The Street

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealTurning your bedroom into a relaxing retreat can help you unwind after a long day and get a better night’s sleep. One factor that has a huge impact on the overall atmosphere of your room is the color. Soft pastels and neutrals can bring a soothing touch to your space, but that doesn’t mean you need to repaint all your walls to achieve this ambience. Instead, you can simply swap out your existing bedspread to transform your bedroom into a serene escape. The Macy’s Chloe Reversible 3-Piece Comforter Set perfectly fits the bill, and it’s marked down by a massive 69% off with a limited-time deal. The reversible design features a light buttercup yellow that brings a joyful sense of calmness to the space. Normally you’d have to pay $80 to score this highly rated bedspread and two matching pillow shams, but with the current sale, you can score it for just $25. Macy’s Chloe Reversible 3-Piece Comforter Set, $25 (was $80) at Macy’s

Courtesy of Macy’s

Shop at Macy’sWhy do shoppers love it?There’s a lot to love about this beautiful comforter set, but one of our favorite things is the reversible design on both the bedspread and pillow shams. The comforter features contrasting floral patterns at each end, with geometric yellow bouquets on a cream canvas at the top and a bold strip of golden blooms at the bottom. By flipping the comforter and floral pillow shams over, you’ll reveal a solid buttercup yellow background for an energetic vibe to get you going in the mornings. “Pretty and sunny pattern,” one shopper raved about the design. They continued to praise the bedding, “This is a very lightweight, beautiful comforter. It’s perfect for summer.” The comforter set is made from 100% polyester, so it’s durable, easy to maintain, and machine-washable, which means there are no unnecessary trips to the dry cleaner on laundry day. Additionally, it’s been Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, which means every part of the product has been tested and found free of harmful materials. Related: Target is selling a $280 rattan storage cabinet with an adjustable shelf for 77% offThe three-piece comforter set is highly rated among shoppers, with many reviewers highlighting its versatile appearance and ultra-cozy construction. “It feels like I’m sleeping in a luxury hotel,” wrote one shopper. They also appreciated the “light and airy” design that can “brighten up the space.”Details to know Sizes available: Twin, full/queen, and king sizes are on sale for $25.Material: 100% polyester.Is it machine washable?: Yes.For the queen and king sizes, you’ll receive a comforter and two pillow shams in the three-piece bedding set. However, the twin-size set comes with one less pillow sham, since only one pillow fits on the bed. If the sunshine-inspired hue isn’t quite your style, Macy’s weekend home sale has additional three-piece comforter sets discounted to $25.Shop more bedding dealsMacy’s Charlotte Reversible 3-Piece Comforter Set, $25 (was $80) at Macy’sMacy’s Colesville Reversible 3-Piece Comforter Set, $25 (was $80) at Macy’sMacy’s Jasmine Floral Print 3-Piece Comforter Set, $25 (was $80) at Macy’sThe Macy’s Chloe Reversible 3-Piece Comforter Set is a steal while it’s on sale for just $25 at Macy’s. When bedding deals are this good, it’s not uncommon for sizes to start selling out, so you won’t want to wait to snag this one for yourself.

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealAutomatic watches are special. While there are plenty of quartz-regulated timepieces that have our admiration for their accuracy and technological accomplishments, they’re not quite as romantic as a mechanical watch. While quartz watches use a lithium-ion battery for energy, an automatic watch simply uses the motion of your wrist to wind, employing a series of gears to release that energy in the form of a smoothly sweeping seconds hand. It’s poetry in motion. That’s why we were surprised, nay gobsmacked, to find a gorgeous Citizen automatic watch at a huge discount from Macy’s. The Citizen Automatic Sport Luxury Watch is on clearance for only $405 at the moment. That’s 40% off the original price of $675. This watch is a true luxury piece, and one that you can currently get at an affordable price.Citizen Automatic Sport Luxury Watch, $405 (was $675) at Macy’s

