During the latest episode of Mad Money, which aired on Thursday, the 15th of May 2025, Jim Cramer gave some advice on how investors should be approaching the markets from a psychological perspective:
“My view, you can be as cynical and corrosive as you want about the vast majority of things in the world in life. But if you’re trying to make big money in the stock market, you’re actually better off being critical and constructive. Reflexive negativity is not a smart strategy, and you’ll most certainly trade yourself into oblivion with very little show for it.”
READ ALSO: How Did These 10 Predictions By Jim Cramer Turn Out? and Was Jim Cramer Right About These 10 Stocks?
At the same time, Cramer advised his viewers to not always react negatively to the narratives or the facts. Instead, staying open-minded when listening to earnings calls or analysts’ opinions is the best way to go:
“So here’s the bottom line: If you examined these same opportunities with a jaundiced eye, too critical, too negative, I know what would’ve happened. You would’ve passed on all of them. But if you were open-minded, if you were constructive, any one of these could easily have made you a boatload of money.”
Our Methodology
For this article, we compiled a list of 12 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during the Mad Money episodes that aired between the 15th and 17th of May, 2024. We then calculated their performance for the past 12 months, until May 16th, 2025, market close. We have also included the hedge fund sentiment for the stocks, which we sourced from Insider Monkey’s Q4 2024 database of over 900 hedge funds. The stocks are listed in the order that Cramer mentioned them.
Please note that this article mentions Jim Cramer’s previous opinions and may not account for any changes to his opinions regarding the stocks that are mentioned. It is primarily an examination of how his previously provided opinions have panned out.
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. RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 80
Back in 2024, on May 15, Mad Money’s Jim Cramer discussed the performance of post-breakup aerospace and defense stocks, spotlighting RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) as a strong example of a successful spin-off from United Technologies.
“The part that merged with Raytheon, the new RTX, has rallied 108% since the breakup, total return of 13% including dividend. It’s now worth over $140 billion. This was that little problem they had with the engine — they really put that behind them very quickly. I’m proud of these guys, by the way. I think RTX is a great business, both on the commercial aerospace and the defense side.”
Cramer’s confidence paid off, as the stock climbed a solid 29.97% since his endorsement.
RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) is expanding its aerospace services business as defense orders rebound and commercial travel returns to strength. During a recent discussion earlier in May on how tariffs could affect the company, Jim Cramer said the following:
“First of all, they were very forthcoming about the tariffs. That was right. Second, it is a way for people, for countries to be able to say, listen, I know we have a trade, we have a huge trade surplus with you. We are going to write a check to RTX and get what we need. You are spot on.”
11. Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE:CARR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 49
Back in 2024, on May 15, Mad Money’s Jim Cramer discussed the surprising strength of industrial spin-offs, singling out Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE:CARR) as the most successful of the three companies formed from United Technologies.
“But of the three former United Technology components, it’s Carrier Global that’s the biggest winner. This was a surprise, right? Stock’s up 3.95% since the breakup, gives you a total return of 42% including dividends. This heating, ventilation, and air conditioning business is now worth over $59 billion all by itself. Carrier’s just doing a great job thanks to the stewardship of Dave Gitlin. It reported a fantastic quarter last month, and I see more strength ahead thanks to the data center boom and a terrific acquisition they made over in Europe.”
His positive call was justified, with the stock rising 16.34% and validating its role in the data center boom.
Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE:CARR) is gaining traction thanks to surging demand for HVAC systems in data centers and climate-focused retrofits. Cramer remains a fan of the stock, especially as it reported a strong earnings report in Q1 2025. Here’s what he said in May:
“See that behind me? Carrier, that was good. . . it had Carrier a second ago. Yeah, David Gitlin did a really good job, a lot of people were doubting. Forget that, it’s the doubters are being silenced today.”
10. GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 101
Back in 2024, on May 15, Mad Money’s Jim Cramer discussed one of the most dramatic turnaround stories of the decade, crediting GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) with unlocking massive shareholder value through its strategic spin-offs.
