Squawk on the Street

Lisa Su, CEO of AMD, dives into the company's futuristic AI roadmap, unveiling the new MI455 GPU and discussing strong long-term demand trends from CES. Eric Johnston, from Cantor Fitzgerald, raises caution about a potential equity drawdown in Q1 while highlighting investor risks. Colonel Jack Jacobs offers insight into the complex task of rebuilding Venezuela’s oil infrastructure, emphasizing security challenges ahead. Erica Najarian from UBS makes the bullish case for large bank stocks, suggesting a beneficial shift towards regional banks.

Jim Cramer emphasizes Nvidia's dominance in the chip market, citing crucial insights from CEO Jensen Huang's CES keynote. The discussion highlights Nvidia's integrated systems and their cost-effectiveness over competitors. Cramer contrasts the impressive advancements of the Rubin chip compared to last year’s Blackwell, noting significant boosts in performance and efficiency. With these developments, Cramer firmly believes Nvidia remains the reigning leader in the tech landscape.

The discussion kicks off with a historic high for the Dow, driven by strong banking and oil performances. Nvidia takes center stage after its CEO showcases groundbreaking AI chips at CES. Caterpillar's turnaround is praised, while Goldman Sachs experiences a stock surge tied to executive bonuses. The podcast also covers a sales rebound for Ford, implications of oil changes in Venezuela, and a memory shortage that boosts Sandisk's stock. The hosts debate tech laggards like Apple and Netflix, alongside insider buying trends in the market.

The hosts dive into the market's latest shifts, highlighting rising financials and some weakness in health care. Cramer warns against speculating on energy stocks after recent political events in Venezuela. He identifies Chevron, Valero, and Halliburton as key players who could benefit from the potential opening of Venezuelan crude access. They also discuss the broader implications of these movements for investors looking to navigate the current landscape.

Ruchir Sharma, an influential international economist, shares insights on Venezuela's market impact amidst Nicolás Maduro's New York court appearance. Charles Myers discusses upcoming investor trips to explore reconstruction opportunities, while addressing the constraints of sanctions. Contessa Brewer provides live updates on Maduro's arraignment and its implications for U.S.-Venezuela relations. The conversation dives into the geopolitical currents in Latin America and the shifting landscape of investor interest amid potential market volatility.

The hosts kick things off with U.S. strikes in Venezuela, leading to Maduro's capture and his looming court appearance. They discuss Chevron's stock surge as investors eye potential access to Venezuela's oil reserves, despite infrastructure challenges. There's a pivot to the AI trade, with excitement building ahead of Nvidia's CEO announcement at CES. The debut of Versant Media as an independent company on the Nasdaq also makes headlines, raising questions about future growth while the bank sector sees strong momentum due to deregulation benefits.

Steve Sosnick, Chief Strategist at Interactive Brokers, analyzes global market trends, emphasizing the impact of retail investors and market risks in 2026. Craig Irwin, Managing Director at Roth Capital Partners, discusses Tesla's shift towards robotics and energy storage, highlighting challenges and competition in the automotive sector. Jack Hittery, CEO of SandboxAQ, shares insights on the rapid advancements in AI and robotics, predicting significant growth in humanoid technology and raising concerns about cybersecurity after recent hacks.

David Zervos, Chief Market Strategist at Jefferies, shares insights on a more dovish Fed and a bullish outlook for the S&P 500 in 2026. Automotive reporter Phil LeBeau reveals a disappointing 16% drop in Tesla's Q4 deliveries, questioning their near-term sales strategies. Mike Santoli discusses market momentum and sector rotations, highlighting strength in mega-tech stocks like Nvidia and Apple. The panel also touches on implications of delayed furniture tariffs and evolving dynamics in consumer sectors.

Wes Cummins, the CEO of Applied Digital, shares insights on his company's spin-out of its cloud business, aiming to eliminate customer conflicts during a booming data center demand. Noted economist Mohamed El-Erian discusses the paradox of rising unemployment despite strong GDP growth and the complexities AI brings to the Federal Reserve's strategies. He emphasizes the need for strategic leadership in tackling economic risks posed by AI adoption while advocating for labor-enhancing measures in navigating future challenges.

Mike Santoli, a senior markets commentator, analyzes the strong gains of 2025 and the risks of market concentration heading into a potentially late-phase bull market. Alan Blinder, former Fed Vice Chair, shares his insights on Fed policy, predicting the impacts of AI on employment and the economy in the coming years. They explore exciting developments with Apple’s AI features and the implications of hyperscaler spending on key tech firms like Nvidia and Taiwan Semiconductor, highlighting significant moves in the stock market as 2025 wraps up.