Courtesy of Macy’s

Shop at Macy’sWhy do shoppers love it?This lovely watch is the height of luxury, and you can tell just by looking at it. The dive-style watch has a beautiful sky blue dial with applied hour markers throughout. The hour markers and handset all have copious amounts of luminescent coating on them, so the watch is highly legible in dark conditions. There is also a nicely-finished day date feature at the 3 o’clock position for those who like to keep track of their calendar at all times. The icing on the visual cake, though, is the two-tone black and silver rotating dive bezel that surrounds the bezel. It has a luminescent pip at the 12 o’clock position and rounds out the watch’s dive watch pedigree nicely for anyone who may not have yet been convinced.The perfectly-sized 42-millimeter case and solid metal bracelet are made from durable 316 low-carbon (L) stainless steel. It looks great on the wrist, in addition to being highly rust and corrosion-resistant. Those features go hand-in-hand with the watch’s impressive water resistance of 100 meters. This doesn’t just look like a watch that’s safe around the oceans. It’s actually intended to go in. You can swim, snorkel, or shower with this watch, and it’ll be no worse for wear, ticking away for years to come.Speaking of ticking, the high-end automatic movement in this watch is a thing to behold. It incorporates 21 miniature rubies throughout to reduce friction. The movement also never needs a battery, keeps accurate time, and even has enough power reserve to tick through the night while you sleep. Just throw it on the wrist in the morning and go. That’s a convenient feature for any watch, let alone one like this that looks as good with a three-piece suit as it does with a swimsuit.Related: Bulova’s $310 luxury dive watch has 200 meters of water resistanceDetails to knowCase diameter: 42 millimeters.Material: 316L Stainless Steel.Water resistance: 100 meters.Movement: Citizen automatic 21-jewel mechanical movement.This is the type of luxury timepiece you pass down to the next generation. That’s why finding it at such a low price is a major coup. The look and feel of the watch are a testament to the superior watchmaking that Citizen is known for. If the past century has taught the brand anything, it’s how to give the customer what they want.Shop more deals Citizen Eco-Drive 43-Millimeter Watch, $316 (was $395) at Macy’sCitizen Steel Eco-Drive Dive Watch, $316 (was $395) at Macy’sCitizen Sport Casual Black Tone Eco-Drive Watch, $316 (was $395) at Macy’sThe Citizen Automatic Sport Luxury Watch can be had for only $405 right now. That’s an almost unheard-of price drop, especially for a piece that’ll make you instantly look like a million bucks. Just don’t wait too long, as clearance deals like this one tend to go quickly. The time to act is now.

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealNothing is more frustrating than being stranded with a dead smartphone battery. Not only can it be frustrating, but it can also be downright dangerous depending on the situation. If you want to avoid this type of issue altogether, there are a few steps you can take. While some smartwatches allow for direct network connections, most still require being digitally tethered to a smartphone. Therefore, in the absence of a direct-connect smartwatch, your best bet for avoiding dead phone batteries is a portable fast charger. Thanks to Amazon, you can get one right now at a great deal.The Iniu 45-Watt Portable Fast Charger is on sale for $22, which is its lowest price in the past 30 days. If you’re tired of running out of juice at the most inopportune moments, then this deal is perfect for you. Iniu 45-Watt Portable Fast Charger, $22 (was $24) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at AmazonWhy do shoppers love it?This charger is one of the most convenient we’ve seen in this price range. For starters, it’s 40% smaller and lighter than most other standard chargers on the market. The dimensions are 2.7 inches long by .7 inches wide by 4.3 inches high. It only weighs 6.4 ounces as well. That means you can easily throw this charger into your pocket and head out the door without a care in the world. It also has a handy wrist strap, so you don’t have to worry about dropping it when you take it on the go.As for charging power, it has a capacity of 45 watts, which makes for quick and easy charging. As an example, an iPhone 17 Pro Max will charge up to 76% in just 30 minutes. A Samsung S25 Ultra, on the other hand, will get all the way to 84% in the same time. What’s more, it even has enough power to charge a tablet as well. There’s no need to limit its use to smartphones alone. This is a versatile charger that can handle many tasks. In order to handle those tasks, this device also includes a small USB-C cable, meaning you won’t need to buy an extra one to start using it out of the box. As a special bonus feature, the charger includes a small LED flashlight function. It’s a helpful addition in an emergency situation. This might be one of the best all-around electronics you can have for home or travel, regardless of price. It’s available in five colorways, so you’d be wise to buy one for every member of your household.Related: Amazon’s ‘ultimate’ portable charger is flying off the site while on sale for $23 during Prime DayAmazon customers raved about this charger. One said it’s “very compact and recharges my phone very fast,” adding that it’s a “great little charger”.Shop more deals Anker 3-Port Prime Charger, $116 (was $150) at AmazonAnker 70W Nano Charger, $40 at Amazon Anker Laptop Power Bank, $120 at AmazonIf you want a charger that’s fast, lightweight, and incredibly convenient, then the Iniu 45-Watt Portable Fast Charger is a great buy. Just don’t wait too long, as the $22 price tag won’t last. If you think you may even be slightly interested, we recommend you charge ahead and click the buy button. 

