Jim Cramer, the host of Mad Money, said on Friday that the stock market could be set up for a rebound this week if the largest companies set to report earnings come through with strong results.
Sick of earnings yet? Sorry, got another big week ahead, roughly 20% of the S&P 500. Living hell if you follow a lot of companies like I do. Fortunately, we’re coming in cold. We got a nice pullback today… We’re actually a little oversold. Now, that could allow us to get a good bounce if we get any good earnings numbers, given that the market fought back hard from the lows today, which is a very bullish development… Maybe next week, which includes an employment number, will be a little more conclusive.
READ ALSO: Jim Cramer Shared His Thoughts on These 16 Stocks and Jim Cramer’s Takes on 19 Stocks and Navigating Market Shortages.
Regarding the upcoming employment report on Friday, Cramer said it could be weaker than many expect, with wage inflation staying on the milder side. He said that the outcome would be great news for bonds because lower wage pressure could push interest rates down, which would give stocks room to move higher. He added that the idea was not crazy and called it a “distinct possibility.”
The bottom line: If we can tame wage inflation, maybe the president can stop harassing Jay Powell for his last few months on the job. Wouldn’t that be nice? Because at that point, the Fed will have every justification to keep cutting rates. But if the employment report comes in too hot, this faithful public servant may have to go down swinging.
Our Methodology
For this article, we compiled a list of 15 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during the episode of Mad Money aired on January 30. We listed the stocks in the order that Cramer mentioned them. We also provided hedge fund sentiment for each stock as of the third quarter of 2025, which was taken from Insider Monkey’s database of 978 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 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).
15 Stocks on Jim Cramer’s Recent Game Plan
15. Reddit, Inc. (NYSE:RDDT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 80
Reddit, Inc. (NYSE:RDDT) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer’s recent game plan. Cramer finished his game plan with the stock, as he commented:
And then there’s Reddit, which seems to move in 20-point increments every time anybody says anything. I bet it’s up this time.
Reddit, Inc. (NYSE:RDDT) runs an online platform that hosts communities where users connect over shared interests, exchange ideas, and share content such as posts, images, and videos. A caller inquired about the stock during the January 16 episode, and Cramer said:
Holy cow. You know what, I was trying to think which one, which one, which one, because I’ve been watching this… It’s like a jumping bean, and it worries me that it’s so erratic. It’s almost like there’s not enough float. But I’ll tell you the truth: in How to Make Money in Any Market, I go over a couple of stocks that I think could be future winners, and I include Reddit, so I’m not backing down. I like the company Reddit right here.
14. Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 60
Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer’s recent game plan. Cramer was bullish on the company’s upcoming quarter, as he remarked:
And then there’s Affirm, which I think will put up a fantastic quarter, and once again, the bears will be put on the run by CEO Max Levchin. I think this buy now, pay later kingpin should be bought, yes, bought ahead of the quarter.
Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) provides a digital payment platform that enables consumers to pay for purchases over time through its point-of-sale solutions and app. During the January 5 episode, a caller noted that they wish to own more of the stock. The Mad Money host responded:
Oh, you should buy more…. I think that stock is going to par, which is genuine Wall Street gibberish for $100. It’s at $80 right now. Max Levchin, genius. He’s a funny guy, too. Come on, man.
13. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 332
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer’s recent game plan. Cramer said that he is a believer in the stock, as he commented:
Thursday evening, we have some real controversial stocks. So it all starts with Amazon, which has become a bit of a battleground, frankly. This one used to roar in earnings. Now, if Amazon goes up, it gets faded as sellers appear everywhere. If it goes down, you know what, at the opening, it just keeps going lower. Lost in the shuffle is the greatness of the company itself. We own it for the Charitable Trust. I’m a believer. I know it hasn’t been a good returner. Let’s see what happens.
