Jim Cramer, the host of Mad Money, said on Thursday that the market’s sharp move had little to do with fundamentals and everything to do with a massive shift out of hardware stocks like NVIDIA and into beaten-down software names.
Today was an ambush, pure and simple. The sellers, they were waiting. They didn’t care what NVIDIA said last night. They probably didn’t even listen. They decided from the get-go that NVIDIA or any of the hardware tech stocks that have been up lately have now gotten too expensive. Instead, they want to swap into the left for dead software equities that they think represent good value… Does that make any sense? Of course not, but it’s what’s known as a program, and on any given day, the program can rule over the actual market. Today, the out-of-hardware-into-software program that I spotted ruled the day.
READ ALSO: Jim Cramer Discussed These 16 Stocks Recently and 12 Stocks Jim Cramer Commented On.
Cramer emphasized that the action had “nothing to do with the fundamentals and everything to do with the big switch.” He described the rebound as artificial, driven by flows rather than company-specific developments. He added, “We don’t buy sectors, we buy companies,” and he admitted that he has no way of knowing whether the sell program targeting NVIDIA has run its course. Even so, he suggested investors could take advantage of the dislocation by using the program-driven weakness to pick up favored stocks at prices below where they should trade. He pointed out that a single enormous account can move markets, and when that happens, the resulting prices may be more attractive than expected.
The bottom line, though: Don’t take today as a referendum on anything. Someone with a lot of money, and I’m talking about tens of billions, wanted out of one group and into another. The stocks were treated as playthings of that account, not companies. They were puppets on hedge fund strings, and they got jerked around all over the place. I prefer when stocks represent the fundamentals of the underlying companies, but on days like today, don’t be fooled. The program is all that matters.
Our Methodology
For this article, we compiled a list of 16 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during the episode of Mad Money aired on February 26. We 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 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).
Jim Cramer Put These 16 Stocks Under the Microscope
16. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM)
Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer put under the microscope. Cramer highlighted the company’s AI division during the episode, as he said:
Marc actually brought on two clients of Agentforce, the AI division that’s generating $800 million in annual recurring revenue. Wyndham Hotels, that’s the largest hotelier, and SharkNinja, we’ve had them on the show. Each talked about how Agentforce is saving them money by doing the easy stuff, saving the hard calls for humans. They described an almost euphoric world where robots handle the drudgery so that the people can focus on the real work… Initially, the stock sold off in after-hours trading, but it ultimately managed to catch fire today, rallying 4%. And I think one of the big reasons for that is that Marc announced a $50 billion buyback.
Now, that’s not bad for a $187 billion company. He said the cash flow can cover it as well as a small dividend boost. Basically, if the stock market refuses to give Salesforce the benefit of the doubt, then well, they’re just happy to repurchase their own shares at a big discount to what they think it’s worth. I think he’s serious about snapping up all that stock because he’s certain that the sellers are making a mistake, and they do have a ton of cash flow. Overall, Marc was trying to communicate a very simple idea. Salesforce sees the damage that AI can do to enterprise software, which is why his company’s invested so heavily in AI agents that are taking share and taking names…
He’s heard what the bears are saying, which is why he’s mad as hell, and he is not going to take it anymore. This is my favorite version of Marc Benioff, a fired-up CEO with a new product that I think can take the world by storm… Sure, it could be tough for a couple of quarters as Salesforce transitions to a much more agent-heavy model. But I’m now convinced that they can pull it off, if only because I’ve seen this company down before, and it’s always been a mistake to count them out. And I’m betting this time, it will be no different.
Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) provides CRM-focused tools that help businesses manage customer interactions, use AI agents, analyze data, collaborate, and run marketing, commerce, and field service operations.
15. MSCI Inc. (NYSE:MSCI)
MSCI Inc. (NYSE:MSCI) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer put under the microscope. Toward the end of the lightning round, a caller inquired about the difference between MSCI and SPGI. In response, Cramer said:
… Well, one is Standard & Poor’s, whereas the other is for the, it’s the old Morgan Stanley index, the international, and the one, MSCI is the one I prefer. That’s Henry Fernandez. I admit he’s a friend of mine, but I can tell you he’s a great businessman. The stock was down, some sort of AI fears that were dead wrong.