The cool news is that the latest data from the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation indicator came in lower than consensus in June, primarily due to a drop in energy prices.The not-so-cool news? During his second Fed Day as Chairman of the U.S. central bank, Kevin Warsh hemmed and hawed over whether the Personal Consumption Expenditure price index would continue to serve that role.And didn’t offer a hint as to what the replacement might be. As I reported, this lack of transparent strategy really ticked off Wall Street — more than the Federal Open Market Committee’s decisive 9-3 vote to hold short-term benchmark interest rates steady July 29. Bonds sold off sharply with the 30-year Treasury hitting 5.22%.Within hours of Warsh’s post-meeting press conference, J.P. Morgan abruptly shifted its forecast for the Fed’s interest-rate outlook to a hawkish one. The headline on the note?  “Talk is Cheap.” J.P. Morgan Chief U.S. Economist Michael Feroli said the Fed would raise interest rates by 25 basis points in December instead of the second half of 2027.The note to clients expects the Fed to continue to hold the Federal Funds Rate at 3.75%-4.00% after the December hike but added that the risk of a September rate increase is real.Feroli’s research update said that Warsh’s ambiguous signaling raises concerns about the central bank’s inflation strategy.“It’s hard to know what to make of Warsh’s remarks, which involved a lot of well-turned phrases but little in the way of a coherent macro view,” Feroli wrote to clients, adding that the new Chairman “once again failed to specify how he intended to achieve his stridently asserted inflation resolve,” creating additional policy uncertainty for financial markets.Fed’s mandate balances interest rates, jobs and pricesThe Fed’s congressional dual mandate requires full employment and price stability. The FOMC post-meeting statement was a terse five paragraphs that described the economic activity as “expanding at a solid pace despite elevated uncertainty that owes, in part, to the conflict in the Middle East.’’ It cited the energy shocks that have driven up prices in some sectors.Warsh has repeatedly vowed the Fed would bring inflation down to its 2% target — a measure it has missed for the last 63 months. He deflected questions from reporters on July 29 as to how this will be achieved with responses that included that there is “no magic wand.” (You can read the entire transcript of Warsh’s press conference here and watch the video here.) “But at what point is he actually going to act?,” Yardeni Research President Ed Yardeni told CNBC July 30, adding “What’s it going to take?”  Here’s the tricky part:Lower interest rates support hiring but can fuel inflation. This risks fueling further inflation, potentially leading to an inflationary spiral.Higher rates cool prices but can weaken the job market. This increases the cost of borrowing and further stifles economic activity.

