Raphael Stevens

Tesla has gained conditional approval to begin commercial production at its new factory near Berlin, local German officials announced Friday.
The conditional license for the vehicle and battery plants in Brandenburg was expected following months of delays.

A Tesla Model Y is seen in a production hall of the Tesla Gigafactory during the open day. In Grünheide, east of Berlin, the first vehicles are to roll off the production line from the end of 2021.
Patrick Pleul | picture alliance | Getty Images

Tesla has gained approval to begin commercial production at its new factory near Berlin, local German officials announced Friday.
The conditional license for the vehicle and battery plants in Brandenburg was expected following months of delays. Tesla had intended to start production of vehicles by early summer of 2021, but the Covid pandemic, supply chain complications and clashes with environmentalists all slowed their pace.

The project, which was approved with a 536-page decision, includes the plant for the production of up to 500,000 vehicles per year, according to a translated release.
The approval does not mean Tesla can start production right away. The license is subject to a public objection period as well as other final inspection conditions that include air pollution control and water usage, according to the release.
The license came from the Brandenburg state environment office. Another translated release regarding the approval called the plant “a great success for Brandenburg.”
The German factory is extremely important to Tesla’s plans to expand globally following the opening of its Gigafactory 3 plant in Shanghai in late 2019. It’s expected to formally open a plant in Texas soon as well.

Read more about electric vehicles from CNBC Pro

In November 2019, when Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced plans to build a car plant in Germany, he lauded German engineering. He said: “Everyone knows that German engineering is outstanding, for sure. That’s part of the reason why we are locating our Gigafactory Europe in Germany. We are also going to create an engineering and design center in Berlin, because Berlin has some of the best art in the world.” 

While approval for the plant took longer than Tesla expected, local officials called the process “unusual in a number of ways.” That included the “comparatively short time” the State Office for the Environment “inspected and approved not just a factory, but an entire industrial area with several large-scale plants and repeated public participation,” officials said.
In 2020, Tesla capitulated to activists’ demands and agreed to reduce water consumption at its new plant by more than a third. The company also had to temporarily suspend its construction schedule that year, specifically the clearing of a pine forest, so it could prove the action would not harm hibernating snakes and lizards in the area.
Tesla still faces hurdles around its water utility contract in Brandenburg.
On Friday, local environmental advocates are expected to argue in an administrative court hearing that the Brandenburg environmental ministry did not conduct adequate reviews before giving a license to the local water utility to fulfill a contract with Tesla.
Reuters reported that the groups bringing the complaint claim the factory would use enough water to support a 30,000-person town.
If the environmental groups win, Tesla will need to wait for the water utility to negotiate with local authorities over where they can source the volume of water needed to run Tesla’s new factory.
In recent years, Tesla has been selling into the region, and competing against European automakers like Volkswagen and Audi, by exporting vehicles from its plant in Shanghai.
According to Canalys research, 6.5 million electric vehicles (including 4.5 million battery-electric vehicles) were sold worldwide in 2021. In Europe last year, 2.3 million electric vehicles were sold accounting for 19% of all new cars. Just over half of those, or 54% of all new electric vehicle sales in Europe, were battery-electric vehicles like those made by Tesla.

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Monday – Friday, 6:00 – 7:00 PM ET

It’s that time again! “Mad Money” host Jim Cramer rings the lightning round bell, which means he’s giving his answers to callers’ stock questions at rapid speed.

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Freeport-McMoRan Inc: “It’s still incredibly cheap … Copper hit an all-time high today and these guys have great assets. I think you’ve really got game with that one.”

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Progress Software Corp: “There’s so many data-based software companies now, I just can’t own it unless you think you can get a takeover.”

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Trex Company Inc: “They did not do what I wanted to see … I’d been expecting beat and raise, beat and raise, and the earnings per share for the actual quarter was terrible. So the answer is ‘no thank you.'”
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Monday – Friday, 6:00 – 7:00 PM ET

Devon Energy is the stock investors should own if they want to guard against geopolitical uncertainty right now, CNBC’s Jim Cramer said Friday.
The “Mad Money” host interviewed the company’s CEO earlier Friday for the CNBC Investing Club’s monthly meeting.
The company has continued moving higher in 2022 as oil and natural gas prices have climbed.