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) sells consumer goods and digital content through online and physical stores, provides advertising and subscription services, operates Amazon Web Services for cloud computing, develops electronic devices, produces media content, and offers programs supporting third-party sellers and content creators. While reviewing the Magnificent Seven during the January 6 episode, Cramer mentioned the stock and said:
Finally, there’s Amazon, another Charitable Trust name… It finished last year up just over 5%… Muted overall performance, missed some very positive things. When Amazon reported its latest quarter at the end of October, that was a major positive catalyst as their web service business put up terrific numbers, that was one I was worried about, growth accelerating to more than 20%, the highest level since the third quarter 2022. I feel very good about that business after speaking with Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman about a month ago… He was terrific. On top of that, Amazon made a big investment in Anthropic, one of my absolute faves. They’re already using AI and robotics to enhance the retail business. I was on Rufus maybe 20 times in the last three days. Rufus has really improved, and I’ve gotta tell you, Anthropic is great. It’s a business-to-business service. It’s going to be wildly profitable very soon. The retail business continues to do well with double-digit growth both domestically and internationally for the past two quarters. Yes, Amazon’s still spending heavily on AI infrastructure like many of the Magnificent Seven compadres, but it’s very clear how these investments can directly make them money. So to me, that spending is easier to swallow. I’m looking for Amazon to put up much bigger gains in 2026 and it seems like I’m not alone because… the stock soared nearly 5% over the past three sessions. It’s been magnificent.
12. McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 73
McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer’s recent game plan. Cramer highlighted what usually happens when the stock reports, as he said:
Oh, and I have a wild card for you. The president’s on the warpath against all sorts of companies in the healthcare chain. You know, I mean, we saw them this week on Humana, on UnitedHealth, on CVS. Well, when you get doctors and drug execs and health insurers offline to ask who makes the most and does the least, they always say it’s the drug middlemen, the distributors between the drug companies and the consumer. When I ask hey, is it McKesson? They don’t say a thing, but they wink. I’ll tell you this: when this company reports, its stock usually flies. I bet you history repeats itself.
McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) distributes pharmaceutical drugs and medical-surgical supplies to pharmacies, hospitals, and physician offices. The company also provides healthcare technology and business services. Cramer mentioned the company during the episode aired on May 14, 2025, and said:
These stocks, namely Cardinal Health, Cencora, and McKesson, are seemingly perpetual residents on the new high list. Over the long haul, they’re some of the best performers out there, and they’ve done great this year, as is pretty much always the case. And yet, doesn’t it always feel like the drug distributors are just one bad day away from falling apart… The last quarter from the major drug distributors came from McKesson, and that was last Thursday night, which delivered yet another very strong set of numbers… Like the others. McKesson had a top-line miss, in this case, actually a pretty sizable one, but still delivered a significant earnings beat, and gave a higher-than-expected full-year earnings forecast in a vacuum.
I think the McKesson quarter was strong enough to spark a nice rally for the stock last Friday. But we don’t live in a vacuum, do we?… The big negative development for the drug distributors came midweek when Politico reported that President Trump would be reviving an effort to dramatically cut drug costs by adopting what’s known as the Most-Favored-Nation pricing for Medicare…
As a result, all the drug distributors are either flat or slightly lower this week… so that’s the conundrum with these middlemen, Cardinal, Cencora, and McKesson are all doing incredibly well, but like I said before, there always seems to be a threat that they could be regulated out of existence.
It is worth noting that McKesson Corporation’s (NYSE:MCK) stock has gained 22% since the above comment was aired.
11. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 243
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer’s recent game plan. Cramer called it the “best” during the episode, as he stated:
After the close, we hear from the best stock in the business, at least by my count, the one that we bought back for the Charitable Trust, because I just did, I had such seller’s remorse here, Alphabet. Yeah, this is a company that many wrote off as the least of the Magnificent Seven because they figured that, wouldn’t Google wreck Gemini? Instead, it turned out to be Steve McQueen… Whether it be Gemini, the best of the chatbots, or YouTube, the most popular video site in the world, or Waymo, yes, self-driving cars, or Google itself, it doesn’t matter. Alphabet’s the best. And when it reports, I think it could romp.
