I know who he is, but I don’t really follow him. The only things I ever see are people making fun of his stock picks, saying to do the opposite of whatever he says.
If that’s true, then why is he still around? How did he get to where he is, and is there something I’m missing?
The meme is that Cramer is always wrong, but in reality, he’s about as accurate as a coin flip. Proof? That SJIM ETF that did the opposite of his picks flopped too.
Basically, it’s best to just ignore his stock calls—doing the opposite isn’t any better either.
Harlem said: @Kit
The thing about Cramer is he speaks with so much conviction, like he’s really done his research… but he’ll flip-flop in a matter of days like he never said the first thing.
Yep, he can talk confidently about any stock at any moment, but he never really gives a timeline. That’s actually impressive in itself—most people don’t track that many companies.
@Kit
The thing about Cramer is he speaks with so much conviction, like he’s really done his research… but he’ll flip-flop in a matter of days like he never said the first thing.
Harlem said: @Kit
The thing about Cramer is he speaks with so much conviction, like he’s really done his research… but he’ll flip-flop in a matter of days like he never said the first thing.
At the end of the day, Cramer is a salesman. Always has been. Even when he ran a hedge fund, he had to convince clients to let him manage their money.
He’s not some market genius—he just reads analysts’ reports and regurgitates their takes with enthusiasm. That’s why sometimes he’s right, sometimes he’s wrong. The stock market doesn’t guarantee anything, no matter who you listen to.
@Mika
Also, people dump on him because he’s loud, over-the-top, and easy to mock. But he’s no better or worse than most of Wall Street. He’s just more visible than them.
@Kit
If nothing else, inverse Cramer proves one thing: picking stocks these days really is a coin flip. Fundamentals seem less important than ever, and it’s all about hype and social sentiment.
Cramer was a successful hedge fund manager, started financial media businesses (TheStreet.com, etc.), wrote some books, and got famous for a few solid market calls. He’s the only mainstream stock pundit who gives specific advice to retail investors, which makes him appealing.
I don’t love or hate him, but I leave CNBC on during work, and he’s more informed than 90% of the random keyboard warriors who trash him. He interviews important people—CEOs, analysts, fund managers—which can be valuable.
That said, you should never let a TV personality tell you what to buy or sell. Listen to what he says, but make your own choices.