge on how well the bank's compliance team handles the matter, he said.
"CEO David Solomon is starting to make his mark, and I like his mark," he said. "If the stock pulls back, I'd be a buyer."
Tuesday: UnitedHealth, Johnson & Johnson, Bank of America, Netflix, CSX, United Continental
UnitedHealth UNH : The managed care company gives its report Tuesday morning. Cramer called it the worst-acting stock on the market — it sank 5.2% Friday.
"Money managers have collectively given up on the health insurance space because so many candidates running for president are campaigning on some form of single-payer [health care]," the host said. "I actually like the stock, though, and I'm ready to tell you the coast is clear after we hear what the company has to say."
Johnson & Johnson JNJ : The medical device manufacturer delivers its results before the bell.
"I think they're gonna have a great story to tell. Unfortunately, there's still some overhang from that talc issue, and I'd rather find out that the big verdict against them in Missouri has been overturned than hear about a big upside surprise," Cramer said.
Bank of America BAC : Bank of America will also present quarter results before stocks begin trading.
"Oh, I bet it'll be good, but not necessarily good enough to push the stock higher, I mean given that the darned thing already rallied nearly 4% today in anticipation of a good quarter," he said.
Netflix NFLX : The streaming giant reports earnings after the market closes.
"I think business will be strong and they'll talk about how they welcome the new competition from Disney DIS and Apple AAPL ," Cramer said. "Of course, the stock got slammed today, but I'm skeptical of a big gain here if only because so many people wrongly do believe the streaming business is zero-sum. If Netflix pulls back on a solid quarter, I'd rather be a buyer."
CSX CSX , United Continental UAL : Both transport companies give results after the bell.
"CSX is doing precision railroading, running everything as efficiently as possible," Cramer said. "United Continental has an edge over the other airlines because the fleet doesn't have as much exposure to Boeing BA 's grounded 737 Max."
IBM IBM : The earnings report will come after trading ends for the day.
"Sometime in the second half of the year, we don't know, the merger with Cramer-fave Red Hat RHT will close, and I bet that gets people more juiced about the stock," he said.
Wednesday: Pepsico, Morgan Stanley
Pepsico PEP : The soda maker announces earnings before the bell. Cramer suggested buying the stock if it dips on bad news earlier in the week, or buy some before and after the earnings call.
There's a chance the company raises its long-term forecast, he said.
Morgan Stanley MS : Morgan Stanley reports its numbers before trading starts. Cramer also suggested buying it at a discount if the stock pulls back before Wednesday. If there is no bad news that hits the stock, buy some before and after the earnings report, he said.
Abbott Laboratories ABT : The health care products developer gives results in the morning.
"I'm anticipating an awesome quarter from these guys, lots of good stuff about their diabetes monitoring sales. Just an incredibly consistent company," Cramer said.
ASML Holding ASML-NL : The chipmaker also reports earnings in the morning. Cramer noted that the stock spiked in Friday's session, which could portend good news.
"If ASML can deliver, you'll see the whole semiconductor cohort pop. I wouldn't buy this one, though — just listen. I prefer Lam Research LRCX if you want a semiconductor machinery play," he said.
Thursday: Honeywell, American Express, Danaher, Union Pacific, Schlumberger
Honeywell HON : The aerospace supplier gives its earnings report prior to the bell. Cramer said its a much stronger aerospace play than Boeing.
"I expect CEO Darius Adamcyk to give us some terrific numbers," he said.
American Express AXP : American Express presents quarter results before the market opens.
"AmEx has a tendency to sell off after it reports. My advice: wait until you see the whites of the sellers' eyes, and then pull the trigger," Cramer said.
Danaher DHR : Danaher, which had a monster move in the wake of acquiring the life sciences arm of General Electric GE , has a morning earnings call.
"I wanna see how Danaher's gonna integrate it. If you hear that 2019 is going to be an investment year because of that acquisition, the stock is gonna get hit and then you pounce," he said.
Union Pacific UNP : The locomotive company will deliver its latest earnings before the market opens.
"They now need to worry about crops being weak because of all the storms and fracking — sand falling through the floor because they have so much of it now in the Permian area. I wouldn't get in front of this speeding train," Cramer said.
Schlumberger SLB : The oilfield services company reveals its latest numbers in the morning.
"I think the stock is cheap, [my] charitable trust owns it, [but] nobody cares," he said.
WATCH: Cramer delivers his game plan for the week ahead
Disclosure: Cramer's charitable trust owns shares of Honeywell, Danaher, Disney, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan Chase, UnitedHealth, Schlumberger and Lam Research.
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