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) provides tech-related products and services, including search, advertising, cloud computing, AI tools, and digital content platforms like YouTube and Google Play. Cramer was optimistic about the company’s earnings during the January 29 episode as well. He said:
… I bet when we hear from them next week, we’ll realize, nuh-uh, AI search winner. Alphabet may be next week’s rock, and it may be even making more money from AI than Meta.
10. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 114
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer’s recent game plan. Cramer highlighted what “drives the stock,” as he remarked:
Wednesday morning, Eli Lilly reports. Its earnings haven’t been the propellant here. What drives the stock are new reports on GLP-1 clinical trials. But Lilly could announce some new data, and that could get the stock rolling.
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) develops and markets medicines for diabetes, obesity, oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and other chronic conditions. During the December 19, 2025, episode, Cramer showed bullish sentiment toward the stock and said:
Really interesting setup here. Okay, so, Taiwan Semi is the actual fab that makes the chips for Broadcom, makes chips for AMD, makes chips for, yes, NVIDIA. Alright, that’s in Taiwan. Very important. Eli Lilly is the company that has GLP-1 Mounjaro, very powerful drug. They’re going to have a pill form next year that’s going to revolutionize everything. I think the stock’s going up another $500 billion, I kid you not. Chevron is my favorite large oil company with a good yield. That’s run by Mike Wirth. SL Green is a company that’s come back from the dead basically, and it’s a REIT… in New York. I’m not really, I don’t really want a REIT in New York, but that’s what they do. And then Microsoft, okay, Mr. Softee, we know it’s business-to-business software with the consumer side of it, too. So I’m going to say, this is semi, this is software, this is drug, this is oil, and this is retail, and I’m going to bless all of them. Now, would I keep SL Green? I do happen to see Federal Realty coming back, and I’d like to see Don Wood in that portfolio instead of SL Green.
9. Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:WDC)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 84
Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:WDC) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer’s recent game plan. Cramer mentioned the stock during the episode and remarked:
We’ve also got an important analyst meeting on Tuesday. I’m talking about… Western Digital. Oh boy, this is critical because we just got their earnings this week. They were great, and yet the stock still went down. We have to find out what that’s about. Western Digital stock has been one of the best performers of this era, but this storage device company truly is part of the problem now, not the solution, when it comes to its customers. Sandisk, Western Digital, Seagate didn’t see the strength of its clients coming, especially the data center demand.
Plus, none plan to expand their factories enough to alleviate the tightness anytime soon. That’s done real damage to their customer base, companies like Apple, which barely finished up today in the wake of a tremendous quarter, because people are worried about this chip shortage. Whose fault is that? Nobody’s really. No one saw this coming except, yes, indeed, Jensen Huang, the godfather of AI and CEO of NVIDIA. He saw it. Why didn’t anyone listen to him? We were shouting it from the rooftops.
Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:WDC) designs and supplies data storage solutions, including internal and external hard drives, portable drives, data center platforms, NAS systems, and related accessories.
8. Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 62
Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer’s recent game plan. Cramer said that he heard good things about the company during the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference, as he commented:
With Amgen, I don’t know if you remember, at the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference, I heard a lot of good things. The biotech really impressed me with a very strong pipeline. That, plus good earnings, and maybe some good news about this weight loss drug, could send this Dow stock higher.
Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) delivers human therapeutics for conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and autoimmune disorders. Cramer highlighted the company’s cholesterol drug during the November 12, 2025, episode and said:
We had Amgen on the show the other day, announcing a breakthrough in Repatha, its every other week injection squelches cholesterol to a level where it helps prevent heart attacks. Why not go buy that?
7. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 65
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer’s recent game plan. Cramer mentioned the stock during the episode and remarked:
Chipotle reports, too. Now, this one’s so low, it might actually bounce even if the quarter isn’t spectacular, which it’s probably not, but it doesn’t matter, it’s too low.