MSCI Inc. (NYSE:MSCI) provides tools that help investors track markets, measure risk, compare performance, and evaluate ESG and private-asset data. A caller inquired about the stock during the December 3, 2025, episode, and Cramer responded:
Okay, that’s one of my absolute favorite stocks. It’s been a complete winner. It’s been a winner for ages. The reason why it’s been a winner is, frankly, because Henry Fernandez runs it. I think he’s great. The stock’s down 9% for the year. What an opportunity.
Moreover, we recently discussed the stock based on its Relative Strength Index. You can read about it here.
14. Universal Display Corporation (NASDAQ:OLED)
Universal Display Corporation (NASDAQ:OLED) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer put under the microscope. Responding to a caller’s question about the stock, Cramer remarked:
Oh boy, I’ve gotta tell you, I know there is going to come a time when we should recommend this stock, but that time is not yet here.
Universal Display Corporation (NASDAQ:OLED) develops and licenses OLED technologies and materials used in advanced displays and lighting. On February 19, the company reported Q4 2025 GAAP EPS of $1.39, exceeding forecasts by $0.11. It generated a revenue of $173 million, up 6.5% year-over-year, but slightly missing expectations.
For the full-year 2025, Universal Display Corporation (NASDAQ:OLED) reported revenues of $650.6 million, and net income was $242.1 million or $5.08 per diluted share. For 2026, the company expects revenues between the range of $650 million and $700 million.
13. Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)
Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer put under the microscope. During the lightning round, a caller asked for Cramer’s opinion on the stock, and he stated:
Ford’s coming back, man. Ford’s been looking real good of late. People forget this thing is, this thing is starting to really chug along, and I am so thrilled for Farley. I think he’s a terrific guy. And this is going to pull, he’s going to pull it off. I’m not kidding. It’s going higher.
Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) sells Ford and Lincoln vehicles, including trucks, SUVs, cars, hybrids, and EVs. The company also provides parts, digital services, and financing solutions. During the episode aired on October 27, 2025, Cramer mentioned the company and said:
Management expects that the midpoint of its estimate a $1.75 billion hit to EBITDA, okay, from the Novelis fire from EBIT, not EBITDA, but it lowered its full-year adjusted EBIT outlook by just 750 million at the midpoint. So let’s think about this. Excluding the fire, Ford was actually taking up numbers. That was confusing initially, but wow… It also helped that Ford delivered some great numbers for the third quarter itself… Like GM, Ford saw some strong performance in trucks and SUVs. Its F-Series is on track to be America’s bestselling truck for 49 consecutive years. There’s a record for you…
Ford, at, north of 12 this year’s estimates, but only under 10 next year’s numbers. Both stocks look very cheap, and if the Fed keeps cutting interest rates, lowering the cost of auto loans, these stocks should keep running. I think Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, is in the catbird seat. He’s taking down expectation big time. He’s got a really hot lineup where I expect maybe multiple upside suprises and now it matters that it’s a hot lineup even if they don’t have a solution in the Novelis fire problem yet. That said… if the labor market keeps deteriorating, well, that’s going to make it tough, obviously, and you still need to watch tariffs here too.
12. Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE:ACHR)
Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE:ACHR) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer put under the microscope. A caller inquired about Cramer’s opinion on the stock, and he replied:
No, I’m not as into these stocks as others. I just think that Archer and Joby, they are kind of that, remember that year of magical investing? That thing ended, so we don’t want to participate in that anymore.
Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE:ACHR) designs and develops electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The company also offers aerial ride-sharing, maintenance, and repair services. During the October 10, 2025, episode, a caller sought Cramer’s advice regarding starting a small position in the stock, and the Mad Money host responded:
No, we’re going to let that come down. We’re in a kind of speculative tsunami right now. I think you’ll be able to get that cheaper. Yeah, just consider it like a maiden claiming race, okay?
