In this piece, we will look at the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed.
In a recent appearance on CNBC’s Squawk on the Street, Jim Cramer discussed whether inflation reports were correct. Cramer’s remarks came after the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest jobs report sent shock waves through the White House and Wall Street. The report slashed jobs figures for May by an unbelievable 258,000, which created significant concerns about the health of the US economy and whether the Federal Reserve was acting too cautiously when it came to lowering interest rates.
While the report was for the jobs data, Cramer remarked that he didn’t trust the inflation figures either. The CNBC TV host shared that inflation figures for several items are different depending on where you shop:
“Why should I trust these numbers? I look at the numbers and I can build it up from the bottom. I can look at the furniture from Ikea, and from Wayfair, and from Costco, I can look at any clothes from Costco, I don’t think they know the difference between Costco and Bob’s.”
Our Methodology
To make our list of the stocks that Jim Cramer talked about, we listed down the stocks he mentioned during CNBC’s Squawk on the Street aired on August 11th.
For these stocks, we also mentioned the number of hedge fund investors. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
10. Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 39
Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)’s shares have gained 18.6% year-to-date to significantly outpace the gains of its peer and rival, General Motors. The firm has benefited from investor attention due to its manufacturing base in the US, while General Motors has suffered due to its reliance on the Mexican supply chain. Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) recently announced that it would invest $2 billion in the US and launch new EVs. However, the shares are up by a measly 2.7% since then. Cramer commented on why Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)’s shares didn’t rise:
“People want to see earnings. That’s the [inaudible] they want to see earnings, they want to see a decline in warranties and that would matter.
“If it were as big, as Jim said, I think somehow Ford stock would have moved.”
Here are his previous thoughts about Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F):
“And yet Ford stock is going from 10 to 11 in a quarter. What that says to me is that what we’re reading is not right. That stock does not easily go up. A 10% move in that stock is like, that’s glacial. . .I just think that Ford’s going to get a break here.
“I just think that Ford has the most made in America. Of these manufacturers. So that’s why I think that Ford’s up actually. Somehow I think they feel that they could get some relief. Because they are the largest makers of autos in this country. So why are they the most hurt? It is a little counterintuitive. And I think that their case will not be special pleading. I think it will be something the President will endorse. Not that, I wasn’t in the White House, but I think Jim Farley has a very good case that he should not have to bear the brunt because he makes the most in this country.”
9. Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 54
Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD) is a car retailer that rang the opening bell on the day this program was aired. The firm’s shares have lost 9.7% year-to-date. However, the shares have gained 8.7% since the firm’s investor presentation and earnings report at July end. The results saw Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD)’s earnings per share of $9.24 beat analyst estimates of $10.24 but miss revenue estimates of $9.69 billion by posting $9.58 billion. As the firm rang the opening bell, Cramer recalled that he had bought a car with Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD):
“By the way I actually bought a car at Lithia, so I’m like a, Lithia’s a metaphor, it’s a town. . .that’s where Brian Deboer’s from, he lived very close to my daughter. But my daughter did not live in the same style of Brian Doboer, the CEO of Lithia. . .she lived in a tent, she lived outside.
“Okay I’m just saying that the company that rang the bell, I bought a car from, for my daughter. Because she lived in Ashland.”
River Road Small-Mid Cap Value Fund discussed Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD) in its Q4 2024 investor letter. Here is what the firm said:
“Another top contributor during the quarter was Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD) one of the largest global automotive retailers operating in North America and the United Kingdom. In late June, the auto industry was impacted by a cyberattack on CDK Global’s dealership management system, which runs all back-office functions at Lithia as well as over 85% of all franchised dealers in the United States. In its Q2 2024 earnings release, LAD reported a -6.4% decline in same-store sales, driven primarily by a -4.7% decline in new vehicle units as LAD was not able to process sale transactions late in the quarter due to the CDK outage. Despite lower same-store sales, LAD outperformed expectations as its cost reduction initiatives and a shift in capital allocation resulted in sequential margin improvement and a lower share count. The company achieved its $150MM in annualized cost savings target ahead of schedule and now expects to double these savings by the end of 2024 through further inventory optimization and reductions. This will result in the all-important SG&A as a percentage gross profit declining to the mid-60s range and in line with LAD’s long-term target. Acquisitions have added $27B in annualized revenues since 2020, ahead of LAD’s goal of adding $25B in acquired revenues by 2025. Given the current high private market multiples for auto dealerships, LAD’s management has shifted its capital allocation toward share repurchases, buying back 2.9% of the company in Q2. With low net leverage of 2.3x and year-to-date free cash flow of $740MM, we expect management to continue repurchasing shares aggressively. During the quarter, we added to the position prior to its Q2 results.”
8. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 78
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG)’s shares have lost 27% year-to-date, primarily on the back of a massive 21.5% dip between late July and early August. The stock fell after the firm’s second quarter earnings report saw it cut its full year same-store sales forecast. Investors weren’t impressed by the fact that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG)’s $3.06 billion in Q2 revenue also missed analyst estimates of $3.11 billion. In his earlier remarks about the firm, Cramer has praised the firm’s CEO and commented that he should come on air to clear the air. This time, he discussed Piper Sandler upgrading Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG)’s shares:
“[On analyst upgrade] Okay, so Chipotle, that was just to me, a total bottom fish. We need to see something that tells me that there really is a major turn because the numbers have not been great.
“[On 20% upside if they can grow comparable sales by 3% over the next couple of years] Totally true. Because 5% would get them to 60 at this point. And by the way they’re basket’s not that inflated by, remember I was telling you about the BLS and how they’re using non-traditional sources for some of their things.”
Previously, Cramer discussed Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG)’s shares and remarked how the dip was disturbing him:
“I am troubled. I’m troubled by Chipotle. It hit a 52-week low today at 41… I think that Scott Boatwright should come on and we suss out what’s going on here because I don’t like the action, and I don’t like what I’m hearing. And yet I know that this is a place that I still like to eat, so I don’t want to give up on it because I still like the product. Let’s do some deep, let’s do a deep dive on this one.”
7. Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 70
Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX)’s stock has run into trouble in 2025 as it has gained a modest 2% year-to-date. Investors are concerned about the pace at which the firm’s turnaround efforts are yielding results. In his previous comments about Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX), Cramer has defended the firm and its CEO, Brian Niccol. He kept up with the defense this time as well:
“I have been a huge believer and my charitable trust, I’m talking about this tomorrow at our monthly meeting, that Brian is being sold short. Brian Niccol, because, the throughput was what he had to cure first. It’s kind of like Lip-Bu Tan, he had to, you know, get the balance sheet first. It’s throughput that has to be, and he is fixing throughput. I don’t know when you last time went to Starbucks, but you’re gonna find that they’re four minutes. It used to be like fifteen, twenty minutes. And now it’s four minutes. The airports have been just ridiculous. He even got the service at the airports, which was something that I complained about endlessly.”
Cramer discussed Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) in detail earlier. Here is what he said:
“Even though the headline numbers were weaker than expected, I found the overall results to be pretty encouraging. Keep in mind, Starbucks has been a long-term holding for my Charitable Trust, not always a good holding, but for the past year, ever since they poached Brian Niccol from Chipotle to take over as CEO, stock’s been doing much better…
When the company reported in late April, they posted a top and bottom line miss with some of their worst numbers coming from the United States business, sparking fears that the turnaround could be further out than we thought. Now, look, I remain a believer. I told investing club members to be a big buyer, but things did feel pretty grim…
And that’s what I found most encouraging about the Starbucks quarter, management’s plan for improving the core business here at home. They’re already showing some really promising results… At the end of the day, nothing else matters for Starbucks if it can’t turn the US business around. Now, they’ve gotten a proven way to make that happen. There was plenty of other positive news too…
… Putting it all together, I think it was a very positive quarter, even if the stock was all over the map today. I didn’t want to take my cue from the stock. It seemed to have more to do with the Federal Reserve. Well, that’s a little ridiculous. But don’t worry about these short-term swings, which were kind of a microcosm of the stock’s whole first year under Niccol’s leadership. Focus on what matters, the long-term turnaround plan, which is going well ahead of schedule. The bottom line: If Brian Niccol keeps delivering on the turnaround front, I bet Starbucks and its shareholders will be huge winners. That’s still my expectation here, and I feel even better about it tonight than I did last night before the company reported.”
