In this piece, we will look at the stocks that Jim Cramer recently discussed.
In a recent appearance on CNBC’s Squawk on the Street, Jim Cramer discussed President Trump’s tariffs and their impact on the economy and America’s global politics. Taking a rather unconventional position, the CNBC host commented that tariffs were a better way to get other nations to cooperate with America than coups:
“Well look you’ve got the Smoot-Hawley where already in excess of that which is the one’s with. . .a lot of people feel it had a lot to do with the Great Depression. I come back and say, these are all negotiable, and I don’t believe the final ones. I think they can come now. You know I write the Mad Money with my, I have one writer, he’s also my head writer, Cliff Mason, my sister’s kid, and he points out to me, he said Jim, you’re being a little politically naive here. In the old days when we were short of copper, the CIA caused a coup and we then put a right wing guy in, and that’s how we got our copper, that maybe the 50% tariff is a little bit more light handed than the old days.”
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 July 11th.
For these stocks, we also mentioned the number of hedge fund investors. 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).
9. Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 45
Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is an iconic American apparel company, which is one of the most well-known brands in the world. Its shares have gained 26% year-to-date and are up by 57% since early April. One reason why Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL)’s shares have performed well in 2025 is due to the firm’s ability to manage the high costs resulting from President Trump’s tariffs. For instance, the firm’s fourth-quarter earnings report released in May saw its $1.70 billion in revenue, and $2.27 in profit per share beat estimates of $1.65 billion and $2. Cramer also commented on Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL)’s ability to hold its ground against the tariffs:
“And Ralph Lauren is doing well. We’ve got companies that I think can withstand the tariff.”
Previously, the CNBC host discussed Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) in detail:
“This is a stock I recommended a little over a month ago on March 13th when it was trading at just $216 and change. Now it’s back up to $274. I’m betting it continues to climb. Yesterday morning, Ralph Lauren reported what I thought was an excellent quarter, but the market couldn’t figure out what to make of the numbers, and the stock turned into a roller coaster, ultimately finishing the session up three and a half bucks. The way I see it, the stock should have been up a lot more, but it was down a lot at one point…
… When you put it all together, Ralph Lauren’s not only holding its ground against the backdrop of an uncertain economy, it’s positioning itself for long-term success. So here’s the bottom line: It’s clear that demand for RL’s timeless apparel is more than intact. And when you factor in their strong international business sourcing flexibility and momentum in high-potential categories, project momentum, Ralph Lauren’s looking really good after that quarter. The sellers were wrong yesterday, and the buyers who sent the stock back up were dead right. More important, this thing, it’s got a lot more to run.”
8. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 93
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK), one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, has lost 15% year-to-date on the stock market. Its shares were off to a rocky start in 2025 when the firm’s GARDASIL vaccine faced headwinds in China. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)’s shares lost 16.8% in February after the weaknesses led it to miss analyst fourth quarter profit and full year forecasts. Another concern about the firm has been its blockbuster KEYTRUDA vaccine, which is one of the most successful cancer drugs in history. In his previous remarks, Cramer has asserted that Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) has a robust portfolio, which can enable it to overcome the KEYTRUDA shortfall. His recent remarks mentioned the firm’s Verona acquisition:
“Did you see the Merck deal the other day? Verona? Two gentlemen? Getting together, Merck and Verona. You know they’re not gonna block that. That doesn’t even hit the radar, whoever’s in antitrust.”
Previously, Cramer discussed Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)’s drug pipeline:
“Yeah, I talked to Rob this morning, really liked this. He thinks he’s got about 50 billion dollars worth of new drugs, which would therefore make it so you should stop worrying about the Keytruda patent expiration in 2028. I am with Rob. I think this COPD is a really important, another important franchise for them the alternative use steroids. And we’ve all be discovering that if you have trouble using steroids, one it becomes less effective over time, and two, the side effects are much worse than people realize. So I think this is a first in class, novel, compound that will make it so, see Merck’s up because we’re starting to get less worried about the expiration. And you know, Rob, I appreciate the fact that Rob is doing the old days, which is you go look at what the younger companies are doing and then you buy them. . .I like this acquisition very much.”