Investors who want to a stock to guard against global uncertainty in light of the Russia-Ukraine war should look to Devon Energy, CNBC’s Jim Cramer said Friday.
The “Mad Money” host’s recommendation came hours after he interviewed Devon’s chief executive, Rick Muncrief, during the CNBC Investing Club’s monthly meeting for subscribers. Cramer’s Charitable Trust owns shares of Devon, which was the best-performing stock in the S&P 500 last year. It’s continued moving higher in 2022 as oil and natural gas prices have climbed.

“I take calls during the monthly meeting. One caller asked me what would be a good hedge against all of the craziness out there. I said it’s real simple: owning an oil and gas stock,” Cramer said, before modifying that answer.
“I should have even made it easier. Own Devon Energy — that’s your insurance policy against continued geopolitical chaos,” he said.
Devon Energy has adopted a disciplined approach to drilling for oil, even as per-barrel prices have surged in recent months. The company instead has focused its efforts on expanding its free cash flow and returning more capital to shareholders, instituting a variable dividend on top of a fixed quarterly payout.
Cramer had been wondering whether Devon would increase its production, in an attempt to capitalize on oil prices that are significantly north of he company’s breakeven level. Muncrief told Cramer on Friday that Devon would not be doing that, adding: “Our plan is our plan.”
Cramer suggested Muncrief’s answer helped strengthen his confidence in the stock, noting the company also is “using this moment of strength to pay down debt.”

“At the moment oil represents about 4% of the S&P 500. It used to be much higher. I’d say that’s very wrong,” Cramer said. “It should be much higher now, with companies like Devon that are being extremely disciplined and returning cash to shareholders aggressively.”
Disclosure: Cramer’s Charitable Trust owns shares of Devon Energy.
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Monday – Friday, 6:00 – 7:00 PM ET

CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Friday previewed next week’s earnings roster and said weekend developments in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will be the most important indicator of the market’s moves.
The “Mad Money” host said that despite the storm that soaring inflation and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have created over the market, investors must remain vigilant.

CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Friday previewed next week’s earnings roster and said weekend developments in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will be the most important indicator of the market’s moves.
The “Mad Money” host said that despite the storm that soaring inflation and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have created over the market, investors must remain vigilant.

“I know it sounds like there’s no hope, but … we have to keep our eyes out for potential winners no matter what,” he said.
All earnings and revenue estimates are courtesy of FactSet.
Monday: Kohl’s
Kohl’s

Investor Day at 9 am ET

Executives at Kohl’s are set to provide updates on the company’s growth strategies and financial structure. Calling the company “one of the most exciting battlegrounds,” Cramer said that increased pressure from activist investors could help those looking to buy the stock.

Tuesday: Dick’s Sporting Goods, Mongo DB, Bumble and Stitch Fix
Dick’s Sporting Goods

Q4 2021 earnings release before the bell; conference call at 10 a.m. ET
Projected EPS: $3.47
Projected revenue: $3.3 billion

Cramer said that Dick’s has a great CEO, will succeed after the pandemic and stands out from other retailers.
MongoDB

Q4 2022 earnings release after the close; conference call at 5 pm ET
Projected loss: loss of 16 cents per share
Projected revenue: $320 million

MongoDB is a dime a dozen when it comes to software database companies, according to Cramer. “Wall Street used to love a company that grew fast and lost a ton of money. Now, they just feel total contempt for them,” he said.
Bumble

Q4 2021 earnings release after the close; conference call at 4:30 pm ET
Projected loss: loss of 2 cents per share
Projected revenue: $210 million

Cramer had few words about Bumble, which closed at $18.08 on Friday, well below its 52-week high of $76.49. “Maybe romance is dead,” he said.
Stitch Fix

Q2 2022 earnings release after the close; conference call at 5 pm ET
Projected loss: loss of 31 cents per share
Projected revenue: $515 million

