Jim Cramer, host of Mad Money, told viewers on Friday that this week is one they cannot afford to ignore, as he called it genuinely consequential for the direction of the market.
“Many times in my career, I’ve heard people claim that a week was pivotal, as if it can change the direction of the entire market. Next week, no hyperbole, is pivotal. It’s significant. I’m willing to make it a free-fire zone of superlatives, and here’s why. We have not only a Fed meeting, not only the non-farm employment report, but we also have earnings… In short, next week determines the market’s direction for the duration or at least the rest of the summer.”
READ ALSO: 13 Stocks Jim Cramer Looked At and Jim Cramer Weighed in on These 17 Stocks.
Cramer pointed to Wednesday, when the Federal Open Market Committee will hold its meeting, followed by a press conference from Fed Chair Jerome Powell. He expects Powell to maintain the current course on interest rates and may offer cautionary remarks regarding the slow effect of tariff reductions on inflation. Cramer also predicted that Powell will reaffirm his intention to serve out his full term, which extends to May of next year.
Turning to Friday, Cramer highlighted the release of the non-farm payroll report. He emphasized the need for continued job growth and wage stability. If wages climb too quickly, Cramer said, it will undercut any argument for interest rate cuts, and President Trump would be unable to publicly push Powell in that direction. However, if the report shows weakness, Cramer warned that the administration might begin floating the idea of a “Fed Chairman in waiting” as a way to pressure Powell to step down before his term is up.
“The bottom line: If we get through this week, with takeovers that would’ve been unheard of under Biden, along with good earnings and no pickup in inflation, and maybe some big trade deals, look for the average to make more record highs. I know it’s a big gauntlet. I think we’d make it through despite a huge degree of difficulty. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back either way.”
Our Methodology
For this article, we compiled a list of 13 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during the episodes of Mad Money aired on July 25. We listed the stocks in the order that Cramer mentioned them. We also provided hedge fund sentiment for each stock as of the first quarter of 2025, which was taken from Insider Monkey’s database of 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).
13 Stocks on Jim Cramer’s Game Plan This Week
13. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 94
Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is one of the stocks in Jim Cramer’s game plan this week. Cramer finished his game plan with the company and remarked:
“Alright then, to wrap things up, we have Exxon and Chevron reporting… I have no idea what Exxon will say. Either way, I think oil’s headed lower thanks to tepid demand from China, actually helped by more pumping in Venezuela. I’d like to know what everybody thinks about that.”
Exxon (NYSE:XOM) engages in the exploration, production, and sale of oil, natural gas, fuels, petrochemicals, and specialty products. In a June episode, a caller inquired about the company, and Cramer replied:
“Okay, I’ll tell you how I feel about the oil business. I don’t like it, but I do like the dividends. Because of the dividends, I’m willing to bless them. But if they didn’t have good dividends, believe me, I wouldn’t go near the group because I think that the group is just not in good shape.”
12. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 81
Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is one of the stocks in Jim Cramer’s game plan this week. Cramer discussed the company in light of its legal battle with Exxon, and commented:
“Alright then, to wrap things up, we have Exxon and Chevron reporting. With Chevron coming right off its legal victory against Exxon, I regard it as a victory, a victory that let them buy Hess, I expect Chevron to raise numbers, especially now that the president’s allowed it to restart pumping in Venezuela.”
Chevron (NYSE:CVX) is an integrated energy company involved in the exploration, production, transportation, refining, and marketing of oil, natural gas, and petrochemicals. The company is also involved in renewable fuels, carbon capture, and the manufacturing of industrial additives and plastics. On July 8, a caller asked about the company, and noted its rising dividends and progress toward finalizing the Hess acquisition. Cramer responded:
“You were totally right. I’ve gotta tell you, they get that Hess deal closed, and you must own the stock. You know, Jeff and I have been talking… Jeff Marks, trying to figure out the energy sector. I think you’re onto something. Chevron will be a winner. Mike is a winner. I like your call…”
11. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 328
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is one of the stocks in Jim Cramer’s game plan this week. Cramer mentioned that he has high expectations for the company’s quarter, as he said:
“After the close, Thursday, we have two more members of the Magnificent Seven when Apple and Amazon report. Now both stocks have been going up steadily. They could be, well, look, it could be like Alphabet, which rallied consistently into the marvelous print, then kept going up…
How about Amazon? I’m a huge believer that, like Google, Amazon has a lot of things working for it, the online store, the web services business, advertising, hey, you know what, Alexa+. It’s been a long time since Amazon’s stock exploded higher on earnings, but it’s also been a long time since the company had something exciting to say. I expect a very solid quarter.”
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) sells consumer products, subscriptions, and media through its online and physical stores, while also offering devices, advertising, and cloud computing services.
10. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 159
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is one of the stocks in Jim Cramer’s game plan this week. Cramer mentioned that he is not expecting much from the upcoming quarterly results of the company. He remarked:
“After the close, Thursday, we have two more members of the Magnificent Seven when Apple and Amazon report. Now, both stocks have been going up steadily. They could be, well, look, it could be like Alphabet, which rallied consistently into the marvelous print, then kept going up. Apple, I’m not sure. While I say own it, don’t trade it, and I’m unwavering about that, I’m expecting an unexciting quarter and a slowdown in growth from services revenue stream. Not good.
I’m also worried about whether they can still receive 20 billion from Google in exchange for making it the default search provider, something a judge seems eager to put an end to. There’s something to be said about commenting on the decision by a lower court that said Google’s monopolist, which could really hurt Apple as well as litigation related to Epic, a video game company that’s fighting Apple’s current policy where they take a 30% cut of any transaction done within an app you download from their App Store. Epic wants to bypass that. I don’t know if that seems right.”
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) designs and sells consumer electronics, including smartphones, computers, tablets, and wearables, along with related accessories and support services.
9. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 273
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is one of the stocks in Jim Cramer’s game plan this week. During the episode, Cramer mentioned that there are signs of better-than-expected numbers from the company, as he commented:
“As I said earlier, this is a pivotal week, the kind of week where it feels like the biggest tech companies on earth are trying to work me to death. For instance, we’ve got Meta and Microsoft, two of the Magnificent Seven, reporting at the exact same time. Both stocks have been giving off signs of better-than-expected numbers. Call me a believer… Meta, that’s all about Mark Zuckerberg, and I think he’s crushing it with this Instagram advertising. Does he start charging for WhatsApp? Hey, what a windfall that would be.”
Meta (NASDAQ:META) develops technologies and applications that enable communication and social connection across mobile, web, and immersive platforms. The company’s products include social media apps, messaging services, and virtual and augmented reality hardware and software.
8. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 284
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is one of the stocks in Jim Cramer’s game plan this week. Cramer suggested waiting to hear from the company CFO on the conference call before “you can make a move.” He remarked:
“As I said earlier, this is a pivotal week, the kind of week where it feels like the biggest tech companies on earth are trying to work me to death. For instance, we’ve got Meta and Microsoft, two of the Magnificent Seven, reporting at the exact same time. Both stocks have been giving off signs of better-than-expected numbers. Call me a believer. Of course, with Microsoft, you have to wait to hear from CFO Amy Hood on the conference call, speaks in the middle, before you can make a move on the stock.”
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) develops and sells software, cloud services, devices, and digital solutions, including productivity tools, enterprise applications, and gaming platforms. The company provides business applications, cloud infrastructure, operating systems, and advertising services.
7. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 165
Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is one of the stocks in Jim Cramer’s game plan this week. Cramer suggested buying the stock on a dip, as he said:
“Hey, speaking of relentless, there’s almost always a wave of selling in Visa after the company reports because its financials are pretty hard to understand. If you look at the chart of this behemoth, though, I think you say, buy the dip, which is exactly what I expect will happen again. Be a buyer on… weakness.”
Visa (NYSE:V) is a payment technology company that facilitates digital transactions through its global network, providing credit, debit, and prepaid solutions along with advanced payment, fraud prevention, and data services. Cramer mentioned the stock in a June episode and said:
“Over the past couple of weeks, Visa and MasterCard, two of my favorite companies, have pulled back sharply from their all-time highs. Wall Street’s suddenly worried about the whole payments industry, might be threatened by advances in crypto, especially now that Congress looks like it’ll pass its GENIUS Act, which establishes a framework for regulating Stablecoins. Visa fell over 10% from its high, set on June 11, to its low last Friday… This morning I spoke with Visa CEO, Ryan McInerney, and Ryan told me, I think, a story which made me feel like that, that you’d be nuts to be in this, frankly.”
6. Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 70
Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) is one of the stocks in Jim Cramer’s game plan this week. Cramer talked about the CEO of the company while discussing the stock. He remarked:
“After close, we get Starbucks. That’s a company that’s climbed relentlessly until yesterday, of course, after that drop to the 70s. I bet new CEO Brian Niccol is ready to announce his China plans and to speak proudly of his success in improving throughput. Now it’s quite a contrast from the weaker Chipotle, the company Starbucks poached him from. That was a very tough quarter.”
Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) is a global coffee company that sells beverages, packaged coffees, and food items through its retail stores and licensed channels. In April, when a caller inquired about the stock, 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.”
5. The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 88
The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) is one of the stocks in Jim Cramer’s game plan this week. Cramer discussed the company in light of the tariffs, as he commented:
“Procter & Gamble reports, too, and this one’s a question of raw costs and tariffs versus marketing muscle. I think the tariffs lose because this company finally has the currency tailwind from the weak dollar. They’ve been the most hurt of any company I deal with other than Johnson & Johnson.”
Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) provides branded consumer goods across categories such as personal care, health care, household cleaning, baby and family care. Cramer mentioned the company on July 22 and said:
“Sometimes you get these days where it feels like the market has returned to some semblance of what you’re used to when things get shaky. I mean, these are the days when… Procter & Gamble has a big run… I think you’d be coming in a little too early at this point in the rotation. My guess is that there’ll be maybe two or even maybe three days where interest rates are lower. This was day one, and you have to wait as the food and drug analysts come out from under the table and start bragging loudly about their flock and about how it’s time to buy. That’s what those guys always do. See, I can see where Procter & Gamble could have another good day, maybe even two, based on the weaker dollar. What analysts could resist a price target boost there?”
4. The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 96
The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) is one of the stocks in Jim Cramer’s game plan this week. Cramer showed bullish sentiment toward the stock during the episode, as he remarked:
“Next week, I really want to hear what Boeing has to say. That Kelly Ortberg has the company humming. My hope is that he gives us a timetable about when we can stop worrying about the government’s control of how many planes they’re allowed to make each month. I bet this stock goes higher.”
Boeing (NYSE:BA) designs, manufactures, and services commercial aircraft, military systems, satellites, and space exploration technologies. The company also provides logistics, maintenance, training, and digital solutions for both commercial and defense customers. During the July 21 episode, Cramer recommended buying the company stock. He said:
“Get more Boeing. Get more Boeing. They report this week. I think it’s going to be a terrific quarter. Let the stock come in. If it comes in down, let’s say it comes to $220, here’s what you want to do: [buy, buy, buy] Pull the trigger.”
3. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 139
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is one of the stocks in Jim Cramer’s game plan this week. Cramer discussed that the ongoing criminal probe does not spell doom for the company, as he said:
“Tuesday, before the open, UnitedHealth Group reports. Yesterday, the company basically admitted there’s a criminal probe and it’s cooperating. I think this cooperation actually takes any existential worries off the table. You don’t have to be concerned that Medicare fraud could take down the entire company. It’s a positive development, even as I think this remains an uninvestible story.”
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) provides health care services, including benefit plans, care delivery, pharmacy programs, and health technology solutions. During the July 14 episode, a caller inquired about the stock, and Cramer replied:
“UnitedHealth is very, very tricky, and it might be a long-term turn, but I will tell you this, Steve Hemsley is the only person I know who could possibly turn this thing around. Hemsley’s back as CEO, he was amazing. I think you have to have fortitude to be in it. I don’t like the situation because there’s so many winners, as you say, but at least I want people to know that I think Hemsley’s is the real deal.”
2. Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 35
Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR) is one of the stocks in Jim Cramer’s game plan this week. It was one of the two stocks Cramer started his game plan with. He commented:
“Let’s talk earnings. Monday, after the close, we hear from two companies that I actually have a fascination about. One is Celestica and the other is Whirlpool… How about Whirlpool? The president’s tariffs on steel made Whirlpool’s competitors more pricey than America’s own. This stock could really fly if we get the kind of opportunity to sell unfettered, full-priced washers and dryers without the dumping of our so-called trading partners.”
Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) produces and sells home appliances, including refrigerators, laundry machines, dishwashers, and small kitchen devices, along with related accessories and services. On July 28, the company posted its Q2 earnings, which missed the estimates. Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) reported non-GAAP EPS of $1.34, missing by $0.40 and revenue of $3.78 billion missing the forecast by $100 million.
1. Celestica Inc. (NYSE:CLS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 62
Celestica Inc. (NYSE:CLS) is one of the stocks in Jim Cramer’s game plan this week. During the episode, Cramer started his game plan with the company and said:
“Let’s talk earnings. Monday, after the close, we hear from two companies that I actually have a fascination about. One is Celestica and the other is Whirlpool. Many tech products were thought to be made by nameplate companies, but you know what? They actually get built by Celestica Flex or Jabil. Celestica will tell us how so many areas of tech are doing. It’s worth paying attention to. I’ve stopped paying, yeah, I kind of dropped out of looking at Celestica. I was only focusing on Flex, but I want to look at all of them now.”
Celestica (NYSE:CLS) provides end-to-end supply chain, manufacturing, and engineering services, including product design, testing, logistics, and after-market support. The company also delivers hardware and software platform solutions for clients across industries such as technology, healthcare, and aerospace.
The company posted its Q2 earnings on July 28. Celestica (NYSE:CLS) reported non-GAAP EPS of $1.39, outperforming estimates by $0.16. The company’s revenue was up 21% year-over-year at $2.89 billion, beating estimates by $220 million.
While we acknowledge the potential of Celestica Inc. (NYSE:CLS) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that 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 CLS and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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