In this article, we will look at the stocks Jim Cramer looked at as he explained the need for a tame bond market for the stock market to go higher. The host of CNBC’s Mad Money said Friday that investors in stocks cannot ignore the bond market right now, especially with another round of earnings reports due next week.

Never forget that the stock market ultimately answers to the bond market. Bonds are in the driver’s seat, and the bond market really doesn’t like inflation or lots of new bond supply. It can suss out a rise in consumer and producer prices coming from miles away. It knows when governments are spending recklessly, like ours is right now. So periodically, the bond market acts up, sending the US Treasury down in price and up in yield. Today, it didn’t just act up; it threw a temper tantrum, causing rates to go much higher, certainly much higher than they were before the war with Iran, and that’s why the averages really turned ugly.

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Cramer said oil prices were the main catalyst behind the bond market selloff. He noted that crude had climbed 4% to $105 a barrel, a level he said is far too high for the current economy to comfortably absorb. He added that gasoline prices are becoming increasingly painful for consumers, something the bond market strongly dislikes because of the inflationary ripple effects tied to higher energy costs. Cramer said the bond market “abhors rampant energy inflation” and the chain reaction it creates across the broader economy.

Here’s the bottom line: Today was a comeuppance day, a reminder that the bond market’s wrath can smack down any stock market, no matter how robust. We need a tame bond market for stocks to keep advancing, which means we need oil to come down, and that’s not happening unless we get an end to the war. Sadly, it’s going to be harder for me to get more aggressive, more bullish because as far as I can tell, there’s no end in sight to this war.

Our Methodology

For this article, we compiled a list of 20 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during the episode of Mad Money aired on May 15. We listed the stocks in the order that Cramer mentioned them.

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Jim Cramer Looked At 20 Stocks, Including NVIDIA, Walmart, and Rocket Companies

20. Rocket Companies, Inc. (NYSE:RKT)

Rocket Companies, Inc. (NYSE:RKT) was among the stocks Jim Cramer looked at as he explained the need for a tame bond market for the stock market to go higher. Toward the end of the lightning round, a caller inquired about the company, and here’s what Cramer had to say in response:

Okay, Rocket is a play on the idea that Kevin Warsh is going to get in and cut rates, and I don’t think he can because of the price of oil and how it is making it so that there’s inflation throughout the system, so no to Rocket Companies.

Rocket Companies, Inc. (NYSE:RKT) provides mortgage, real estate, and personal finance services. The company delivers its services through Rocket Mortgage, Rocket Homes, Rocket Loans, and Rocket Money. A caller inquired about the stock during the March 23 episode, and Cramer responded:

This is totally a vote, you can look at the chart, a vote on whether there’s going to be a rate cut. People say that, only today was the first time I heard that there might be a rate cut. Again, remember, they kind of got dashed by the war. I would not give up on this stock at $14. I think it represents value.

19. Globus Medical, Inc. (NYSE:GMED)

Globus Medical, Inc. (NYSE:GMED) was among the stocks Jim Cramer looked at as he explained the need for a tame bond market for the stock market to go higher. A caller asked for Cramer’s thoughts on the company, and he remarked:

Okay, this group in particular, the medical device group, is hated in this market. And I do feel that there is not a lot of money to be made in this one if there’s not a lot to be made in the really, in some really good ones, like Medtronic or ISRG or Boston Scientific.

Globus Medical, Inc. (NYSE:GMED) develops healthcare solutions for musculoskeletal disorders. The company provides specialized implants, tools, and biologic materials to help treat spine and orthopedic disorders. In addition, it offers advanced robotic guidance systems, surgical planning software, and nerve monitoring services to assist surgeons during procedures. Invesco Ltd stated the following regarding Globus Medical, Inc. (NYSE:GMED) in its Q4 2025 investor letter:

Globus Medical, Inc. (NYSE:GMED): This medical technology company specializes in musculoskeletal solutions for spine, orthopedic trauma and joint reconstruction. The company has faced issues with recent acquisitions, supply chain issues and weakness in its robotics segment, which together provided an opportunity to purchase the stock at what we saw as an attractive discount to our estimate of intrinsic value.

18. Everspin Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRAM)

Everspin Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRAM) was among the stocks Jim Cramer looked at as he explained the need for a tame bond market for the stock market to go higher. A caller sought Cramer’s opinion of the stock, and he replied:

This is just up on a spike. I don’t know whether it’s like a short squeeze or whatever. I mean, at least, it does make money, but it’s at 90 times earnings. You gotta be careful. Again, we’re being in careful mode here because the market is switching in the way it’s valuing stocks.

