CNBC's Jim Cramer said it's important to understand that a trade is not the same as an investment.
"Hopefully, you'll turn out to be right about the catalyst and you'll rack up a nice gain.
When making an investment, Cramer said investors should have a thesis about how the stock will perform well over an extended period of time.
However, he stressed that it's important to continue to research an investment to make sure the thesis holds up.
Some of it's deceptively simple, like the distinction between a trade and an investment," Cramer said.
Persons:
CNBC's Jim Cramer, Cramer