During the most recent episode of Mad Money, Jim Cramer revisited the recent turbulence in artificial intelligence stocks, three months after the emergence of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI firm that initially rattled markets. He noted that despite the broad pullback in the sector, many of the fears triggered by DeepSeek’s debut have not materialized, which has led to a reconsideration of the panic that followed.
“Three months ago, January 23rd is a day that will live in artificial intelligence infamy. That’s when we learned that a Chinese firm called DeepSeek had figured out a way to train high quality generative AI models using far less hardware. They claim their hardware costs were around $6 million versus $80 to $100 million for their enormous American competitors.”
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The announcement sent shockwaves through the market. Cramer recalled how NVIDIA saw its stock fall sharply over just two trading sessions. The market reaction spread quickly beyond and hit other companies tied to data center infrastructure, which eventually pulled down the broader Nasdaq. However, Cramer noted that the company then revealed plans to build $500 billion worth of AI infrastructure in the United States over the next four years.
Cramer noted that initially, it seemed to signal a renewed sense of stability. But soon after, the administration imposed a ban on selling AI chips to China, which forced the GPU kingpin to write down $5.5 billion tied to that entire initiative. Even so, Cramer emphasized that the company’s core business remained strong.
“We understand that they’re basically sold out for the year, even as they can only sell their best stuff in the United States and the 18 friendly countries.”
Cramer attributed the export restrictions to a policy from former President Biden, one that President Trump has not reversed. Despite the geopolitical constraints, Cramer stressed that demand for the company’s technology is still overwhelming. He argued that the stock never should have experienced such a steep drop in the first place. He added:
“Even with the trade war, the AI infrastructure theme seems totally back on track. In fact, it never left the track to begin with.”
Our Methodology
For this article, we compiled a list of 12 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during the episode of Mad Money on April 30, 2024. We then calculated their performance from April 30th, 2024, market close to April 29th, 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. Canopy Growth Corporation (NASDAQ:CGC)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 8
Canopy Growth Corporation (NASDAQ:CGC), a leading Canadian cannabis company, was mentioned in that older episode in relation to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s plans to reclassify cannabis as less risky, which caused cannabis stocks to rally then. Here’s Cramer’s comments:
“The real standout stocks were the perennial loser cannabis plays because DEA now plans to recommend that cannabis be reclassified as something less risky. The star of this whole session was Canopy Growth, my favorite pot stock, so to speak at least, which was up a stunning 78%.”
Things didn’t play out as Cramer hoped for the stock, with its shares sinking 83.29% since those comments.
11. Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOD)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 79
When a caller asked Cramer about Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOD), the popular trading platform was coming off a sharp rally driven by short covering, prompting a cautious response from the host of Mad Money. Here’s what he replied with:
“Robinhood had this gigantic move up and it is now pulling back and I don’t think the pullback is finished. The rally occurred in large part because of a big short position. I think we’ve got to wait and see. I would not wade in. I would not go either way on the stock right now.”
The company has been one of the best performers over the past year. It has risen by 184.72% since that episode aired.
Cramer remains a fan of Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOD). Here’s what he said to a caller on April 4:
“Okay, I like Robinhood very much, but the problem is that when it had this big spike where things looked like we’re going to have a president… that was a little more pro markets, I would own the stock. I would not buy it right here. I think the stock has another 15 to 20% downside before we really find exactly where it can be bottoming.”
10. Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 31
Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR), the parent of Burger King, Popeyes, and Tim Hortons, was discussed in-depth during an interview with its executive chairman, Patrick Doyle, following a strong quarterly earnings report back then. Cramer was a fan of the restaurant brand at the time, based on his comments:
“On a hideous day, you know what’s escaped the gravitational pull of the market? Restaurant Brands International. The quick serve giant that owns Burger King, Popeyes, Tim Horton’s and Firehouse Subs. This morning the company reported a fantastic quarter, finishing the day up nearly 3% during a real bad tape. That said, it’s still down almost 3% for the year. Can it keep climbing? […]
Obviously we’ve got to talk about Burger King. $11.5 billion in sales – look still good comps, I don’t want to get down on it because a competitor of Burger King is not doing as well in terms of comps as Burger King but obviously you’re still not happy with how it should be doing! […]
Well, I want to salute you, you’ve delivered on everything as I knew you would and it’s just obviously still work in progress as you get those Burger King looking nicer, put some more Popeyes up around the world. And Tim Hortons, what can I say, operating hitting on all cylinders but I know that’s probably still not enough for you.”
