Here’s Jim Cramer’s advice for navigating the markets during the Iran conflict
Posted by Times Reporter | Mar 3, 2026 | Health | 0 |
Jim Cramer’s advice for investors dealing with the fallout from the US-Israeli attack on Iran: Be selective. With stocks initially selling off (but well off their lows in late morning trading; stay tuned) and oil prices surging on fears of a supply disruption, Jim sees a need for action on Wall Street’s first day of trading since the conflict began. But at this point, the conflagration in the Middle East does not require a major portfolio rethink or anything close to it. .SPX @CL.1 5D-Mountain S&P 500 and WTI in the last 5 sessions This doesn’t take away from the long-term story around artificial intelligence adoption, for example – so much so that Jim said during Monday’s morning session that investors who don’t own Nvidia can start building a position here. Where else are there opportunities to use money? Jim recommends looking at an industry that will be spared any economic impact. “When I think about what I want to buy here, I come back and say health care because health care won’t hurt,” Jim said on CNBC on Monday. That’s exactly what we did on Monday morning, opening a position in Cardinal Health, a major behind-the-scenes player in the healthcare industry that distributes pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. Cardinal Health also has some exciting growth initiatives, including a number of acquisitions of management service organizations, companies that manage business operations for physicians and clinicians. During our monthly meeting on Friday, we added Cardinal Health to our bullpen watch list. On the other hand, Jim believes the market reaction is creating opportunities for easing in certain areas – particularly oil. This was a strong group of stocks in 2026, even before further gains on Monday due to spikes in crude oil prices. The energy sector ended Friday up 25% for the year, benefiting in part from a rotation toward “heavy asset” companies and a rise in oil prices as investors priced in heightened tensions in the Middle East. “It’s a good time to sell,” Jim said Monday, recommending cutting the oil position by about half. The club does not own any oil stocks and has not done so since exiting Coterra Energy last summer. This advice expands on his Sunday evening column for club subscribers. Here’s what Jim wrote about oil on Sunday: “The world is awash with oil, and those with more to take advantage of the supply disruption moment will produce more. It will be cumbersome and it will feel terrible to sell Exxon Mobil here. I get that. But these are the stocks that are the most inflated relative to their fundamentals. Anyone who remembers the 1990 Gulf War knows these are the ones which are the first to turn over after the initial rise that gives you the chance to sell.” The rapid rise is a happy parting moment for those who had the foresight to own these stocks. On Sunday evening, Jim also mentioned an intention to reduce exposure to consumer staples, a sector that was also a big winner for 2026 ahead of Monday’s session. Club name Procter & Gamble, a member of the Staples cohort, is typically viewed as a classic safety stock. But on Monday it was down about 1.5%, perhaps because a rise in oil prices could put pressure on consumers at the pump and limit their spending in other areas of life. As of late Monday morning, we had taken no action on our P&G position, which has been a nice bulwark for our portfolio since we purchased it in November. Additionally, we are optimistic that new CEO Shailesh Jejurikar can bring operational improvements to the owner of Tide and Bounty. (Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust consists of NVDA, CAH and PG. A complete list of stocks can be found here.) As a subscriber to CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable foundation’s portfolio. If Jim discussed a stock on CNBC television, he waits 72 hours after the trade alert is issued before executing the trade. THE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION SET FORTH ABOVE IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY, ALONG WITH OUR DISCLAIMER. THERE ARE NO fiduciary duty or duty IN RECEIVING YOUR INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTMENT CLUB. NO SPECIFIC RESULTS OR PROFITS ARE GUARANTEED.
