Jun 18, 2026 · 44 min
AI demand boosts chip materials as memory shortages threaten Apple
Mad Money w/ Jim Cramer 6/18/26
The episode connects AI infrastructure demand with a consumer-cost problem: scarce memory components could make smartphones more expensive and squeeze Apple’s margins.
- 1Cramer sees semiconductor-materials suppliers benefiting as AI drives chip demand and new production facilities.
- 2MSG Sports offers exposure to the Knicks and Rangers, while Cramer weighs whether the company is undervalued.
- 3A concentrated memory-chip supply chain could raise smartphone prices and pressure Apple’s profitability.
Don't miss
Cramer explains how rising memory and data-storage costs could make affordable smartphones harder to produce and force Apple to reconsider pricing.
The brief
Cramer opens with investor questions spanning healthcare, financials, software, beverages, sports, and emerging technology, framing the episode around opportunities and risks across the market.
The semiconductor discussion shifts from stock picking to infrastructure: Cramer highlights CUNITY’s materials portfolio, AI-driven demand, chipmaker partnerships, and new facilities in Taiwan and Delaware.
MSG Sports becomes a test of whether cultural power translates into investment value, as Cramer weighs the Knicks’ championship parade, the Rangers, and the company’s potential undervaluation.
After rapid calls on companies including Celsius, SoFi, Rivian, and SoundHound AI, Cramer turns to the episode’s sharpest warning: memory costs could force higher smartphone prices.
Apple sits at the center of that tension, facing a pricing dilemma as memory production remains concentrated among a small number of suppliers and margins come under pressure.
What was said on this episode
55 statements · 33 positive · 20 negative · 1 mixed · 1 neutral
Oil prices will fall sharply if the Iran peace deal holds.
“I can tell you that the price of oil is going to come down surprisingly hard.”
Listen at 1:21
The Fed’s next move is more likely a rate cut than a hike.
“That's why I believe the Fed's next move is more likely to be a rate cut than a rate hike.”
Listen at 1:59
Viking has the strongest pricing power among cruise lines.
“Viking has the best pricing power, but they can all generate really good fares.”
Listen at 2:38
Investors should own FedEx long term because it is outperforming UPS competitively.
“I think you just own FedEx for the long haul as it's winning in the trenches against longtime opponent UPS.”
Listen at 3:20
Investors should buy and hold FedEx.
“Buy it, put it away.”
Listen at 3:27
The housing industry is currently stagnant.
“The housing industry just feels like it's dead in the water right now.”
Listen at 3:43
Casey’s analyst day could move the stock because investors misunderstand its model.
“I think this one actually could because people still don't know the Casey story, the small city model.”
Listen at 4:19
Micron must substantially beat and raise guidance for its stock to rise further.
“I think Micron needs to beat and then raise for well beyond the consensus to continue to go higher.”
Listen at 5:04
A non-blowout Micron quarter would hurt the stock.
“Anything less than a blowout, though, is going to be a problem.”
Listen at 5:13
Micron has exceptionally strong pricing power because its chips are scarce.
“Luckily, Micron's chips are in such short supply that they have insane pricing power.”
Listen at 5:17
Darden is attractive ahead of its earnings report.
“I like Darden ahead of the quarter.”
Listen at 6:21
FedEx Freight is well positioned to benefit from e-commerce growth.
“FedEx freight is uniquely set up to take advantage of that trend.”
Listen at 6:40
Self-driving trucks will become important to freight transportation.
“Added bonus, self-driving trucks. They're coming and they'll matter.”
Listen at 6:51
Investors should own Intel.
“I think you should be in it, too.”
Listen at 7:18
CPUs will become the next major semiconductor shortage.
“But I believe that CPUs will be the next big shortage.”
Listen at 7:25
Intuitive Surgical faces excessive competition in its market.
“Too much competition. Too much competition in the bisection now.”
Listen at 7:44
Investors should initiate a half-sized American Express position next week.
“This is precisely the level where I want you to put on a 50% position, half a position on literally next week”
Listen at 8:20
The current price is an excellent level to buy American Express.
“I think this is a terrific level. to buy American Express.”
Listen at 8:34
Palantir remains a long-term growth story despite recent stock weakness.
“As long as you recognize, it's a long-term growth story.”
Listen at 9:20
The semiconductor shortage will likely persist for years.
“And it's likely to stay that way maybe even for years.”
Listen at 10:53
CUNITY is positioned as an investment in future chip demand.
“CUNITY is basically a bet on the future of chip banking.”
Listen at 11:09
CUNITY is central to materials innovation supporting the AI era.
“materials innovation is the hidden hero of the AI era and CUNITY is right at the center of that.”
