In this piece, we will look at the stocks Jim Cramer discussed.
In a recent appearance on CNBC’s Squawk on the Street, Jim Cramer advised businesses to work with the government. His comments came after President Trump announced a proposal to limit credit card APR rates to 10% in order to drive affordability for consumers. When asked by co-host Carl Quintanilla whether businesses should just ‘roll over,’ the CNBC TV host commented:
“Exactly. Work with other people in the administration, who are little bit closer to the ground. You can’t really rollover here because it would be the end of consumer spend. Because these guys just would rather not issue credit cards [inaudible] lost 3 to 5 percent. These are unsecured loans. They’re trying to find another way. Because I know that it gets very personal, very quickly. So it’s better just to play along, just say, I’m gonna learn, and then I’m going to do some teaching. And see how things go, then it does to take things head on.”
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 January 12th. 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).
9. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)
Number of Hedge Fund Holdings: 273
Social media giant Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)’s shares are flat over the past year. Most of the stock’s troubles have come since October, after the firm’s fiscal third-quarter earnings report. While Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) beat analyst revenue and EPS estimates, it also decided to raise 2025 capital expenditure guidance to $70 billion to $72 billion from an earlier $66 billion to $72 billion. Cramer defended the firm after the earnings, as he opined that the spending is necessary to protect its social media moat from OpenAI. In January, Bank of America reiterated a Buy rating and a $810 share price target for Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META). BofA’s action came after the technology company announced that it had entered into agreements with nuclear power companies Oklo, Vistra, and TerraPower. Cramer discussed Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)’s share price performance and insisted that the stock should be up:
“Their stock is very down very big, because they’re really a lone wolf when it comes to spending.
“I do wanna point out that I think Meta should be up not down, because this is the stock that was most punished because Zuckerberg shouldn’t be going alone, particularly on the Entergy project, the nuclear project, I think Dina Powell, was very good, now McCormick, the senator’s wife, very good, her sovereign wealth initiatives at Goldman were probably the strongest. We should remember that this stock was in the 700s when Mark Zuckerberg said we gotta spend a lot more. He has not had anyone to lean back on, that stock will be up by the end of the day if there’s any sort of thought process going on.”
8. Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF)
Number of Hedge Fund Holdings: 129
Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF) is one of the largest banks in America. The stock has been on Jim Cramer’s radar for quite some time due to its Discover Financial acquisition. The CNBC TV host believes that the deal will allow Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF) to become a key and major player in the payment card market. RBC Capital raised the firm’s price target to $275 from $255 and kept a Sector Perform rating on the shares in January. The financial firm explained that Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF) could continue to benefit in 2026 from the strong consumer finance trends that the bank experienced in the fourth quarter of 2025. RBC’s comments came after Bank of America and BTIG had discussed Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF)’s shares in December. The former had raised the share price target to $268 from $248 and kept a Buy rating. BofA commented that the bank’s November credit metrics indicated strong performance. BTIG bumped the share price target to $308 from $264. Recently, President Trump proposed a 10% cap on credit card interest. Cramer discussed Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF) in this context:
“Richard Fairbank runs Capital One, he will be excoriated.”
7. American Express Company (NYSE:AXP)
Number of Hedge Fund Holdings: 75
American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) is one of the biggest card payment and travel services companies in America. Its shares are up. by 14.7% over the past year, but are down by 3.8% year-to-date. Media reports suggest that American Express Company (NYSE:AXP)’s shares fell after President Trump suggested a 10% interest rate cap for credit card companies as part of his bid to lower prices for Americans. Before Trump’s announcement, Wolfe Research had set a Peer Perform rating for American Express Company (NYSE:AXP)’s shares in December. The financial firm commented that the company could beat its revenue and earnings per share targets. Cramer frequently discussed American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) in 2025. He tied the firm’s data with consumer health and praised it for card initiatives that have resonated with younger users. In this episode, he discussed American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) in the context of the President’s proposal:
“American Express doesn’t even do the kind of lending, if they go after Steve Squeri, it’ll be weird.”
6. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V)
Number of Hedge Fund Holdings: 179
Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is one of the largest payment card processors in the world. Its shares are up by 4% over the past year, but they have lost 5% year-to-date. The stock, like that of American Express, has struggled after President Trump suggested a 10% cap on credit card APR rates in order to improve affordability for consumers. On January 13th, UBS reiterated a Buy rating for Visa Inc. (NYSE:V)’s shares and kept a $425 share price target. The financial firm commented that the payment processing company could see its revenue growth accelerate slightly in 2026. Some of the factors that might help Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) include value-added services and pricing initiatives. In December, Baird had reiterated an Outperform rating and a $425 share price target for the firm. Baird’s action came after Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) announced that it had deposited $500 million in a litigation escrow account. Cramer discussed the firm in the context of President Trump’s suggestion:
“Visa, Mastercard, don’t do any lending, they’re process companies.”
5. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holdings: 136
Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)’s shares are down by 2.8% year-to-date. The shares, like those of peer companies Visa and American Express, have struggled after President Trump suggested capping credit card interest rates at 10%. However, after the President’s announcement, TD Cowen raised Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)’s share price target to $668 from $654 and kept a Buy rating on the shares. As part of the upgrade, the financial firm cited consumer spending data and commented that macroeconomic factors had not affected it. The financial firm also discussed Trump’s announcement and stated that it did not expect Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) to be affected by it. However, Mizuho, also discussing the announcement, pointed out that financial technology companies could benefit while payment processors might come under pressure after banks increase their scrutiny of borrowers. Cramer agrees with TD Cowen had he remarked that Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) and peer company Visa would remain unaffected:
“Visa, Mastercard, don’t do any lending, they’re process companies.”
4. Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holdings: 60
Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) is a financial technology company that is primarily known for providing Buy Now, Pay Later services. The shares are down 2.9% year-to-date. January saw significant volatility in the payments and financial technology stocks after President Trump suggested a 10% APR cap for credit cards. After Trump’s remarks, financial firm Mizuho commented that BNPL companies like Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) could benefit as banks tighten their lending criteria and consumers shift towards alternative financing companies. Before the President’s remarks, Wolfe Research had initiated coverage of the stock in December, set a Peer Perform rating and a $72 to $82 range for the share price. A key theme in Wolfe’s coverage was APR loans, as it pointed out that Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) was growing its presence in the 0% APR loan market. Cramer has regularly discussed the firm and praised its performance. After the Trump suggestion, he commented that Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFRM) would be a beneficiary:
“Well, look, actually, Affirm, buy now, pay later, they lend excellent. They don’t really have a problem with this, they don’t do the stuff. But yeah, Carl. . .they are a beneficiary, the stock was up four points, yeah the stock was up four points at five thirty.”
3. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE:ANF)
Number of Hedge Fund Holdings: 41
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE:ANF) is one of the most well-known apparel retailers in America. The stock is off to a bad start in 2026 as it is down by 16.6% year-to-date. The shares crashed by 17.7% after Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE:ANF) reported its fourth quarter and fiscal year outlook update. The announcement saw the firm reduce its full-year sales growth to 6% from an earlier range of 6% to 7% and operating margin to sit at 13% from an earlier range of 13% to 13.5%. Additionally, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE:ANF) also revised its earnings guidance to $10.30 to $10.40 from an earlier $10.20 to $10.50. After the update, UBS reiterated a Buy rating and a $150 share price target for the firm. The financial firm pointed out that the apparel company was struggling due to investor attention on its Hollister brand and added that the company could beat market expectations. Cramer discussed the low retail guidance and jobs data:
“Interesting that you mention that, because ANF is the cohort that maybe can’t find jobs. Lot of those people are in school, Hollister, very young stuff.”
2. KLA Corporation (NASDAQ:KLAC)
Number of Hedge Fund Holdings: 61
KLA Corporation (NASDAQ:KLAC) is a semiconductor manufacturing equipment and services provider. Its shares are up by 117% over the past year and by 22% year-to-date. Investment bank Morgan Stanley has started the year on a strong note for the firm as it has upgraded KLA Corporation (NASDAQ:KLAC)’s shares to Overweight from Equalweight and bumped the stock price target to $1,694 from $1,214. The investment bank pointed out that the firm can grow its revenue by 16% and 19% in 2026 and 2027, respectively. TD Cowen also upgraded the shares in January as it raised the price target to $1,800 from $1,300 and bumped the rating to Buy from Hold. TD Cowen based its optimism on foundry spending, particularly in the leading-edge sector. In his previous comment about KLA Corporation (NASDAQ:KLAC), Cramer tied the aggressive demand for the firm’s products to the hot data center market and commented that there isn’t enough production capacity to meet the demand for high-end chips. In this appearance, he briefly mentioned the firm:
“KLA, really, really terrific.”
1. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holdings: 243
Within a year, Jim Cramer has turned increasingly optimistic and bullish about technology giant Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL). Early last year, he sold the shares on the back of worries about the Justice Department’s action against the firm. Now, the CNBC TV host is one of the stock’s biggest proponents as he believes its Gemini AI platform is one of the strongest in the market. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) scored a major win earlier after Gemini was chosen by Apple as the model of choice for a future variant of Siri. Cramer had predicted the deal before it was announced. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) has also seen increasing bullishness from analysts in January. For instance, Scotiabank raised the share price target to $375 from $336 and kept an Outperform rating. It pointed out that the technology company stands to benefit from AI monetization.
“The fact that Alphabet’s down is just plain stupid. That’s been a big winner all morning. So I just say those are the two places to go if you wanted to make some money. . .”
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