The Club held its “Monthly Meeting” for April on Tuesday, providing a window into our current thinking on the stocks in Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust — including an updated list of the 10 core holdings in the portfolio. Those 10 companies , which we generally view as the best in their respective industries, are Apple (AAPL), Costco Wholesale (COST), Morgan Stanley (MS), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Starbucks (SBUX), Danaher (DHR), Nvidia (NVDA), Linde (LIN), Eli Lilly (LLY) and Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD). In addition to an in-depth look at the core holdings, we’re providing key takeaways here on the other 25 stocks in the Club’s portfolio. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD): Bottoms are increasingly evident in the chipmaker’s key end-markets like personal computers, laying the groundwork for AMD’s business to meaningfully turn around later this year. When AMD reports earnings next week, we’ll be looking for signs that its integration of Xilinx has proven a success. Amazon (AMZN): Investors will be looking closely at profit margins and the growth rate at cloud unit Amazon Web Services when the company reports earnings after the closing bell Thursday. We maintain our view that the ecommerce giant can do more to improve its bloated cost structure. Bausch Health (BHC): For the pharmaceutical company’s stock to gain any traction, Jim said it needs to win the fight over its Xifaxan drug patent . We wish we had more insight into that legal dispute than management has provided. Caterpillar (CAT): A flood of U.S. government spending on infrastructure should provide multiyear tailwinds to Caterpillar’s business starting this year. But in the near term, investor attention will be on the health of its order backlog when the manufacturing company reports first-quarter earnings before the opening bell on Thursday. Salesforce (CRM): Questions continue to swirl about the overall state of enterprise software spending. But at Salesforce, CEO Marc Benioff is ushering in a slimmer, more-profitable version of the company. The newfound cost discipline is what shareholders like us — and the numerous activist investors that have swarmed Salesforce in recent months — wanted to see. Cisco Systems (CSCO): Wall Street seems to believe that Cisco will never see a period of meaningful growth again. The pessimistic attitude has prevented Cisco shares from breaking out, even as the company has reported quality results of late. Its next earnings release, set for May 17, may provide a spark for the stock and give us a chance to sell. Coterra Energy (CTRA): Jim said for those wanting to put money to work in one of the Club’s energy holdings right now, Coterra is his top choice. Management has wisely made stock buybacks a major priority, and the company’s exposure to natural gas should pay off over the long term. Disney (DS): The media-and-entertainment giant’s stock performance has been exceedingly frustrating. But there’s no denying Disney’s franchise value . As the company’s cost-cutting moves under CEO Bob Iger take hold, an inflection point should arrive. Unfortunately, it might not happen when the company reports fiscal second-quarter results May 10 and, instead, may be more of a third-quarter earnings story. Estee Lauder (EL): Shares of the prestige cosmetics firm have climbed more than 30% from early November lows. And there’s more upside ahead for the stock, as China’s economy continues to reopen this year. China accounts for roughly a third of Estee Lauder’s total revenue. Emerson Electric (EMR): We remain frustrated with management at this automation-focused industrial, despite it ultimately reaching an amicable deal to buy National Instruments (NATI) following an initial hostile-takeover bid. Jim said he’s giving the company six months to demonstrate its strategy is working, or else we’ll part ways. Ford Motor (F): The automaker is another Club holding on a short leash. After a disappointing fourth-quarter print, we’re hoping to see evidence that CEO Jim Farley has righted the ship. We remain curious about the potential impact Tesla ‘s (TSLA) aggressive price cuts on electric vehicles could have on Ford and its legacy peers. Foot Locker (FL): We added to our newest Club holding on a pullback Monday. We’re banking with CEO Mary Dillon, whose impressive run leading Ulta Beauty (ULTA) instills confidence in her ability to turn around the sportswear retailer. Alphabet (GOOGL): The tech behemoth has been