Cramer Flashback: In the Feb. 21 post “Stay In The Game” what does Cramer compare the excitement of speculation to?

The excitement of tracking your most speculative names will most likely carry over to the rest of your holdings.

Think of it this way: If a nutritionist puts you on a diet with absolutely no cake or ice cream or other treats, your chances of success are slim. Sooner or later you’ll break down and head to Cold Stone Creamery for a “Cheesecake Fantasy.”

In the slideshow, “10 Recession-Proof Jobs,” what is the nurse doing?

Administering an injection

In Carmen Wong Ulrich’s post, How to Know If Your Money Is Safe, what is her third piece of advice to depositors?

3) Know the guidelines: Insured up to $100,000 = savings, checking, CDs, trusts. Insured up to $250,000 = Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) which include 401(k)s, 403(b)s and Roths. NOT insured = investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, life insurance and annuities.

My latest column is up at RealMoney.

DaVita (DVA) is a leading provider of dialysis services in the U.S. for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease, or ESRD. As of Dec. 31, 2007, the company operated or provided administrative services to 1,359 outpatient dialysis centers serving about 107,000 patients.

The total ESRD market is estimated at 340,000 patients and is growing 3% to 4% annually. DaVita and its largest competitor, Fresnius Medical Care (FMS) , together control 65% of the dialysis market.

Over the last 12 months, DaVita’s free cash flow (cash flow from operations less capital expenditures) has been nearly $250 million, or 4.4% of the company’s market capitalization. When combined with the 15% expected growth in earnings over the next three to five years, the risk premium looks attractive. The free cash flow could also provide support to the valuation levels.

Though I’m not a technical analyst by trade, I also take comfort in the fact that it looks like DaVita stock may have bottomed in March, and that there is nearer-term support at the 50-day and 200-day moving averages — both of which are in the $52-$53 range. Those could be good spots for an initial trading stop or protective put options in case things go wrong.
Disclosure: At time of publication William Trent has no financial position in the companies mentioned in this article.

In the post, “Crazy Money: Wells Fargo Options Rocket,” Matt Nesto reported that the August $27.50 call contract gained:

Further out, the August $27.50s also soared, going from $0.15 to $1.55 for a nice 933% one-day gain!

In the video feature, Best Trades Now: Healthcare, Energy & More, what does Edward Perks call “a tremendous performer”?

Canadian Oil Sands (COSWF) has been a tremendous performer, really driven by the oil-price performance the last several years.  Others, like Pfizer (PFE - Annual Report), have been a little bit tougher, a little bit more of a long-term value play, with the creation of new drugs there over time.”

- Edward Perks, Franklin Income Fund

In the Cramer blog post, “How to Survive the Banking Meltdown”, which bank ranked “Almost as Bad as the Worst”?

Almost as Bad as the Worst: National City (NCC), Washington Mutual (WM) and First Horizon (FHN)

FIRST HORIZON NATL CORP FHN 7.23  1.34  +22.75%

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Quote  |  Chart  |  News  |  Profil (

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According to a By The Numbers post, “Biggest One Day Drops in Oil”, how much did the S&P Energy Sector drop Tuesday?

On the news, the S&P Energy Sector is down nearly 3%.

According to the CNBC.com special report, Powering the Planet, which is the “biggest” U.S. geothermal player?

The biggest US players are firms in which geothermal is only a portion of their business. This includes Chevron (CVX) b

CHEVRON CORP CVX 87.36  -2.06  -2.3%

NYSE

ut also Calpine (CPN) and Raser Technologies (RZ).

In other words, “all of the above.”

According to the Featured Slideshow, “10 World Famous Gemstones”, which ruler owned the “cursed” Koh-i-Noor diamond?

Its name means “Mountain of Light” and it’s said to be cursed. Legend says that whoever comes into its possession will one day rule the world.  Coincidentally, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth once had ownership of it. However, no man risks wearing it because all men who have had possession of it suffered misfortune or even untimely death.