Listen at 13:01
AI is the most transformative technology of the current era.
“AI is the most transformative technology of our time.”
Listen at 14:29
CUNITY will participate in future AI applications across industries.
“wherever AI goes next, CUNITY will be there.”
Listen at 15:13
AI-led demand has driven CUNITY’s recent business momentum.
“the momentum that we've seen has really been fueled by AI-led demand”
Listen at 15:22
CUNITY’s materials innovation supports next-generation AI computing and connectivity.
“CUNITY is really kind of at the heart, again, materials innovation that is creating the next era of AI high performance computing and advanced connectivity.”
Listen at 15:37
MSG Sports should report a strong second quarter from postseason gains.
“the company should have a very good second quarter thanks to the extra gains for the postseason.”
Listen at 18:39
The Knicks’ championship is already reflected in MSG Sports’ stock price.
“the stock market is inherently forward looking. The Knicks winning the championship is already priced into the stock.”
Listen at 18:49
MSG Sports is currently valued below the combined value of its assets.
“the market capitalization of this company is currently worth less than the sum of the parts.”
Listen at 19:22
MSG Sports’ valuation effectively assigns little value to the Rangers.
“You're basically getting the Rangers for free.”
Listen at 20:27
MSG Sports’ proposed Rangers spin-off may not occur.
“The spin-off, well, it might not even happen.”
Listen at 21:04
MSG Sports is attractive at its current price.
“I like MSG Sports here”
Listen at 23:00
Spinning off the Rangers would likely increase MSG Sports’ stock price.
“I bet that sends this thing higher.”
Listen at 23:23
Investors should buy Celsius when it reports the difficult quarter.
“I would pull the trigger the moment the company reports that quarter.”
Listen at 24:54
Cramer will sell Nike if it disappoints in the next quarter.
“I'm going to give the company one more quarter, and if they disappoint, then I have to sell the stock”
Listen at 25:18
Investors should avoid liquor companies because industry performance is weak.
“I don't recommend any of the liquor companies because they're not doing well enough.”
Listen at 26:02
Bank stocks are the cheapest major group in the market.
“the cheapest group in this entire market are the bank stocks.”
Listen at 30:52
Aerospace and airline stocks benefit from liquidity and falling oil prices.
“I happen to like aerospace very much because aerospace, the airlines are all pretty liquid right now and oil is coming down.”
Listen at 31:02
Health insurers and high-growth drug companies are attractive; other healthcare is not.
“I like the health insurers and the highest growth drug companies, but not much else in between.”
Listen at 31:15
AST SpaceMobile is cheap enough for a speculative position.
“This is low enough that I think you ought to take. It's a flyer.”
Listen at 31:58
MP Materials is preferable because it has government backing.
“I like MP. I'm a traditionalist. That's the one that's got the government backing.”
Listen at 33:39
The current price is an appropriate time to buy SoFi.
“I continue to believe it's time to buy.”
Listen at 34:25
Rivian is currently losing too much money to recommend buying.
“Rivian, I think, is losing too much money.”
Listen at 35:00
Investors should not buy Rivian at its current price.
“I'm not going to say to buy Rivian here.”
Listen at 35:02
There is no compelling reason to own Tractor Supply absent a takeover.
“I can't think of a reason to own Tractor Supply.”
Listen at 35:55
Innodata is acceptable because investors currently favor data engineering.
“it's a data engineering company, and this market likes data engineering, so I'm going to say it's fine.”
Listen at 36:22
Innodata is too speculative for Cramer personally.
“It's a little too speculative for me.”
Listen at 36:28
SoundHound AI is unattractive and worth about $4 per share.
“I don't want to be in the sound hound. I just think it's a $4 stock.”
Listen at 37:03
Investors should avoid Boston Scientific.
“I say no to Boston Scientific.”
Listen at 38:12
McGraw Hill may decline further after falling 42%.
“It's down 42%. It's nine. I think it can go down a few more bucks.”
Listen at 38:54
The memory chip shortage will not ease soon.
“So I don't see this chip shortage abating anytime soon”
Listen at 41:02
The persistent memory shortage is making electronics more expensive.
“that makes all sorts of electronics more expensive.”
Listen at 41:05
Both parties may target data centers politically during the 2028 election.
“I worry that we could end up with two presidential candidates who are populist in nature in 2028, with both parties looking for ways to stick it to the data centers.”
Listen at 41:59
Intel’s CEO could build a successful American foundry business.
“I think he can create a great American foundry business”
Listen at 42:22
Memory costs will cause additional smartphone price increases.
“I'm betting this won't be the last cell phone price increase based on skyrocketing price of memory chips.”
Listen at 42:38
Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.
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