Jim Cramer, host of Mad Money, shared his thoughts on the market’s reaction to the election results. He noted that the trading session on November 6 was largely influenced by a collective sigh of relief from traders who were glad the election was over. With President-elect Donald Trump set to take office, many were preparing for the shifts his administration could bring. Cramer pointed out that the market responded positively to Trump’s victory, stating:
“The market likes Donald J. Trump and it loves a peaceful transition to the next president. We got both and we had a monster-buying celebration. It was a bull jailbreak and the bears never knew what trampled them.”
Cramer reflected on the uncertainty leading up to the election, with many investors fearing a prolonged and contentious process. But with the winner now clear, Cramer argued that the market is better off knowing what lies ahead. He remarked:
“Let’s understand that many people thought we’d have a contested election, which would cause tremendous uncertainty. The fact that we already know the winner is a huge win for the stock market in itself, which makes it a magnet for new money. This election, with its vicious maelstrom of hate and fear, is finally over.”
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One of Cramer’s main focuses was Trump’s proposed tax cuts, which he believes will have a substantial impact on corporate profits. Cramer emphasized that the tax cuts are expected to boost earnings, particularly by lowering corporate tax rates, which would directly increase profit estimates and earnings per share. Cramer also highlighted the importance of maintaining low interest rates for these benefits to materialize.
He cautioned that while the current environment might feel like a party, there could be risks down the line, especially as debt continues to grow. Despite these concerns, Cramer seemed optimistic, suggesting that the market could continue to rally as long as interest rates stay low and corporate tax cuts come to fruition.
However, Cramer also pointed out a potential complication and commented:
“We also have to accept that we will have another earning season right at the time of the inauguration. So we’ll have to worry about those earnings too, but not yet.”
Additionally, Cramer suggested that there could be more significant market moves in the near future, especially if President-elect Trump makes comments about the Federal Reserve that investors find unsettling. He said that such remarks could trigger a negative reaction from the market, potentially leading to a downturn before things settle again.
Our Methodology
For this article, we compiled a list of 16 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during the episode of Mad Money on November 6 and listed the stocks in the order that Cramer mentioned them.
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Jim Cramer Talked About These 16 Stocks
16. CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS)
Cramer stated that health insurers deserve to rise. Talking about CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS), he said, “… the new team at CVS, which owns Aetna, just got a gigantic break.”
CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) is a prominent player in the U.S. healthcare market, offering a broad spectrum of health solutions. The company has faced a series of challenges in recent years, including slow revenue growth and declining stock performance. Additionally, its healthcare benefits segment, which includes the Aetna business, has struggled due to rising healthcare costs and increased utilization.
In response to these challenges, management announced a key leadership change during its third-quarter earnings call, appointing Steve Nelson as the new CEO of Aetna. With his extensive background in the insurance industry, Nelson is expected to play a critical role in addressing Aetna’s struggles, particularly within its Medicare business. During the earnings call, CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) CEO David Joyner provided updates on the company’s efforts to expand and innovate within Aetna’s offerings.
He highlighted the introduction of Simple Pay, a new product designed for commercial customers that provides greater price certainty before medical visits or treatments. This offering has already shown positive results, including a 60% increase in the use of high-quality providers and a 12% reduction in the total cost of care for employers and members.
Joyner also pointed to the success of Aetna’s Medicare Advantage (MA) program, noting that 88% of Aetna’s Medicare Advantage members are enrolled in plans rated four stars or higher. Furthermore, more than two-thirds of Aetna’s MA members are in plans rated 4.5 stars.
15. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)
Cramer mentioned that he likes UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) as the company performs well every time.
“Health insurers deserve to run, every one of them. I think the Republicans now have enough votes to get rid of whatever the health insurers deemed to be onerous about Obamacare. Huge windfall. I like UnitedHealth because it always does well anyway.”
UnitedHealth (NYSE:UNH) is a diversified healthcare organization that offers a broad range of services and products across various segments. In its third-quarter earnings report, the company surpassed analyst expectations. Its revenue for the quarter reached $100.8 billion, growing $8.5 billion year-over-year. It reported an EPS of $7.15, marking a 9% increase compared to the previous year, despite facing the challenges of a major cyberattack during the quarter.
Optum Health, one of its key segments, served 104 million consumers in Q3, an increase of roughly 1 million from the same period in 2023. Revenue from value-based care models, an area of focus for Optum, also saw growth, further contributing to the company’s strong performance.
Optum Rx also saw heightened customer engagement, which resulted in a $5.4 billion year-over-year increase in revenue. UnitedHealth’s (NYSE:UNH) UnitedHealthcare expanded its domestic services, reaching 29.7 million consumers by the end of Q3, which included an addition of 2.4 million consumers year-to-date.