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 commented on the recent earnings season and how companies were continuing to surprise. Cramer believes that President Trump is quite popular among business leaders who have learned to work with him. The CNBC TV host mentioned a conversation with investment bank Morgan Stanley’s CEO as evidence:
“It was such a tour de force that you think to yourself, is something happening in Corporate America that is where everyone’s being unleashed? But what there really is is just there’s some companies whose price-to-earnings multiples are too low. That are just delivering amazing numbers and I go back to something that Ted Pick was talking about in his amazing conference call. From, he is the CEO of Morgan Stanley and I think he’s a very, very smart man. He is talking about the boardroom’s adjusted to Trump. Boardroom’s adjusted to these things. And adjusted in a fashion that is quite extraordinary. They’re ready. And I think that the other day I said the institutions on Wall Street aren’t ready. They don’t seem to realize that the CEOs have figured Trump out and for the most part I know this is something that there’ll be people who hate Trump won’t want me to say, for the most part they’re really happy.”
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 July 17th.
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. GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 104
GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) is one of the largest aircraft engine companies in the world. It’s also one of Cramer’s top stocks in the current tariff-driven stock market as he believes that the US can leverage the firm’s products to secure favorable trade deals. His latest comments about GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) revolved around the firm’s latest earnings report and were optimistic despite the stock closing the day 2.2% lower:
“Yeah, we’ve had two quarters now that are really kind of are shockingly great. This GE number today, we spoke to Larry Culp, the CEO, he’s not even done. There’s much more. And yet, Phil and I, Phil LeBow’s the best in the business, are going back and forth about how amazing and we can’t believe how amazing it is.
“I asked about artificial intelligence in GE and yeah sure there’s some and Larry’s going to tell you there’s some, there’s artificial intelligence in J&J and there’s some.
“One of the things that Larry said, very carefully, to fill the interview, was that look the President understands planes. And when I spoke to Larry, just look, Jim you have to understand it’s a different world.
“You know you’re talking to Larry, I don’t know it’s like 5:50 am, and I say look, I had all my questions, and they’re all worthless. Because I’m looking at a quarter that is so insane. And I said, I know this flight deck I thought that was all for show. It’s probably really working. And so the only question I have is can you really find the people to do all the things that you need and will you have to use robots? And he says no, there’ll be a lot of artificial intelligence. . .the backlogs we’re talking about.
“[On GE setting the target of $8.40 EPS for 2028]Well he does have free cash flow anlaysis, you’re not supposed to be able to give a 2028, I mean I told him this, why are you risking it? Why are you bothering to put out a 28?. . He says, because I have a business, Jim. And I say but that’s so optimistic, he goes because we are optimistic. That’s the kind of train of thought that I’m try to get my arm around. I am so used to everyone saying that well I’m circumspect, there’s uncertainty, no. He’s not circumspect, and there isn’t any uncertainty. Because the demand is so unbelievable.
“Culp is telling people, look, that China needs us. Now the only other people that kind of feel that way are the people who work at NVIDIA. China needs us. We are discovering things that China needs from us. And they need GE. And they need service.”
9. Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 60
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) is one of the largest hotel chains in the world. Its shares have lost 1% year-to-date and are down by 10.8% since their peak in February. The stock has struggled due to worries about consumer sentiment and a slowdown in travel spending. Cramer’s previous comments about Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) have speculated that a part of the reason that the firm’s shares have lost ground is because of self fulfilling prophecy in the travel market. This time, he linked GE Aerospace’s backlog with Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) raising its full-year guide in May to wonder whether the travel industry was coming back:
“The backlogs we’re talking about, it’s just that such a bull market in travel and flight that makes me say like you knowraising numbers Marriott raising. . .”
