We recently compiled a list of the Jim Cramer’s Best Performers List: Top 10 Stocks. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:PLTR) stands against the other stocks on Jim Cramer’s list of best performers list.

On Wednesday’s Mad Money episode, Jim Cramer took a deep dive into ten stocks, each worth over $1 billion, that have seen significant growth this year. While acknowledging that many of these stocks are speculative, he emphasized that they still hold potential as smart investments.

Cramer suggested that when looking back on this year, two trends will stand out: a steady rise in the S&P 500, and a series of moves that initially seemed almost magical, but were grounded in reality.

Cramer also reflected on the common investment approach of sticking with index funds, noting that it is a popular strategy because it requires minimal effort. But, according to him, simply parking your money in an index fund might not be the best way to maximize returns. Instead, he argued that investors should consider individual stocks with unique characteristics, many of which are speculative since they offer opportunities for much larger gains.

Cramer criticized the tendency among experts to dismiss individual stock investments beyond index funds, saying:

“Far too often we become snobs when we talk stocks. So many experts think that if you venture past the index, you could fall off some sort of intellectual cliff. It makes any gains null and void. It’s as if the huge swath of points you could have gained simply don’t count. But that, people, is nonsense.”

READ ALSO Jim Cramer on Microsoft and Other Stocks and 10 Stocks on Jim Cramer’s Radar

During Wednesday’s episode, Cramer highlighted several stocks that have surged by over 200% this year, choosing to focus only on those with a market cap of more than $1 billion. He did clarify, however, that he was not endorsing these stocks, especially given how much they have already appreciated. Instead, his point was that speculative stocks, despite their volatility, have a valid place in an investment portfolio.

While they come with risks, a small stake in one of these stocks could outperform a much larger investment in an index fund. For Cramer, it is not about avoiding speculative stocks altogether, but recognizing their potential when balanced alongside more stable investments like index funds.

Cramer wrapped up by stressing the importance of considering these high-flying, speculative stocks and said:

“The bottom line: Let’s remember this list of frothy stocks and think of them the next time you’re about to ignore a stock for being too speculative because these names are often the epitome of speculating wisely, which can be the key for terrific long-term performance, of course, only when melded with index funds.”

Our Methodology

For this article, we compiled a list of 10 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during the episode of Mad Money on November 13 and listed the stocks in the order that Cramer mentioned them.

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).

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:PLTR)

Cramer acknowledged that Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:PLTR) stock is performing better than Nvidia for the year and attributed the gains to defense contracts.

“CEO Alex Karp talked a big game until the recent quarter when Palantir soared on an amazing, amazing three months. They verified his chest pounding and ratified the stock’s run. It’s now up 253% for the year. Yeah, it’s doing better than Nvidia. The big gains have come from revolutionary Defense Department contracts. They could bring our stodgy military bureaucracy more in the cyber warfare era. By the way, these guys really excel at one thing most definitely, the procurement process.”

Palantir (NYSE:PLTR) is a leading developer of advanced software platforms that specialize in integrating and analyzing complex data to support decision-making. The company has long been known for its work with government agencies, providing critical tools for data-driven operations. In its third-quarter earnings report, it showed strong growth, with revenue climbing 30% year-over-year to reach $726 million.

CEO Alex Karp attributed this growth to the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) by U.S. government clients. This period also saw a significant increase in the size of the deals the company was securing. The company signed 104 contracts worth over $1 million during the quarter, indicating a rising demand for its services.

Palantir (NYSE:PLTR) saw particularly strong growth within its government business. Revenue from government contracts rose 33% year over year to $408 million, with U.S. government revenue alone surging by 40%, reaching $320 million. This marked the highest growth the company had experienced from its largest customer in 15 quarters. The company’s international government revenue also grew, increasing by 13% year over year to $89 million.

Overall PLTR ranks 3rd on Jim Cramer’s list of the best performing stocks. While we acknowledge the potential of PLTR 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 PLTR but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock.

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