Jim Cramer says the tech sell-off proves why this old investing rule still matters

February 4, 2026

The action on Wall Street this week is a reminder of the importance of portfolio diversification, CNBC’s Jim Cramer said Wednesday, as tech-only portfolios have been getting beaten down during the bout of volatility.

“Tech’s a good part of the market, it’s just that many of these stocks suddenly aren’t worth as much as we thought. Some of that’s because the whole enterprise software cohort has gone out style thanks to AI,” Cramer said.

Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq CompositeDow Jones Industrial Average

On Wednesday, chip designer Advanced Micro DevicesBroadcomMicron TechnologyOraclethe iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF

Still, there have been winners elsewhere across various industries. CampbellsPepsiCoSmuckersKraft Heinz

Within health care, Johnson and JohnsonMerckAmgen

“Even after the runs they have had this year alone they’re stocks not expensive at least versus the market,” Cramer said.

Banks are also advancing in recent days, Cramer noted, because investors may be believing that these are the types of firms that benefit from artificial intelligence improving efficiency. So are the industrials like HoneywellDoverEmersonElectric

“Think of what they have: they have earnings, they have dividends. They’re not that expensive, at least versus tech. They are delights with buybacks. They don’t overpay the people with stock options,” said Cramer.

“Plus, during earning season, they can give you huge upside surprises and their stocks are being rewarded this year. It’s how the stock market was meant to work.”

Disclosure: Cramer’s Charitable Trust, the portfolio used by the CNBC Investing Club, owns shares of AVGO, HON and DOV.

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