Mad Money

Oil bottom could be right around the corner

Cramer preps for the week ahead: Exxon, Disney & jobs
VIDEO11:5211:52
Cramer preps for the week ahead: Exxon, Disney & jobs

Jim Cramer is gearing up for another event-packed week. But the reality is, the U.S. just can't save the world. We can't make the Chinese spend more money or force Europe to make real structural changes any more than we can direct the Japanese in finding a new way to grow besides dumping cars on us.

But the rest of the world is relying on the U.S., and it has become a zero sum game. Other countries are going to keep weakening their currencies, and the U.S. will get earnings from those countries that aren't as great as they once were.

Next week brings a few important themes to the table that the "Mad Money" host says call for preparation. First, there will be more earnings reported by strong American companies that can weather the foreign currency storm.





An oil processing plant in Kawasaki, Japan, December 18, 2014.
Thomas Peter | Reuters

Second, investors will be looking for protection in stocks with high yields, now that the 10-year Treasury is barely yielding enough to buy a pack of gum.

Third, Cramer is beginning to wonder if investors should be on the lookout for a bottom in oil. The $45 level has managed to hold thus far, despite a dramatic amount of selling. However oil spiked again on Friday, to $48.

"So we'll listen to all of the oil companies in order to determine whether drilling's been cut back so aggressively that it will cause either a V- or a U-shape bottom sometime in the next few months," said Cramer.

With this in mind, here is what Cramer will be watching next week:

Monday: Exxon-Mobil, Anadarko
Exxon-Mobil: The biggest oil dog of them all. It needs to tell investors how much it is really cutting back on drilling.

Anadarko: Another oil company that will give its forecast in crude.

Tuesday: National Oilwell Varco, BP, Disney, Chipotle
National Oilwell Varco: Again, Cramer will be on bottom watch with this giant drilling machine.

"If they say their order book is drying up fast, then it's more likely we're going to get a V-shaped recovery than I thought."

Disney: Though this company is helped by gasoline, it could be hurt by the dramatic decline in U.S. tourism. If this stock goes down, Cramer wants investors to scoop it up and buy for your kids.

Wednesday: Clorox & General Motors
General Motors: This stock has a stunning yield of 3.6 percent but is a tough stock to own, according to Cramer. He thinks if GM announces it will raise its dividend, then the stock has bottomed.

Thursday: Buffalo Wild Wings & Twitter
Buffalo Wild Wings: This one has been on fire, and Cramer expects another fabulous quarter.

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Twitter: This is a special case. While earnings and monthly average users have declined, the recent news of McDonald's CEO ousting has sparked rumors that Twitter's CEO could be out, too. However, Cramer doesn't expect this to happen until Costolo destroys more value and sells even more stock. The earnings will be a yawner.

Friday: Monthly employment report
The monthly employment report from the Labor Department will be released, and now investors seem to fear that the Fed will raise rates every time a new report comes out with too strong of a jobs number.

"Things are crazy right now. The last thing we need right now is a rates hike."

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