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) owns and operates restaurants that provide burritos, bowls, tacos, salads, and other menu items. A caller sought Cramer’s advice on the stock during the January 27 episode, and he commented:
You know, a lot of people are warming up to Chipotle down here. It has had such a decline. It only sells for 34 times earnings. I say only because I’ve seen it at a much higher price-to-earnings multiple. I think it’s actually at a decent level to put some stock on. They have a report on Feb 3rd. Remember, it might go back down to that $30 low, and you might have to buy a little more. But wow, what a good franchise at a very reduced price.
6. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 115
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer’s recent game plan. Cramer noted what could happen to the stock despite a “terrific number.” He remarked:
After the close, we get earnings from Advanced Micro Devices, AMD. I fear that it could be a terrific number, and the stock will still go down, which has suddenly become the new pattern for semis.
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) makes processors, graphics cards, and AI chips for computers, servers, and gaming systems. The company’s products include Ryzen, Radeon, and EPYC. Alpha Wealth Insiders Fund stated the following regarding Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) in its third quarter 2025 investor letter:
Business: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) is a prominent global semiconductor company that designs and develops a wide range of high-performance computing and visualization products. Under the leadership of CEO Lisa Su, AMD has transformed into a strong competitor in various segments, particularly in the booming AI and data center markets
Insider Buying/Selling: Phillip Guido, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer purchased 8800 shares at $113.56 in May. Since then there have been significant insider sales as the stock has risen dramatically. Guido has not sold stock as he would also be subject to short swing profit taking.
Recent News:In Q2 2025, AMD posted record revenue of ~$7.7B (+32% YoY) with net income of $872M, but a GAAP operating loss of $134M due to a $800M MI308 inventory write-down tied to U.S. export controls. (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.) Since then, AMD agreed to sell ZT Systems’ server manufacturing arm for $3B to Sanmina (Reuters), and is reportedly in early talks with Intel to use its foundry services (Reuters). Also, AMD is developing Fluid Motion Frames 3 in upcoming GPU driver updates. (tomshardware.com) …(Click here to read the full text)
5. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 84
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer’s recent game plan. Cramer had mixed feelings about the stock, as he stated:
On the other hand, I worry about Pfizer because while its stock has a terrific yield, I haven’t seen anything of late that would make me feel there’s a new blockbuster here that could move the needle. Although I was thinking about when I saw Verizon do that today, which was also a bond that turned into a stock… it maybe could happen to Pfizer.
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) creates and sells medicines and vaccines for several health conditions, including heart disease, infections, COVID-19, and rare diseases. A caller inquired about the stock during the December 17, 2025, episode, and Cramer replied:
Okay, Pfizer, really good yield, not a lot of momentum. Didn’t like the update yesterday. I’m going to say just weak hold.
4. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 92
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer’s recent game plan. Cramer noted that he likes the stock, as he said:
Merck has a lot to talk about, namely, some real wins from its bountiful acquisition spree. I like the stock. A little too heavy on Keytruda right now, but I think it can spread out the wealth.
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is a healthcare company that provides a wide range of human and veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and health solutions. During the December 4, 2025, episode, Cramer highlighted the company’s plan for when it loses Keytruda patent protection. He commented:
The people who run this company are not idiots. They’ve long known that Keytruda would lose patent protection, so, for years, they’ve been making acquisitions to build up their pipeline… Verona is focused on respiratory diseases, and they already have one drug on the market, the first new maintenance treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in more than 20 years. It will be another blockbuster, I predict…So, Merck’s been making ample preparation for a world without Keytruda exclusivity, and the analysts are starting to notice. Last Monday, Wells Fargo upgraded the stock… note entitled, ‘we can see a future beyond Keytruda.’
