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 what’s driving the stock market these days. June proved to be a great month for stocks as the S&P 500 closed the month 5% higher while the NASDAQ Composite and NASDAQ 100 indexes gained 6.6% and 6.3%, respectively. However, for Cramer, these strong gains are indicative of a new kind of trading that is divorced from the typical investor focus on factors such as interest rates and the economy. Calling it an “idea-driven” market, the CNBC TV host commented:
“You know I think that there’s a, I did want to talk about something it’s kind of a little radical here. Uh, when the market was going down, people said that was cause interest rates were going higher. Now, market going down, it’s interest rates going lower. Perhaps what we have to start realizing. . .this is an idea-driven market. It is not an interest rate-driven market. That’s why I say it’s younger people, it’s Gen X, Gen Y, it’s Millennial. They do not focus on, they don’t know the difference between a Fed President, Fed Governor. What they know is an idea is good.”
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 1st.
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).
12. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025:
First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) is an American solar energy company that makes and sells solar panels. The firm’s shares have experienced significant volatility in 2025 and are flat year-to-date. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR)’s stock gained an unbelievable 52% in May after a House panel surprised investors and left a lot of tax credits in place for solar energy. However, the shares sank by 18% in June after a Senate committee proposed ending credits for solar firms in 2028. Yet, the shares have gained 29% since late June, which Cramer believes might be influenced due to the firm’s domestic manufacturing exposure:
“First Solar, which was up a lot yesterday because they make it here.”
The CNBC TV host had last discussed First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) in January. Here’s what he said:
“It is a very inexpensive stock. I’m telling you, I’m still reeling from the fact that NXT, Nextracker… actually reported an upside surprise tonight. And… when I look into that and it says that it’s good for solar, I will tell people who belong to the Charitable Trust, to CNBC Investing Club, whether it’s time to get a little more aggressive on solar.”
11. Lam Research Corp (NASDAQ:LRCX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 91
Lam Research Corp (NASDAQ:LRCX) is an American semiconductor manufacturing equipment provider and one of the most important companies in the industry. Its machines cover several key chip manufacturing processes such as etching and deposition. Lam Research Corp (NASDAQ:LRCX)’s shares have gained 36% year-to-date, primarily due to Wall Street’s bullishness about AI demand that has also pushed NVIDIA’s shares to a record high. Cramer discussed the firm’s intellectual property and shared that he believes the stock can go much higher.
“I’m using this as a metaphor. People are reaching for things they feel have not kept pace with the big tech rally. This morning Morgan Stanley goes Applied Materials, they’re like KLA, but I want to focus on Lam Research because it’s only 25 times earnings. You’ll see the chart it’s not like it missed anything, it’s like boom. But it can still take out that August high of last year. This is an amazing company and what people don’t realize is that the intellectual property for our semis, has to do with the capital equipment companies. And the one that I think is the most sophisticated is Lam. So I actually don’t want people paying 25 times earnings.”
Cramer discussed Lam Research Corp (NASDAQ:LRCX) in detail after its latest earnings report in April. Here’s what he said:
“. . I thought Lam was great. I mean Lam was just chock-full of really good numbers.”
“You know Carl, a lot of people feel like we don’t make anything in this country. . .but Lam Research is probably the greatest semiconductor capital equipment company other than Taiwan Semi. And they reported a monster quarter. And Tim Archer, the CEO, came on Mad Money, he’s fantastic, Doug Bettinger . .the CFO. . .just fantastic. This was an amazing quarter, I know it’s up three, it’s gonna go up more. They are just a remarkable company. You can see ADI up today, you can see obviously Texas Instruments up today. On Semi up today. That’s where the rally is coming from. These are industrial, a lot of industrial semis. But Lam is trying to get into the most high-end stuff too. We should be proud. This is where all the intellectual property really lies. With these companies. That’s how they can make these chips. And I think if we were, if Jensen Huang were here or something I think he would say something like you know what we are great because of the companies that make the capital equipment machines. And Lam’s an amazing company.”
“What the administration needs to do among many things is to start celebrating the guys who really have stayed and done great things. Make people feel better. Stop making people feel bad. Lam is a gem. Just a gem.”
10. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 159
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has become a regular feature of Cramer’s morning show over the past couple of months. The firm’s disappointing share performance has caught the CNBC host’s attention. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s stock has lost 12.4% year-to-date as it struggles to recover from a 23% drop in April after President Trump’s Liberation Day tariff announcements. The firm’s manufacturing base in China has been a significant pain point as investors have continued to question the impact of tariffs on its income statement. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s stock has also struggled due to market perceptions of lacklustre AI initiatives and concerns about slowing iPhone sales. In his previous remarks, Cramer has defended the firm but dismissed its stock buyback as inadequate. He also wondered if Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s P/E ratio is too high. The valuation continues to remain on his mind as he commented:
“Now the one that we have to watch is Apple. What do we pay for Apple?”
Previously, he discussed Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s share P/E ratio and revenue:
“Apple, which cannot get out of its own way. And I think probably could go down to 25 times earnings. Which is a substantial decline. Apple’s a share donor. It’s a share donor.
“[On why he won’t sell despite talking about the negatives] The number product, I just went on Amazon . . .I really want to buy, I need more AirPods. . . I think what’s really important David, is they are a share donor to the other stocks I’m talking about. And it is because all they do is buy back stock. . .
“[On why Apple stock should be bought] No I’m not going to because I think the multiple’s too high.
“[On future prospects, past revenue growth] Well I think it’s time they articulated a strategy for Siri.”
“. . .they do need to have Siri on board. . .they gotta fix it, because right now, if they bought Perplexity, and I know that they are averse to buying companies, but Perplexity is my go to. I’m on Perplexity maybe 20 times a day.”
9. CoreWeave, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWV)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 36
CoreWeave, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWV) is a computing infrastructure provider that has risen due to its exposure to the AI industry. Its shares are among the top performers in 2025 and have gained 313% since their IPO in March. Ahead of the July 4th weekend, CoreWeave, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWV)’s stock gained 8.9% as it became one of the first AI infrastructure providers in the industry to announce the availability of NVIDIA’s latest Blackwell GB300 servers. In his recent remarks, Cramer asserted that CoreWeave, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWV) is a meme stock that has obliterated short sellers:
“CoreWeave, by the way, is a meme stock. CoreWeave is about destroying the people who got short way too quickly before the stock was seasoned. Now there’s 32% of the float of that stock, is short. There’s 46 million that trade out of 360 million. David it is just a combustible. . .
“I think the meme people don’t understand, that, this is not GameStop where they issued a couple of million. There’s going to be people who are anxious to get out of CoreWeave at these prices.”
CoreWeave, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWV) is one of the more frequently discussed stocks in his evening show, too. Here’s what Cramer said in a Mad Money episode:
“I think it is overbought. I think it’s up on a short squeeze. I think the stock is just way too high. I mean, look at this. I mean, prices at $40, it should have never priced there when it did its IPO. People didn’t like it. They didn’t understand the balance sheet. Lots of hedge funds got shorted here, thinking that this thing really was not worth anything at all. I recommended buy it the whole darn time. The whole darn time.
… What I need to tell you is that if you bought it here, you can take off half of your position, half of it, and then you’re playing with the house’s money. Who doesn’t want to play with the house’s money? That’s the goal. The goal if you want to be a great investor is the house’s money. And that’s what you have if you bought CoreWeave when we said that we liked it. The relationship with NVIDIA is very solid, and NVIDIA owns a big chunk of CoreWeave.”
8. AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc (NYSE:AMC)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 17
AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc (NYSE:AMC) is one of the largest cinema chains in the US. It is also one of the more ‘infamous’ stocks in the market due to the tussle between retail and institutional investors during the coronavirus pandemic. AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc (NYSE:AMC) is what is commonly referred to as a ‘meme stock,’ which means that its shares have been driven by popularity instead of fundamentals. In 2025, the stock has lost 26% year-to-date after it gained 24% in May only to dip by 15% over the next couple of days. The stock performed well in May due to a record Memorial Day weekend. Cramer’s previous remarks about AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc (NYSE:AMC) have discussed the firm’s high debt levels. This time around, he commented on potential catalysts:
“That’s a professional meme stock.
“Adam did tweet, earlier today, that Jurassic, there’s another Jurassic this weekend. . .that’s the kind of thing that used to get people going.”