7. Verona Pharma plc (NASDAQ:VRNA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 51
Verona Pharma plc (NASDAQ:VRNA)’s shares experienced a boost in July when pharmaceutical giant Merck announced that it would acquire the firm for a $10 billion price tag. The stock experienced a healthy 20.6% gain after the announcement, which added to its 80% year-to-date gains at that point. Cramer discussed the Verona Pharma plc (NASDAQ:VRNA) acquisition after it was announced. He called the firm’s COPD drug a “first in class” compound that would help Merck with its drug portfolio, particularly as investors worry about KEYTRUDA’s patent expiration. This time, he discussed antitrust approval of the acquisition:
“Did you see the Merck deal the other day? Verona? Two gentlemen? Getting together, Merck and Verona. You know they’re not gonna block that. That doesn’t even hit the radar, whoever’s in antitrust.”
After the Verona Pharma plc (NASDAQ:VRNA) acquisition was announced, here is what Cramer said:
“Yeah, I talked to Rob this morning, really liked this. He thinks he’s got about 50 billion dollars worth of new drugs, which would therefore make it so you should stop worrying about the Keytruda patent expiration in 2028. I am with Rob. I think this COPD is a really important, another important franchise for them the alternative use steroids. And we’ve all be discovering that if you have trouble using steroids, one it becomes less effective over time, and two, the side effects are much worse than people realize. So I think this is a first in class, novel, compound that will make it so. . .I like this acquisition very much.”
6. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 159
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is a regular feature of Cramer’s morning show. Earlier during the year, the CNBC host defended the stock after shares struggled due to weakness in the Chinese smartphone market. Cramer continued to defend Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) after analysts soured on its Siri and perceived AI weakness. He continued to defend the company, and this time, Cramer discussed reports suggesting that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) CEO Tim Cook should leave the company:
“[On analysts saying Tim Cook should leave] I wanted to say, I thought it was outrageous. I thought that was outrageous. I wish that I could’ve, that I would love to be able to be Tim Cook and say what I’ve done for the shareholders. And it’s just incredible. The amount of wealth that man has created. I mean that’s like when I saw, at one point today I saw in premarket that NVIDIA was down. I was going to call for Jensen’s firing. . .I mean come on. . .you know Jensen has to go. Can we like stop? Like stop? Like Tim Cook’s great.”
Cramer discussed key traits for a potential Tim Cook successor earlier. Here is what he said:
“[On Morgan Stanley saying Tim Cook’s successor could benefit from having a hardware background] Well look, it’s funny hardware is part of the, I’m glad you mentioned hardware, hardware’s part of the issue of how NVIDIA got to where it is. This is an essentially, there’s a belief in many people on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley, that hardware prevails here because we’re gonna get rid of a huge number of people who would do SaaS, you know, software as a service, and that includes, yes, Salesforce, includes ServiceNow, includes DataDog which got out of the S&P. Because there are going to be fewer and fewer people who are actually in the organization who need that. But that does not mean that you wouldn’t need more Apple.”
5. Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 66
Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) is an American semiconductor company that makes and sells chips used in power management and other applications. Its shares have gained 17% year-to-date, primarily due to a 50% gain since late April. Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN)’s shares rose after the firm’s $4.35 billion in midpoint revenue forecast for the June quarter beat analyst estimates of $4.10 billion. The shares continued their upward trajectory after NVIDIA’s earnings report in May. Cramer discussed an analyst note about Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN):
“[On TD Cowen goes to Buy, $245 on confidence that destocking has ended]”At 175, 180 is when the industrial revolution started that thing that was doing well. Now people are catching on. Congratulations by the way to Elliot who bought that stock low. They did great
“Texas Instruments is notoriously not willing to, let’s just say they’re more close minded than others.”
Cramer discussed Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) after its earnings. Here’s what he said:
“Given that the whole world’s thinking we’re about to have a recession here because of the extreme tariff turmoil, these are the kinds of companies that should be slashing the numbers, but they’re not. They’re raising the numbers. Oh, and just tonight, the storied Texas Instruments, which has been struggling mighty of late, shed the weaknesses, put up terrific numbers that might be enough to ignite what had been a more abundant chip cohort.”
4. Oscar Health, Inc. (NYSE:OSCR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 41
Oscar Health, Inc. (NYSE:OSCR) is a medical company that provides coverage plans, which include value-based plans and reinsurance products. The shares have gained 10% year-to-date, primarily on the back of a 52% jump in June after investors searched for stocks that might benefit from the Trump administration’s push towards Medicare efficiencies. The last time Cramer discussed Oscar Health, Inc. (NYSE:OSCR) was in 2024 when he praised the firm’s CEO. This time, he discussed analyst coverage of the stock:
“David I’m hearing this Oscar Health could be in a little bit of a jam. That’s Mark Bertolini. Now I think Bertolini is terrific. . .Yeah but there’s a price target, price target ten dollars, when the stock hit 15, by Wells. I thought they had a price target at 16, they cut it to 10. ‘Pricing not adequate to cover costs.’ . .just be aware that that sector is still untouchable.”
