On Cramer’s Back to School Tour at Penn State University, he had a chance to speak with some of the best and brightest at the Smeal College of Business – members of the Nittany Lion Fund, a group of student investors that manage about $4.5 million and have outperformed the S&P 500 every year since the fund’s inception in 2005. Unlike a lot of student investment clubs, the Nittany Lions don’t get their money from the school’s endowment. Instead, the students seek out and pitch individual investors. But do they have what it takes to pitch Cramer?
Morgan from New Jersey wanted to know what Cramer thought about Nike . It’s got great international exposure, it’s good in a weak retail market and there are still near-term market catalysts that could drive the stock higher, she said. And Cramer agreed. He might take a little off the table, but in the end Nike is a winner even if the market isn’t.
Blaine from Philadelphia was next up, pitching the utility company Exelon . With a push toward clean energy and exposure to nuclear power, a great dividend and some new efficiency initiatives, Blaine thinks EXC could be a stable growth play even in a recession. Cramer offered up Duke or Con Edison , but was bullish on Exelon as well.
Rebecca from New York asked Cramer about Allergan . The maker of Botox and the Lap-Band has a diversified product portfolio and is exposed to growing markets, she said. And she believes people are finally putting money back into consumer discretionary, which should benefit AGN. But Cramer wasn’t so sure. He had recommended the company in the past but it hasn’t worked, and he thinks it could be due to the terrible performance of the healthcare sector. He said he’s on the fence – Allergan has a great product line but he wouldn’t pull the trigger until speaking to the CEO and seeing the next quarter’s results.
Finally, Lee from Philadephia pitched defense contractor Raytheon . Whether a Republican or Democrat takes the White House, defense spending is likely to increase, he said. And Raytheon has a trump card – around 20% off its 2007 revenues came from abroad. Add that to a strong balance sheet and a nice buyback, and Lee doesn’t think RTN can be beat. Neither does Cramer. While also a fan of General Dynamics , he sanctioned Raytheon a strong buy for just the reasons Lee mentioned.
Jim's charitable trust owns Raytheon.
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