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.
Genesis is gearing up to introduce its first extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), the GV70. Ahead of its debut, the Genesis GV70 EREV was spotted in Korea, offering a closer look at the upcoming SUV.
Genesis prepares for its first EREV, the GV70
The luxury automaker is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a slate of new EVs, hybrids, and extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) set to arrive over the next few years.
During its CEO Investor Day last month, Hyundai revealed plans to launch several new Genesis vehicles, including its first EREV.
First up will be the Genesis GV70 EREV, promising to deliver over 1,000 km (620 miles) of driving range. The electrified SUV will still run on a 100% electric motor, but a small gas engine acts as a generator to charge the battery when it becomes low, thereby extending the driving range.
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Although the Genesis GV70 EREV isn’t due out for another year or so, we are already getting our first look at the new extended-range electric SUV.
Genesis plans to launch new luxury EVs, hybrids, and EREVs (Source: Hyundai)
The folks at HealerTV spotted the new vehicle parked in South Korea, giving us a better idea of what to expect when it arrives.
Although it’s still covered in camouflage, you can see it’s nearly identical to the current gas-powered GV70. At least from what we can see, the front and back ends look about the same.
We also got a sneak peek at the interior, which also appears to be essentially unchanged. Genesis just introduced an updated interior and exterior design on its current vehicle lineup, so no major changes are expected.
Since it’s still a prototype, the design could change by the time it hits the market, which is expected in December 2026.
Genesis will launch its first hybrid next year, the GV80 SUV, which is expected to be followed by the GV70 EREV later in the year. Following that, at least two new luxury SUVs will join the lineup, based on the Neolun (pictured on the left) and X Gran Equator concepts (pictured on the right).
The Neolun is expected to arrive as the Genesis GV90, an “ultra-luxe” flagship electric SUV, while the X Gran Equator will be an off-roader.
Genesis plans to expand into up to 20 European markets while boosting brand sales in the US with its new lineup. By 2030, the luxury brand aims to sell 350,000 vehicles globally.
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Austin-based Base Power just raised $1 billion in Series C funding to accelerate its mission to modernize the Texas grid, one home battery at a time.
Addition led the round, with support from existing and new investors. The fresh capital will help Base scale up operations, grow its team, and build out domestic manufacturing to meet surging demand for resilient, distributed home batteries.
Base Power is a licensed electricity provider operating in Texas’s deregulated electricity market, and it functions as a virtual power plant (VPP). Its model is simple but transformative: customers pay a monthly fee for energy, installation, and a home battery – no rooftop solar required. When the grid is up, Base’s networked batteries help stabilize it; when it goes down, the battery keeps the lights on at home.
“The chance to reinvent our power system comes once in a generation,” said Zach Dell, Base Power’s CEO and cofounder. “We’re scaling the team to make our abundant energy future a reality.”
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In under two years, Base has already deployed more than 100 megawatt-hours (MWh) of residential battery capacity, making it one of the fastest-growing distributed energy platforms in the US. The company’s rapid growth has been fueled by organic customer demand, partnerships with major homebuilders like Lennar, and collaborations with forward-thinking utilities.
Base Power currently serves homeowners across the Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin regions, and plans to expand nationwide. To support that growth, the company is building its first factory, an energy storage and power electronics manufacturing hub at the former Austin American-Statesman printing press site in downtown Austin.
The company also recently qualified for Texas’s Aggregated Distributed Energy Resource (ADER) program, which allows distributed batteries to participate directly in the grid market. That means extra reliability for the state and lower costs for customers through shared revenue from grid services.
“The only way to add capacity to the grid is by deploying hardware — and we need to make that here in the US, ourselves,” said Justin Lopas, Base’s COO and cofounder. “This factory in Austin is our first, and we’re already planning for our second. We’re building the tools and systems to reindustrialize America and reinvent the grid.”
Electrek’s Take
Texas’s grid struggles, from heatwaves to winter blackouts, make Base Power’s model timely. Linking home batteries to a virtual power plant offers home backup and grid support. (I was part of a VPP in Vermont, and I can’t stress enough how great it is, especially in power outages.)
With $1 billion in new funding and a planned Austin factory, Base aims to scale fast. For context, Tesla deployed over 31 GWh of storage in 2024, but that figure includes utility-scale Megapacks as well as residential Powerwalls because Tesla didn’t separate out the two in its report. Sunrun’s VPPs now include 20,000+ customers across nine states, and it supplies significant grid support in California. Base’s 100 MWh so far is much smaller, but as a licensed electricity provider, not just a technology platform, its focused Texas rollout and participation in the state’s ADER program could position it as a nimble challenger in the growing VPP space.
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GM is ending plans for a program that enabled its dealers to extend the $7,500 tax credit for new Chevy, GMC, and Cadillac EV leases beyond the September 30 deadline. Instead, it has another plan to keep the savings going.
GM ends $7,500 EV tax credit and plans its own savings
After the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles expired at the end of September, GM was among the automakers planning to extend the incentive through leasing.
That will no longer be the case after the automaker suddenly reversed its decision. According to Bloomberg, GM will not extend the credit for EVs that were in transit to dealers ahead of the September 30 deadline.
Instead, GM will provide about $6,000 from its own pockets for a limited time to continue supporting electric vehicle leases.
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A company spokesperson confirmed that “GM worked on an extended offer for the benefit of our customers and dealers,” adding “After further consideration, we have decided not to claim the tax credit.”
The savings will last until the end of the month. The spokesperson said in an email that “GM will fund the incentive lease terms through the end of October.”
Chevy Equinox EV LT (Source: GM)
GM and Ford announced programs last week that involved buying EVs through their financing units, which would enable them to qualify for the $7,500 tax credit. The companies would then use the funds to extend the credit through leasing.
A source close to the matter told Reuters that GM decided to end the program after Republican Senator Bernie Moren urged the end of the loophole that enabled the $7,500 credit to be passed on through leasing.
Cadillac ESCALADE IQL electric SUV (Source: Cadillac)
The announcement comes after GM delivered a record of over 66,500 electric vehicles in the third quarter. Through September, GM sold 144,668 EVs, more than double the amount it sold in the same period in 2024.
The Chevy Equinox EV is now the best-selling non-Tesla EV in the US, while Cadillac ranked as the top luxury electric vehicle brand in Q3.
Chevy Blazer EV (left), Chevy Equinox EV (middle), Chevy Silverado EV (right) (Source: GM)
Ford, Jeep maker Stellantis, and BMW are still planning to extend the credit for those EV leases for at least another few months. GM was expected to extend the offer until the end of the year.
GM already has one of the most affordable EVs in the US with the Chevy Equinox EV starting at under $35,000. In 2026, it will face a wave of new lower-priced EVs, including the new Nissan LEAF, which will start at under $30,000. General Motors is betting on more affordable EVs, including the 2027 Chevy Bolt, to gain a bigger share of the market over the next few years.
Interested in testing out one of GM’s electric vehicles for yourself? From the Chevy Equinox EV to the Cadillac Escalade IQ, you can use our links below to see what’s available near you.
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