Despite Cramer’s optimism from a year ago, the stock has fallen by 13.58% since.
However, the host of Mad Money has changed his stance on the company recently. Here are his comments from April 4th:
“You know someone recommended today, the Burger King stock . . .QSR, and you know I’m not, it’s not what I’m in favor of to go to those stocks but that’s what you have to do.”
9. Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 84
Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX), the global coffeehouse chain, was cited during the episode as one of the companies reporting weak earnings, making it an example of the economic ‘brown shoots’ Cramer was identifying back then. The host of Mad Money expressed his detest for the stock at the time on multiple occasions. Here’s what he said:
[While talking to the CEO of Restaurant Brands International] “Well how about the share take you must be taking from the pathetic Starbucks that I saw this evening? […] Look, I don’t want to be too hard on Starbucks, they are obviously having a very tough time right now and you guys are a beneficiary of it. They become a share donor to others. Maybe they can ride the ship; maybe they can’t. […]
I feel that I let club members down today on Starbucks. I play with an open hand when something’s good I say it; this is something bad.”
The company has been seen very mediocre performance over the past year, with its shares down by 3.94% overall.
More recently, Cramer is a bit more optimistic on Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) due to the company’s change in leadership. Here’s what he said on April 25:
“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.”
8. American Express Company (NYSE:AXP)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 71
American Express Company (NYSE:AXP), the global payments and credit card giant, was the focus of a segment based on its investor day and a subsequent interview with Stephen Squeri, the company’s CEO. Cramer praised the company’s exceptional performance at the time, saying:
“A week and a half ago American Express reported a breathtakingly great quarter and since then, the stock’s rallied about 8%. Credit quality is strong, people are spending big, especially on travel, and the company keeps hitting its ambitious long-term growth targets. Very impressive. […]
[Talking directly to the company’s CEO] Sometimes I think, geez, either the consumer is so hot that the Fed should worry about it or it’s just you’ve got whatever dollar amount that people spend is yours! […]
A lot of people feel well, wait a second, it’s 10% growth, how will it continue? I look at what you could do in international growth, which people don’t realize you still don’t have the penetration you could get. […]
Well I tell everything is working. I mean, this is full speed ahead. That last quarter was great; actually, ever since you took over it’s just a new company and congratulations to you and to the people who work for you.”
The company’s shares have done well since, climbing by 11.76% over the past year.
The host of Mad Money gave his thoughts on the stock again on the 17th of April and had this to say:
“[On AXP’s positive tone about the consumer] Better than that. Uh, I am talking about numbers which by the way include, and we’ve got first twelve days of this month. Steve Squeri going over things, you’re talking about, restaurant spending up 8%, lodging up 6%, goods up 7%, card membership, obviously more and more tremendous numbers have increased. 3.4 million. David, this is as good a quarter if you had to say anything, you would say that the consumer is on fire actually. Really spending a lot. Now I think to keep with leitmotif of novels, uh, Fitzgerald did say in the short story The Rich Boy, the rich are different from you and me. Of course, Hemingway then came back and said yeah they have more money. But this is a Gen X, Gen Z, Millennial explosion. People love the card. I am, I got, the only thing that was not so good was the airlines, it’s not that they matter. Because I gotta tell you, people are feeling good according to this. I mean President Trump could say you know what hey I told you, look how good everybody’s feeling. So I mean stock was up six at one point. . .but I will just say that Steve Squeri is one hell of an executive, and these are really great numbers. And a lot of this is just tremendous execution on the part of this company.”
