CNBC’s Jim Cramer said Friday that investors shouldn’t read too much into uneventful unemployment data, arguing that a lack of surprises on the labor front is actually giving the market room to reveal the real story: a broad-based rally spreading well beyond last year’s winners.
“When you get an employment report that’s basically uneventful, it allows you to focus on what’s really happening in the market,” Cramer said.
In his view, money is rotating aggressively into overlooked corners of the market, with data storage stocks among the biggest beneficiaries. Companies tied to that theme have delivered what he called breathtaking rallies, even as some of the market’s former leaders struggle to gain traction.
That includes Apple and Nvidia, two stocks that have failed to lift despite strong underlying businesses. Cramer rejected the idea that the trade is over for either name. Instead, he said both companies are still humming along, but have become sources of funds as investors sell winners to buy newer opportunities.
Looking ahead, Cramer said next week will be packed with catalysts, starting with the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference, where he plans to interview a dozen pharmaceutical executives. Historically, the event has been a hotbed for dealmaking, and Cramer said investors should expect a wave of merger-and-acquisition headlines.
On the economic front, Tuesday’s December consumer price index will matter far more than the latest labor data. Cramer said strong signs from forwarding holiday spending suggest inflation may remain sticky, setting up tension between a president eager to contain prices and consumers who have borne the brunt of inflation.
Earnings season also kicks off Tuesday with JPMorgan Chase. Cramer said he expects an excellent quarter but warned that CEO Jamie Dimon is known for emphasizing risks on conference calls — a tone that has knocked the stock down before. His strategy: wait for any cautious commentary, then buy on weakness.
Later in the week, Cramer expects strong results from Delta Air Lines, and sees banks as the early stars of earnings season. He highlighted Citigroup as a potential standout, while reaffirming confidence in Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.
Cramer also said BlackRock could post strong numbers, though expectations may already be high.
On the tech side, he’s watching Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, whose report could finally shake sellers out of Nvidia. In the meantime, he said money continues to flow into storage and equipment plays like Western Digital, SanDisk, Micron, Seagate and Applied Materials.
Cramer also flagged transport stocks, saying a solid report from J.B. Hunt would reinforce his bullish stance on FedEx. By Friday, with PNC rounding out bank earnings, Cramer said investors should have a clearer sense of the tone for the rest of the season.