Previously, Cramer commented on Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)’s share price drop:
“Well, I know that there’s a lot of questions about going out to dinner and going out to dinner, the restaurants that charge too much, not good. The travel boom. Many people feel is over. . .if it’s the airlines. . .Marriott has started to come down. This group is rolling over, but it’s a little self-fulfilling in the sense that you know David, once you get, one of them down, people just say I’m getting out all of them.”
8. United Airlines Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:UAL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 67
United Airlines Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:UAL) is one of the largest airlines in America. Its shares have lost 4.4% year-to-date and are down by 14% since their February peak. Travel stocks were booming until February as bullishness about consumer spending and pent-up demand fueled investor optimism. However, since then, worries about spending and inflation have harmed the sector. Cramer previously described the strength in travel stocks as a bull market and wondered if recent indicators are hinting at its resurgence:
“The backlogs we’re talking about, it’s just that such a bull market in travel and flight that makes me say like you knowraising numbers Marriott, raising, United Airlines of course had to go wreck things. Scott, Scott, get with the program.
“Yeah. . .I was screaming in my office, among many reasons, that this is good. What is the stock down for? This is good. And the price-to-earnings multiple is very low. He didn’t say anything like, he sees any sort of pause.”
Previously, the CNBC TV host discussed an unbelievable price target for United Airlines Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:UAL):
“[On airlines price target upgrades] Did you see that price target of United?
“Yeah I mean they’re taking about United Airlines going from, saying that it’s gonna have eleven twenty two to thirteen dollar earnings. They’re using a 105 dollar price target up from 67. They must be thinking they’re sitting on a gold mine!”
7. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 91
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)’s shares are up by 5% since its latest earnings report, which saw it post $23.7 billion in sales to beat analyst estimates of $22.8 billion. Crucially, the shares were helped by Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)’s midpoint annual revenue guidance, which the firm raised by $2 billion, and by its midpoint full year EPS of $10.85, which marked a 25-cent jump. Cramer was impressed by Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)’s results and shared that the firm surprised on 15 different metrics:
“And then yesterday, unheard and unsung, but we’re going to change that. Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson delivered a quarter, I counted 15 separate surprises. . .15 different things. That they beat on. All sorts of different metrics.”
Previously, he discussed Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)’s prospects ahead of the earnings release:
“Johnson & Johnson kicks off pharma earnings season on Wednesday, and I think once again, the company will not be rewarded for its consistency or its originality because there’s still the sort of the talc lawsuits hanging over it. I don’t mind JNJ fighting the plaintiff’s part, but it sure puts a damper on the stock.”
6. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 187
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) is the world’s largest semiconductor contract manufacturer. Its shares, traded as depository receipts, have gained 21% year-to-date. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) has prospered on the stock market due to the firm’s market share, which means that it will be the end-beneficiary of AI-chip demand. Cramer’s previous comments about the firm have also called it a proxy for NVIDIA’s shares. Here are his latest thoughts:
[TSM]”Yeah look, Taiwan Semi reports overnight. It’s an unbelievably good number but understand it’s really unbelievably good number because of high performance computing. In other words, it’s a good number because of NVIDIA.
“[Whether he was thrown off by a warning about Q3 margin]. Not at all. Not at all. I think that this is a company that still uses classic underperform, overdeliver. I meant underpromise, overdeliver.”
Previously, Cramer explained how Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) had gained the favor of the Trump administration:
“Look, I’d like them to do Taiwan Semi, I mean Taiwan Semi and NVIDIA, they’re like the shovel ready and they go there, they pick, they watch tomorrow to see what state is the best and then they like go buy some shovels from Caterpillar and get to work. Yes! Yes! I mean I know it’s not optics if it’s Apple, but yes, they need to. And I don’t care which part. But they need to. And I think that maybe they want to do what they think is great for shareholders, and this is a waste of money for shareholders but we have an aggressive administration. And Taiwan Semi went and put real money and I think that Apple is putting real money and somehow it’s not visible.”
5. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 97
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) is a semiconductor designer that makes and sells CPUs and GPUs. It is one of the key players in the AI market by being the only company, apart from NVIDIA, that sells AI accelerators. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD)’s shares have gained 33% year-to-date as analysts and investors have become increasingly bullish about the firm’s ability to compete with NVIDIA. Cramer discussed the firm in the context of its benefiting from strong earnings results from Taiwan’s TSMC:
“I will say, by the way, that some people are going to say it’s also good for AMD. And I’m not betting against AMD here, it’s got great momentum. Great momentum.”
Previously, Cramer discussed Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD)’s presence in the AI PC market and how it could benefit from recent events:
“People don’t realize Sanjay [Sanjay Mehrotra, Micron’s CEO], I know that Sanjay was a bit verbose, in his answers. . .look I’ve known Sanjay for years, you can tell him after this, but I think what you have is, you have a PC market that could be exploding. And I didn’t think that. . .but it also makes sense with AMD going up every single day. Because that could be PC.”
“Lisa Su has that, she always told me that she could get these inference chips and she got them. And once you have them, you have a little bit of a dogfight.
“They don’t have anything as competitive, that’s the problem, every time you try to catch up with Jensen . . .”
4. The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 104
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) is one of Cramer’s most frequently discussed stocks. The shares have lost 1.4% since July start and in this appearance, the CNBC host discussed how analyst upgrades were failing to inject momentum into the stock. Previously, Cramer has shared optimism for The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)’s streaming service and remarked that CEO Bob Iger has managed to turn around the firm’s fortune. He also believes that the firm’s theme park and cruise ship businesses merit a deeper look. Here are his latest thoughts:
“[On higher targets for Disney over last couple of weeks] Yes and it’s not working. My trust owns this. We’ve got several including comments about how linear TV’s not down [inaudible] and the stock doesn’t move. And I think the stock doesn’t move because people [inaudible] it’s a showman stock. People want to see Plus numbers and see that they’re really is a breakout. Because there’s been so much distrust about anything that’s involved with linear. No one seems to get their way until they see the numbers. I think the numbers are gonna come through and the stock is going to look cheap. I’m a believer.”
Previously, Cramer discussed The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)’s valuation:
“Okay, Disney’s had a real rip-snorting rally from the bottom, but it’s still only up 6.8%. It’s got a good movie slate coming, only sells at 20 times earnings, and the theme parks are doing incredibly well. I think the answer is absolutely. I think it’s a very good long-term holding and I encourage you to buy it right here, right now.”
3. Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 150
Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) is one of Cramer’s favorite media stocks. Not only has he discussed the firm regularly this year, but the CNBC host has also continued to express optimism about the firm. Two central points that drive Cramer’s excitement about Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) are the firm’s sizable market share and content originality. This set of remarks was made ahead of the firm’s earnings. The report sent Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)’s shares down by 1.6% in aftermarket trading as investors focused on worries of growing costs despite a solid all-around beat. Here’s what Cramer said before the earnings:
“Well I mean you will see Netflix in there, there’s not an analyst in the world who’s not buying Netflix tonight. Everybody.
“[On his earnings expectations]I think it’s gonna be great. It’s really interesting, I was watching, you know the overseas Squawk Box in London, and I liked that, they do a good job. But they went over every single program. It was like hey, did you see this? Did you see that?. . .the universality of the programming is really amazing.
“I mean I was listening literally to our colleagues, and I might as well been in a bar in Manhattan. I mean everybody’s talking, they all talk about the same thing.”
Previously, Cramer remarked on how Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) might experience turbulence after the earnings:
“After the close, we’re treated to the most delightful of conference calls, Netflix. First thing, I have a dearth of things to watch right now. It’s really starting to bug me. So I’m going to be listening to the conference call in part because they talk about all the great overseas programming. I get some terrific ideas of what to watch when I get home that night. The bar is very high for Netflix, though, which will have to tell us how their ad tier is going, how Squid Game did, and how NFL Christmas streaming football advertising’s looking.