“Now that stock, I want to tell you something I learned at Goldman. . .stocks stop at zero, they do not go below. I’m not saying that one. That stock is at two dollars. But it is an incredible thing. But if they change things, and that stock goes to like minus two, minus three, I think they will be more discerning, the public will be more discerning.”
The CNBC host warned his viewers about investing in AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc (NYSE:AMC) earlier this year:
“No, the answer is that they should have reorganized by now, and they haven’t. They have way too much debt. I want you to stay away from that one.”
7. Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 39
Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS) is an American toy company that owns iconic brands such as Nerf and Monopoly. The firm’s shares have gained 37% year-to-date and have recovered all of their post-Liberation Day losses. Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS)’s stock jumped by 14.6% in April after the firm’s first-quarter earnings results beat analyst revenue and EPS estimates. The stock has gained 5% in July after a bullish Goldman Sachs investor note increased the share price target to $85 and upgraded the rating from Neutral to Buy. The bank believes that Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS)’s card and video game initiatives can generate tailwinds for the firm. In his remarks, Cramer mentioned Goldman’s coverage and added that Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS) is part of an idea-driven market:
“So Goldman recommends Hasbro, which has been up ridiculously. And it goes up another two! We are in an idea-driven market. . .”
Previously, the CNBC host had Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS)’s CEO on his show and discussed the firm’s business approach in today’s environment:
“What do you make of what’s happening at Hasbro, the iconic maker of toys and games? Last week, the company reported an impressive top and bottom line beat driven by strong momentum in their Magic the Gathering business. But management also noted that the tariffs are tough for their business, even if there are some things they can do to mitigate the damage. In response, the stock jumped more than 14% and it’s just related a few more points. So, can it keep running? Maybe investors should get cautious. […]
[Talking directly to the CEO, Chris Cox] I got a feeling that you’ll be able to- you’ll be more resourceful and you’re a conservative guy. You got credit for being conservative. The companies that are being aggressive, they’re the ones whose stocks are getting killed. I think you’re doing this exactly right.”
6. AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 23
AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) is an American defense contractor whose shares have had a great second quarter. The stock has gained 57% year-to-date, primarily on the back of a strong earnings report that saw the firm’s $1.61 in EPS and $275 million in revenue beat analyst estimates of $1.39 and $242 million. However, the shares have experienced fluctuation and dipped by 11.4% after management decided to take advantage of the share price performance to reduce its debt and issue equity. Cramer has been discussing AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) quite frequently these past couple of weeks. The CNBC host believes that he has helped the firm’s shares rise from $180 to $290 in an idea-driven market:
“We are in an idea-driven market and in an idea-driven market I go out with AeroVironment at 190 and then it goes to 290 because I mentioned it in the Mad Dash and then they’re able to do a financing.”
His previous remarks about AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) mentioned Goldman Sachs:
“Last week on Stop Trading, I said people should buy AeroVironment, I had them on. . .and AeroVironment was at 180, and now AeroVironent’s at 295.
“It was down 17 when I interviewed, when I interviewed Mr. Nawabi, it was down 17.
“The bears had to recognize that they were wrong, that they were betting against the wrong. Goldman came out today and recommended the stock. Yeah I recommended at 186, they recommended at 286. I think I’m early. Does that guy make more money than I do? The guy who recommended at 286? Do you think he should?”
5. Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 102
Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) is a sizable American electricity company whose shares have gained 28% year-to-date. The stock has benefited primarily from investor interest in AI and the expected increase in power demand. Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)’s presence in the nuclear power generation industry and its partnership with Microsoft have linked the stock’s performance to AI-induced power demand in the US. However, the shares have lagged other AI energy plays such as Talen as investors have wondered about Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)’s ability to land major deals with big AI companies. Cramer commented on the stock in the context of an idea-driven market:
“I just think that we need to recognize that we are not in a Fed market, we’re in a market where people say, you know what, those data centers need a lot of power. Oh, well let’s buy Vistra, let’s buy Constellation Energy. . . This has not happened since the 90s, David. And there’s a plethora of people who are fighting this and not realizing, because they’re so index oriented. They don’t realize what is really happening here is that people are focusing on themes.”
