Mad Money w/ Jim Cramer
Mad Money w/ Jim Cramer

Jan 31, 2026 · 44 min

Cramer weighs earnings winners, losers and overlooked bets

Mad Money w/ Jim Cramer 1/30/26

With roughly 20% of the S&P 500 reporting in a crowded week, Cramer tests where investors may be overreacting and where opportunities remain.

3 key takeaways
  1. 1Cramer defends AstraZeneca and Apple against investor skepticism, emphasizing portfolio strength, earnings quality and longer-term prospects.
  2. 2The episode contrasts overlooked earnings winners with disappointments involving AI adoption, acquisitions and changing business models.
  3. 3Brinker CEO Kevin Hochman attributes Chili’s turnaround to value pricing, simpler menus, employee engagement and operational discipline.

Don't miss

Kevin Hochman makes the case that Chili’s can sustain growth while keeping prices low through simpler operations, disciplined costs and menu innovation.

The brief

Cramer opens a heavy earnings week involving roughly 20% of the S&P 500 by separating overlooked winners from disappointing reports and asking where the market may be missing the story.

His stock-by-stock case ranges from holding AstraZeneca and buying a battered AutoZone to favoring non-hyperscaler opportunities while rejecting several riskier lightning-round names.

Brinker CEO Kevin Hochman explains Chili’s turnaround through stronger employee engagement, guest satisfaction, simpler menus, value meals and popular tequila-based beverages.

The Chili’s discussion turns value into an operating strategy: lower average checks, upgraded bacon portions and tighter costs are presented as compatible with sustainable growth.

Cramer closes by arguing Apple’s bears are too negative, countering fears about component costs, memory prices and margins with the strength of its latest results.

What was said on this episode

36 statements · 29 positive · 5 negative · 1 mixed · 1 neutral

  1. Jim Crameron U.S. stock marketPositive0:56

    Good earnings could trigger a market bounce after the pullback.

    “that could allow us to get a good bounce if we get any good earnings numbers”

    Listen at 0:56

  2. Jim Crameron Federal Reserve independence conflictNegative2:02

    A serious Fed independence conflict would hurt stocks.

    “Bad for stocks if things really go awry.”

    Listen at 2:02

  3. Jim Crameron PalantirPositive3:15

    Palantir’s stock will regain momentum.

    “I think the stock is going to reignite.”

    Listen at 3:15

  4. AMD could report strongly yet its stock could decline.

    “I fear that it could be a terrific number and the stock will still go down”

    Listen at 4:17

  5. Jim Crameron AmgenPositive4:42

    Amgen’s pipeline, earnings, and weight-loss news could lift its stock.

    “could send this Dow stock higher”

    Listen at 4:42

  6. Alphabet could deliver a strong earnings result.

    “I think you could rob.”

    Listen at 6:17

  7. Jim Crameron McKessonPositive6:50

    McKesson’s stock will likely rise after earnings.

    “I bet you history repeats itself.”

    Listen at 6:50

  8. Jim Crameron AffirmPositive7:19

    Affirm should be bought ahead of its earnings report.

    “I think this Buy Now, Pay Later Kinkman should be bought.”

    Listen at 7:19

  9. Jim Crameron RedditPositive7:28

    Reddit’s stock will rise after its upcoming report.

    “I bet it's up this time.”

    Listen at 7:28

  10. Jim Crameron Tame wage inflationPositive7:36

    Tame wage inflation could lower rates and boost bonds and stocks.

    “that would be terrific for bonds as rates go lower and stocks can take off”

    Listen at 7:36

  11. Jim Crameron AstraZenecaPositive8:32

    Investors should continue holding AstraZeneca.

    “I think you should hold on to that.”

    Listen at 8:32

  12. Jim Crameron AVIPositive8:34

    AVI is expected to report a very good quarter.

    “I expect a very good quarter.”

    Listen at 8:34

  13. Jim Crameron AstraZenecaPositive8:36

    AstraZeneca currently has the stronger pharmaceutical portfolio.

    “I think AstraZeneca's got a better portfolio at this very moment.”

    Listen at 8:36

  14. Jim Crameron Texas Instruments data-center businessPositive12:18

    Texas Instruments’ data-center business will continue growing.

    “it is going to grow and grow.”

    Listen at 12:18

  15. Jim Crameron C.H. RobinsonMixed15:32

    C.H. Robinson’s results reflect share gains and self-help despite weak freight demand.