Everspin Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRAM) develops magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) products and sensors for industrial, medical, automotive, aerospace, and data center applications. The company also provides foundry services for MRAM and magnetic sensors.

17. Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:NRGV)

Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:NRGV) was among the stocks Jim Cramer looked at as he explained the need for a tame bond market for the stock market to go higher. A caller asked if the company is becoming a “real growth story.” In response, Cramer said:

Well, that’s a pure spec that’s losing a fortune. Again, I gotta be really careful. Even though it’s a low dollar amount, remember, it is still a pure spec, and it can hurt you.

Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:NRGV) builds utility-scale energy storage systems that use battery, gravity, and hydrogen technologies to manage different power durations. Additionally, the company provides software and artificial intelligence tools to monitor operations, optimize revenue dispatch, and assist with maintenance decisions.

16. PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:PCT)

PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:PCT) was among the stocks Jim Cramer looked at as he explained the need for a tame bond market for the stock market to go higher. Starting the lightning round, when a caller inquired about the stock, Cramer commented:

Okay, problem with Purecycle is it loses a fortune, and it has almost no revenue. I think we have to say no to that one.

PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:PCT) produces recycled polypropylene by using a licensed process that filters out color, odor, and additives from plastic waste. The resulting ultra-pure resin is used to manufacture consumer packaging, textiles, and several industrial parts. The company released its Q1 earnings result on May 6, posting a GAAP EPS of -$0.21, outperforming estimates by $0.04. Its revenue of $4.13 million was up over 161% year-over-year and beat estimates by $0.3 million.

15. Infleqtion, Inc. (NYSE:INFQ)

Infleqtion, Inc. (NYSE:INFQ) was among the stocks Jim Cramer looked at as he explained the need for a tame bond market for the stock market to go higher. Cramer highlighted the company’s latest earnings, as he stated:

For most of last year, the quantum computing stocks, they seemed invincible. Then last fall, they went out of style along with the other speculative plays that had thrived during the year of magical investing, as I called it. This technology is still in its infancy, but it could be a game-changer down the road. So I think it’s worth getting to know the major players in the space, including Infleqtion… which came public via a SPAC merger that closed back in February. Now, these guys have partnerships with a host of government agencies, from NASA to the Pentagon, and with major companies like L3Harris and Safran.

Last night, Infleqtion reported its first quarter as a publicly traded company, racking up some, I felt, some solid revenue growth, even as the business is still a long, long way from turning a profit as I’m sure they will tell you. The stock got hammered in response, down 11% today. But I think that’s just more about the market’s appetite for risk than anything else on a given day.

Infleqtion, Inc. (NYSE:INFQ) builds quantum hardware, including computers, precision sensors, and specialized software for the defense and commercial sectors. The company’s solutions include cold atom systems, quantum clocks, and several electronic components used by research institutions and government agencies.

14. Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:BW)

Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:BW) was among the stocks Jim Cramer looked at as he explained the need for a tame bond market for the stock market to go higher. Cramer highlighted the company’s role in the data center buildout, as he commented:

Even on an ugly day like this, when some data center-related stocks keep making new highs, take Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises. This is a company founded nearly 160 years ago, makes all sorts of equipment for power generation, emissions control. They got their start making boilers for the second industrial revolution, and now they’re helping to power the fourth industrial revolution. And that’s why the stock’s up 245% year to date and over 2,500% just over the past 12 months. When I first saw it, I didn’t believe it, but it’s true. And when you look at the numbers, you can understand why the stock’s been rallying so hard.

When Babcock & Wilcox reported earlier this week, they delivered 44% revenue growth, and their booking shot up 2000% year over year, with their backlog rising 483% to $2.7 billion. Even when the company priced a $200 million secondary offering at $18.50 per share earlier today, down almost two bucks from yesterday’s close, it didn’t take long for the stock to erase its losses, then finish up 63 cents or 2.97%. Remember, it’s a down day in the market.

Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:BW) provides energy and emission control solutions through technologies focused on waste-to-energy conversion, hydrogen production, and carbon management.

13. Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR)

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) was among the stocks Jim Cramer looked at as he explained the need for a tame bond market for the stock market to go higher. Holding an oversized 15% position in the stock, a caller asked whether they should further trim into strength to rebalance their portfolio or maintain the remaining stake, since it represents “house money” after recovering their initial principal. Cramer replied:

You’re going to let this one run. Now, Palantir is a perfect example of an incredibly good company whose stock got ahead. I, too, got ahead. When it got to $200, I got too bulled up. I had liked it all the way down from 50, but I’m not going away from the company. It just happens to be an expensive stock. But it is an amazing company, and I think you should hold on to the rest. And I always welcome anyone from Palantir to come on, including a first-year associate, since no one else will come from that place.