Fed holds interest rates steady thus far this year The rate-setting FOMC voted unanimously in June to hold its benchmark Federal Funds Rate target in a range of 3.5% to 3.75%. But the minutes of the June FOMC meeting showed policymakers splitting their views on inflation risk and the impact on interest rates with a rising hawkish tinge to the quarterly dot plot.The three Fed presidents who voted for a 25 basis-point hike in July — Cleveland’s Beth Hammack, Minneapolis’ Neel Kashkari and Lorie Logan of Dallas — expressed concerns about the impact of underlying inflation after the June meeting based in part on comments and observations from consumers and businesses in their regions.Warsh’s remarks cast doubt on the ⁠new chair’s credibility in delivering lower inflation, J.P. Morgan said in the July 29 note, adding that this could increase the urgency for the rest ​of the committee to act on its mandate for price stability.July FOMC resets traders’ Fed interest-rate betsTraders are pricing ⁠in a 65.2% chance of a rate hike in September, down from 81% before the policy statement, according to ​the CME Group FedWatch Tool.The futures markets are also pricing in an 82.7% cumulative probability that the funds rate will be higher than the current 3.50%-3.75% by the December FOMC meeting.Related: Fed interest-rate decision rocks Wall Street’s inflation fearsBofA Global Research forecasts three rate hikes starting ⁠in ​September.Long-standing Fed dove Citigroup maintained its ​forecast for rate cuts in October and December this year and one in January 2027 ​following the July FOMC meeting.Key drivers behind the June PCE dropQuestions whether the PCE price index will remain the primary reference tool for monetary policy with no answers as to what will replace it have further heightened market jitters.Headline PCE dropped0.1% month-over-month in June and fell from 4.1% to 3.7% year-over-year. Excluding food and energy, the gauge rose less than forecast. Gasoline prices have risen in July due to military escalation in the Iran War, once again pressuring household budgets and the latest data showed the saving rate fell in June to the lowest level since 2022.Meanwhile the inflation-adjusted GDP increased an annualized 1.5% in the three months through June, lower than the 2.1% consensus.Consumers “looked through the price pressures and they powered on — the question is how much longer they will be able to do that,” Barclays Senior U.S. Economist Pooja Sriram told Bloomberg. “Tax refunds have run out and income gains are slowing, so that cushion that we point to is getting smaller in the next quarter.” Related: Mortgage rate forecast resets after Fed decision

