Jim Cramer’s top 10 things to watch in the stock market Friday
Top 10 things to watch on Friday, February 20 1. Loan sales, part of Blue Owl Capital’s plan to return capital to investors, have observers warning of a “canary in the coal mine” again. While many private credit loans appear to be mismarked, this situation does not appear to be inherently tragic. 2. Stock futures were lower after the initial outlook for fourth-quarter U.S. GDP came in at a much weaker than expected 1.4%. The government shutdown was likely a drag on growth. PCE, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, rose 0.4% in December, slightly above expectations. 3. Texas Roadhouse shares rose more than 3% this morning, with the market giving the steakhouse chain credit for a weak fourth quarter as the ongoing first quarter got off to an explosive start. But there are no signs that the beef bull market will end and Texas Roadhouse will give beef inflation a break. 4. Barclays lowered its price target on CrowdStrike Club from $610 to $550 while any issues with the software remain. However, Barclays maintained its buy rating on the stock. We also tell Club members that cyber retreat is an opportunity. 5. Morgan Stanley initiated GE Aerospace with a buy rating and price target of $425; This represents an increase of approximately 27% from yesterday’s close. The engine maker’s cash flow is “in full swing,” analysts wrote. The air travel bull market is one of the strongest stories out there. Boeing is the way we play it for the Club. 6. Pfizer started with a sell rating at Barclays as analysts worried the stock would remain limited until more data became available on its obesity pipeline. The firm has placed buy ratings on club names such as Bristol Myers, which has emerging green shoots in its growth phase, and obesity leader Eli Lilly. He also likes Merck. 7. Citi raised its price target on Club’s holding of Costco from $990 to $1,000, slightly above yesterday’s close on the stock. The timing seems odd to me, given that the Supreme Court’s long-awaited decision on tariffs could come this morning. Costco sued the Trump administration, seeking damages. 8. Barclays lowered its price target on Molson Coors to $47 from $49 and reiterated its sell rating after earnings. Miller Lite parent company’s softer-than-expected 2026 forecast on Wednesday may still be “setting too high a starting point,” analysts said. I’ve been saying for a while now to stay away from alcohol stocks. People are drinking less, and aluminum tariffs aren’t helping brewers either. 9. Live Nation shares rose 3.5% this morning after Ticketmaster’s parent company beat quarterly revenue estimates, buoyed by resilient demand for concerts and live experiences. Advance ticket sales for 2026 are up double digits, with more than 80% of large-house shows already booked. These numbers are proof that consumers are still willing to pay for things like travel and concerts. 10. Klarna had a quarterly disaster yesterday. Not only did the buy now, pay later provider report a larger-than-expected net loss, but its 2026 financial outlook also fell short on many key metrics. JPMorgan consequently lowered its Klarna price target to $20 from $40 and called the report “disappointing.” UBS reduced PT to $20 from $46. Affirm has been my preferred way to play in the BNPL space. Sign up for free for my Top 10 Morning Thoughts on the Market email newsletter (See here for a complete list of stocks in Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust.) When you subscribe 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 trading alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable foundation’s portfolio. If Jim talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he would wait 72 hours after issuing the trading alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTMENT CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY, TOGETHER WITH THE DISCLAIMERS. NO CIVIL OBLIGATIONS OR DUTIES EXIST OR SHALL BE RESULTING FROM YOUR RECEIVING ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTMENT CLUB. NO SPECIFIC RESULT OR PROFIT CAN BE GUARANTEED.