Given the strength of this pipeline, this analyst sees Merck ‘entering a catalyst-rich period in the next 12 to 18 months with readouts across its pipeline.’ In fact, they said that Merck may have added or de-risked over $20 billion of unadjusted peak sales just in the last three to six months. It sounds good to me. They’re no longer predicting a huge drop off in sales in 2029 through 2031, the first four years where Keytruda will be off patent, and they see Merck returning to growth after 2031. Look, I think it could actually happen sooner than that, which is why I like the stock so much…
So let’s put this together. In general, the big pharma stocks have been doing much better since the end of October, as Wall Street’s gotten a lot more antsy about tech, and RFK Junior hasn’t really cracked down on the industry and health and human services. Meanwhile, the previously downtrodden Merck has become a standout performer. The bottom line: As a long-term admirer of Merck, and I’m talking about decade after decade, I do love to see this new trajectory. Of course, I wouldn’t be surprised if there are setbacks along the way. That’s the nature of the drug business. But for now, Merck’s a very cheap stock that still doesn’t even get nearly enough love for its terrific pipeline, or for that matter, its solid 3.4% dividend yield. Believe me, you could do a lot worse.
3. PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 68
PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer’s recent game plan. Cramer highlighted the company’s snack division struggling due to GLP-1 drugs, as he remarked:
Now, Tuesday’s filled with high-profile companies like PepsiCo, Merck, and Pfizer in the morning. I worry about PepsiCo because of its snack division, Frito-Lay. It’s struggling, a casualty of the GLP-1 weight loss drugs. At the same time, CEO Ramon Laguarta could be ready to take some serious actions to lessen the company’s dependence on snacks. Now, the stock did close almost five points higher today. That’s a huge move for the stock. Maybe something’s going on, or that whole group just went nuts today after a great quarter from Colgate.
PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP) produces, markets, and distributes beverages and convenient foods, including snacks, cereals, dairy, and ready-to-drink products. Cramer mentioned the company during the episode aired on October 8, 2025, as he stated:
The market didn’t use to operate this way, but times have changed. If you scrutinize the new low list, what do you see? It’s all the old safety stocks. What’s down a lot? How about Kimberly-Clark, down 2% today, nearly 9% for the year. How about Clorox, down 26% for the year. Campbell’s, that old story, down 27%… McCormick, it didn’t look like a terrible quarter when the spice company reported the other day, but the stock was slaughtered anyway. PepsiCo reports tomorrow. It’s got a 4% yield and a powerful activist firm trying to get that stock back in the plus column, but it’s still down more than 8% for the year. Then again, that’s a lot better than Conagra, down nearly 33%. Ouch. So there’s no safety in these stocks.
2. Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 81
Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer’s recent game plan. Cramer noted that he expects a really good result from the company, as he said:
After the close, a company that once had an electric stock, Palantir Technologies, the software consulting company run by Alex Karp, is going to report. Now, look, I am expecting a terrific quarter here. I am not concerned about the action. I think the stock is going to reignite. Karp’s a fighter. He can come back from this. Anyway, it’s up really big… if you look two years.
Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) develops data analytics and AI software platforms, including Gotham, Foundry, Apollo, and Palantir Artificial Intelligence Platform, that help organizations integrate, analyze, and act on complex data. A caller asked about Cramer’s thoughts on the stock during the January 29 episode, and he responded:
Yes, I like Palantir. Now, Palantir’s trading right now with the cohort that is ServiceNow and Salesforce. By the way, those are great companies. But I think that right, look, everything I hear when you hire them, business does better. And that’s why I liked it, not momentum. So I can’t back away from it right here. If anything, I would say a great opportunity to buy Palantir, and it’s not like I talked to Dr. Alex Karp.
1. The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 107
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer’s recent game plan. Cramer started the game plan with Disney stock, as he said:
When we come in on Monday, we’ll be facing the earnings of Walt Disney Corporation. We used to own this stock for the Charitable Trust and left it because it just couldn’t seem to get any traction. There was always some division that held it back. I don’t know which it is this time; you never do. Now, the Journal this very evening said that we might find out this week who will be CEO Bob Iger’s successor. Could be a vote. The right choice could certainly break that logjam that’s kept it in such a tight range.
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) creates and distributes film, television, and streaming content under brands like Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and ABC. The company also operates theme parks, resorts, live entertainment, and merchandise licensing. It reported its Q1 2026 earnings on February 2, posting a non-GAAP EPS of $1.63, outperforming the estimates by $0.05. Revenue of $26 billion was up 5.3% year-over-year and beat estimates by $400 million.
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