“Just before the spin-off of GE Healthcare in January 2023, GE had a market capitalization of just under $93 billion. Since then, GE has more than tripled. […] When you add up the current market capitalization of the three GE enterprises, they’re worth $262 billion — that’s up 182% from right before the healthcare spin-off. S&P 500 only up 38% over the same period. Even if you go from a less generous starting point — like the moment the breakup was announced in November 2021 — you’d still be up 118% if you held GE and the spin-offs, while the S&P 500 is only up 12%. […]
“GE Aerospace up 17%. That same night I told you to keep owning both components — and this is something I want to stress — I like this.”
Cramer nailed it as the stock took off with a 43.86% gain, cementing its status as a successful spin-off.
GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) has capitalized on surging defense budgets and aviation upgrades to position itself as a global aerospace powerhouse. Following the company’s strong start to the year, Cramer said the following in early May:
“I’ve seen obviously all the pieces of GE, very strong. . . these companies have all kind of said, you know we’re not hurt that much by tariffs. We’re doing pretty well. And then you start getting a narrative which says maybe no recession.”
9. GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 111
Back in 2024, on May 15, Mad Money’s Jim Cramer discussed the latest piece of GE’s breakup, expressing optimism about GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV), especially given rising demand for natural gas.
“GE Vernova is up 18%. You know, I think this Vernova — which is really natural gas — it’s got a lot of room to run. The data centers need a lot of natural gas. Utilities.”
A home-run prediction as it surged 157.25%, easily making it one of his best calls this year.
GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) has become a clean energy standout with its natural gas and renewables exposure powering recent investor interest. Here’s what Cramer said about the stock in late April:
“I have . .GE Vernova and I’ve got Vertiv on tonight. . the CEOs. And I just want to say that there’s been a lot of what I regard as misinformation about the data centers slowing. And both, when you read the Vertiv notes, like forget it, the business is on fire. When you speak to Scott, Scott Strazik who’s the CEO of GE Vernova, he would tell you that the hyperscalers like to play. Like they put some here, they wanna put there, and they talk about doing this, talk about that. But in the end the orders are up and that anyone who thinks that the hyperscalers are scaling back, frankly, is just, not telling the truth.”
“What Scott is saying for GE Vernova is that’s the game they’re playing. They’re just trying to build it here, they’re trying to build it there. They’re not gonna let each other know. It’s just a little bit more secretive but I’m the keeper of the order book and the order book is [inaudible]. So those who are trying to get those down . . .they gotta rethink their game. They gotta rethink. It’s all I’m saying.”
8. Canada Goose Holdings Inc. (NYSE:GOOS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 25
Back in 2024, on May 17, a caller asked whether Canada Goose Holdings Inc. (NYSE:GOOS) was worth revisiting after a strong quarter. Cramer advised staying away, citing the market’s lack of interest, saying:
“I’m going to tell you — I’m going to put my trading hat on. When I see a company report that kind of number — that good — and it doesn’t go up, I say ‘ain’t nothing going to get this thing going. Let’s stay away.”
Canada Goose stalled despite a strong quarter, falling 30.93% and validating his decision to stay away.
Canada Goose Holdings Inc. (NYSE:GOOS) is falling behind as its luxury positioning clashes with consumer belt-tightening and inventory bloat.
7. Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ:HON)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 67
Back in 2024, on May 15, Mad Money’s Jim Cramer discussed Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ:HON) with deep frustration, calling for a breakup to unlock value after ongoing underperformance.
“I’m talking about a company I used to like a lot — I own it for the Charitable Trust — it’s been a disappointer and it’s called Honeywell. We’ve been patient — my patience is being tried. It’s a consistent underperformer over this period by a significant margin. […] I think they should consider breaking it up, given how well it’s worked for United Technologies and GE. The modern Honeywell is just an amalgamation of completely unrelated businesses that have no theme whatsoever. […] At this point, I don’t see what Honeywell gets from keeping them under the same roof. […] I’ve not been happy this year with companies that have not made my trust money. […] Wall Street loves smaller bite-sized companies that are easier to value. The proof is in.”
