Are the stock picks of "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer reliable?

Jim Cramer is the host on a show intended for the informative entertainment of the average person about the stock market. His stock picks do not reliably perform better than random chance, as reported by statistics tracked by TheMotleyFool.

Jim Cramer routinely advises viewers to do their own research on companies in which they are interested; he then presents his recommendations for short-term investment. His investment strategy focuses on active trading, and though the payout can be high, the risk to investors makes it an unpopular recommendation for experts, as reported by Paul Merriman. Cramer's use of hyperbole and analogy, coupled with an inconsistent investment philosophy, make him unreliable as a source for specific stock picks, argues CXO Advisory.