For five consecutive quarters, Meta Platforms did something that very few companies at its scale manage to pull off. It beat earnings expectations every single time, while simultaneously ramping one of the most aggressive AI spending programs in corporate history. The market rewarded both things. The stock climbed. The narrative held together.July 29 was different. Meta reported after the bell and the streak was gone. EPS came in at $6.18. The Street was looking for $7.20. The stock dropped nearly 9% in after-hours trading and landed at $542. The next morning, Bank of America’s Justin Post released a note. His view was that the market got it wrong.Why Meta’s Q2 earnings missed and what it actually meansThe revenue number was fine. Meta posted $60.8 billion in total revenue for Q2 2026, up 28% year on year and ahead of the $60.2 billion Street estimate. Advertising revenue was $59.4 billion, slightly above the $58.9 billion consensus. Other Family of Apps revenue came in at $1.007 billion, up 73% year on year and well above estimates, according to 24/7 Wall St.The miss was entirely in costs. Total expenses jumped 55% year over year to $42 billion. Inside that number were a $2.4 billion legal charge related to youth safety proceedings and a $1.2 billion severance charge tied to the 8,000-person headcount reduction Meta carried out in May 2026. Those are one-time items. They don’t say anything about the trajectory of the advertising business. But they hit the EPS line hard enough to snap the earnings beat streak and send the stock down.More Meta:Meta layoffs take disturbing turn in new lawsuitMeta business model in trouble from $1.4 trillion lawsuitMeta doubles down on smart glasses amid always-on feature concernsFree cash flow dropped 91% year over year, from $8.55 billion in Q2 2025 to just $784 million. That’s the number that worries investors who are already nervous about Meta’s capital expenditure trajectory. Full-year 2026 capex guidance was narrowed to $130 billion to $145 billion from a prior range of $125 billion to $145 billion. Management also flagged that compute capacity would continue to grow in 2027 and potentially into 2028, though the company later clarified that it has the flexibility to adjust 2028 spending based on demand.What Bank of America said about Meta’s AI advertising gains and capacity assetsPost’s note argues that the after-hours sell-off reflects concern about Meta’s investment direction, rather than any deterioration in the underlying business. Instagram time spent was up 10% globally year over year. Facebook video time spent grew 9% globally. The high end of Meta’s Q3 guidance implies 26% revenue growth excluding currency effects, a deceleration of just one percentage point on a three-point tougher comparison, and still well above the broader digital advertising sector.”AI capacity strengthening core ad business and provides strong optionality; compelling core valuation at 13x 2027 EPS,” Post wrote in the note. “Buy.”His thesis rests on two things the market is currently underpricing.Meta’s AI investments are already producing measurable results in the core advertising business. AI-powered ranking and recommendation improvements drove an 8.3% increase in ad clicks and a 15.7% uplift in Facebook conversions in Q2. Advantage+ reached an annualized revenue run rate of more than $75 billion in the quarter. These are not future projections. They’re happening now.Meta’s capacity assets, the data centers, GPUs, and custom silicon it is building, are significantly more valuable than the market is reflecting in the stock price. “We’re getting a lot of offers for compute at a significant premium over what we paid for it,” Zuckerberg said on the earnings call. As Meta’s data centers ramp over the next 12 months, Post believes the company has significant optionality to monetize that capacity externally through enterprise partnerships, API licensing, and infrastructure deals, as TheStreet reported.6 Meta AI catalysts Bank of America says could move META stock in 2026Post’s note outlines a specific catalyst path that he thinks can shift investor sentiment on Meta’s AI spending. The next major milestone is Meta’s Connect Conference on Sept. 23. Beyond that, the note identifies five additional potential catalysts over the following months, as TheStreet reported.The first is a frontier AI model launch. According to press reports cited in the note, Meta’s next-generation model, internally code-named Watermelon, has already achieved frontier-level performance on internal benchmarks. A public launch at or after Connect could strengthen investor confidence in Meta’s AI execution and move the stock.The second catalyst is a proprietary chip launch. Meta has been developing custom AI silicon for years. A public announcement of a production-ready chip would be a significant signal that Meta can reduce its dependence on Nvidia hardware.Third is a personal AI assistant launch. Fourth is a business AI revenue platform, including subscription products. Fifth is enterprise API licensing deals that give external companies access to Meta’s AI models and compute capacity. Any one of these could change the narrative around whether Meta’s spending will generate returns, according to CNBC.

The core debate around Meta hasn’t changed after this quarter.Benjamin/Getty Images

Why Bank of America cut the Meta price target to $810from $825 The price target cut to $810 from $825 was driven by a 1% reduction in 2027 GAAP EPS estimates, to $34.73 from $35.00. Post raised revenue estimates slightly for both 2026 and 2027, but increased expense forecasts to reflect the one-time charges, higher stock-based compensation, and lower other income from higher interest costs. The valuation multiple stayed at 24 times 2027 earnings.At the after-hours price of $542, Post’s note puts the stock at 16 times 2027 earnings on a total company basis, or 13 times when stripping out Reality Labs losses. The S&P 500 trades at around 20 times 2027 earnings. Historically, Meta has traded at a three-point premium to the index. Right now it’s trading at a meaningful discount, which is the core of Post’s valuation argument.The $810 price target from the July 30 closing price of $585.61 implies roughly 38% upside. Post acknowledges that meaningful AI monetization outside advertising may take time to materialize. But his argument is that even if the AI revenue story takes longer than expected, Meta retains the flexibility to moderate its infrastructure buildout, which would drive a significant uptick in free cash flow. At the current valuation, he sees more upside than downside, regardless of which scenario plays out.What Meta’s Q2 earnings and the BofA note mean for META stock investorsThe core debate around Meta hasn’t changed after this quarter. Bulls see a company building the infrastructure for consumer AI, enterprise software, and cloud computing while simultaneously running one of the world’s largest advertising businesses. Bears question whether the capital spending will ever generate returns that justify the cost. The Q2 miss gave the bears a data point. The advertising metrics gave the bulls theirs.Post’s note is a bet on the bulls. He thinks the market is too focused on the size of the AI investments and not focused enough on what those investments are starting to produce. The Watermelon model, the Connect Conference, and the possibility of external capacity deals are the events he’s watching to determine whether that thesis is right. META stock is down roughly 7% on the day. Bank of America is staying long.Related: Meta doubles down on its most enormous AI bet yet

