On Friday, Jim Cramer, host of Mad Money, discussed how recently, the market’s movements are largely influenced by the White House, with the Federal Reserve playing a somewhat smaller role. He pointed out that this places investors in a tough spot, especially since the Fed can only adjust interest rates, but the White House can have a much more immediate impact through its posts and announcements. Cramer humorously noted that for one day, the market was free from presidential posts, and it seemed to thrive.

“I want to remind you that at any moment, the president can wreak havoc on anything, I have to say with a gratuitous post, reminding people that there’s more pain ahead.”

READ ALSO: 8 Stocks in Focus Under Jim Cramer’s Game Plan and Jim Cramer’s Latest Lightning Round: 7 Stocks in Focus

Cramer emphasized that he has been critical of what he sees as unnecessary and provocative posts from the president. He noted that these remarks often add to the sense of unease among investors, especially when they hint at more economic pain ahead.

While many are aware of the ongoing trade war, Cramer emphasized that it does not help to repeatedly be reminded of the looming challenges. Right now, he said, people are feeling particularly anxious. He pointed to the alarming drop in the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment survey and highlighted:

“People fear inflation and worry about their savings, which happens to be in many cases, the stock market.”

According to Cramer, many people do not fully understand the implications of tariffs, and since they haven’t been adequately explained, they simply assume tariffs will lead to higher prices at the grocery store, which, unfortunately, is likely true.

Cramer acknowledged that the president and his team have deliberately chosen not to focus on the stock market, likely because they do not want it to become a direct reflection of their performance. While he agrees with this approach, Cramer believes it is still important to recognize that the market is ultimately a gauge of public sentiment.

“Think of the market as a gauge of hope versus despair. The results lately demonstrate despair even if today we finally got a solid session. The cause and effect are so palpable that you don’t need me to tell you how these gains came about.”

Our Methodology

For this article, we compiled a list of 10 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during the episode of Mad Money aired on March 14. We listed the stocks in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment as of the fourth quarter of 2024, which was taken from Insider Monkey’s database of over 1,000 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 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

Jim Cramer Put These 10 Stocks Under the Spotlight

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

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 17

A caller asked if it is time to start looking to other countries for investments and this is what Cramer had to say about Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN):

“Look, I blew it… Remember how many times I said Santander, Santander, Santander and I didn’t do it. Now those stocks will run… I was worried about the dividend and… and how people would say, Jim, you can’t use the traditional tax rules for dividends. I was Lilliputian. Next time I’ll be bigger.”

Banco Santander (NYSE:SAN) provides a range of financial services, such as banking, loans, mortgages, asset management, insurance, and digital payment solutions, in addition to corporate and investment banking services and online financial products. In February, when Cramer was asked about the company, he said:

“No, Banco Santander is very inexpensive still. Ana Botín is doing a great job…. I know I just, endlessly pounded the table. But at $5, I still think it’s a great situation.”

9. e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (NYSE:ELF)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 35

Mentioning that they have a position in e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (NYSE:ELF), a caller asked if there was any hope of a comeback. In response, Cramer said:

“I was very disappointed in how the stock acted last time. I felt that it left something to be desired and I truly now have come to dislike the cosmetics category. I didn’t even like the Ulta call this morning. I think that you’re gonna get a chance, I think, to actually sell it. And I’m saying that not because I don’t like e.l.f., but I don’t like Estee Lauder, I don’t like e.l.f., I don’t like Sephora, which is in Kohl’s, doesn’t trade as an individual company and I just think the group’s gotten too hard. So when we have a lift like we’re having here, let it go up a little bit, and then you have to go. There’s no harm in recognizing that right now, that is the most challenged category I know in the entire economy.”

e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE:ELF) offers a wide variety of beauty and skincare products under multiple brands, such as e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. Skin, Well People, Naturium, and Keys Soulcare.

8. Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIVN)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 40

Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIVN) was mentioned during the episode, and here’s what Mad Money’s host had to say:

“Okay, I know this is not what you want to hear, but I don’t care for the balance sheet. If they had a better balance sheet, then I would say fine. I know they’ve gotten some money from others, but it takes a long time to go public. People misunderstand how long it took for Tesla to be able to get there… I do worry about the financing.”

Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ:RIVN) develops, engineers, and manufactures electric vehicles, such as pickup trucks and SUVs, and provides a range of consumer services including financing, insurance, maintenance, and charging solutions. In February, commenting on the company, Cramer said:

“I don’t like the auto market and while I still appreciate Rivian’s balance sheet, they need so much more money, I think, ultimately, to become a big company. So I cannot go there because I think you’ll look back and say, why did Jim green light that to me? And I’m not going to do that.”

7. MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 47

Expressing confusion about MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM), a caller mentioned that it feels like rolling the dice. Cramer replied:

“You are rolling the dice on MGM Resorts International. I’m not a dice roller, I am a card player and I like it very much but I wouldn’t want to own that one. But you know what, we’re gonna go out west. We’re gonna talk to Wynn. Maybe I can figure out a little bit more about what to do with the casinos providing that the president doesn’t post that you’re not allowed to go to casinos anymore. Never know.”

MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) is a gaming and entertainment company that operates casino resorts offering a variety of services, including gaming, lodging, dining, and entertainment, along with digital gaming options like online sports betting and iGaming through BetMGM. Longleaf Partners Fund stated the following regarding MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) in its Q4 2024 investor letter:

“MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) – Hospitality and gaming company MGM Resorts was a top detractor for the quarter and the year. Despite relatively strong execution by the company and opportunistic repurchases of discounted shares, the market did not like the company’s quarter-to-quarter volatility, especially in the second half of the year. When making the necessary adjustments, MGM’s core Las Vegas properties continued to grow nicely if boringly in the low-mid-single digit range during the year. MGM remains one of our larger share repurchasers in the portfolio, demonstrating its commitment to shareholder returns. The company’s hidden assets in online gaming and Asia also showed progress as the year went on. We remain confident in the management team, led by CEO Bill Hornbuckle, as they navigate these challenges and focus on long-term value creation.”

6. Shopify Inc. (NYSE:SHOP)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 64

Expressing concern about tariffs and the possible effects on Canadian companies like Shopify Inc. (NYSE:SHOP), a caller asked if holding onto the stock is wise. Cramer replied:

“I’m stumped on that. You know why I’m stumped on that? Because the people who have come up with these rules about what we’re supposed to do have given us so little clarity whatsoever that I have no idea and I use Shopify all the time.

Actually, two members of my family have businesses with Shopify and we have no idea what to do. Why is that, you think. It’s because we’re being kept in the dark and you know why? Because I think you can’t post longer than a certain number of characters and you need about like 10,000 characters to understand what tariffs mean in Canada or Mexico. Sorry, the moment I get clarity, I’ll give you a buzz.”

Shopify (NYSE:SHOP) provides a platform that enables merchants to oversee and sell their products across different channels, offering tools for managing inventory, processing payments, conducting analytics, and securing financing.

5. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 96

A caller asked if it was a good time to get back in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) and Cramer replied:

“Right now, the stock’s in free fall. Now why is that? Because these knucklehead analysts felt it was a bad quarter. They didn’t know how to read the, they didn’t know how to read the income statement and they certainly didn’t know how to listen to the conference call. This stock is now, when it’s a stock that’s in free fall, we’re going to let, what I like to do is tell people, wait, it’s going to tell you what to do… We’re going to wait till it settles and when it settles, we’re going to buy. But we just don’t know what level it’s going to settle. That’s what we do. It’s called patience.”

Costco (NASDAQ:COST) uses a membership-based warehouse model, providing a wide range of branded and store-brand products in bulk at discounted prices, catering to customers seeking savings on larger quantities.

4. GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 101

A caller asked if GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) could take more share from Boeing and Cramer replied:

“Oh man. Okay… I think the answer is they can take a ton. They, and you have to, you have to buy it and buy it like mad because what’s gonna happen is there’s going to be so much servicing of these planes and that’s where they make their biggest money. And don’t forget, you’re getting Larry Culp who’s one of the greatest executives in America.”

GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) specializes in developing engines for both commercial and military aircraft, as well as providing integrated components, electric power systems, and mechanical systems for the aviation sector. In early February, Cramer noted:

“Third best performer of January was GE Aerospace. Yes, the part they left over after they spun off healthcare and power businesses. Now GE Aerospace finished January up 22%… A true blowout earnings report… delivered on January 23rd. Not only did the company smash expectations for the quarter, management also issued strong earnings and cashflow guidance for 2025.

They raised dividend by 30% and announced a new $7 billion buyback plan. What’s not the like? Geez, another stock with huge gains in recent years, but it’s a huge run, has been supported all the way by steadily improving numbers. So I think it is more staying power. I remain firmly bullish on GE Aerospace under the leadership of this remarkable turnaround artist chairman CEO Larry Culp. I really like him.”

3. Marvell Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRVL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 105

A caller asked if it was the ultimate buying opportunity in Marvell Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRVL) with the recent big pullback after its latest earning report. This is what Cramer said in response:

“The answer is yes. Right now, the stock trades at a level that it did before it even had artificial intelligence. That’s ridiculous. Matt Murphy’s doing an amazing job. I think that stock is an incredible bargain. I am a buyer, Marvell Technology.”

Marvell Technology (NASDAQ:MRVL) is a semiconductor company focused on providing solutions for data infrastructure, with a range of products tailored to support the demands of contemporary data centers. Columbia Seligman Global Technology Fund stated the following regarding Marvell Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRVL) in its Q4 2024 investor letter:

“The portfolio’s holdings in semiconductor and semiconductor equipment companies such as Broadcom and Marvell Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRVL) contributed to performance relative to the fund’s benchmark. Broadcom and Marvell were two overweight positions for the portfolio compared to the benchmark and both company’s stock prices moved higher during the fourth quarter. Marvell Technology is a semiconductor chip manufacturer that primarily focuses on developing and producing technology for data infrastructure. During the fourth quarter, Marvell announced an expansion of its existing relationship with Amazon Web Services (AWS), which includes collaboration across multiple AWS products and the use of AWS’ cloud infrastructure.”

2. Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 116

A caller noted that they saw modest gains in Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) and asked what price and time is good to invest more. This is what Cramer had to say:

“I actually don’t like Walmart here. I think that the stock has moved up too much and we want to wait. And then if, and I’ll tell you the truth, maybe in the low $80s, no, maybe even the high $70s because right now retail’s a very hard thing to do. And the only retailer that I’m saying to buy right now is TJX. I like Costco, but TJX is much better than Walmart. Much better. I want you to sell the Walmart and buy TJX.”

Walmart (NYSE:WMT) is a retail company offering a wide variety of products, such as groceries, health items, electronics, apparel, and store-brand goods. Almost a week ago, on Squawk on the Street, Cramer commented:

“I would rather be in tech than I would say, you know except for Walmart and Costco, those are the ones that you buy at this moment. Walmart is down ten straight points. That’s wrong… But this is the age of Walmart and Costco. And there isn’t anything I get at Kohl’s that I can’t get at those two.”

1. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 126

A caller asked if they should keep their position in Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) or sell and move into Uber, and in response, Cramer said:

“Okay, now here’s the thing you need to know, it doesn’t matter where you bought something, it matters where it’s going to. The stock’s been cut in half, it seems like a bad stock. It’s going to now turn a narrative to being about humanoids and being about self, hands driving. So you’re fine with that. I also like Uber. Six or a half dozen for me, frankly. That’s how much I like both of them.”

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) develops, produces, and markets electric vehicles and energy solutions. The company provides a variety of services, such as vehicle sales, financing options, energy storage products, as well as solar energy systems, and related services to a diverse customer base. For context, TSLA stock gained more than 36% over the past year while UBER stock declined over 3%.

While we acknowledge the potential of Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) 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 time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than TSLA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.

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