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.

12. Axon Enterprise, Inc. (NASDAQ:AXON)

Axon Enterprise, Inc. (NASDAQ:AXON) was among the stocks Jim Cramer looked at as he explained the need for a tame bond market for the stock market to go higher. When a caller mentioned that they bought stock first back in 2015 when the shares were at $34 on Cramer’s recommendation, he said:

Well, they had, you know, Axon was on today. I thought they acquitted themselves, which is why I think why the stock was up three bucks. I have been, we were very worried about Motorola competition when we met with them when we were up at Harvard Business School. I am still concerned about that, and I still think that this market does not like high multiple stocks, and Axon is a high multiple stock.

Axon Enterprise, Inc. (NASDAQ:AXON) develops and sells TASER devices, body and fleet cameras, and software solutions that help law enforcement capture, store, and manage digital evidence. A caller asked about the stock during the February 2 episode, and Cramer replied:

You know, I saw the body camera story in Minnesota. First thing I said was like, does Axon have that contract? And I don’t know the answer. I’m going to certainly find out about it. I know that the stock was up because of it, and then reversed. I want you to trim it again, alright? I want you to trim it again because it should have been up today, and it wasn’t. The fact that it erased that gain very quickly tells me it’s still too heavy a stock. Take some more off, and then you really can let the rest run. You called me on it, and I just think I should tell you that. I don’t want to say, hey, don’t worry about it. I can’t do that. It’s not acting well.

11. Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR)

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR) was among the stocks Jim Cramer looked at as he explained the need for a tame bond market for the stock market to go higher. A caller asked if the stock is safe to buy here, and Cramer replied:

You know that Goldman Neutral was down from a Buy, and they, I think they missed it. I’ve gotta tell you, I am very concerned about that company… But I would tell you that right now, I don’t see any relief. And if you did want to play it like I did, then you would… do Home Depot or do Lowe’s. I think Lowe’s number could be better.

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR) manufactures and sells home appliances, including refrigerators, laundry machines, dishwashers, and cooking products. During the episode aired on March 23, a caller noted that they purchased the stock in the previous year when it was down and inquired about it. The Mad Money host responded:

I gotta tell you, you know… this one just mystifies me. Down 25%. The president’s done everything he can to try to make it so that they’re not, they lose by imports. I don’t know what to say other than the fact that I wish I could recommend it, but I just feel like, at every single point, it goes down. I cannot be a part of a stock that at every single point goes down. So I’m going to have to take a pass. That’s painful.

10. BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ)

BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ) was among the stocks Jim Cramer looked at as he explained the need for a tame bond market for the stock market to go higher. Cramer mentioned the stock during the episode and said:

What else? The club retailers have diverged here. Costco’s got red hot… BJ’s Wholesale Club. I think it could have, play some room, it’s got some catching up. I still prefer Costco for the long run, though.

BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ) runs membership warehouse clubs that sell groceries, fresh food, general merchandise, and gasoline. TimesSquare Capital Management stated the following regarding BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ) in its third quarter 2025 investor letter:

Our preferences in the Consumer-oriented sectors lean toward value-oriented or specialty retailers, franchise models, premium brands, or support services for other consumer companies. Membership warehouse operator BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ) dropped by -14%. Second quarter profits and earnings outpaced the consensus; however, revenues and same store sales fell short. Early in the quarter, their Northeast and Mid-Atlantic stores were impacted by unseasonable wet and chilly weather. While groceries and sundries performed well, general merchandise was down. Notably, membership rolls continue to grow.

9. Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY)

Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) was among the stocks Jim Cramer looked at as he explained the need for a tame bond market for the stock market to go higher. Cramer addressed the AI worries affecting the stock, as he remarked:

We also get numbers from Workday. Alright, now this once beloved software as a service company, it’s become a poster boy for the displacement, yes, AI displacement. I don’t expect bad numbers, but the long knives are out for the company. Now, Workday stock rallied 5% today as part of a rotation into the software stocks led by Microsoft. The group had a bunch of outsized gain. Microsoft up 3%, Salesforce up 3.5%, ServiceNow jumping 5%, Adobe gaining 4.5%.