    “it seems like C.H. Robinson is benefiting from market share gains and self-help initiatives to put up good numbers in spite of a still very weak freight business.”

    Listen at 15:32

  16. Trade Desk trades at roughly 15 times estimated current-year earnings.

    “the stock's selling for roughly 15 times this year's earnings estimate”

    Listen at 18:15

  17. Jim Crameron Roper TechnologiesNegative23:25

    Roper’s stock will not recover until enterprise software improves.

    “I think this one doesn't bounce back until the enterprise software cohort finally gets out of the.”

    Listen at 23:25

  18. Jim Crameron AutoZonePositive24:16

    AutoZone’s downturn will prove to be a strong buying opportunity.

    “I think this whole downturn in AutoZone is going to prove out to be a terrific buying opportunity.”

    Listen at 24:16

  19. Jim Crameron Brinker InternationalPositive25:54

    Brinker International’s decline is a buying opportunity.

    “I think it's a buying opportunity.”

    Listen at 25:54

  20. Kevin Hochmanon Brinker InternationalPositive27:01

    Brinker’s strong operating performance will continue.

    “And this run's just going to keep going.”

    Listen at 27:01

  21. Kevin Hochmanon Chili’s guest satisfaction scoresPositive27:36

    Chili’s guest satisfaction scores continue improving.

    “the guest scores continue to improve.”

    Listen at 27:36

  22. Kevin Hochmanon Chili’s value strategyPositive28:48

    Chili’s value strategy will continue winning consumers.

    “we're going to continue to win with the American consumer.”

    Listen at 28:48

  23. Kevin Hochmanon Brinker InternationalPositive32:21

    Brinker can sustain profits, margin growth, and shareholder returns.

    “we can continue to make a ton of money, continue to grow margins, and continue to deliver the returns that our shareholders expect.”

    Listen at 32:21

  24. Kevin Hochmanon Brinker InternationalPositive33:51

    Brinker’s growth is sustainable.

    “this is sustainable”

    Listen at 33:51

  25. Jim Crameron Hinge HealthPositive34:55

    Hinge Health will be among the healthcare sector’s better stocks.

    “I think that that is going to be one of the better stocks we've seen in the healthcare sector.”

    Listen at 34:55

  26. Jim Crameron Rithm CapitalNegative35:43

    Investors should not buy Rithm Capital.

    “I don't want you to buy that stock.”

    Listen at 35:43

  27. Jim Crameron DoverPositive36:44

    Investors should prefer Dover over Flowserve.

    “I'd rather see you in Dove or DOV.”

    Listen at 36:44

  28. Jim Crameron GE VernovaPositive37:03

    GE Vernova is the preferred nuclear-power investment.

    “we have to buy GEV. That's the one you want, okay? They're nuclear ahead of everybody else.”

    Listen at 37:03

  29. Jim Crameron Energy FuelsNegative37:15

    Investors should avoid Energy Fuels.

    “energy fuels, I have to say no to.”

    Listen at 37:15

  30. Jim Crameron Unnamed companyPositive37:46

    Investors should buy the unnamed company discussed by the caller.

    “I'm going to say buy it. I really am.”

    Listen at 37:46

  31. Jim Crameron Apple Inc.Positive39:20

    Apple reported an excellent quarter and has a bright future.

    “I think Apple's quarter was fantastic and its future remains bright.”

    Listen at 39:20

  32. Jim Crameron Apple Inc.Positive39:24

    Apple will not be materially harmed by higher disk-drive prices.

    “This company's not going to be brought down by the price of disk drives”

    Listen at 39:24

  33. Jim Crameron Apple Inc.Positive41:59

    Apple can navigate component shortages better than competitors.

    “Apple is agile and it should have been able to it should be able to navigate the environment for better, far better than the competition.”

    Listen at 41:59

  34. Jim Crameron Apple Inc.Positive42:33

    Storage makers cannot disadvantage Apple for long because of its bargaining power.

    “So they can't afford to shaft Apple for long. It's too powerful.”

    Listen at 42:33

  35. Jim Crameron Apple Inc.Positive42:46

    Apple will pay less than prevailing list prices for storage components.

    “And that's why I think Apple will pay. And they're not going to pay anywhere near the list price that we heard all day today.”

    Listen at 42:46

  36. Jim Crameron Apple Inc.Positive42:56

    Apple receives substantial carrier subsidies that cushion phone-price increases.

    “Only Apple, though, gets that tremendous, enormous subsidy from phone companies eager to get you to switch carriers.”

    Listen at 42:56

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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