His frustration proved valid, as the stock delivered just 7.87%, lagging badly despite a strong market.
Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ:HON) is stuck in a strategic identity crisis as its diverse industrial units fail to deliver consistent upside. During a recent CNBC program, Cramer admitted that he’s now looking to buy back some of the company’s stock. Here’s what he said in February this year:
“But this is the quarter you have to buy because you’re finally getting the three pieces. The aerospace business is fantastic. This chemicals business is of course a little bit better than the GDP. And then you have this automation business which has been a disappointment.
“For aerospace, they have the cockpit. They have a lot of intellectual property in a plane. They have obviously some service, I think that you do want to emulate. Now remember they’re in every plane. They’re in Bombardier, Airbus, they’re in Boeing. They’ve got a hammerlock on the group. Dave Cote put that together and I like that business. You may to just say, old your nose and buy. If you get that business.”
“That factory automation, David the warehouse business, that was bad. That was bad. . . That’s been a loser.”
“I’m totally with you. Which is why my trust owns it. We’ve been selling higher. Now I’m going to buy it back or hold on.”
6. Safehold Inc. (NYSE:SAFE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 15
Back in 2024, on May 15, a caller inquired about Safehold Inc. (NYSE:SAFE), a REIT known for ultra-long-term ground leases. Cramer passed on the stock due to a lack of transparency:
“Yeah, but I don’t really know what’s in it. I do not buy. I know that who runs it — the CEO — is very smart. But I’m not sure what’s in it, and that bothers me. I don’t recommend those stocks ‘cause I don’t know what’s in them.”
Cramer’s refusal to recommend it was wise, as it dropped 23.20%.
Safehold Inc. (NYSE:SAFE) remains an obscure REIT with minimal transparency into its asset quality and risk profile.
5. Ouster, Inc. (NYSE:OUST)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 15
Back in 2024, on May 16, a caller on the Mad Money show asked about Ouster, Inc. (NYSE:OUST), a lidar and autonomous tech company. Cramer dismissed it due to its lack of profitability and broader caution on unprofitable EV plays at the time:
“Oh man, that’s a lidar play. I’ll tell you — I’ve not been recommending any of those EV plays that are losing money. They do a lot of autonomous vehicles, but I can’t go there because I’m not recommending stocks where they just have not been able to even get near a profit.”
Ouster justified Cramer’s skepticism, losing 4.97% and staying well out of profitable territory.
Ouster, Inc. (NYSE:OUST) remains weighed down by losses and low visibility, making it one of the more volatile EV tech bets.
4. Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 96
Back in 2024, on May 16, a caller asked about Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX), a medical device company. Cramer praised its cardio business and wished he had bought it back then:
“That company is just doing so well. They have an amazing cardio franchise. I wish I owned that for the trust. It is just fantastic. Great call — thank you.”
Boston Scientific was a clear win for Cramer, rising 42.24% on the back of strong fundamentals.
Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) is thriving thanks to a strong product pipeline in cardiology and minimally invasive surgery.
3. Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 84
Back in 2024, on May 15, a caller on the Mad Money show asked about Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX), citing busy drive-throughs and new promotional efforts. Cramer acknowledged past missteps but remained cautiously optimistic.
“Okay, I think Starbucks — the stock is too cheap. I think that they have to — uh, let’s just say they’ve got to be realistic that a turn’s going to take a while and that a plan includes having, say, a Starbucks 2 like Panera 2, where they really figure out how to handle throughput and they figure out whether the baristas can make all the drinks and how to handle the lines and mobile order pay without cutting in front. And they have to do those things — and when they do that, they’ll get it right. So no, my trust owns it, but you see, my trust is down a huge amount — and when that happens, it’s my fault, okay? It’s my fault, because I believe. And when you believe and the stock goes down, it’s on you, not on them.”
