In this piece, we will look at the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed.
In a recent appearance on CNBC’s Squawk on the Street, Jim Cramer discussed the impacts that tariffs have had on businesses. He shared that firms are scrambling to diversify their supply chains from China as higher costs affect business margins. Using the example of the firm known for making Monopoly and Nerf, Cramer commented:
“Well I mean look everybody’s scrambling, I know that. . .[toy company’s] scrambling everywhere to be able to make it so that a nine dollar toy doesn’t cost 19. And I think that our companies are, often, not given the credit that they deserve to be able to get things to move around, pull their weight, do things overseas, David, it’s not like they’re the only ones, China, that can make this stuff. Cause the stuff is not like, it’s not like making a Grace Blackwell GB200 NVIDIA chip.”
One material that’s caught Cramer’s attention is ethane. He believes that ethane’s role in the plastics supply chain and the fact that China can’t make it can enable the material to play a key role in President Trump’s trade talks. Cramer commented:
“We have to focus on this ethylene, because it’s the one thing that they’re panicked on in China. They’re not panicked on copper, they’re panicked that they’re not getting ethane, which makes ethylene, which makes plastic. Because boy do they ever make make plastic.”
In fact, Cramer went as far as to ‘advise’ the President and his team to leverage US ethane production against China:
“But the building block of all that stuff is Louisiana, ethane. If the President and Navarros and these trade guys were to say, you know what guys, we saw that you wouldn’t tariff ethane, cause you need it so bad, we’re done, we’re gonna ship it to Korea. Then see what happens. That’s what they should do. That’s like, free advice there.”
As for the car industry, Cramer believes that Trump’s advisor Peter Navarro won’t be satisfied even if some car companies build their assembly plans in America. “Peter Navarro would say over and over, we need the engines made we don’t want the assembly,” he believes.
Our Methodology
To make our list of the stocks that Jim Cramer talked about, we listed down the stocks he mentioned during CNBC’s Squawk on the Street aired on May 1st.
For these stocks, we also mentioned the number of hedge fund investors. 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).
10. Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 62
Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) is an industrial equipment company that sells construction and mining equipment. Its business exposes the firm to broader economic performance. As a result, Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT)’s shares have dipped by 10% year-to-date as the firm has struggled with weak sales. Cramer’s previous remarks have linked the firm’s performance to the Biden administration’s infrastructure spending package. Here are his latest comments:
“I was going to do Caterpillar, Hold to Buy. That was a good piece. Baird had fought it every step of the way, the reason I didn’t do it is I didn’t want to make fun of the guy for being completely wrong.”
9. Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 64
Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) is a data analytics firm that is a frequent feature of Cramer’s morning show. Over the course of the year, he has shifted from being confident about its ability to benefit from government efficiency to becoming a victim of it. More recently, Cramer has reverted to the view that Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) can benefit from the Trump administration’s efficiency drive. Here are his latest thoughts:
“Palantir of course is a meme stock.”
“Yes we are. Or is someone who once told me he wants to short it. I’m shorting this Palantir.”
8. McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 67
McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) is one of the largest fast-food chains in the world. The firm is exposed to consumer spending, but tariff uncertainty has helped it as investors flee to stocks with low China exposure. Cramer has also appreciated this fact in his previous comments about McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD). He kept at it in his recent thoughts:
“McDonald’s down five, come on we knew it was gonna be great. Will you stop? Go buy McDonald’s. That a new theme.”
7. General Motors Co (NYSE:GM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 68
General Motors Co (NYSE:GM) is another frequent feature of Cramer’s morning show. He has often raised concerns about the firm’s exposure to tariffs due to its supply chain located outside the US. General Motors Co (NYSE:GM)’s shares are down by 11.9% year-to-date due to these uncertainties, despite the fact that the firm held its ground in 2024’s weak auto market. Here are Cramer’s latest comments about General Motors Co (NYSE:GM):
“You know, listen, Phil, you had an amazing interview with Mary Barra [GM CEO], I’ve got to ask you, it looks like that Ford has an edge on GM. When it comes to what’s going on. In terms of tariffs. Because I think that Jim Farley for whatever reason makes much more in pure America than GM does. [Phil agreed]”
6. CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 74
CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) is one of the biggest pharmaceutical chains in America. Its shares have also performed well this year, as they are up by 54.5% year-to-date. CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) has benefited from troubles at its peer Walgreens and investors’ tendency to flee into safer stocks during times of turmoil, such as the recent tariff-related uncertainties. Here’s what Cramer said about CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS):
“. . .and how about what David Joyner’s done at CVS? I mean, it’s extraordinary. He’s turning that thing around. Who would have thought that?”
5. CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 77
CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) is a cybersecurity company that enables businesses to detect threats, protect identities, and manage workflow operations. Its shares have gained 44.5% over the past year and have gained 18% before their major dip in 2024. Cramer is a fan of the cybersecurity sector as he believes that not only are these firms free of tariff headwinds, but also face higher demand due to AI. Here are his latest thoughts about CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) as it gained 2.7%:
“Oh look at Crowdstrike, it’s only George Kurtz doing it again.”
4. McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 78
McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) is one of the biggest pharmaceutical and healthcare companies in America. As a result, it’s somewhat hedged against the tariff-related uncertainty that’s driven the markets over these past couple of months. McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK)’s shares are up by 25% year-to-date, and in his previous remarks about the company, Cramer has called it one of the strongest stocks in the market. Here are his latest remarks:
“There were people who were doubting, doubting, you know the middle company like McKesson.”
3. Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOD)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 79
Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOD) is the leading financial markets trading platform in America. Its performance depends on market activity, and the shares have gained 25.5% year-to-date. Cramer has discussed Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOD) multiple times in his morning show. He likes the firm’s technology and its ability to allow wealth transfer from older to younger generations. Here are his latest comments:
“And then if you go on Robinhood, which they are now trumpeting that they’ve got all these things you bet on, oh my god, I’d say it’s an anytime touchdown Trump!”
2. PDD Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:PDD)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 85
PDD Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:PDD) is a Chinese e-commerce retailer whose shares have come under a lot of pressure due to trade tensions between the US and China. The firm operates well-known brands Shein and Temu. PDD Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:PDD)’s shares are up by 13% year-to-date after having lost 8.8% by April 10th. Since then, the stock has gained 24% as it has benefited from tailwinds such as a local merchant model. Cramer pointed out the possible impact of trade negotiations on the firm:
“We have to focus on this ethylene, because it’s the one thing that they’re panicked on in China. They’re not panicked on copper, they’re panicked that they’re not getting ethane, which makes ethylene, which makes plastic. Because boy do they ever make make plastic, this is probably killing Temu and Shein!”
1. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 92
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Cramer has discussed the firm several times in his morning show. He has praised Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)’s CEO and wondered whether the firm will be able to establish a strong working relationship with the Trump administration. His recent remarks saw the CNBC host comment on Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)’s inability to offset its patent expirations with new products. Here are Cramer’s latest thoughts:
“But they like to go after the biggest, they go after breast cancer, the biggest. They should go after all sorts. Pfizer’s trying but Pfizer’s stock has not . . .”
PFE is a stock Jim Cramer recently discussed. While we acknowledge the potential of PFE as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than PFE but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires
Disclosure. None. Insider Monkey focuses on uncovering the best investment ideas of hedge funds and investors. Please subscribe to our daily free newsletter to get the latest investment ideas from hedge funds’ investor letters by entering your email address below.