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealFinding extra storage in smaller areas can feel like one big puzzle. Bathrooms easily run out of space, living rooms collect everything from books to electronics, and narrow corners are easy to overlook as usable space because most furniture doesn’t easily fit. A tall, slim cabinet can make use of those underutilized areas, creating storage for toiletries, cleaning supplies, and other everyday essentials without taking up much room, and without interfering with the general floor plan. This allows you to maximize your space with minimal cost and energy. The Vasagle Slim Storage Cabinet offers a small footprint with lots of shelving. The vertical design allows you to use unused wall space, creating generous storage without overwhelming your home. Offering both open and closed shelving, this $76 cabinet is a great option for any room. Shoppers save $14 with this deal at Amazon.Vasagle Slim Storage Cabinet, $64 (was $90) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at AmazonWhy do shoppers love it?One of the most useful features of this cabinet is the built-in light strip that automatically turns on when the cabinet door opens. This makes it easy to locate items without needing to find extra light, which can be extra useful in the early morning before work or at night when you don’t want to turn on the overhead lights. It’s crafted with medium-density fiberboard and painted with a smooth finish that’s easy to wipe clean. It also includes an anti-tip kit for safety. Amazon offers this cabinet in four colors, including gray, white, black, and green, but the Forest green is the best deal and adds a pop of color that still matches well with a majority of interior designs. Related: Walmart is selling farmhouse storage cabinets that can help you get organized, starting at $70The whole cabinet measures 66.9 inches tall, 11.8 inches wide, and 11.8 inches deep. It features two cabinets, each with two hidden shelves and two open shelves, offering room for toiletries, towels, accessories, kitchen accessories, clothing, books, and more. It offers flexibility while assembling, allowing the doors to be configured either on the left or the right, so it matches your layout more easily. The shelves inside the cabinets can be set at five different heights, or completely left out to store larger items like cutting boards or large books.The pros and cons of this dealProsBuilt-in lighting: The door-activated lighting offers an easy way to see your items. Slim profile: This slim but tall design offers compact and ample storage for small areas. Cons Weight capacity: This unit holds up to 132 pounds, making it suitable for household items but not heavier items.No drawers: It doesn’t include any type of drawers for smaller items, but that can easily be remedied with baskets or small organizers. “This cabinet is exactly as described,” one reviewer said. “It’s nice and sturdy, very pretty and practical for small spaces. I’m buying another for the second bathroom.”Another reviewer said, “This cabinet is awesome. It’s great for crafts and fits in a small place. I will definitely get another one soon.”Shop more dealsVasagle Liry Bathroom Cabinet, $80 (was $90) at AmazonGrusign Bathroom Storage Cabinet, $80 at AmazonVtopmart Slim Rolling Cabinet, $79 at AmazonThe Vasagle Slim Storage Cabinet offers additional storage where other options won’t fit. Taking advantage of corners and vertical space, this storage unit offers ample storage space with a small footprint for just $76.

