On Monday, Jim Cramer, host of Mad Money, offered his perspective on why recent major U.S. trade agreements have failed to influence stock market activity and pointed out that investors’ attention is simply elsewhere this week.
“If these trade deals are so good, then you have to ask yourself why is the market screaming higher? Why was the Dow down today? Great question… This is already a fabulous market. It’s gone up almost every week since the post Liberation Day lows… The trade deal with Europe might have meant much more, but earnings season has its own pull.”
READ ALSO: 13 Stocks Jim Cramer Looked At and Jim Cramer Weighed in on These 17 Stocks.
Cramer referred to the “serial nature” of tariff-related developments as especially overwhelming. He pointed out that once one issue is addressed, another immediately demands attention. He said that with something larger always looming, it creates what he called trade ennui. He emphasized that the market tends to focus on earnings over general news only four times a year, and this is one of those rare stretches.
Cramer argued that if the week was not packed with earnings reports, the European Union trade announcement might have carried more weight. However, it is not the case, especially with the Federal Reserve meeting also scheduled. He pointed out that adding to the noise is the upcoming labor report, due Friday. He mentioned that regardless of the report’s outcome, whether weak or strong, the president is likely to push for a rate cut either way. In his words, “this week is a total gauntlet.”
“But the bottom line: Right now, we’re presuming these tariffs don’t matter. What matters is earnings, unemployment, the Fed meeting and you know what, dead last, tariffs. Now that may be a disappointment to the White House… It won’t be assuaged by $600 billion from the EU or $550 billion from Japan. This week is a beast of its own, and nobody in Wall Street is going to care about trade policy until the week is over.”
Our Methodology
For this article, we compiled a list of 14 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during the episodes of Mad Money aired on July 28. We listed the stocks in the order that Cramer mentioned them. We also provided hedge fund sentiment for each stock as of the first quarter of 2025, which was taken from Insider Monkey’s database of 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 Shared Insights on These 14 Stocks
14. Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (NYSE:SWK)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 32
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (NYSE:SWK) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer shared insights on. Cramer said that buying the stock now would be “reaching for yield,” as he remarked:
“… Look, it’s not just Dow. We were attracted to two stocks from our Charitable Trust because of their high yields: Best Buy and Stanley Black & Decker… Stanley would benefit from a potential turn in housing because it seemed natural that once the Fed got inflation under control, it would start cutting rates. Both stocks initially soared same thesis. We sold… Stanley at a small loss, thankfully avoiding a much larger downturn later on… Now, when Stanley last came on the show, they told us they don’t expect to turn until 2027, which was disconcerting because it immediately made me feel the dividend could be in jeopardy between now and then, especially because the company has so much exposure to Chinese manufacturing. Right now, Stanley has plenty of coverage, but its free cash flow is going the wrong way, and I think you’d be reaching for yield if you bought this stock here…”
Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE:SWK) manufactures hand and power tools, outdoor equipment, fasteners, and engineered industrial products for both consumer and professional use. The company’s products are used in spaces such as construction, automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing.
13. Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 36
Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer shared insights on. During the episode, Cramer called it one of the “highest-yielding retailers.” He remarked:
“… Look, it’s not just Dow. We were attracted to two stocks from our Charitable Trust because of their high yields: Best Buy and Stanley Black & Decker. Best Buy would benefit from the biggest PC cycle in years because of Microsoft’s Copilot… Both stocks initially soared, same thesis. We sold Best Buy at a terrific profit… Best Buy stock now yields 5.6%, one of the highest-yielding retailers out there. In itself, though, not inspiring. The PC refresh cycle turned out to be a bust. President Trump’s tariffs will spike the price of Chinese and Korean appliances. Also, that Whirlpool can raise prices too, although judging by that hideous quarter just reported tonight by Whirlpool, where the company slashed its quarterly dividend from $1.75 to 90 cents a share, just what I’m talking about. Whirlpool needs all the help it can get. That’s not good for Best Buy. Again, I think you could be reaching for yield here. The problem is one of reassurance. If the dividend’s in jeopardy, management won’t say a word about it till they actually give you the cut.”
Best Buy (NYSE:BBY) provides technology products, including computers, mobile devices, appliances, electronics, and smart home items. The company also delivers services such as installation, repairs, tech support, and health-related solutions.
12. Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 43
Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer shared insights on. During the episode, Cramer discussed the stock’s dividend. He commented:
“A dividend sucker is born every minute. Last week, chemical giant Dow cut its dividend in half, taking it from 70 cents per quarter to 35 cents, saving about $1 billion annually… I heard that the dividend would protect the stock. When Dow’s dividend yield was 5%, the presumption was that you had to buy. Why? Because that was better than the 10-year treasury yield. See, people said you were basically being paid to wait for the chemical business to turn around…
Now, I’ve always championed the notion that we should be looking for what I call accidental high yields, stocks that have fallen so low, not based on the company, but on a market-wide move. Now, these stocks can be terrific investments, but was Dow an accidental high-yielder? If you look at its history, you know that Dow cut its dividend in March of 2009 from 42 cents to 15 cents. So it’s not like they have a long track record of consistency. No. The lesson of Dow is that if you see a yield that’s too high, it’s not a sign of safety, it’s a sign of danger…
I knew it was unsustainable. How did I know this? Two reasons: the declining cash flow and the declining stock itself. The stock was saying, the stock was screaming, my yield’s unsafe. The lesson here is you can’t reach for yield, which is exactly what people were doing, and they were buying Dow for that 5% yield. It’s not a defense, it’s a red flag, what it says is sell.”
Dow (NYSE:DOW) delivers materials science solutions across packaging, infrastructure, mobility, and consumer needs. The company provides chemical, plastic, and coating products, and is also involved in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance.
11. Grindr Inc. (NYSE:GRND)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 29
Grindr Inc. (NYSE:GRND) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer shared insights on. A caller asked if it was time to start a position in the stock, and Cramer remarked:
“Well, I like affinity social networks. I like ones that I think don’t have a lot of debt, that have a lot of opportunities. Now… this was losing a lot of money. It’s expected to make a lot of money next year, so I think it’s a very good level to buy Grindr.”
Grindr (NYSE:GRND) operates a global social networking and dating platform focused on the LGBTQ community. The company announced that it will release its June quarter earnings on August 7. In the previous quarter, the company increased its full-year 2025 forecast, expecting revenue growth of 26% or higher and a minimum adjusted EBITDA margin of 43%. The CEO called 2025 “the biggest year for product innovation in our history.” Additionally, the company stock is down nearly 28% since the last earnings were released.
10. Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE:UTI)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 29
Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE:UTI) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer shared insights on. A caller asked what they should do with the stock during the lightning round. Cramer said:
“No, I thought, look, I think the technical schools are the way of the future. I think that the real jobs are not going to be white collar jobs. All those can be taken away from AI. It’s going to be blue-collar jobs where people have steady income, and that place really helps. That’s my take.”
Universal Technical Institute (NYSE:UTI) provides education and training programs in transportation, skilled trades, and healthcare, awarding certificates, diplomas, and degrees under multiple specialized brands. Additionally, the company offers advanced manufacturer-specific training through campus-based and sponsored programs. In a May episode, a caller inquired about the company, and Cramer responded:
“Okay, this is what we need in the country. It’s a trade school and I think that it jives very well with where we are in the economy. So I’m going to tell you, I think it can continue to go higher because it fits the thesis of what we expect in an era of AI and the need to be on your game in non-AI jobs.”
9. Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26
Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer shared insights on. A caller asked Cramer about an SEC filing showing the company sold 33 million shares, with 66 million more registered, and sought insight into how to track the situation. He replied:
“No, this is not unusual. Hecla, well, I just think it’s not a, you know, look, I hate to say it’s, I just don’t think it’s a high-quality mine. Pan-American for silver and Agnico Eagle for gold, those are the two, not going away.”
Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL) produces silver, gold, lead, and zinc through its mining operations and supplies concentrates and doré to smelters and processors. The company’s activities support the extraction and delivery of precious and base metals for commercial use. The company recently announced that it will release its operational and financial results after August 6 market close.
In the prior quarter, Hecla (NYSE:HL) reaffirmed its 2025 production outlook for Greens Creek, Lucky Friday, and Casa Berardi, while lowering cost estimates at Greens Creek due to improved by-product credits. The cash costs were projected between $0.25 and $0.75 per silver ounce. Keno Hill is set to deliver 2.7 to 3.1 million ounces of silver.
8. Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:BHF)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 39
Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:BHF) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer shared insights on. A caller asked if they should buy, sell, or hold the stock, and Cramer stated:
“I’m worried about Brighthouse Financial… I prefer Chubb if I’m going to be in insurance business. I know Chubb has been a weak stock of late, but it’s also 12 times earnings. I’m always willing to buy Chubb at 12 times earnings.”
Brighthouse (NASDAQ:BHF) provides annuity and life insurance products designed to support wealth accumulation, income protection, and financial security. The company also manages legacy insurance obligations. Greenlight Capital stated the following regarding Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:BHF) in its Q1 2025 investor letter:
“The biggest long winner was Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:BHF), which rose 20.7% during the quarter. According to media reports, the company has hired Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo to sell itself. There appears to be a lot of interest from large asset managers that would like the opportunity to manage BHF’s approximately $120 billion general account. While there is a risk the current market turbulence could derail a deal, absent that we expect the company will be successful in selling itself at a healthy premium.”
7. Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 77
Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer shared insights on. During the lightning round, when a caller asked about the company, Cramer said:
“Palantir is a company that when it was at 50, I said it was going to go to 100. When it was 100, I said it was going to go to 150. When it was 150, I said it’s going to go to 200, and I am not backing away from that. I know the stock was at 161 earlier today in reverse, but that’s what I’m thinking about.”
Palantir (NASDAQ:PLTR) develops software platforms that support data integration, analysis, and operational decision-making across various sectors. The company’s products are used for tasks ranging from intelligence and counterterrorism to enterprise data management and AI-powered analytics. Cramer mentioned the company in the July 14 episode and said:
“Palantir’s among the fastest-growing tech companies I can recall. It’s got a projected annual growth rate of 18 to 25% out to 2030 with a market capitalization of $352 billion. May not sound that impressive, two years ago it was $35 billion. What does Palantir do? I say, what doesn’t it do? You bring Palantir in to look at patterns to figure out how to run your business better. I’ve never heard anyone say that they aren’t terrific at what they do, making your company money almost the minute you bring them in. They’re also trying to make the Pentagon more efficient. But that’s a tall order. I hope they succeed. So should you.”
6. Tapestry, Inc. (NYSE:TPR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 73
Tapestry, Inc. (NYSE:TPR) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer shared insights on. During the episode, Cramer noted that the company’s management “knows exactly what they’re doing.” He said:
“Late last year, the Biden administration’s Federal Trade Commission blocked yet another merger, Tapestry’s $8.5 billion acquisition of Capri Holdings… Despite all the tariff uncertainty, Tapestry was able to raise its sales and earnings guidance. What’s driving the strength? Now, a lot of it’s because the Coach brand keeps getting better and better… Now, why is Coach winning? I think this is another example of what we have seen in the consumer discretionary space for a while now. Consumers want value, not necessarily absolute value, but relative value. They want high-quality goods at reasonable prices…
… The way I see it, even with the once red-hot Kate Spade doing terribly right now, Tapestry’s been putting up great numbers, so if they can turn around Kate Spade, that would be pure upside. In the end, giving up on the Capri Holdings acquisition turned out to be a brilliant move for Tapestry. Rather than buying a bunch of struggling brands, they made a much better investment in their own stock, sold off the unexciting Stuart Weitzman business, and have turned their core Coach brand into a powerhouse.
When your competitors are in bad shape, you don’t try to take them over, you just eat them alive, which is what Coach has been doing to Michael Kors… Given the stock’s incredible performance since last October, obviously the expectations here are high… I don’t think the stock is crazy expensive here, trading at just under 22 times this year’s earnings estimate, 18% earnings growth business looks good.
But considering that the stock’s up 69% for the year, this quarter, I’m calling it inherently risky. Here’s the bottom line: Ideally, I want Tapestry to report a good quarter that doesn’t quite satisfy the shareholder base, causing a sell-off that allows you to buy this stock at a lower price. But if you like the story, you got my blessing to put on a small position before the quarter because from my perspective, Tapestry’s management knows exactly what they’re doing and they’re doing it well.”
Tapestry (NYSE:TPR) designs and sells luxury accessories, apparel, footwear, and lifestyle products under brands such as Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman. The company’s products include handbags, small leather goods, jewelry, eyewear, and home accessories for both men and women.
5. DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc. (NYSE:DKS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 44
DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc. (NYSE:DKS) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer shared insights on. When a caller inquired about the stock, Cramer stated:
“Oh, okay. Look, here’s… [why] I didn’t try hard enough. When DICK’s bought Foot Locker, I should have just said, buy, buy, buy. Instead, it’s all the way back. It’s kind of like the two that I’ve been most regretting that I didn’t pound the table, Dell enough, and I didn’t pound the table DICK’s enough. DICK’s is still good. They obviously knew what they were doing when they bought Foot Locker. Great relationship by the way now with Nike.”
DICK’S (NYSE:DKS) provides a broad selection of athletic gear, apparel, and footwear for various sports and outdoor activities. During a May episode, Cramer mentioned that he likes the company a lot, as he commented:
“Oh, I like DICK’S very much and you know a lot of people, that’s both Ed Stack but don’t forget Lauren Hobart. Lauren Hobart as CEO is fantastic, a lot of people think that they stubbed their toe when they bought Foot Locker. I’m going to say the opposite. I’m going to say that they may have stubbed their toe, but this stock is so much down. It was at 254, now it’s at 181. It more than reflects [that] they can write off Foot Locker right now, and frankly, yeah, of course, they don’t need to, it would still work out. Buy DICK’S Sporting Goods.”
