We recently compiled a list of the 8 Cheap Jim Cramer Stocks to Invest In. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN) stands against the other cheap Jim Cramer stocks.

On a recent episode of Mad Money, Jim Cramer criticized the semiconductor sector’s performance on Tuesday, particularly in light of a significant sell-off in semiconductor stocks following disappointing earnings from ASML, which wiped out over $50 billion from its market capitalization. Cramer argued that many on Wall Street fail to grasp the enduring significance of advanced graphics chips in artificial intelligence. He emphasized that as long as innovations and new applications for computing power continue to emerge, the demand for these chips will persist.

“I don’t think the need for speed is going away. In fact, it’s only going to increase, especially when tech companies and utilities are fiercely trying to put up nuclear power plants to meet the energy demands.”

Cramer expressed frustration at how quickly some investors rushed to declare the semiconductor sector in decline.

“There were many money managers and writers falling all over each other just at the close of yesterday, at the closing bell, to write the definitive obituary for this group, even as it’s less of a group than more of like a parliament of owls that’s somehow been combined with a pride of lions, two very different beasts. As I watched and listened, I said to myself, this terrible miss by some abstruse Dutch outfit is going to make people miss out on what could be the next leg of a powerful, semiconductor rally fueled by the wall of worry and skepticism that’s being built right in my face.”

He also pointed out that various industries are only beginning to experience “AI-powered revolutions.” He explained:

“… As Jensen told me, software never dies. As long as there are new inventions and new uses for computer power, there will be more need for these chips. And you can attach them to the software, no matter what the iteration. You just have to keep buying them because you have to keep up. Right now we have revolutions just starting in healthcare, manufacturing, climate change, cybersecurity, autonomous driving, and even robots.”

He further talked about how the current bull market could gain momentum if the tech sector maintains its strength. Cramer highlighted analysis from Jessica Inskip, noting that both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq-100 are showing promising charts. He pointed out that the market has expanded significantly compared to six months ago, but for this upward trend to persist, Inskip emphasized the need for substantial engagement from tech stocks.

Cramer discussed the weekly performance charts of the Nasdaq 100, which features some of the largest technology companies. Although the index remains in a positive trading cycle, it has not reached new highs like the S&P 500. Inskip mentioned that while the Nasdaq 100 is moving in a favorable direction, it must surpass its July peaks to stimulate a broader market rally. While Cramer acknowledged that tech might not need to lead the market, it still must closely follow the stronger sectors.

Our Methodology

For this article, we compiled a list of nearly 80 stocks that Cramer was bullish on during episodes of Mad Money aired in October. We narrowed the list to 8 stocks that had a forward price-to-earnings ratio of under 15 and were most widely held by institutional investors. We listed the stocks in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment as of the second quarter, which was taken from Insider Monkey’s database of more than 900 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 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN)

Forward P/E: 5.90

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 9

Earlier in October, Cramer talked about Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN) and said, “If you want a foreign bank, please go for Banco Santander, that’s a real good one.”

Banco Santander (NYSE:SAN) offers a wide range of banking solutions. The bank’s recent performance highlights its growth trajectory, particularly in customer acquisition. In the second quarter, it welcomed over 4 million new customers compared to the previous year, elevating the total customer count to 168 million. The surge in its client base prompted a revision of the bank’s targets for 2024, with expectations now set for high-single-digit revenue growth, a shift from the earlier forecast of mid-single-digit growth. Additionally, the company forecasts a return on tangible equity (RoTE) exceeding 16%, an increase from its previous estimate of just 16%.

In a move that shows its commitment to returning value to shareholders, Banco Santander (NYSE:SAN) announced an interim cash dividend of 10 euro cents per share for 2024 results. This marks a 23% increase compared to the previous year’s dividend. The total amount allocated for interim shareholder remuneration is expected to be approximately €3.050 billion, which represents around 50% of the bank’s attributable profit for the first half of the year. The distribution will be executed with half paid as cash dividends beginning November 1, 2024, while the remaining portion will be allocated through a recently launched share repurchase program.

The company intends to finalize its distribution plans for 2024 earnings in the first quarter of 2025, ensuring that stakeholders remain informed and engaged.

Overall SAN ranks 8th on our list of the cheap Jim Cramer stocks to invest in. While we acknowledge the potential of SAN as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than SAN but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

Read Next: $30 Trillion Opportunity: 15 Best Humanoid Robot Stocks to Buy According to Morgan Stanley and Jim Cramer Says NVIDIA ‘Has Become A Wasteland’.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.