Jim Cramer urged investors to stop using borrowed money for artificial intelligence stocks as U.S. margin debt climbed above $1.5 trillion.A lot of the biggest advances in the industry have been in AI infrastructure. Jim Cramer thinks investors who are borrowing to pursue those returns are taking an unacceptable risk.The CNBC “Mad Money” host urged viewers to get out of data-center investments bought on margin, saying the group is now too dangerous to buy on margin because of the uncertainty about how much AI spending will last.“If you’re borrowing money to buy something related to the data center, then tomorrow morning, 9:30 a.m., sell it no matter what,” Cramer said on the July 27 edition of “Mad Money.” “You won’t regret it.”His warning comes as investors have leveraged up even more against their brokerage accounts.The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority said debit balances in customer securities margin accounts hit $1.502 trillion in June. That was up 49% from $1.008 trillion a year ago and up 6.1% from May.The surge doesn’t mean all the borrowed money went into AI stocks. But it does indicate that investors have considerably greater leveraged market exposure at a time when data center shares are becoming less predictable.For shareholders, such a combination produces a dangerous feedback loop. Falling prices might lead to forced sales, which can then drive prices lower and lead to further margin calls.Cramer’s message is therefore narrower than “sell technology.” Those investors who possess high-quality equities without leverage are able to weather a slump. Those who are borrowing to enhance their exposure may have little say in when or how their positions are sold.Rising margin debt sharpens Cramer’s AI warningBuying on margin allows investors to buy more stock than they could if they just used cash.Under Federal Reserve Regulation T, brokerage companies are normally permitted to loan customers up to 50% of the purchase price of an eligible stock. FINRA rules generally mandate that investors maintain equity in their accounts equal to at least 25% of the value of long securities in the account.Some brokerage businesses may have more stringent standards, such as maintenance levels of 30% or 40%. They can potentially increase those requirements in moments of market instability.Related: Alphabet’s biggest AI fear may be fadingThis means that an investor can get a margin call without making any more trades.The Securities and Exchange Commission warns that brokers can sell stocks without talking to the customer, and investors may not be able to determine which holdings will be sold. Losses can sometimes exceed the initial investment.“If you’re on margin, get off it,” Cramer said. “I no longer feel that you’ll get out alive.”That rhetoric seems dramatic, but the math underneath it is simple.What leveraged AI investors should knowMargin debt reached $1.502 trillion in June.Customer margin borrowing increased 49% from a year earlier.Falling stock prices can trigger forced selling.Brokers may raise maintenance requirements without advance notice.Investors can lose more than their original cash investment.An investor who purchases $20,000 of shares with $10,000 of his own funds has used borrowed money to double the size of the holding. A 25% drop takes $5,000 off the stock’s value, erasing half of the investor’s original ownership position before interest expenses.CRH offers a more diversified data-center stock angleCramer advised investors to seek out companies that gain from data-center expansion but are not fully dependent on the AI boom.He pointed to building-materials company CRH (CRH) as one example.More AI:Workers just sent AI companies an ultimatumPalantir CEO has a blunt verdict on OpenAI and AnthropicElon Musk pulls no punches with AI rivals as Grok 4.5 debutsCRH sells materials and infrastructure used in data center projects, but its business also serves highways, bridges, water systems, and other building markets. That diversity might provide some cushion if tech firms reduce their data-center spending.CRH believes 85% of U.S. data centers are within 25 miles of a CRH facility. At the end of 2025, it was working on more than 100 U.S. data-center projects and was also a leader in roads, aggregates, and water infrastructure.That doesn’t mean CRH is immune to an AI retreat. It does suggest that data-center building is one demand source, not the company’s whole investment rationale.CRH reported first-quarter revenue of $7.37 billion, up from $6.76 billion a year ago. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization increased to $586 million from $495 million.Management reiterated its full-year guidance for net income of $3.9 billion to $4.1 billion and diluted earnings of $5.60 to $6.05 a share. The corporation pointed to demand supports such as infrastructure investment and ongoing reindustrialization activity.CRH is due to publish second-quarter results July 30 before the market opens, offering investors a new look at whether data-center and public infrastructure demand remains robust.