Stitch Fix is the third stock reporting earnings on Tuesday — along with MongoDB and Bumble — in bear market territory, Cramer said, adding that he’s watching to see if they might find a floor and be worth a buy.
Wednesday: Campbell Soup and CrowdStrike
Campbell Soup

Q2 2022 earnings release before the bell; conference call at 8 am ET
Projected EPS: 69 cents
Projected revenue: $2.24 billion

Campbell has to get their raw costs down, but the company “will fly” if it manages to report even moderate gains, Cramer said.
CrowdStrike

Q4 2022 earnings release after the close; conference call at 5 pm ET
Projected EPS: 29 cents
Projected revenue: $560 million

Cramer said he expects Crowdstrike to report a strong quarter. However, its performance won’t matter if inflation spikes that same day and hurts its stock, Cramer said.
Thursday: Ulta Beauty, DocuSign, Rivian and eBay
Ulta Beauty

Q4 2021 earnings release after the close; conference call at 4:30 pm ET
Projected EPS: $4.57
Projected revenue: $2.69 billion

Cramer praised Ulta Beauty’s consistent performance, adding that the company “has the best chance of roaring higher next week.” He cautioned that the company is not “a cheap stock.”
DocuSign

Q4 2022 earnings release after the close; conference call at 4:30 pm ET
Projected EPS: 63 cents
Projected revenue: $718 million

Cramer said that DocuSign is suffering from being known as a “Covid stock.” “It’s a very good company with a very bad stock,” he said.
Rivian

Q4 2021 earnings release after the close; conference call at 5 pm ET
Projected loss: loss of $1.79 per share
Projected revenue: $60.5 million

Calling Rivian “a poster child” for western electric vehicle companies that have been “losers for ages now,” Cramer said that the company has lost its novelty.
Wheels Up

Q4 2021 earnings before the bell; conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET
Projected loss: Loss of 25 cents per share
Projected revenue: $281 million

Cramer said he’ll be watching to see if the private jet company can get its stock up on Thursday. “I bet they’ll tell their story loud and clear,” Cramer said, adding that it will be useless if the company doesn’t actually turn a profit.
eBay

Investor Day at 11 am ET

“It’s a pretty clear story about an exchange where you can sell anything. For me, that’s worth something,” Cramer said of the e-commerce giant.
Friday: AT&T
AT&T

Analyst & Investor Day at 10 am ET

The company said it will give updates on its strategies for business and capital allocation during its analyst & investor day. Cramer said he plans to listen to the call for positive signs but is skeptical. “This is a company with uniquely terrible management — we’re talking ‘Wall of Shame’ bad — and I have no desire to touch it,” he said.

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Monday – Friday, 6:00 – 7:00 PM ET

CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Friday provided a list of four newly public retail stocks investors should stay away from.
The “Mad Money” host said that as companies that went public in the last year continue to lose their novelty and value, knowing which losing stocks to avoid can help investors pick winning ones.

CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Friday provided a list of four newly public retail stocks investors should stay away from.
The “Mad Money” host said that as companies that went public in the last year continue to lose their novelty and value, knowing which losing stocks to avoid can help investors pick winning ones.

“When you see a massive flood of IPOs, that’s often a real bad sign,” he said. “I hope you took my advice and steered away from these names because if so, I think you could’ve saved yourself a lot of money,” he added.
Here’s the four retail companies that Cramer warned investors against:

Allbirds

Cramer said that Allbirds, which became public in November and whose stock price has been on the decline since peaking at $32 that same day, is too turbulent a stock to predict its movement. He blamed the stock’s decreasing price on rash buyers.
“The problem with Allbirds and its fellow travelers is that you had way too many naïve investors buying this thing without any regard for the price simply because they liked the brand,” Cramer said.
Allbirds was down 6.22% on Friday. “There’s just no telling where it will find a floor” despite the company reporting an upbeat full-year forecast on Feb. 24, Cramer said. 

On Holding

On Holding, a footwear company that went public last September, is profitable but still not a buy, Cramer said. The fact that the company produces nearly all its shoes in Vietnam, which took safety precautions during the delta wave of the Coronavirus, could result in the company facing “the mother of all supply chain problems” down the line, Cramer said.
He added that On Holding could become a buy in the future, but it’s unclear when that will be. The stock dropped 3.04% on Friday.

