Here’s a revised article focusing solely on the CNBC Investing Club’s actions and commentary, as if it were a standalone piece for their audience:

Investing Club Recap: market highs, Meta‘s AI Push, and apple’s AI Strategy

Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a “Morning Meeting” livestream at 10:20 a.m. ET to break down the latest market movements and provide actionable insights. Here’s a recap of Monday’s key moments:

1. Navigating Market Momentum: Trades and Fed Scrutiny

The stock market kicked off the week on a high note, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite reaching new intraday highs. Jim Cramer highlighted the “remarkable” influx of money into the markets, attributing it in part to President Trump’s recent legislative proposals.

Together, pressure on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell continues, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggesting a comprehensive review of the Federal Reserve’s operations. This follows reports indicating a potential disagreement between Bessent and President Trump regarding the Fed Chair’s position.Investing Club Actions: In response to the market’s activity, the Club made strategic adjustments to its portfolio. we trimmed holdings in Abbott Laboratories (ABT), Danaher (DHR), and Eaton (ETN). The capital redeployed from these sales was used to initiate new positions in Cisco (CSCO) and TJ Maxx (TJX).

2. Meta Platforms: A Winning Strategy in the AI Arena

Meta Platforms (META) received a significant vote of confidence from Morgan Stanley, which raised its price target to $750 from $650.Analysts cited strong quarterly results and forward-looking guidance, projecting an Earnings Per Share (EPS) of at least $30 in 2026. Crucially, their optimism is fueled by Meta’s prosperous investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI), evidenced by the rollout of next-generation Llama models and GenAI products.Jim Cramer drew a parallel between Meta’s AI strategy and the New York Yankees’ approach under the Steinbrenner family: “Let’s just get every great player and win the World Series. That’s Mark Zuckerberg. he wants to win the World Series so he goes into the free agency market,” he stated, referencing Meta’s aggressive recruitment of top AI executives. Meta is scheduled to report its earnings next Wednesday, July 30th.

3. Apple: Pursuing AI Leadership with Strategic Acquisitions

Melius analyst Ben Reitzes continued to advocate for Apple (AAPL) to acquire AI startup Perplexity. Reitzes believes such a move could substantially boost Apple’s stock price, notably if the AI-powered search engine were offered via a $200 annual subscription. he urged Apple to “move from toll taker to AI leader by any means necessary.” The analyst also floated the idea of a potential partnership with Elon Musk’s xAI.

In parallel,Morgan Stanley analysts anticipate a strong earnings quarter for Apple. tho, they also cautioned that the Department of Justice’s antitrust case against Google could perhaps impact Apple’s lucrative $20 billion search agreement.Jim Cramer echoed this sentiment, stating, “I think the law has made it so Apple’s model is a failure. So they have to buy someone. It would be Perplexity.”

4. Rapid Fire Stocks:

Stocks discussed in Monday’s “Rapid Fire” segment included: XYZ,Domino’s Pizza (DPZ),Verizon communications (VZ),Pinterest (PINS),and Target (TGT).

Vital Disclosure:

Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust is long AAPL, ABT, CSCO, DHR, ETN, META, TJX. For a complete list of holdings,please refer to the provided link.

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What are the key concerns raised by Jim Cramer regarding Apple’s AI strategy?

Apple’s AI Gamble: Melius and Cramer on a Necessary Shift

The Pressure to Innovate in the Age of Generative AI

For years, Apple has largely remained on the sidelines as the generative AI revolution unfolded. While competitors like Google, Microsoft, and even Samsung aggressively integrated AI features into their products, Apple maintained a relatively quiet stance. Now, with WWDC 2025 looming and mounting pressure from analysts like Melius Research’s Ben Thompson and CNBC’s Jim Cramer, it’s clear Apple’s strategy is shifting. This isn’t simply about adding another feature; it’s a essential recalibration in response to a changing technological landscape. The core question isn’t if Apple will embrace AI, but how and how quickly.

Melius Research’s perspective: Apple’s Unique Position

Ben Thompson, of melius Research, argues that Apple’s strength lies in its tightly integrated hardware and software ecosystem. This control allows for a different approach to AI implementation than companies reliant on cloud-based solutions. Thompson believes Apple’s focus will be on “private, on-device AI processing,” leveraging the power of its silicon – the A-series and M-series chips – to deliver AI features without compromising user privacy or requiring constant internet connectivity.

On-Device Processing: This means AI tasks like image recognition, language translation, and predictive text happen directly on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Privacy Focus: Apple has consistently positioned itself as a privacy-focused company, and on-device AI aligns with that brand identity.

Silicon Advantage: Apple’s custom silicon is specifically designed for machine learning tasks, giving it a performance edge.

Investor Expectations: Wall Street is closely watching Apple’s AI moves,and a lack of progress could lead to a decline in investor confidence.

Competitive Pressure: Competitors are rapidly integrating AI into their products, creating a sense of urgency for apple to catch up.

Market Leadership: Apple’s long-held position as a technology leader is at stake if it fails to embrace AI.

Cramer’s perspective highlights the financial implications of Apple’s AI gamble. The company can’t afford to be perceived as an innovator lagging behind the curve.

Apple’s Potential AI Features: What to Expect

While Apple has been tight-lipped about its specific AI plans, several potential features are widely anticipated:

1. Enhanced Siri: A more intelligent and conversational Siri, capable of handling complex requests and providing personalized assistance.This includes improved natural language processing and contextual awareness.
2. AI-Powered Photography & Videography: Advanced image and video editing tools that leverage AI to enhance photos, remove unwanted objects, and create professional-looking content. Expect improvements to features like Cinematic Mode and Photographic styles.
3. Intelligent App integration: AI-driven suggestions and automation within Apple’s core apps, such as Mail, Calendar, and Messages. Such as, automatically summarizing long email threads or suggesting relevant calendar events.
4. Personalized User Experience: AI algorithms that learn user behavior and preferences to deliver a more customized and intuitive experience across all Apple devices.
5. Code Completion & Assistance (for Developers): Leveraging AI to assist developers with code writing, debugging, and optimization within Xcode.

The Role of Apple’s Silicon: A key Differentiator

Apple’s custom silicon is arguably its biggest advantage in the AI race. The Neural Engine, integrated into the A-series and M-series chips, is specifically designed for machine learning tasks. This allows Apple to perform AI processing directly on the