4. lululemon athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 48
lululemon athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer shared insights on. Noting that they have three LULU shares with an average cost basis of 236, a young caller asked if they should add to their position to bring their cost basis down. Cramer commented:
“Wow. You know… I don’t want to, like, Harrison’s obviously got horse sense. This is a really tough question because it is one of the five worst-performing stocks, I think, this year. I’ll tell you this, it’s down so low, I would be willing to take a flier. Why? Because you’re young. You got your whole life ahead of you. I think it’s worth it. To see lululemon down 43% this year, says to me, I want you to buy one share, but then you gotta wait… because I don’t want you to get married to lululemon.”
lululemon (NASDAQ:LULU) designs and sells athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories for both men and women, focusing on activities like yoga, running, and training.
3. Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NYSE:DECK)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 63
Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NYSE:DECK) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer shared insights on. During the episode, Cramer praised the company’s recent earnings report and said:
“… When the company reported last week, it delivered an excellent set of numbers, and the stock shot up more than 11% in a single session last Friday. So, we have to ask ourselves, has Deckers turned itself around, or is it too soon to circle back to this one, as the stock’s nearly 4% decline today would suggest? Okay, first, you need to understand is that going into the quarter, expectations were incredibly low. That’s what happens when a stock gets cut in half. And once the expectations get low enough, it’s easy for them to be beat…
Clearly, Deckers had a much better-than-expected quarter, but it takes more than one thing to turn things around here… Management didn’t shy away from acknowledging the mistakes that had been plaguing the company in recent quarters and what they needed to do to fix those problems. They talked about doing a better job of managing product life cycles, so they’re launching new products when the new products are wanted, ideally aligning with key shopping periods…
… So where do I stand on Deckers now? Last time I talked about this one, I said the stock looked cheap at 17 times earnings, even with the Vietnam overhang. Now, there’s no more overhang, and they just reported a tremendous quarter, yet the stock only trades at just under 18 times this year’s earnings estimates. You’re practically getting the quarter and the lower tariffs from Vietnam for free. As for the nearly 4% decline today, we think it was related to an upgrade of Nike from… JPMorgan retail analyst Matt Boss who said that the leading footwear and apparel company was poised to make a major recovery.
That may be the case, but we’re not convinced that it’s going to be at the expense of Deckers and the HOKA brand, at least based on what the quarter just reported. Bottom line: Deckers saw its stock collapse earlier this year because everyone thought that HOKA had run outta steam, but HOKA just delivered almost 20% growth for the latest quarter. So call me a believer. I think this one has got more upside.”
Deckers (NYSE:DECK) designs and markets footwear, apparel, and accessories across several brands, including UGG, HOKA, Teva, Koolaburra, and AHNU.
2. CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE:CAVA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 41
CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE:CAVA) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer shared insights on. Noting the stock’s recent ups and downs, a caller asked if there is any reason for the “wild swing”. Here’s what Cramer had to say in response:
“Yes, yes. It’s what I call, it’s a terrible trader, and there’s been these big chunks that come for sale, and you have to just close your eyes. You can’t watch the trading because it’s very, very unnerving, and you want to hit it on a real dip, which you don’t have right now because it was down to 70 earlier this year. Wait for more of a dip for Cava, but I think it’s a great long-term position.”
CAVA (NYSE:CAVA) operates restaurants under the CAVA brand and provides a range of food products like dips, spreads, and dressings. The company sells its products through grocery stores, along with online and mobile ordering.
1. BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 67
BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer shared insights on. When a caller inquired about the company, Cramer replied:
“Alright, BlackRock is up in a straight line… as we know. It got hit. It shouldn’t have gotten hit as aggressively as it did. It only sells at 23 times earnings. I say only because it has tremendous growth and there’s very little risk. So I think it’s a buy. It’s come back. It was just last week it got to 1,130. It’s 1,117. It is [buy, buy, buy].”
BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) is a global investment management firm that provides financial services, including asset management, risk advisory, and investment strategies across equities, fixed income, real estate, and alternatives. During the July 11 episode, Cramer called it possibly the “most exciting story,” as he commented:
“Yet, you know what the most exciting story might be? I think it might be BlackRock. Yes, the stock that caught fire recently, even after many investors had lost faith in it. That never made sense to me. BlackRock’s the largest asset repository in the world and has a new infrastructure component that I sure wish I could get a piece of, but it’s only for 401Ks. I bet CEO Larry Fink will tell a very positive story, more than justifying the stock’s recent breakout.”
While we acknowledge the potential of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK) 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 BLK and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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