11. Reddit, Inc. (NYSE:RDDT)
Reddit, Inc. (NYSE:RDDT) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer put under the microscope. When a caller asked about the stock, Cramer stated:
Oh, I think you buy Reddit. In my book, in How to Make Money in Any Market, I… struggled to make it one of my absolute top five stocks because I think it’s worth so much more than what it’s selling for. Let’s buy that one.
Reddit, Inc. (NYSE:RDDT) runs an online platform that hosts communities where users connect over shared interests, exchange ideas, and share content such as posts, images, and videos. When a caller asked about the stock during the January 16 episode, Cramer replied:
Holy cow. You know what, I was trying to think which one, which one, which one, because I’ve been watching this… It’s like a jumping bean, and it worries me that it’s so erratic. It’s almost like there’s not enough float. But I’ll tell you the truth: in How to Make Money in Any Market, I go over a couple of stocks that I think could be future winners, and I include Reddit, so I’m not backing down. I like the company Reddit right here.
10. QXO, Inc. (NYSE:QXO)
QXO, Inc. (NYSE:QXO) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer put under the microscope. Starting the lightning round, a caller inquired about the company, and Cramer commented:
Okay, that’s Brad Jacobs’ company. I don’t bet against Brad. That’s roofing. Normally, it shouldn’t be doing right now in the cycle, but Jacobs will pull it off. You can buy it.
QXO, Inc. (NYSE:QXO) supplies roofing, waterproofing, and building materials, including siding, insulation, and construction accessories. During the lightning round of the January 8 episode, a caller asked Cramer if the company’s stock was a buy. In response, the Mad Money host remarked:
I think it’s a buy because it’s Brad Jacobs. You can’t bet against Brad Jacobs. They do have a 10% short position. I tell you, while I’m not just pounding the table because it’s all the way up, I think it’s a buy.
9. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS)
Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer put under the microscope. Cramer was optimistic about the stock, as he said:
Even though Wall Street can’t seem to make up its mind about the data center, there’s still a lot of money to be made selling good old-fashioned industrial hardware to these warehouses full of servers. Take Watts Water Technologies, a more than 150-year-old company that designs and manufactures hardware to handle water flow with a rapidly growing data center business, especially as more of these facilities shift from air cooling systems to liquid cooling systems. Two weeks ago, Watts Water reported a terrific quarter, a significant top and bottom line beat with a very strong full-year forecast. There’s a reason the stock’s up almost 55% over the past 12 months and nearly 20% year to date.
Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) provides systems and products for fluid and energy management in buildings, including flow control, HVAC, drainage, water reuse, and water quality solutions. During the September 24, 2025, episode, a caller asked if they should “forever hold” the company’s stock, and Cramer replied:
The answer is yes. I think that this is a company that is exactly the kind of thing that you don’t want to trade it, you want to own it. It’s just a great American manufacturer. Stay long.
It is worth noting that since the above comment was aired, the company’s stock has gained nearly 20%.
8. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG)
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer put under the microscope. Answering a caller’s query about the stock during the episode, Cramer said:
Well, look, let’s look at the thing objectively. It reported the last quarter, and it was right here. And I said this stock’s done going down, and I am sticking with that judgment. I think Scott Boatwright is turning the ship, and this is the level that you gotta pull the trigger and buy some Chipotle.
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) owns and operates restaurants that provide burritos, bowls, tacos, salads, and other menu items. Cramer mentioned the stock during the February 3 episode and commented:
What’s going on with the stock of Chipotle? This stock’s been making a comeback over the last couple of months, but when it reported after the close, Wall Street was a little mixed about this one. Even though the numbers came in better than feared, management’s full-year same-store sales forecast was slight light, and the stock plummeted in after-hours trading. I think that Wall Street’s going to be wrong here. I think this is getting mighty attractive. So does the company. They’ve been buying back stock hand over fist.
7. McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD)
McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer put under the microscope. Cramer highlighted that he would “be a buyer” of the stock, as he stated:
Earlier this month, McDonald’s reported a terrific quarter. And at this point, with the stock at an all-time high, I think it’s pretty clear that the Golden Arches really got its groove back for a couple of years… Management says they could put up these strong numbers thanks to the focus on value, breakthrough marketing, and menu innovation…
At a time when Wall Street’s turning against complicated enterprise software plays, this one, McDonald’s, has a simple story that the money managers are eager to lap up. We know how McDonald’s operates, and we know Claude can’t spin up a network of 50,000 burger joints to compete… Now, after its recent gains, the stock, it’s not cheap, okay, at least it’s not as cheap as it used to be. McDonald’s sells for roughly 25 times this year’s earnings estimates, basically right in the middle of its historic valuation range over the past decade. Plus, the stock gives you a solid 2.2% dividend yield.
That’s not nothing… Of course, when the stock was lower, the yield was better. I like a stock that’s up. Here’s the bottom line: When it comes to McDonald’s, I’m still loving it. It’s the perfect type of stock for the market where investors want real companies that make things and do stuff that can’t be hurt by AI, and we can easily get our heads around and our mouths around. Now that Mickey D’s is going back to its roots as the best source of value around, the customers are coming back, and so is the same store sales growth. Even after rallying more than 9% year to date, I’d be a buyer.
McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) operates and franchises restaurants that provide burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries, beverages, and desserts. We reported JPMorgan’s recent coverage of the stock. You can read it here.
6. Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU)
Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer put under the microscope. Cramer explained why the stock was trading lower after hours, as he said:
Nearly two months into the year, the worst performing stock in the entire S&P 500 is Intuit, the software company behind TurboTax and QuickBooks, smaller businesses like Credit Karma, Mailchimp. This one’s down more than 40% year to date, even after bouncing nicely today along with that whole enterprise software cohort.
Now, I always felt like Intuit had more protection against AI disruption than the typical software play. And tonight, Intuit reported a tremendous set of numbers with revenue growth in the high teens and a monster earnings beat. But management didn’t raise their full-year forecast and their guidance for the current quarter. That is the most important quarter of the year because of tax season also came in a little light. I say this is standard practice. These guys never raise numbers going into tax season, but that’s why the stock’s trading lower after hours.
Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU) provides financial management, tax preparation, marketing, and personal finance solutions.
5. Hinge Health, Inc. (NYSE:HNGE)
Hinge Health, Inc. (NYSE:HNGE) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer put under the microscope. When a caller asked about the company during the episode, Cramer said:
Oh, we like Hinge Health. We like Hinge Health. It’s just kind of when like Medline the other day, it’s just going to quietly go higher. It’s up three points today. That’s a very big move. But when I see a stock like Hinge Health, I just say, okay, look, it’s got a model for patient education to help the patients. They seem like level-headed people, and I just say buy that one and put it away. I think that was going to do well for a long time.
Hinge Health, Inc. (NYSE:HNGE) develops digital health software focused on musculoskeletal care, covering injury recovery, chronic pain management, and post-surgical rehabilitation. Cramer made some positive comments about the stock when a caller asked about it during the January 30 episode. He remarked:
… If you remember when they came on, I thought they were terrific, and they are part of the solution, not the problem. I think that that is going to be one of the better stocks we’ve seen in the healthcare sector.
4. Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR)
Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer put under the microscope. A caller asked if they should buy, sell, or hold the stock, and here’s what Cramer had to say in response:
Oh, look, I like Palantir, but Palantir is a very long-term hold. It’s way ahead of itself. It got way ahead of itself, then it’s pulled back down. But they have a great business model. They have really smart people. The clients I know who like them, just, they can’t say enough good things. So I’m going to tell you to hold Palantir.
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. During the January 29 episode, when a caller sought Cramer’s thoughts on the stock, he replied:
Yes, I like Palantir. Now, Palantir’s trading right now with the cohort that is ServiceNow and Salesforce. By the way, those are great companies. But I think that right, look, everything I hear when you hire them, business does better. And that’s why I liked it, not momentum. So I can’t back away from it right here. If anything, I would say a great opportunity to buy Palantir, and it’s not like I talked to Dr. Alex Karp.
3. GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE)
GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer put under the microscope. A caller asked Cramer what he thinks is going to happen with the company, and he replied:
Well, there you got Larry Culp working for you. I think that it’s just a long-term buy. There are going to be moments when it goes up and moments when it dips. And this is one of those stocks, I say [buy, buy, buy] any dip that is… sizable at all.
GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) manufactures commercial and defense aircraft engines, power systems, and related components. In addition, the company provides maintenance, repair, and overhaul services along with spare parts for aviation and military applications. Cramer called it “best of the best” during the episode aired on January 22. The Mad Money host commented:
How about GE Aerospace? It’s the best of the best. Self-improvement here is extraordinary. CEO Larry Culp is one of a kind, the savior of the old GE, the architect of the most successful breakup of all time. Two years ago, the stock was at 62, came in hot, 318 today. Just a monster. So what happens?… GE Aerospace, nothing but net, just fantastic, every line, including ones that have been a tad disappointing previously. Gross margin improvement, remarkable. GE stock opens down a tad, then rallies to 310 before wilting and finishing down more than 7%, 295, nothing wrong. But an A student who gets more As… that doesn’t get any praise, and in fact, gets criticized.
2. Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY)
Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer put under the microscope. Cramer discussed the effect of AI on the stock, as he said:
Second telltale sign that it was all just an artificial program and not the reality of business: The absurd, relentless buying of the enterprise software companies that had been written off for dead. Consider Workday. How many times did I hear in the last six months that Workday was going to be crushed by Anthropic, an AI company that can, let’s say, mimic pretty much every software company out there? I never fully believed that story, but it’s partially true, and it killed the entire cohort. The pessimism was so thick around Workday, the stock was practically untouchable. Sure enough, after it reported Tuesday night, its stock dropped 12 points like that, 130 down to 117 and change ultimately as the stock caught two downgrades and a ton of price target cuts.
But then midday, Workday started to rally, and it actually finished yesterday up nearly three bucks before tacking another six today. This thing went up 22 points from yesterday’s close… When you have a program trade taking over the market, the companies on the anointed buy list become winners. The fact that the quarter was excellent is almost beside the point. Workday’s guidance was dismal, and it’s rallied just as hard.
Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) provides cloud-based applications designed to help organizations manage financial processes, human resources, and business planning.
1. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer put under the microscope. Cramer discussed the stock in detail during the episode, as he stated:
Most people don’t understand how these kinds of programs work. They’re not based on the specific fundamentals of individual companies. They’re based on intuition, a belief that the market’s paying too much for one kind of company and not, let’s say, not enough for another. Now, in order for these huge programs to work, you need to wait for something that can hide what you’re doing. The hedge funds that do these programs love camouflage. Last night, NVIDIA gave it to them by reporting a spectacular quarter, with amazing growth and a roadmap to make trillions of dollars in a very short timeframe. The gross margins were fantastic. The level of business, extraordinary. The new clients, fabulous. It was a tour de force quarter.
NVIDIA made a terrific case for the next wave of artificial intelligence, where these machines will actually be able to reason. NVIDIA’s new super chips are going to come out on time later this summer. We learned of a huge amount of business from Anthropic and OpenAI… Oh, and let’s not forget the self-driving cars, robots, and digital twins that Jensen Huang, CEO, has told you are coming. They’re here. Basically, NVIDIA gave you everything you could ever want, including terrific guidance for the current quarter.
The buyers all knew, which is why the stock caught fire last night and was really climbing. But it was all for naught. Why? Because today, NVIDIA stock became cannon fodder for the unannounced sell program that I detected from the moment the market opened. The stock started giving up points right at the opening bell, crushed by a torrent of sellers… At the end of the day, the amount of money NVIDIA’s making is extraordinary. It’s only going to get better.
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.
While we acknowledge the potential of NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVDA and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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