Starbucks rebounded moderately after Cramer called it cheap, climbing 13.67% and rewarding those who held on.
Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) has benefited from loyalty program expansions and international growth despite internal restructuring challenges. Following a recent dip in early April, Cramer advised his viewers to not sell the stock:
“Starbucks down eight. Should we not think about he’s got it under force, under four minutes now?”
“Look I’m just saying that Starbucks is not a great sale here at 91. It’s just not.”
Ahead of the company’s earnings report, Cramer had this to say in late April:
“Tuesday night, okay, I’m betting that Brian Niccol will spell out his strategy for Starbucks, both domestic and international…. The stock first shooting up 30 points on Niccol’s appointment and then giving almost all of it back when the numbers didn’t turn around immediately and the market got ugly. I always thought that a quick breakout was a ridiculous assumption, but now the rubber’s going to hit the road, and I still don’t see a breakout quarter, but we’re going to hold it nonetheless.”
2. The Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ:KHC)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 43
Back in 2024, on May 17, a caller asked whether the potential sale of the Oscar Mayer brand would be good or bad for Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ:KHC) shareholders. Cramer dismissed its relevance, noting the brand’s limited appeal and broader issues at Kraft:
“Okay, this is a great question because it’s such a storied brand — but storied brands aren’t going for a lot of money. Why? Because they’re not considered to be fresh. They’re just storied. I’m not saying they aren’t fresh, but they’re not considered to be by Wall Street. You’re not going to find a lot of Oscar Mayer in Whole Foods. Therefore, I’m going to tell you — I think it’s not that important. And Kraft Heinz, by the way, has a lot of products that I think are not that important — which is why I haven’t recommended that stock in ages.”
Kraft Heinz continued to lag, falling 23.09% and confirming Cramer’s negative outlook on its relevance.
The Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ:KHC) is failing to inspire a turnaround as legacy brands like Oscar Mayer lose relevance with modern consumers. Cramer remains unimpressed with the stock. Here’s what he replied to a caller when asked if they should buy in April this year:
“Waste of your capital. Waste of your capital. There’s so many great stocks that have come down. I mean, unbelievable stocks that have come down so much that I can’t believe it. And I think you just gotta change, I mean, look, we’re looking at, for instance, Texas Roadhouse, okay. This one’s come down gigantically. It is now incredibly inexpensive, and it’s got what I regard as being a fantastic value proposition. I’d much rather see you in that than I would see in Kraft Heinz.”
1. ServiceNow Inc. (NYSE:NOW)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 110
Back in 2024, on May 15, a retired investor asked Cramer if he should add to his small position in ServiceNow Inc. (NYSE:NOW). Cramer gave a clear buy recommendation:
“I would buy more. I mean, I feel like I wanted to buy that stock for the trust. We owned so many in the space, we felt that we couldn’t. But that was a nice break before the quarter. When the quarter reported, it really wasn’t a bad quarter — and I think the stock’s a buy right here. ServiceNow.”
He called it a buy, and the market agreed as the stock gained 37.23% since.
ServiceNow Inc. (NYSE:NOW) is riding the enterprise digitization wave as its workflow automation tools prove indispensable to large corporations. Cramer remains a clear bull. Here are his remarks from earlier in May 2025:
“Right, and we want to come back to it. It was a big guide up and it had rule of 50, it had great growth, great margins. This Truist piece today, Hold to Buy, it does say something that I think people have to recognize. This company’s not a leader in AI. And I don’t even know if Jensen Huang has [inaudible] in terms of what, when you bring someone in, you can either build your own AI or you can call ServiceNow and they’ll build it for you. Even for customer relationship management. So I think you maybe want to circle back to the one that was as good last week as the one perceived now. Bill McDermott, credit to him, he’s picked up a huge number of accounts.
“[On whether DOGE would affect the stock negatively] The opposite. . .bigger winner from DOGE, people got that completely wrong. Bill is just a; he’s a closing machine.”
While we acknowledge the potential of NOW as an investment, 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 NOW 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.
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