Now, to me, it felt more like a giant, you know, short squeeze because they all traded together. I don’t know if this move can be maintained. All the other enterprise software rallies have been met with torrential selling after a couple of days of strong performance. Maybe this one will be different, but I don’t know how that’s going to happen. I mean, look, maybe the heads of Anthropic and OpenAI will come out and say, you know what, we’re not planning to eat these companies a lot. But nah, that’s unlikely.

Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) provides cloud-based applications designed to help organizations manage financial processes, human resources, and business planning.

8. Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT)

Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) was among the stocks Jim Cramer looked at as he explained the need for a tame bond market for the stock market to go higher. Cramer was bullish on the company during the episode and said:

Thursday, Walmart reports. Alright, let me tell you something. I remain convinced that Walmart’s among the greatest companies in our era, having been revamped into a place to shop, not just for lower incomes, but for everyone. I know so many snobs in this business who’ve never been to one. They’ve missed a whole… move. If they went to it, they’d know the truth. It’s hard to beat their prices or their selection. Yes, Walmart’s that good. I expect terrific numbers. Hey, their natural food section’s terrific.

Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) operates retail stores, warehouse clubs, and online platforms that sell groceries, everyday essentials, home goods, apparel, electronics, and more. Cramer discussed the company during the April 7 episode, as he stated:

I want to start with the real screamers, and that’s retail. Walmart’s the biggest. Here’s a stock that truly defines the term juggernaut. It’s a value-oriented retailer that out of nowhere has begun to attract wealthier customers who make over a $100,000 a year… It’s where the less well-off buy a lot of their food and clothing. Walmart’s been a total runaway train, but that has left many other retailers behind.

Today, though, it’s saying something different. It went down 3.4%. It’s a big decline. This boost says that Walmart’s gotten too expensive for many people to shop at. Now, that’s not encouraging. Normally, when I hear Walmart’s stock whisper sweet negatives, I have to figure out whether the problem revolves around the stock of Walmart itself. Now, it’s going up huge. It’s trading at 42 times its fiscal 2027 earnings estimates, close to the highest it’s ever been. That’s rich, the multiple’s rich, and maybe the store’s too rich. I don’t know.

7. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)

NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) was among the stocks Jim Cramer looked at as he explained the need for a tame bond market for the stock market to go higher. Cramer called it the “most important stock in this entire market,” as he commented:

After the close (Wednesday), we get results from the most important stock in this entire market, and yes indeed, that is NVIDIA. If the data center’s the most important piece of this economy, and I would say it is, then NVIDIA’s at the heart of the data center, the beating beauty that’s helped propel our market to incredible highs, including its own stock. Now, I’ve been telling you to own NVIDIA, do not trade it, since the days when it was in the low single digits.

Sometimes, it tries men’s souls and women’s souls, like when it was stuck under $200. I said stay with it. It’s now at $225. Now, my modus operandi going into the quarter is that once again, don’t focus on the short term. The growth here should be spectacular, the earnings, colossal. Stock’s been running though. I’m glad it cooled off today, dropping 10 bucks, but it was up 10 the other day. I am cognizant we need a perfect quarter for NVIDIA to go much higher. And you know what? Then again, we might get it.

NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) develops accelerated computing and AI platforms, GPUs for gaming and professional use, cloud services, robotics and embedded systems, and automotive technologies.

6. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) was among the stocks Jim Cramer looked at as he explained the need for a tame bond market for the stock market to go higher. Cramer mentioned the company during the episode and said:

Comparisons can be odious. Our mothers told us that, right? And when Lowe’s reports, I think the comparisons may feel pretty… bad for Home Depot. Lowe’s is more do-it-yourself, while Home Depot is more professional. Given the dearth of new home sales, you want to go with the DIY renovations guy, and that’s Lowe’s.

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) is a home improvement retailer that sells tools, appliances, building materials, and decor for all kinds of projects, from repairs to remodels. In addition, the company provides installation, repair, and design services. Cramer mentioned the stock during the January 15 episode and commented:

What else? Housing stocks are moving up not long ago after getting hit with mass downgrades. There’s a thaw going on as supply has arrived to quell demand. Home prices are at last coming down, many of them to 2019 prices. Toll Brothers, Lennar, Horton led the group higher. The same, by the way, was, how about this? Home Depot rallied again, only to be outdone by Lowe’s, which hit its 52-week high. Congratulations to Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison for that achievement in this god-awful environment.

Click to continue reading and see Jim Cramer Looked At 5 Stocks, Including Caterpillar, Vertiv, and Home Depot.

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