“Well I mean we do have a, year-over-year we do have a leap day. But I think what’s most important is that people thought that things were going to be flat. Or maybe that people would be discouraged. But the revenues were up really, up nice, up nine. Look I look at this thing and I just say, sure, it’s possible to have done better. Remember, getting a leap year. But this is really a darn good number. And look this is one of the things viewed structurally a big change. You know the younger people just love this. They want it so bad, they want the gold card, they want the platinum card. And I salute younger people for doing something that took me about ten years to get.”
7. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 81
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), the iconic beverage giant, was mentioned back then in relation to a strong earnings report that was overshadowed by a market selloff. Jim Cramer called the market irrational at the time and followed it up with an interview with its CEO James Quincey. Here’s what he said:
“Look, this is really important—I don’t want you to let today’s ugly tape scare you away from some great earnings stories. Take Coca-Cola. Reported an excellent beat-and-raise quarter this morning but because the whole market got slammed the stock actually went down. It should have gone up. It’s absurd. […]
Eli Lilly reported today, and they’ve got these GLP-1 drugs and they’re supposed to help people lose weight. I think they help people drink more coke! I really have not been able to figure correlation at all. One thing is definite which is they certainly drink more Diet Coke, and my favourite Coke Zero!”
Cramer’s bullish sentiment around The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) was warranted and its shares have risen by 16.62% since then.
Addressing the most recent pullback in consumer product stocks, Cramer once again gave a positive opinion on the stock, saying this on the 25th of April:
“On the other side of the economic spectrum, we have Coca-Cola. It’ll be interesting to see if Coca-Cola can maintain its momentum. It’s the only stock in the consumer products group that I follow that’s still hanging in there after a brutal week for the cohort. Did you see PepsiCo? Holy cow.”
6. Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 84
During the lightning round, Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL), one of the major U.S. airlines, was brought up by a viewer seeking Cramer’s opinion at the time. Cramer gave a straightforward reply:
“I like Delta very much. I actually have to prefer [inaudible]. I like it. I like United too. I think they’re both good. Now remember they’re very inexpensive stocks but they trade wildly. But I do like Delta.”
The airline stock is down 16.59% since that episode aired.
Cramer discussed airline stocks and the negative sentiment around them earlier in April. Here’s what he said about Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL):
“I know that people don’t like the stock but if you want an airline, the one that people are buying, it’s Delta. It’s all the way down to 40. It sells at seven times earnings. People feel that the travel bull market is over. I regard these as what I call trading vehicles. But if you want to trade one; the one you want to trade is Delta, DAL.”
5. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 88
When a caller brought up Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX), the major copper and gold miner, Cramer expressed caution due to the stock’s rapid price surge at the time. Here’s what he said:
“I wanted to come in first. It’s been straight up. I do not like parabolic moves, and it just had one.”
Cramer’s call was spot on, with the stock having dropped 29.08% since then.
When asked about whether Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FXC) is worth holding recently Cramer replied with:
“Yeah, I want you to hold it. I mean, it was really a shame what happened to FCX. FCX has been going up because we needed it for data centers and the Chinese were ordering some. Suddenly we’ve decided the Chinese aren’t going to order any and the stock has given up so much of its gain… I think that this is a very good level to buy some. But if you want to really hedge it, why not buy Barrick? Because Barrick, symbol GOLD, has gold and copper. That might be the best way to go.”
4. The Trade Desk Inc. (NASDAQ:TTD)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 63
When a caller asked about The Trade Desk Inc. (NASDAQ:TTD), the digital advertising platform, and whether the company’s strategy was working, Cramer gave a bullish response. He noted its competitive edge in the ad tech space at the time, saying:
“It absolutely is working. It’s doing fantastically and Jeff Green is doing a remarkable job and a lot of people prefer it to Google. So I will tell you that even though it’s a very expensive stock, it is a good stock and I would not sell it, I’m more inclined to buy it below the 80 level.”
TTD didn’t play out as Cramer expected, the stock is down by 35.30% over the past year.
During a more recent show which aired on the 1st of April, here’s what Jim Cramer replied to a caller that asked him if they should buy the stock now:
“I kept thinking that Jeff Green is going to make a comeback. He’s got a new system he’s pushing in. And I’m going to say this. I’m going to go there. I think at $57, I’m going to go all-in that Jeff Green’s got these problems fixed. I am out there. I want Jeff to come on the show, but I am saying at this level, I am with Jeff Green. I am with Trade Desk.”
3. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 67
A caller asked about Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW), the heart valve replacement and medical device company, during the lightning round segment of the episode. Following a breakthrough in the company’s pipeline at the time, Jim Cramer replied with a bullish response:
“Oh I like this. The new product line is very good. The stock is pulling back here, that may be the right level to buy it. They are doing very well now!”
However, Cramer’s prediction didn’t pan out. The stock has dropped 11.25% since those comments.
When asked about whether it is worth holding Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW) last month, Cramer said:
“I think it’s a hold. It used to be so good. Abbott got some really good news today… and that’s been my favorite. But also Boston Scientific. I prefer Boston Scientific to Edwards Lifesciences, really, really, right now.”
2. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 115
Eli Lilly and Compnay (NYSE:LLY), known for its diabetes and weight-loss drugs, was mentioned at the time due to a strong earnings report driven by soaring demand for its GLP-1 medications. Cramer had a lot of positive things to say about it back then:
“Eli Lilly had a great day on a terrific quarter related to the sales of the GLP-1 weight loss and diabetes drugs. […]
How much do we know about the stock market fallout from Eli Lilly’s revolutionary weight loss drug, Zepbound? Yeah a lot less than we thought we did. […] We know the Market’s growing. Lilly put up amazing numbers today raising its full year revenue forecast by an astounding $2 billion. CEO David Ricks said that they’re doing their best to make enough of the drug but it’s hard to keep up. According to Ricks, the demand is very strong and each week hundreds of thousands of people fill scripts.”
Jim Cramer’s love for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) has been justified, with the stock being up 20.08% over the past 12 months.
Jim Cramer remains a fan and continues to own the stock. Here’s what he said about it on the 25th of April:
“Now we’ve got some healthcare, some issues to talk about on Thursday, that’s right, and these are anything but common, steady healthcare companies. We’ve got Eli Lilly that’s riding the wave of GLP-1 success…. Lilly’s last report laid an egg. They did it right on our show, unfortunately. I’m counting on this one being better, which is why we continue to own it for the Charitable Trust.”
1. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT)
Number of Hedge Fund holders: 66
Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT), the global healthcare company known for its diabetes care products and medical devices, was brought up by Cramer in that older episode while discussing the ripple effects of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. At the time, he countered prevailing concerns that Abbott’s diabetes business would be negatively affected by these treatments. Here’s his analysis:
“We heard that Abbott’s diabetes management franchise will be hurt by GLP-1s but the company has seen no decline in sales from this new class of drugs. Again, Abbott says they’re complimentary. They’re doing even better, and in fact, the GLP-1s have helped sales of the blood sugar monitors because people want to know how this stuff- whether it’s working. Plus, they’re selling protein shakes to help offset the muscle you lose when you take Lil’s weight loss drug.”
Jim Cramer was right to be optimistic about Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) back then, as the stock has risen by 21.66% since.
Cramer also recently discussed the company’s strong earnings report, applauding the CEO’s leadership. Here’s what he said on April 16:
“By the way, can we just be sure Abbott did not miss. That’s a COVID test that’s coming down. And Abbott is the first one that I’m beginning to see. […]
Dollar weakness coming. It’s going to help them. Where do they build their factories? In the United States. For the United States. Overseas. For overseas. David, they are on fire when it comes to so many different line items, including heart. Diagnostics are pretty good. Baby food, if they continue to have a problem with it.
I’ve got to tell you with some of that stuff that they’re doing with that lawsuit, they’re not going to just sit there and take it. I thought that Robert Ford did a remarkable job. Tour de force quarter, people should listen to how you can raise numbers. Do it right. By the way, they kept numbers flat, but raised numbers on a weak dollar. And I just am just amazed at how good they are. That’s a Miles White legacy, Robert Ford keeping it going. The only week this was because of the COVID, the test you can still get. What a quarter.”
ABT is a stock Jim Cramer recently discussed. While we acknowledge the potential of ABT as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ABT but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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