dropped from our core-holdings list, replaced by Nvidia. Jim said his faith in Google’s parent company has waned because it has failed to capitalize on a range of initiatives outside its core search engine business. Faced with increased competition around artificial intelligence, Jim said he wants to see improving financials at Alphabet, not just talk. Alphabet reported better-than-expected first-quarter results after the closing bell on Tuesday. Halliburton (HAL): Halliburton’s first-quarter earnings, released before the bell Tuesday, fortified our conviction in the oilfield services firm . The results were considerably better than the stock’s 3.5% drop would indicate. Honeywell International (HON): Honeywell was replaced by Linde on our core-holdings list. Our rationale for the switch largely centers around the industrial conglomerate’s upcoming CEO shakeup. With the retiring Darius Adamczyk set to be replaced by Vimal Kapur in June, we’re in wait-and-see mode with the stock. Humana (HUM): The market frequently changes its mind about Humana. One week, the health-care stock will be firmly out of favor. Investors will then return to Humana and its managed care brethren when economic slowdown fears are more pronounced. That’s been the case so far this week, with the stock up more than 2%. We’ll see if the traction sticks after Humana reports Wednesday morning. Meta Platforms (META): CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s “year of efficiency” has propelled the social media firm’s stock more than 70% higher this year, following a brutal 2022. Zuckerberg deserves credit for reining in costs. But now we want to see whether the Facebook and Instagram parent can begin to reaccelerate top-line growth. It reports quarterly numbers after Wednesday’s close. Microsoft (MSFT): After Tuesday’s close, Microsoft issued better-than-expected quarterly numbers and strong revenue guidance, while highlighting its AI prowess — a key pillar of our investment thesis. Palo Alto Networks (PANW): Cybersecurity spending has been resilient despite concerns about an economic slowdown, which is why we continue to stick with Palo Alto. We purchased 25 shares on April 10, gradually growing our position in a company we first bought in February. Procter & Gamble (PG): The consumer products giant on Friday delivered an earnings beat , while raising its full-year guidance. Crucially, P & G’s volumes were down only 3%, despite a 10% price increase. A rollover in chemical prices, along with declining freight costs, should help lift the company’s profitability in the coming quarters. Qualcomm (QCOM): Jim said he remains committed to exiting our Qualcomm position into strength. He acknowledged that the chipmaker’s low price-to-earnings multiple hasn’t been enough for the investment to be fruitful. Constellation Brands (STZ): Wall Street hasn’t seemed to appreciate the quality guidance the Corona beer parent issued in early April. We’re more than wiling to be patient, though, especially knowing Constellation just hiked its dividend by 11% . TJX Companies (TJX): The off-price retailer may prove to be a beneficiary of Bed Bath & Beyond’s bankruptcy . Jim said he’s shocked TJX’s stock price isn’t higher, while urging Club members to be patient with their ownership. Wells Fargo (WFC): When turbulence strikes shares of Wells Fargo, it could be an opportunity to buy the stock, not sell it. With each passing quarter, the bank continues to resolve regulatory issues that have plagued it for years. Wynn Resorts (WYNN): Like Estee Lauder, Wynn Resorts is a play on China’s economic recovery after roughly three years of Covid-19 restrictions. Shares of the casino operator have almost doubled over the past six months, but the turnaround of its business in the Chinese gaming hub of Macao is still playing out. (See here for a full list of the stocks in Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
Jim Cramer at the NYSE, June 30, 2022.
Virginia Sherwood | CNBC
The Club held its “Monthly Meeting” for April on Tuesday, providing a window into our current thinking on the stocks in Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust — including an updated list of the 10 core holdings in the portfolio.
Tesla has opened orders for the Model Y Long Range RWD for $45,000 in the US. It’s the new entry-level Model Y following the design refresh earlier this year.
Since launching the updated Model Y earlier this year, Tesla has only offered the best-selling electric SUV in a single Long-Range AWD configuration.
