Jim Cramer top 10 Tuesday: oil, earnings and analyst calls
Cramer’s Aug. 4 watch list focused on lower oil, a possible S&P 500 record and earnings moves from Caterpillar to Pfizer.
By Maya Okafor · Markets Writer
· 3 min read
Jim Cramer’s top 10 Tuesday list put a potential drop in oil prices alongside a busy run of earnings and Wall Street rating changes. For investors, the immediate setup was higher stock futures and an S&P 500 that Cramer said was on course for a record, although the premarket moves and diplomatic hopes he cited were time-sensitive.
CNBC said Cramer’s Aug. 4, 2026 Morning Thoughts list is a premarket roundup of headlines, earnings and analyst calls, rather than independent investment advice. His first item was the prospect of a U.S.-Iran agreement that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Cramer said oil prices were falling on that hope, while results from Palantir and Caterpillar also helped support futures.
What did Jim Cramer watch on Tuesday?
DuPont: Cramer said shares fell more than 6% before the opening bell despite second-quarter profit and sales exceeding expectations and increased full-year EPS and organic-growth targets. He pointed to a softer second-half outlook and difficulties in the company’s Middle East water business.
Qnity Electronics: The DuPont spin-off, which supplies semiconductor manufacturing and packaging materials, rose more than 5% premarket after beating estimates and lifting full-year forecasts for sales, EPS and free cash flow, according to Cramer.
Palantir: Shares climbed sharply after the enterprise-software company reported results that surpassed expectations, Cramer said. He highlighted management’s use of the Rule of 40, a measure that adds revenue growth and profit margin, with 40% or more presented as the benchmark.
Caterpillar: Cramer said the machinery maker’s second-quarter orders totaled $9.4 billion, lifting backlog to a record $72.1 billion. It reported adjusted earnings of $8.17 a share on $20.54 billion in revenue, compared with analyst estimates of $6.20 a share and $19.34 billion. Shares were up more than 11% premarket, according to Cramer.
Merck: The drugmaker raised full-year revenue guidance after reporting a loss of 13 cents per share on $16.61 billion in revenue. Analysts had expected a 27-cent loss and $16.36 billion in revenue, Cramer said.
Cloudflare: Jefferies increased its price target to $290 from $225 while keeping a hold rating. Cramer said the firm viewed Cloudflare’s 30% midpoint forecast for second-quarter revenue growth as achievable.
Nike: JPMorgan reduced its rating to sell from hold. Cramer said its analysts saw second-half 2027 and 2028 earnings running 20% below consensus, citing the financial impact of Nike’s Win Now turnaround strategy and a $1 billion China revenue drag. Nike shares were down more than 3% before the bell.
Pfizer: Pfizer raised the lower end of its full-year sales forecast after adjusted earnings of 77 cents a share on $15.03 billion in revenue. Cramer said analysts had projected 68 cents a share and $14.41 billion.
SK Hynix: Wolfe Research began coverage with a buy rating and a $200 price target, which Cramer said represented roughly 40% upside from the prior close. The analysts cited valuation after a pullback and demand linked to a memory shortage.
CNBC says subscribers to Cramer’s Investing Club receive trade alerts before trades in his charitable trust. The network says Cramer waits 45 minutes after an alert before trading, and 72 hours after a television discussion that follows an alert.
This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.