6. e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (NYSE:ELF)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 29
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (NYSE:ELF) is a firm that can’t seem to catch a break. After struggling in a tough cosmetics market in 2024, the firm has continued to struggle in 2025 as investors fret about its ability to weather the inflationary storm from tariffs. e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (NYSE:ELF)’s affordable cosmetics depend on its Chinese supply chain, making the tariff concerns self-explanatory. Cramer remarked on the firm selling cosmetics in Dollar General:
“[On why ELF was selling its products in Dollar General] Because it’s the last one. The shorts are telling me, not that I listen to the shorts, but the shorts are saying, what’s after Dollar General? Is there anything after?”
Here are his previous thoughts about e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (NYSE:ELF):
“What the heck just happened to e.l.f. Beauty? I mean, the last time we got results from this low-cost cosmetics and skincare brand and the stock got eviscerated today, down nearly 10%. You know, we’ve long championed this one. It’s been a great growth stock over the last few years, largely because it offers its customers quality merchandise at incredibly affordable prices. Unfortunately, it can charge low prices because it makes most of its goods in China, which means most of e.l.f.’s products are about to become more expensive. So last night, even though e.l.f. delivered a nice top and bottom line beat, management declined to issue a full year forecast because they really have no idea how the tariff situation’s… going to play out. However, the limited guidance they gave did suggest that their margins are going to take a real hit… Maybe that’s why things got, well, just awry.”
5. Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 55
Discount retailer Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG)’s shares have performed well in 2025. They have gained 53% year-to-date and have reversed the 2024 trend, where the firm struggled due to competition from mega retailers Walmart and Costco. Additionally, Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) has also managed to protect itself from worries about the impact of tariffs on its low-cost business model. Cramer’s previous comments about the firm have indicated that the firm’s data about slowing consumer spending might be questionable. Here are his latest thoughts about Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG):
“[On why ELF was selling its products in Dollar General] Because it’s the last one. The shorts are telling me, not that I listen to the shorts, but the shorts are saying, what’s after Dollar General? Is there anything after?
“[On why he was talking about Dollar General] Because Dollar General’s got thousands of stores. It matters tremendously.”
Previously, Cramer discussed Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG)’s consumer spending estimates:
“I had a, this outfit called HundredX on last night, it was a terrific Goldman guy who’s left Goldman to do this. Robert Pace. The indications of spend for the consumer, it’s going up. I mean, nothing is as it seems. I mean his work is just superb and it just says, right now the consumer is actually looking to spend more, maybe much more. That’s not what you get from Dollar Tree, Dollar General.”
4. Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIVE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 45
Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIVE) is a diversified American retailer that sells a variety of products such as apparel, toys, home products, and fitness equipment. Its shares have gained 39.6% year-to-date and managed to weather the storm that has hit the broader retail sector on worries about consumer spending and tariff impact. Cramer’s previous comments about Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIVE) have remarked that the firm brought in a lot of inventory to stave off tariff impacts. This time, he commented on the retailer’s earnings and an analyst upgrade:
“By the way, Five Below had a great number.
“[On Loop Capital upgrading the shares] That was a new CEO came in and turned that thing around so quickly. Which by the way, one of the things they solved was the theft problem which was terrible. And a lot of people were short Five Below because they do have a lot China exposure. A lot of that, David, that’s like, you know, it’s Chinese.”
Cramer discussed Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIVE) in detail ahead of its earnings. Here is what he said:
“Same as Wednesday, when you hear from Dollar Tree and Five Below. Hey man, these are so-called last resort retailers where you go when you have any trouble stretching your budget. They’re masters at finding low-price merchandise, but with the tariffs on China, previously low-cost merchandise, they gotta scramble to find the equivalent from countries that at this point might have more leverage than you’d expect. I mean, they never expected all these orders.