Cramer discussed Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) in detail in February when the shares had lost more than 7% year-to-date in the aftermath of the DeepSeek selloff. Here’s what he said:
“How about the walloping in the nuclear power utilities like Vistra and Constellation Energy? These stocks are on a rollercoaster and right now they’re on the downside. They, they trade like they weren’t even wearing their seat belts. When you’re going down, which is what you know what happens, you fly up and then you land on your head. Microsoft had a hand in the froth here too, except this time at least it was negative. See these momentum utility stocks, all data center plays won’t be as important if Microsoft’s actually cutting capital expenditures for data centers, which is also what we heard on Friday. Why the heck do we need to bid up the stocks of tangential utilities when maybe we don’t even need to worry about the regular utilities? Maybe they got enough power, of, of course, we don’t need Constellation or Vistra.”
4. The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 96
The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) has experienced a turnaround in its share price in 2025. The firm’s shares closed 2024 31% lower after its production suffered due to safety concerns. However, year-to-date, the stock has gained 25.6% as The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) has demonstrated strong earnings performance and experienced bullish analyst coverage. The stock gained 6% in April after the firm’s negative $2.3 billion in free cash flow in its latest quarter was far better than the $3.6 billion Wall Street had penciled in. The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA)’s price target was raised to $250 from $230 by Jefferies in June, and Cramer attributed the firm’s share price performance to an idea-driven market:
“I just think that we need to recognize that we are not in a Fed market, we’re in a market where people say. . .Uh, okay looks like the aerospace is doing well, oh okay, well let’s buy Boeing. . .This has not happened since the 90s, David. And there’s a plethora of people who are fighting this and not realizing, because they’re so index oriented. They don’t realize what is really happening here is that people are focusing on themes.”
Cramer discussed The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) in detail in June. Here is what he said:
“Here’s a dreamliner of a story: After years of struggling, Boeing’s finally taken off in the last two months… I told you Boeing was ready to make a comeback in March when the stock was at $181 because it started reporting stronger orders and delivery numbers as well as some surprise contract wins… Don’t sell it. I think the stock has a lot more room to run. Why? First and foremost, Boeing’s cleaned up its balance sheet… Second, the numbers coming out of Boeing keep trending in the right direction.
In late April, the company reported a solid quarter with slightly higher than expected sales and operating earnings that trounced the estimates. Boeing’s combined backlog stood at $545 billion at the end of the quarter… So the numbers have been great, but there’s a third thing that’s been happening here. Boeing’s likely to be a big winner from President Trump’s global trade war… Now, we’re already seeing evidence that Boeing’s a trade war winner so far. Trump’s only closed one trade deal since Liberation Day, and that’s that new agreement with the United Kingdom.
Alongside that deal, the parent company of British Airways, no coincidentally, agreed to buy $13 billion worth of jets from Boeing. Plus, during President Trump’s visit to the Middle East, earlier this month, Qatar Airways placed an order for up to 210 wide-body aircraft, including 130 Dreamliners. That’s the largest order for that plane in history… At the end of the day, there’s a whole lot going right for Boeing, and the stock has rightfully reflected its momentum these past couple of months.
But here’s the bottom line: With a cleaned up balance sheet, rapidly improvement results and the prospect of the president of the United States becoming the world’s number one aircraft salesman as part of these trade negotiations, I think Boeing’s got a bright future and knowing how the stock tends to trade historically, I’m betting it could really still soar.
My only concern with Boeing is that they do have a not-so-great track record of dropping the ball just when the stock takes off. But I doubt that will be a problem anymore under Kelly Ortberg’s new leadership team. Boeing’s on the way to restore its greatness, and you want a piece of that promise as this one, once it gets going, can exceed any of the price targets that the analysts have ever dreamed of.”
3. Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 23
Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY) is one of the few pure-play electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft designers in the world. The shares have gained 30% year-to-date on the back of several favorable catalysts. Since the firm is seeking to launch a new kind of transportation service, regulatory approvals, test flights, and investment opportunities drive its hypothesis. On these fronts, Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY) scored a win in June when it signed an MOA with a Saudi conglomerate to distribute $1 billion of services in the country in the future. The shares were also helped by the firm’s July announcement of having completed air taxi trials in the UAE. Cramer discussed the stock and the trial:
“Now I used to be negative on Joby on the show. I gave up. Do you know that Boeing has a [eVTOL]? So if Boeing has it why do I sniff at Joby?