Longleaf Partners mentioned Oscar Health, Inc. (NYSE:OSCR) in its Q4 2024 investor letter. Here is what the fund said:
“Oscar Health, Inc. (NYSE:OSCR) – Health insurance and software company Oscar was a top detractor for the quarter while remaining a top contributor for the year. The company delivered another strong quarter operationally, achieving over 60% year-over-year revenue and membership growth, while advancing toward its publicly stated goal of 5% operating income margins. Despite the operational progress, the Trump presidential win weighed on the stock price in the quarter due to added uncertainty around the future of the enhanced ACA subsidies set to expire at the end of 2025 and broader implications for the ACA itself. Oscar still has underappreciated non-earning assets in various regions at different stages of ramp-up, transitioning from investment mode in some areas to higher-margin operations in others. We view this as a long-term positive, highlighting the embedded long-term growth potential at Oscar. While election-related news contributed to stock volatility in the second half of the year, we capitalized on the volatility by strategically trimming and adding to our position. It was powerful to see both co-founder Josh Kushner and CEO Mark Bertolini (via his foundation) each purchase more than $10 million worth of stock in the wake of the election selloff.”
3. Norfolk Southern Corporation (NASDAQ:NSC)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 49
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NASDAQ:NSC) is a railroad company. The firm’s share price performance has been rather lackluster this year as the stock has gained a modest 11.7% year-to-date. Norfolk Southern Corporation (NASDAQ:NSC)’s stock dipped by 13.5% after President Trump announced his Liberation Day tariffs. However, since then, the shares have gained 27%. Cramer has previously discussed Norfolk Southern Corporation (NASDAQ:NSC) and praised the stock gains. This time, he wondered whether the firm might be vulnerable to an acquisition given the relaxed deal making environment under the Trump administration:
“I think that Norfolk Southern could be vulnerable.”
Previously, the CNBC TV host discussed Norfolk Southern Corporation (NASDAQ:NSC)’s share price performance:
“You know look at Norfolk Southern. The run in Norfolk Southern is just breathtaking. I just think that we are so the opposite of where we were. Everything changed. Everything changed. Liberation Day may turn out to be the bottom. We may look at Liberation Day and say you know that was when they realized, wow, are we ever on the wrong track. The market has spoken and we’re wrong.”
2. CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 68
CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX) is a sizable railroad company with operations in the US and Canada. Its shares have lagged peers in 2025 as they have gained a mere 4.9% year-to-date. CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX)’s stock fell by 10% after April’s tariff announcements, but it has gained 26% since then. In his previous remarks about the company, Cramer has praised CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX) ‘s CEO and outlined that despite weak earnings performance, Joe Hinrichs’ attitude assuaged investor fears and helped prevent share price losses. This time, he expressed hope that CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX) wouldn’t be vulnerable to an acquisition because of Hinrichs:
“I think that Norfolk Southern could be vulnerable. I’d like to think that Joe Hinrichs at CSX, no.”
In April, Cramer had discussed CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX)’s earnings and its CEO:
“You guys have CSX, Joseph Hinrichs, coming up, and, sometimes, with railroads so many things could go wrong, in infrastructure . . they have a . . .tunnel they have to worry about. And people are willing to forgive today. Because, Joe, the CEO, he’s going to be very repentant. He didn’t think he did a good job. And that the stock’s up. There is a bias today. Towards saying that things are a little bit better. This is not a bad day. . . So there is an element of forgiveness today that I want to note for the companies that are reporting.”
1. Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q1 2025: 85
Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) is one of the largest and oldest railroad companies in America. As has been the case with its peers, the firm’s shares haven’t performed well in 2025. In fact, when compared to rivals NSC and CSX, Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)’s 1.65% in year-to-date share price gains have lagged the pack. Cramer’s previous remarks about the firm have admitted that its shares have lagged, but advised viewers to buy the stock. He kept the upbeat tone about Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) this time around as well:
“But Union Pacific’s a very energized company. Jim Vena, serious play. He’s done a great job.”
Cramer advised viewers to buy Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)’s stock in June. Here’s what he said:
“I think it’s good for them, and I think Union Pacific is the one that has lagged. I mean, I’ve seen a lot of them run. I’ve seen the truckers run. Union Pacific, you got Jim Vena there. I think it’s a buy. I’m glad that you highlighted it tonight because I think it’s a really good stock to own.”
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