If Netflix doesn’t deliver an outstanding number, though, I gotta tell you, there’ll be an awful lot of downside. We have so many price target boosts, even two today. I’d be a little nervous, even as I expect a good quarter.”
2. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 159
Cramer has consistently discussed Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) over the past few weeks. These days, the firm’s troubles with the US government are on the CNBC TV host’s mind. Cramer believes that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) needs to spend its $500 billion investment commitment in the US in order to curry favor with the Trump administration. This time, he commented on how Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is making a name for itself in the content production business:
[AAPL]”By the way, Apple came up in their conversation. Now I’m quoting our own people, but, that Apple’s got game. And that’s true. But Apple lives and dies by the cellphone.
“[On F1 movie showing Apple’s logo in the cinema] I know. And one of the things happening is they push you to . . for the morning shows. This is one of the myriad reasons why I want them to buy Perplexity. Cause they can push it to Perplexity all day. I’m afraid they’re still stuck in the old model. They think that someone’s going to pay them, to be exclusive. But the problem is is that the Justice Department doesn’t like that. . . that model might be over. You can’t get them to pay you. You have to pay them.”
Previously, Cramer commented on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s AI strategy:
“This is one of the reasons why I’m so concerned about Apple. Here’s a company with absolutely no AI strategy that I can see that does buying back stock endlessly, which, by the way, has accomplished nothing. Take it from me… And it started down the path of the old IBM where if it wasn’t invented there, it wasn’t good enough. We know where that strategy only… [brought] IBM, and it took many years to recover from it. Apple can change course by spending big money to acquire Perplexity, which I regard as a just-the-facts-ma’am engine, no bias that I can find. Right now, at this very moment… where there’s no clear winner, and each offering seems to be fighting for second place, Apple can step in to become the number one AI chat company immediately…
Unlike these other guys, Apple knows how to promote, and it’s got the App Store to do it. But I fear that they don’t want to take the risk because this business will be all or nothing like Search, and they fear they could be nothing. I’m on Perplexity 50 times a day, and buying it would be electric.”
1. CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 68
CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX) is a railroad company whose stock has remained turbulent in 2025 due to economic and recessionary fears. However, the stock jumped by 5.5% in July after news broke of Union Pacific seeking to acquire it or Norfolk Southern. Crucially, Cramer and co-host David Faber had discussed the possibility before the news cycle. The CNBC TV host recalled the discussions:
“I like CSX and I think that Joe Hinrichs is doing a good job. But what shocks me is, you know you’ve got David Faber sitting right here, saying this was going to happen. And you know, very matter of factly, and I’m saying that’s unbelievable, that’s like, that’s been banned, saying it over and over again that there is an imperative to not to have that happen. . . and then today. . they all woke up to what Faber said, but now that we see it in all different outlets, people are furiously buying CSX.
“No I’m saying but like now people are, analysts are like upgrading CSX I mean, and the reason I’m saying this is because CSX is going to report and I don’t know if it’s any good. I don’t know if it’s a good quarter or not. They had a lot of problems. The economy, and also weather, I think that Joe Hinrichs, Baltimore still not working right. I was hoping to tell people to buy it but it’s at 21 times earnings, and that’s too expensive. I mean any bid would take two years.
]”Yeah I don’t want to give the impression that the rails aren’t great. CSX is having actually a real good quarter and they’re doing very well. . . .And the industrials so you don’t need to fool around, CSX is going to get here whether they get a bid or whether they don’t, because things are better for these companies. . .So don’t sell a rail, don’t sell any of these capital equipment companies because I don’t think people realize legislation is about capital equipment.”
While we acknowledge the potential of CSX to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CSX and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.
Disclosure: None. Insider Monkey focuses on uncovering the best investment ideas of hedge funds and insiders. Please subscribe to our free daily e-newsletter to get the latest investment ideas from hedge funds’ investor letters by entering your email address below.