“Joby’s got something cooking here, David. Joby, it’s got a Dubai flight. Dubai flight.”
Commenting about Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY) in June, Cramer remarked:
“You know what, remember a couple of weeks ago I said I was done with the knocking on the ones that don’t make money. Joby is real. I think Archer is real… But Joby is good and I’m going with it and I am with you… Joby is okay. I’m even playing some Joby music.”
2. NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 81
NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) is a well-known American athletic apparel company. Its shares are up by a modest 3.7% year-to-date, primarily on the back of a massive 22% jump since late June. NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE)’s stock has struggled in 2025 due to the potential impact of tariffs on its business due to the firm’s global supply chain. However, the shares gained in June after NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE)’s fiscal fourth quarter EPS and revenue of $0.14 and $11.10 billion beat analyst estimates of $0.13 and $10.72 billion. Investors were also bullish after CEO Elliot Hill commented during the earnings call that NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE)’s worst days were behind it and the firm would continue to improve future performance. However, Cramer asserted that the strong share price performance was partly also due to an idea-driven market:
“Let’s take the case of, say, Nike. Okay. So Nike reports a good number. Now the stock will typically be up three. Now it’s up 15. Okay because people are saying ooh I want to be in Nike. Now what I’m saying is I can ignore that and focus 100% on the ten basis points that will no doubt move within the next 24 hours. People don’t even know what a basis point is anymore. Do you think a millennial knows what a basis point is? A basis point. Yeah.”
Earlier, the CNBC host shared he was conflicted about NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE):
“I’m conflicted on Nike. On the positive side, the new CEO has a clear strategic plan to turn things around by focusing on running, basketball, football, training, and sportswear…
I simply think that the stock is more de-risked than it’s been in quite some time after two consecutive kitchen sink quarters where management did everything they could to reset expectations… All that said, while there are real positives here, including indications that China’s actually stronger than you would expect, I find it hard to get too bullish on Nike because this brand just ain’t what it used to be. In particular, I worry about the competition in athletic footwear, which has long been Nike’s bread and butter… It also didn’t help that Nike got pretty aggressive with its pricing…
So here’s where I come down on Nike: I believe it can mount a comeback, but I also think that a meaningful complete turnaround could take a longer time than expected. If you’re tempted to play a turnaround here, and I don’t blame you, I would start with a small position. That way, if something else goes wrong, you can buy more into weakness, pyramid style, or you can just cut your losses. And if Nike reports a good quarter with healthy guidance next month, well, you’ll get a chance to capture some upside.
The bottom line: I am optimistic that the worst is indeed behind Nike, or at least will be soon. And I think there’s a good chance for a comeback, especially with a seasoned hands-on Nike veteran like Elliott Hill at the helm. That said, I don’t have a ton of conviction in the turn happening quickly, so I’d advise you to start slowly with a small position and only buy more if Nike gives you a good reason to pull the trigger.”
1. Kontoor Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTB)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 32
Kontoor Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTB)’s shares, like its peers in the retail and apparel industry, haven’t performed well in 2025 as they are down by 15% year-to-date. The firm has struggled from weak consumer sentiment that led to a disappointing full year guidance in February and dealt a massive blow to the stock. However, Kontoor Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTB) has benefited recently from its acquisition of retailer Helly Hansen, which has a strong presence in Vietnam. Cramer commented on the deal:
“Just watch this. Kontoor Brands. This morning, Goldman puts it on its Conviction List. Why? Because of Helly. . .well Helly Hansen is a brand that is so huge in Canada they bought it the deal has just closed. I think they’re going to blow out Helly Hansen, which makes the best outdoor clothes I have ever had. We used it exclusively in British Columbia. And, now that stock is going to go up five. Because people want, ooh, Hally Hansen, Goldman Sachs recommended, I know HH, that’s a good brand. I think that’s a good idea. I’m going to go buy it. Because that’s what happening. Not basis points!”
Cramer discussed the acquisition and the earnings in March:
“I got blown up there, I had them on to introduce the HH purchase. And it seemed really great and I got blown up, because I had the, they had preannounced the numbers but they didn’t talk the forecast so I apologize to anyone who watched the report. Because I didn’t know that the forecast was bad. And the forecast is, I always tell David, is the forecast.”
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