On Tuesday, Jim Cramer, host of Mad Money, criticized the market’s reaction, or lack thereof, to the recent dip in long-term interest rates. He pointed out that the 10-year Treasury yield had fallen back to 4.3%, yet barely anyone took notice. “Maybe, just maybe, it’s no big deal,” he said.
“Long-term interest rates plunged today, but did you hear a word about it? Nobody paid any attention to the interest rate decline. I never heard anyone talk about it, especially the very people who kept warning that ever higher rates were signaling that our financial system was in real trouble.”
READ ALSO Jim Cramer Discussed These 12 Stocks Recently and Jim Cramer is Bullish on These 10 Stocks
Cramer said that the same voices who claimed that higher rates were indicative of a collapsing faith in the U.S. economy, a threat to the dollar’s reserve currency status, and harbingers of hyperinflation or stagflation suddenly had nothing to say now that rates were moving in the opposite direction.
He quipped, “Let’s get some ex-Federal Reserve people or even some live ones to tell us that the party’s over.” He called out what he sees as an eagerness among some to spread gloom whenever it suits their narrative. When the rates drop, he noted, the reaction is indifference. He added:
“That’s how this issue’s been covered for ages, but it’s only gotten worse since Trump has sworn in.”
Cramer acknowledged the seriousness of the United States’ $36 trillion national debt and said he does not blame people for being concerned about Treasury yields. However, he insisted that if people are going to sound the alarm when yields rise, they should at least acknowledge or feel some level of reassurance when they decline. Cramer admitted that the political climate in Washington is confusing and, at times, legitimately troubling for markets. He added:
“But like yesterday, when I opined about the chicken littles who tell us that a weak dollar means a weak country and a terrible stock market, I’m going to demand that people stop making Treasury mountains out of Treasury molehills.”
Our Methodology
For this article, we compiled a list of 12 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during the episode of Mad Money aired on April 15. We listed the stocks in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment as of the fourth quarter of 2024, which was taken from Insider Monkey’s database of over 1,000 hedge funds.
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 Stocks on Jim Cramer’s Radar Recently
12. Telefónica, S.A. (NYSE:TEF)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 8
Telefónica, S.A. (NYSE:TEF) was mentioned during the episode, and here’s what Mad Money’s host had to say:
“Good company, good company. Used to be bad, but I’m a big, I’m going to give you a twofer. I like that one and Banco Santander by the way. Ana Botín turned out to be the best banker in the world. Well, she still is, and it’s a great stock.”
Telefónica (NYSE:TEF) offers a wide range of telecommunications services and digital solutions, including mobile, internet, fixed-line, and TV services, along with cloud, security, and data-driven technologies for both individual and business customers. The company’s 2024 earnings report showed growth across various areas. As per the report, during the year, revenue was up 1.6% and EBITDA rose 1.2%, and operating cash flow increased 1.6%, all within or above the company’s targets. Additionally, free cash flow was €2.634 billion, a 14.1% year-over-year increase.
11. Deluxe Corporation (NYSE:DLX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 14
Noting the company’s talk of diversification, a caller inquired about Deluxe Corporation (NYSE:DLX). Cramer replied:
“You said it right. They have been talking diversification for as long as I can remember. They came on the show once. They have an 8% yield, that means that something’s very wrong. When you get a yield that’s well above all the others, it’s not good. I’m going to have to say ix-nay on Deluxe. I wish they had been able to, one of the great growth stocks of the 80s.”
Deluxe (NYSE:DLX) offers technology-driven services that include payment processing, cash management, fraud prevention, and business support tools designed for small and mid-sized companies and financial institutions.
10. Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 17
Cramer recommended Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN) during the episode as he commented:
“… I’m going to give you a twofer. I like that one and Banco Santander by the way. Ana Botín turned out to be the best banker in the world. Well, she still is, and it’s a great stock.”
Banco Santander (NYSE:SAN) offers various financial services, including banking, loans, mortgages, asset management, insurance, and digital payment options. The company also provides corporate and investment banking. Its services extend to online financial products. It is worth noting that on March 14, during an episode of Squawk on the Street, Cramer stated:
“Look, I I blew it… Remember how many times I said Santander, Santander, Santander and I didn’t do it. Now those stocks will run… I was worried about the dividend and… and how people would say, Jim, you can’t use the traditional tax rules for dividends. I was Lilliputian. Next time I’ll be bigger.”
9. Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 38
A caller inquired about Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN) during the episode, and Cramer said:
“No, no, this president is not, I’m not saying he’s not a fan of solar, I mean, he doesn’t like the way windmills look. I don’t know how he is like on hydro. Maybe he’s how he is on like sticks rubbing against each other… But I’ll tell you that Sunrun is not in that purview. It’s not in that area that’s a sweet spot. How about that? It’s not a sweet spot. I like that. It’s very, it’s very congenial. Yeah, very congenial.”
Sunrun (NASDAQ:RUN) provides residential solar energy solutions and the company offers system design, installation, sales, maintenance, battery storage, and related services. The company also supplies solar products and partners with commercial developers for multi-family and new home projects. In 2022, when Cramer was asked about the company during a lightning round, he remarked, “It’s too speculative for me.” It is worth noting that since the comment was aired, RUN stock declined by more than 82%.
8. Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 41
Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL) was mentioned during the episode as a caller asked if they should stay with the stock or not. In response, Cramer stated:
“Okay, we’re not, ever since President Trump came in, we’re not recommending any stocks that are losing money. It’s just, life’s too short… That’s a whole new category, long, short, life’s too short. Planet Labs’ in that third category.”
Planet Labs (NYSE:PL) designs, builds, and operates satellite systems to deliver frequently updated geospatial data through its digital platform, offering tools for monitoring, analytics, and custom data integration. Meridian Contrarian Fund stated the following regarding Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL) in its Q4 2024 investor letter:
“Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL) is a data and analytics company powered by its constellation of 200+ satellites that capture daily images of the entire Earth. This provides the company with a unique dataset which they combine with custom imaging capabilities to build applications for commercial and government customers. We invested in 2022 when significant investments the company made for future growth impacted near-term earnings. During the quarter, Planet Labs’ stock outperformed due to rising market recognition that their cost-effective and efficient imagery solutions were well-positioned to increase penetration in the U.S. defense sector. Optimism was further buoyed by the prospect of the incoming administration pursuing cost-cutting and efficiency initiatives. We increased our position during the quarter, confident in Planet Lab’s capacity for sustained growth.”
7. NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 53
A caller asked Cramer to share his thoughts on NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG), and he said:
“Very good utility. What can I say? I like it. I mean, it’s nice and boring. Boring is very good. Exciting, not so hot. This market’s like Pharaoh’s Fury.”
NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG) generates and sells electricity from coal, oil, solar, and battery storage. It also offers energy management services, home solutions, and trades in power, natural gas, and related commodities. On April 4, Goldman Sachs analyst Carly Davenport began coverage of NRG Energy stock with a Buy rating and a $129 price target. The firm expects strong free cash flow from the core business, supporting returns to shareholders. The analyst also pointed to potential gains from new generation projects, data center agreements, and opportunities in the SmartHome segment.
6. Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 79
A caller asked if Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) would be a good buy. In response, Cramer remarked:
“Accenture got, apparently, the way that people are looking at Accenture is that Accenture’s being hurt by the DOGE crowd, and if that’s the case, you can’t go against DOGE. It’s, I’ll tell you the truth, it’s better to buy Palantir.”
Accenture (NYSE:ACN) is a professional services company that focuses on strategy, consulting, technology, and operations. It provides services like application solutions and intelligent automation. On March 21, Cramer stated:
“Alright, Accenture okay. This is the other side of the Tesla trade, this stock has now dropped from 396 to 296 and that’s because on the call, they said look, we have a huge percentage of our business is federal. And, we’ve been told, there’s not a lot procurement going on. Because everything’s frozen. And it’s crushed their business. So if you think that Musk leaves to go to Tesla, you can go buy Accenture. And maybe pick up fifty, sixty points. So there’s the other side of the trade for those are ready to go bullish.”
5. Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 84
Noting the stock’s recent decline, a caller inquired about Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX). Cramer replied:
“Yeah, it has. Now, we bought some for the Charitable Trust at a great price. We let it go up. We sold some, we did not sell enough. Sometimes that happens. People think that the Chinese business is going to be written down badly if they try to sell it. I have so much faith in Brian Niccol. I am a buyer of Starbucks at $83.”
Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) is a well-known global brand that roasts, markets, and sells coffee. It offers a wide range of drinks, coffee beans, and food products in its stores. On April 3, appearing on Squawk on the Street, Cramer said:
“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.”
4. Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 94
A caller asked Cramer’s thoughts on Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU), and he commented:
“You know, Micron is at 10 times earnings. I really wanted it at six, seven times earnings. That said, Micron is a one-way stock. It has a great year and then a bad year. The stock has been more than cut in half. I’m willing to venture that, more than cut in half. You can put a quarter position on no more than that, and then wait for it to drop back down. It’s at $71, it traded at $61. I would buy another quarter if it traded at $61 and then wait and see, but it is not an up stock as much as I like it.”
Micron (NASDAQ:MU) focuses on creating and producing memory and storage technologies. It provides fast, low-latency semiconductor components and non-volatile memory products.
3. The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 103
A caller asked Cramer’s assessment of The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) over the next 12 to 18 months. This is what Cramer had to say in response:
“I just think that if we don’t respond correctly to help Boeing instead of just picking on all the time, and then the old regime did do some things wrong, then Boeing’s going to be a tough stock to own, but they do have a lot of cash. They don’t have great cash flow. I think it’s okay. I’d rather, I’m picking other ways to play aerospace now because Boeing seems to just had, it’s snake bit. What can I say?”
Boeing (NYSE:BA) is engaged in designing, building, producing, and promoting a range of products. These include commercial jets, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense systems, and projects related to space exploration. Sound Shore Management stated the following regarding The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) in its Q4 2024 investor letter:
“The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA): A detractor for the period was global aerospace leader Boeing. We were able to purchase the stock at a prospective 10% free cash flow yield on a normalized scenario. Over the past couple of years the stock rebounded from operational challenges and had surged on improved free cash generation from increasing order activity, driven by global demand for aircraft. It was one of our best performers in the fourth quarter of 2023 after its November plane deliveries increased. When additional manufacturing issues surfaced in January 2024, we believed it would push restructuring efforts back enough to warrant a review by our team. Reacting quickly, we sold our position at a gain in the first quarter, albeit less than before the news.”
2. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 162
A caller wondered what the reason was behind Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) stock being down over the last six months. Here’s what Cramer had to say:
“100% right. They’ve got the best product, of which there is no doubt. Have they been able to monetize the best product? Not to date. Is the stock indicating that they won’t do it this quarter either? Yes, but the good news is we have until the end of May. Maybe it can turn things around, but this stock, as I said to Jeff Marks today, my partner for the Charitable Trust, this stock just acts so badly, and the enterprise software companies were beginning to act better, and this one’s not one of them. Only up 38 cents today. Gotta stay very close to this.”
Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) offers a unified platform that helps businesses handle sales, customer service, marketing, analytics, and e-commerce. Its tools are built to improve customer experience and make everyday operations more efficient.
1. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 223`
A caller asked what Cramer thought of NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA), and he said:
“Sure. I mean, I put out a piece yesterday that was quite painful for me to write, to the club members and… it was about how you could no longer trust the government in NVIDIA. You could just no longer do it. So therefore, you can’t own it like you used to, meaning you have to trim, and I said I’m going to have to sell some. And one of the reasons I did it, well, it turns out just this very evening, without any notice… the government decided, you know what, we’re going to put new restrictions on the H20, which is the dumbed-down version of the latest and greatest NVIDIA trip. And it’s really kind of shocking, but is it really? I wrote that piece because I expect stuff like this to happen, and NVIDIA’s going to have a big charge.
It’s a different world. NVIDIA gives a huge amount of money, decides to build as much here like Apple, it buys them nothing… All that I know is that if you do a lot of business in China, and if you’re a club member, you know this, then your stock’s going to suffer, and that includes now NVIDIA, too. Why, it’s so different now.”
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is well known for its innovations in graphics, computing, and networking, through its development of graphics processing units and the CUDA software platform.
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