Hansen Natural: Cramer Can't Get His Story Straight

I thought I'd do an analysis of Cramer's calls and take on Hansen Natural (HANS) since last June. It is really quite humorous and unbelievable. There are some quotes that I took the liberty of including as well. (Dates and Cramer quotes are from Seeking Alpha. Price data from Yahoo! Finance.)

June 7, 2006 - $42.59 - Cramer says: SELL "ring the register on HANS...!"

June 14, 2006 - $39.44 - Cramer says: SELL "The stock was up, but I pronounce it finished, because its gonna go down."

June 15, 2006 - $40.86 - Cramer says: SELL "Cramer says the stock will split and sell off."

June 22, 2006 - $42.41 - Cramer says: SELL/WAIT TO BUY

July 6, 2006 - $50.92 - Cramer says: BUY AFTER SPLIT "Look for a little pressure for the next two days, and that may be when you want to strike HANS."

July 7, 2006 - $50.95 - Cramer says: BUY "Cramer says that this is one of the best stocks and predicted on Friday that it would split 4 for 1, adding that it has beat out its competitors in the energy drink business."

July 10, 2006 - $46.23 - Cramer says: HOLD "Cramer recommended patience with this stock... and he told a caller that it should stabilize in a few days."

July 21, 2006 - $43.07 - Cramer says: SELL "There's gonna be too much profit-taking. ... I don't trust it here. ... I want you to schnitzel out of it."

August 1, 2006 - $44.98 - Cramer says: BUY WHEN IT DROPS

August 7, 2006 - $29.85 - Cramer says: DO NOT BUY ON WEAKNESS

August 8, 2006 - $29.46 - Cramer says: SELL "'Any time a company reports an in-line number when everyone is looking for something much more than that, you get this unbelievable type of free fall,' Cramer says, declaring that HANS is finished and should be sold every time there is a rally."

September 11, 2006 - $26.65 - Cramer says: SELL "No! HANS is done."

September 13, 2006 - $29.76 - Cramer says: SELL "Cramer compares the fate of HANS to KKD, and believes that HANS is 'bear market material.'"

September 14, 2006 - $33.38 - Cramer says: SELL "Hansen was recently upgraded by Goldman Sachs and Cramer suggests selling it."

September 19, 2006 - $35.19 - Cramer says: SELL

September 27, 2006 - $34.91 - Cramer says: SELL "Going lower, not higher. I think Hansen is a played-out stock. I will eat crow with a little bit of salt, if I'm wrong."

October 31, 2006 - $31.75 - Cramer says: SELL "There's nothing more scary and terrifying than a momentum stock that has lost its momentum ... Momentum stocks don't generally come back from the dead."

October 31, 2006 - $31.75 - Cramer says: SELL [Note: Cramer recommended to sell Hansen twice on the 31st]

November 3, 2006 - $30.28 - Cramer says: AVOID

November 7, 2006 - $27.26 - Cramer says: DON'T BUY "I don't see any reason to continue to sell it, but 'don't buy, don't buy..."

November 9, 2006 - $24.88 - Cramer says: STAY AWAY "He still would not go near Hansen Natural..."

December 11, 2006 - $33.05 - Cramer says: SELL

December 21, 2006 - $34.10 - Cramer says: SELL "Hansen Natural 'ran out of fizz last summer,' says Cramer..."

March 28, 2007 - $36.23 - Cramer says: BUY

March 30, 2007 - $37.88 - Cramer says: [No specific comment or rating, but overall bullish]

August 20, 2007 - $43.97 - Cramer says: DON'T BUY "...I can't figure out why it was up today."

Cramer is entertaining for sure, but his advice is more than questionable. His picks aren't monitored or tracked which is why he has gotten away with what is some pretty lousy performance at least over the past couple years on his program and shows. I say stay away from Cramer's advice, stick with using him as daily entertainment rather than individual stock advice.

Disclosure: Author has a long position in HANS.

HANS 1-yr chart

Comments

[Jack K]

I think this article gave credence to what many people believe, but don't have time to check out. I don't want to pick on Mr. Cramer. What he does is impossible to do. I suspect more people benefit from watching him, as they will become educated in financial areas. But to follow a specific off the cuff recomendation is foolhardy.

[Uncle Bill]

What are you talking about, Jack K? The only way people will be educated by watching Cramer is by not doing what he does. All he does is attach cliches to his guesses. The approach he employs is the most unsuccessful tack you can take -- short-term trading on known news. I couldn't stop laughing at this article. Great job, David. This article is what blogs are all about.