The Club's top 10 things to watch in the stock market Friday
Jim Cramer’s newsletter lists market drivers and stock-specific catalysts for Aug. 14. Applied Materials fell nearly 6% after earnings and guidance. Sandisk rose after a bullish JPMorgan view. Reddit jumped on S&P 500 inclusion. Workday surged on reported Silver Lake talks. RBC raised targets for Palo Alto Networks and CrowdStrike. Other items include Capital One, T-Mobile, Wayfair, and Fox upgrades/downgrades.
How this was made
The 30-second read
Why it matters
The actionable items are the same-day earnings reaction for Applied Materials, deal-talk momentum for Workday, index-inclusion catalyst for Reddit, and multiple analyst PT/rating changes across semis, cyber, credit cards, telecom, retail, and media.
Market read
Friday’s tape is likely dominated by stock-specific catalysts: earnings miss versus expectations (AMAT), index inclusion (RDDT), deal-talk momentum (WDAY), and multiple analyst rating/target revisions across high-beta growth and defensives.
What to watch
For deal-talk (Workday) and index inclusion (Reddit), traders may overreact to headlines; probability, terms, and effective-date mechanics can shift quickly.
Background
This is a CNBC Investing Club-style “top 10 things to watch” market wrap, mixing macro commentary with company-specific earnings reactions, analyst rating changes, and deal/index catalysts.
Ticker impact
Applied Materials posted strong earnings but guided revenue and adjusted EPS below short-term expectations, sending the stock down nearly 6% this morning.
Choppy to lower bias intraday, with follow-through risk if semicap sentiment stays cautious.
The article cites a same-day ~6% drop tied to expectation-miss guidance, which typically drives immediate repricing even when headline results beat.
Sandisk shares extend Thursday’s big gains, up another 6% after a bullish analyst meeting and JPMorgan initiating a buy rating.
Higher bias near term, with volatility likely as the move extends from a prior 13.7% surge.
The article attributes the move to a specific catalyst: analyst meeting plus JPMorgan buy initiation and margin-reset narrative.
Micron is also up this morning in the memory trade, mentioned alongside Sandisk strength and broader memory momentum.
Mild positive drift if memory sentiment holds; otherwise limited edge.
The only disclosed fact is price action in sympathy with the memory trade, without new Micron fundamentals.
Reddit shares surge 11.5% in premarket after getting the call to replace AvalonBay Communities in the S&P 500 on Aug. 18.
Supportive near-term trend through Aug. 18, with potential profit-taking after the initial pop.
The article cites a concrete, time-bound index change that often affects demand via passive/benchmark flows.
Workday shares surged early 18% late Thursday on Reuters reporting talks with Silver Lake, and are modestly lower this morning.
Range-bound to volatile, with downside risk if deal odds fade.
The article provides a fresh catalyst (reported talks) but no new deal terms today, only modestly lower follow-through.
RBC Capital raised its price target on Palo Alto Networks to $434 from $330 ahead of earnings in a few weeks.
Upward bias into earnings, with pullbacks possible if guidance disappoints.
A specific PT increase with a stated timing (ahead of earnings) is actionable for near-term positioning.
RBC Capital raised its price target on CrowdStrike to $256 from $188.75 ahead of earnings.
Mild positive drift into earnings, with volatility around any AI-disruption narrative.
The article discloses a concrete PT change and timing, which can influence trading flows before the print.
Capital One is reiterated as TD Cowen’s top pick, citing Discover deal accretion and buybacks supporting improved ROTE in the second half.
Gradual upside bias over weeks to months if the thesis holds.
The article provides a specific analyst thesis tied to measurable drivers (accretion, buybacks, ROTE improvement).
Market effects
Semiconductor equipment and cybersecurity show analyst-driven repricing; index inclusion highlights passive-flow sensitivity in consumer internet.
Primarily US-focused via S&P 500 membership and US-listed earnings/analyst actions.
Limited direct global spillover; any impact is through broad risk sentiment and sector read-through (semis, cyber).
Counterpoint
Some moves may be overstated because several catalysts are analyst-driven (PT changes, upgrades/downgrades) rather than new company fundamentals.
Key entities
- companyApplied Materials
Earnings and guidance reaction drove a near 6% drop this morning.
- companySandisk
Analyst meeting and JPMorgan buy initiation supported a further 6% gain.
- companyReddit
S&P 500 replacement on Aug. 18 triggered an 11.5% premarket surge.
- companyWorkday
Reported acquisition talks with Silver Lake drove a large prior-day surge and continued volatility.
- companyPalo Alto Networks
RBC raised price target ahead of earnings.