AI volatility is exposing Wall Street’s most dangerous habit.Rebecca Smeyne / Getty Images

The stock takeaway from Cramer’s warningCramer is not saying that investment in artificial intelligence is going to go away. The warning is simply a signal that the risk in the deal is shifting.Individual equities may decline as expectations were too high, valuations got too big, or investors began to doubt how quickly AI projects could pay off, but data-center spending may continue to rise.Investors who bought the shares outright are able to ride out that volatility.That might not be an option for investors trading on margin, however. A broker could request additional collateral, increase its requirements, or liquidate shares amid a slump.That risk is particularly relevant given the 49% yearly rise in margin debt. More leverage can enhance market gains. But it can also turn a normal decline into forced selling.Cramer’s alternative is not to reject technology altogether. It’s locating companies with a number of demand drivers and getting borrowed money out of places where prices can fluctuate dramatically.The difference can make a difference.The AI boom doesn’t have to end for leveraged investors to get crushed. It just needs to be turbulent enough for their brokers to move before the market turns.Related: Anthropic clarifies stance on open-weight AI models

Iconic Ghirardelli Chocolate Company closed its flagship retail store in San Francisco as part of a union contract dispute work stoppage.The chocolate candy company closed its Original Ghirardelli Chocolate and Ice Cream Shop at 900 North Point at Ghirardelli Square on July 30 during a three-day strike over a union contract dispute related to healthcare insurance, according to SFGate.The Ghirardelli workers’ union, Unite Here Local 2, has been in contract negotiations for over a year with the company and accused it of bargaining in bad faith by not providing information related to a healthcare surcharge customers must pay on purchases. The union wants to know how much of the surcharge actually is paid toward covering employees’ health insurance.

Ghirardelli Chocolate and Ice Cream Shop workers declared a three-day strike.Prasit photo / Getty Images

Employees launch three-day strikeWorkers set up a picket line outside the store until it closed on July 30, then moved the picketing operations outside two other of the company’s Ghirardelli Square candy shops.The union claims that Ghirardelli is proposing an alternative health insurance plan that would provide less coverage for health costs than the current union-backed health insurance plan.Healthcare costs for union employees could rise significantly, union spokesperson Sonja Karabel told SFGate.An employee who relies on the healthcare plan regularly was concerned with the changes.”I need it to maintain my medicine every day,” worker Leah Urbana said.Workers picket for good health insurance”They’re fighting to preserve their good health insurance, and they’re fighting against a plan that could leave them with thousands of dollars in medical bills or worse,” according to Karabel.The work stoppage is the first time since 1984 that all of the shop’s workers have gone on strike, Karabel said.A spokesperson for Ghirardelli did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TheStreet.Company generates $1 billion in revenueGhirardelli hit a milestone in 2025, as it for the first time generated over $1 billion in net trade sales revenue for the year, according to a LinkedIn post by CEO Justin Reese.Ghirardelli, founded in 1852 in San Francisco, operates 19 Ghirardelli Chocolate and Ice Cream Shops across the country. The company has candy stores at tourist destinations, such as the Empire State Building in New York, Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif.; Disney Studio Store in Hollywood, Calif.; Disney Springs in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; and on The Strip in Las Vegas.The historic chocolate company was acquired by Swiss chocolate manufacturer Lindt & Sprungli in 1998. Lindt’s other brands include Russell Stover, Caffarel, and Hofbauer/Kufferle.Despite Ghirardelli’s success, other candy companies have faced declining revenues that have led to bankruptcy filings.Another candy maker’s declining revenueNot every candy company is enjoying Ghirardelli’s success. Other candy manufacturers, such as private brand maker Candy Sense Inc., needed to restructure their business in a bankruptcy filing after facing declining revenues over the last two years.Economic issues affected some companies in the candy sector as consumer attitudes toward buying candy and inflation were identified as the main culprits in 2025 by the National Confectioners Association’s State of Treating 2026 report.“Finances played an overriding role in confectionery purchase decisions last year, particularly for households that were carefully monitoring finances. Inflation boosted dollar sales in 2025, while unit and volume sales struggled,” according to the National Confectioners Association.Related: Iconic supermarket chain closes more stores and facilities