I think all three chains will have good quarters because they were able to bring in a lot of merchandise before the tariffs hit. It’s the guidance I’m worried about because the tariff regime means that either they need to raise prices substantially or accept a much lower level of profitability. Their stocks could be terrible. I wish they could be as adept as Costco, which reported this outstanding number.”
3. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 328
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is struggling on the stock market lately as investors are worried about the growth prospects of its cloud computing division. The shares have gained a mere 1.4% over the past month, after they fell by 9.6% after the firm’s second quarter earnings were accompanied by weak AWS growth. Cramer continues to maintain that Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is struggling because it is focusing on its in-house AI chips instead of NVIDIA’s AI GPUs:
“Think about what happened to Amazon, when they decided to go away from using all the NVIDIA that was possible. . .
“They’re [Amazon’s custom AI chips] are as good, they can do inference, they’re not as good. You have to do training and inference, they’re apparently not as strong. And, you know, you’ve got Meta, you’ve got Grok, you’ve got, jeez, I mean, ChatGPT.
“It’s enough for me, I’ve been defending them endlessly, but I feel like I’ve lost my way defending them because of too many who tell me. Jim, you loved NVIDIA and now suddenly you think that Trainium, their chip is as good as NVIDIA which is not? It’s not. And by the way, on the conference call, they said, listen we’re still very close to NVIDIA. Well if you’re that close, that’s close but no cigar.”
Here are his previous thoughts about Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN):
“We’re in the era, this is what happens, The two big overhangs in this market had been Apple waiting for the sword of Damocles and Amazon, trading down because Amazon Web Services is viewed as a share donor. Both of those seem to have been forgotten. David, the forgotten negatives there has been replaced by we’re dumping the big tariffs for now.”
2. Cerence Inc. (NASDAQ:CRNC)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 18
Cerence Inc. (NASDAQ:CRNC) is a software company that caters to the needs of the transportation industry. Its shares have gained 60% year-to-date and gained an unbelievable 45% in August. Cerence Inc. (NASDAQ:CRNC) is benefiting from the AI wave through having landed major deals, such as a partnership with Mercedes-Benz. Cramer discussed the firm in the context of it being an outlier that could be interesting in the AI era:
“I’m doing a piece about Cerence tonight. People are going to want to find out what I’m saying there. There’s a lot of technology away from these big companies that is better than the big companies.”
Here are Cramer’s previous thoughts about Cerence Inc. (NASDAQ:CRNC):
“I like Cerence, and I also happen to like Brian Krzanich, the CEO. I am partial. They make money. I think you’ve got a winner. I was actually trying to figure out whether I could justify doing a piece on it because it’s not that expensive. Cerence is a winner, and Brian’s always welcome on the show, as we know.”
1. GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE:GDDY)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 50
GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE:GDDY) is an internet company that enables businesses to establish an online presence by setting up their websites. Its shares have lost 28% year-to-date after suffering from a steep 14% drop in February and an 11% dip in August. GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE:GDDY)’s shares fell in February after a fourth quarter revenue dip, while the August drop was driven by a weak EPS number, which beat analyst estimates by a rather modest three cents. Cramer discussed Morgan Stanley’s decision to include GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE:GDDY) on its list of firms at risk from AI-led disruption, as he mentioned the firm’s advertisement with actor Walton Goggins:
“[On being included in Morgan Stanley’s basket of companies at AI risk] Oh come on, Goggins, man!”
Here are Cramer’s earlier thoughts about GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE:GDDY):
“As did by the way GoDaddy. . . I have GoDaddy on, I was kind of like, wow, that happened fast.
“[On telling GDDY being a proxy for small business] I can, I had them on and I had to believe that some what of an execution issue. Again, by the way, they are fantastic, at what they do, so, if I didn’t see the small business index and Paychex do so well, I would say this. This is kind of like ADP. I mean was ADP a head fake? Was it a misdirection play yesterday? Maybe GoDaddy’s a misdirection play, when I see this, the Paychex data.”
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