Rent the Runway

Cramer said Rent the Runway stock seems to have found a floor recently in the single digits but is still too unprofitable to invest in. He added that the designer apparel and accessories rental service reported strong user and revenue growth in its first quarter this year, but its losses and beat-up stock makes it unreliable. “I’d rather buy Macy’s,” he said.
Rent the Runway stock was down 4.55% on Friday.

The RealReal

Cramer said “no thank you” to luxury consignment shop the RealReal, citing the company’s “pretty discouraging” outlook for the year reported on Feb. 23, along with worse-than-expected losses.
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Disclaimer

Questions for Cramer?Call Cramer: 1-800-743-CNBC
Want to take a deep dive into Cramer’s world? Hit him up!Mad Money Twitter – Jim Cramer Twitter – Facebook – Instagram
Questions, comments, suggestions for the “Mad Money” website? [email protected]

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New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said the public health emergency declared in response to omicron will end Monday.
The governor said large-scale mitigation measures are no longer needed to fight Covid, given the availability of vaccines and treatments.
In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams announced the Big Apple’s school mask mandate as well as vaccination requirements for indoor dining will end Monday.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy speaks to volunteers as he meets with Newark Mayor Ras Baraka during the gubernatorial election in Newark, New Jersey, November 2, 2021.
Eduardo Munoz | Reuters

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday said large-scale mitigation measures are no longer needed to fight Covid, lifting a public health emergency order that was declared in response to the omicron variant.
The public health emergency officially ends on Monday when the Garden State will lift its mask mandate for public schools, the last mitigation measure it had in place to combat Covid. Murphy said New Jersey is transitioning away from crisis management to a more normal way of life as infections dramatically decline from the unprecedented surge the state suffered from omicron.

“Given the enormous progress we have made, the time when large-scale mitigation measures were necessary has passed and hopefully will never return,” Murphy told reporters during a news conference that was billed as the state’s last official public briefing on Covid. The governor said vaccines and treatments make it possible to return safely to normal life even as the virus continues to circulate.
While New Jersey’s public health emergency in response to omicron is ending, Murphy said he would maintain the state of emergency declared at the start of the pandemic in March 2020. The governor said this would not impact people’s normal lives. It will allow the state to receive and distribute federal funds and cut down on red tape, he said.
Murphy held an emotional moment of silence for the more than 30,000 New Jersey residents who lost their lives to Covid. The governor’s voice cracked and he teared up as he commemorated them: “We have to remember each and every one of these lives we’ve lost, and the families they left behind,” Murphy said.

CNBC Health & Science

Across the Hudson River, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced he will lift the mask mandate for public schools effective Monday as well as the vaccination requirement for indoor dining, gyms and entertainment venues. Schools will still screen students to make sure they stay home if they have symptoms, and masks are still required for events with children under 5 years old because they are not eligible for vaccination yet.
Individual businesses can still require proof of vaccination and masking indoors if they want, and parents can still send their kids to school with masks if they choose. Adams said the mandates could be reimposed if cases or hospitalizations rise again. However, he said New Yorkers should return to normal and enjoy the city.The easing of Covid restrictions in New Jersey and New York marks a turning point for the region, which was the epicenter of the first Covid wave in the spring of 2020 as well as the massive omicron surge in January. However, New Jersey Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said the state will remain vigilant as Covid continues to circulate.

“It is likely that we will continue to have surges in Covid-19 activity,” Persichilli said at the briefing with Murphy on Friday. “So it will be important that we all continue to be aware of the activity levels and adjust our behaviors accordingly.”
New infections in New Jersey are down 95% from a pandemic record in January, and in New York state cases have declined 97%. New Jersey reported a daily average of 1,449 new cases on Thursday, down from a record of 31,699 cases on Jan. 10, according to a CNBC analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University. New York state reported a daily average of 1,894 new cases, down from a record of 85,000 on Jan. 9, according to the data.
In New Jersey, 74% of the population is fully vaccinated. In New York City, 77% of the population is fully vaccinated.

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