First, it was as a fully-loaded $60,000 Launch Edition, and last month, it started deliveries of the regular Model Y AWD starting at $49,000.
Now, the automaker is starting to take orders for the new Model Y Long Range RWD
The new trim starts at $44,990 and enables 357 miles of range – an extra 30 miles over the AWD version.
However, due to its single motor powertrain, the lower-priced version is slightly slower with a 0-60 mph acceleration in 5.4 seconds rather than 4.6 seconds.
The automaker says that deliveries of the new version will start in the US in the next 3 to 5 weeks. It launched the new Model Y RWD in Europe weeks ago.
Tesla also offers a Standard Range RWD in Europe and China for even cheaper, and deliveries have already started in China.
Electrek’s Take
Tesla appears to have waited to open orders for the Model Y RWD in the US to optimize demand for the Long Range AWD.
But now it needs a cheaper model to sustain demand at the current production rate.
In the coming weeks, it will start building a mix of RWD and AWD in Fremont and Austin to
Interestingly, Tesla currently only offers the subsidized 1.99% financing rate on the Model Y Long Range AWD. I would assume that Tesla plans to take advantage of the boost in demand that the cheaper model will create.
However, US buyers probably won’t have to wait more than a few weeks before Tesla starts to offer lower interest rates on all versions, like it already does in Europe and China.
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On today’s thrilling episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got some of the highlights of the 2025 ACT Expo, including the all-electric Windrose and Mack Pioneer Class 8s trucks, a hydrogen fuel sell [sic] from Honda, a fun charging surprise, and – after an eight year wait – we finally get a ride in the all-new (in 2017) Tesla Semi!
ACT Expo is North America’s premier clean truck and transport trade show – and for 2025 it was bigger than ever, with more exhibitors and more, more capable battery electric vehicles than ever. The downsides? NACFE have scored with their “messy middle” messaging, and the return of “clean diesel” talking points. We’ve got a brief rundown and links to all the details, below.
New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news.
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If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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Abundance Energy, sonnen, and Energywell are teaming up to bring smarter, more resilient energy to Texas homes through a huge new virtual power plant (VPP) initiative.
By combining behind-the-meter home batteries, solar power, and advanced energy software, the trio is building a network of connected homes that can work together to support the grid. Customers who install sonnenConnect home batteries through Abundance Energy will now be part of a system that automatically stores and shares power when it’s needed most. That means lower electricity bills, better reliability during extreme weather, and a cleaner energy mix overall.
The VPP will cover all of ERCOT, with the primary focus in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas. Each home will have two 4.8kW/20kWh sonnenCore+20 battery units. The current customer base that will be enrolled in the VPP equals 60 MWh, and this will continue to grow each month. The VPP is already on track to replace Tesla as the largest virtual power plant in Texas by the end of 2026.
Here’s how it works: The batteries are continuously managed using Energywell’s Proton platform and sonnen’s smart VPP technology. This system monitors solar generation, customer energy use, and real-time electricity prices, and then decides when to charge or discharge each battery. Instead of just sitting idle, these batteries turn into mini power plants that can react to grid needs in real time.
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And when thousands of batteries work together, they form a virtual power plant—a decentralized network that reduces the strain on the grid, especially during peak demand or power outages. Unlike traditional power plants, VPPs don’t burn fossil fuels. They use clean, stored electricity from homes and businesses, helping cut carbon emissions while keeping the lights on.
“Our mission is to empower homeowners with smarter, more sustainable energy solutions,” said Thomas Mandry, CEO of Abundance Energy. “This partnership delivers a new kind of VPP model that benefits customers and strengthens the Texas grid.”
Blake Richetta, CEO of sonnen, added, “With Abundance Energy and Energywell, we’re showing how everyday homeowners can become part of the solution to Texas’ energy challenges.”
As Texas continues to face grid reliability issues, especially in extreme heat or cold, this kind of flexible, customer-powered energy system will make homes more resilient and give customers more control over their power.
If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*
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