On Thursday’s episode of Mad Money, host Jim Cramer addressed the growing tension between wage inflation and the recent wave of layoffs.
“Even though today’s Producer Price Index number was way too high, wage inflation’s the real battleground, and I think the battle is being won by the machines… For many CEOs, agentics is a code word for we can do it without humans because humans are costly, they get sick, they need healthcare, and then they quit.”
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Cramer said that companies are deliberately slowing down hiring, not because of a lack of demand, but because they are seeking ways to cut labor costs. He noted that alternatives are becoming increasingly attractive because they are cheaper and more efficient to implement than managing a human workforce.
Cramer emphasized that what truly matters for inflation moving forward is the direction of wages, not fuel or shipping rates. He believes the downward pressure on wages is where the most significant and lasting changes are happening. He also said that large-scale layoffs are imminent at a number of banks.
“I understand why everyone’s worried about inflation when the tariffs will likely force many companies to raise prices, but I think this is a moment of powerful wage deflation, and that’s what will ultimately matter. It’s not obvious yet. It soon will be. Don’t wait for the figures, just accept that wage deflation’s a given, and it won’t be long before we all see the shocking results.”
Our Methodology
For this article, we compiled a list of 15 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during the episode of Mad Money aired on August 14. 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 Talked About These 15 Stocks
15. Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 91
Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer talked about. Cramer mentioned that the company’s balance sheet is not in good condition. He commented:
“The anecdotal side suggests that there have been some layoffs, 25,000 at Intel, 15,000 at Microsoft, but nothing else that comes close. Now Intel’s problems are well documented, although they actually may be able to solve them if the government does take a stake in the company. That would be terrific. You know why? Because its balance sheet is really in tatters. Intel needs the money; the government has it. It would be fabulous.”
Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) develops and delivers semiconductor products, including CPUs, GPUs, FPGAs, and system-on-chip solutions, along with memory, networking, and edge computing technologies. When a caller asked about the stock in a July episode, Cramer replied:
“Okay, you know, this is an absolutely great question because, you know, I used to be an Intel hawk, and then I told everyone to sell it for about 40 points. It was a great call by me. This Lip-Bu Tan, who took over, he’s monster good, but I think even he is going to have to take another six months to a year before he can turn it around. If you are willing to wait that long, I bless it. But that’s not what I think you should do.”
14. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 17
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer talked about. A caller asked for Cramer’s opinion on the company, and he replied:
“Well, that’s a drone company, and drone companies are very, look, I like AVAV, but Kratos, that one’s a good company too, but I’m going to stick with my AVAV.”
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) develops advanced technologies and systems for defense, national security, and commercial applications. The company’s products include satellite ground systems, unmanned aerial drones, hypersonic vehicles, propulsion systems, electronic warfare solutions, and training platforms. Baron Discovery Fund stated the following regarding Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter:
“Leading defense technology provider Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) contributed to performance during the quarter amid growing momentum across nearly the entire business. We believe Kratos is well positioned for accelerated multi-year growth, as prior investments in high-growth areas of defense—such as hypersonic technology, drone engines, small missile engines, space, microwave electronics, and unmanned systems—are translating into larger contract awards. Demand is being driven by increased funding from the U.S. Department of Defense and other global militaries. In our view, the current operating environment has never been better, and few companies are as well equipped as Kratos to deliver the advanced solutions required for modern warfare.”
13. Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SRPT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 47
Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SRPT) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer talked about. A caller asked for Cramer’s outlook on the stock, and he commented:
“Oh God. I was hoping it’s not Sarepta. I don’t have a positive outlook on Sarepta. I think that they kind of were… What they’re doing is so important, but I don’t think that they have the horses to become more than what they’ve already become. So I think that if it goes up, you gotta do some selling. I’m very sorry.”
Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SRPT) develops genetic medicines, including RNA-targeted therapies and gene therapies for rare diseases. The company’s portfolio includes approved treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and pipeline programs for additional genetic disorders. In a July episode of Squawk on the Street, Cramer discussed the company and said:
“[On firm announcing to not comply with the FDA request to stop shipping] Okay, if RFK Jr. agrees with that I guess they don’t need to. I mean this is part of the new government. And the new government, some people would say, is not in keeping what keeping the government of Hamilton and Jefferson, the founding fathers. And I would come back and say, they too have become irrelevant right now. They could be relevant later on but I’m not auditioning for the show of Hamilton here…
…Look they should be prosecuted if they go after them. Because they kill people. And historically, the FDA is a very good institution. . .our FDA’s the best in the world. They may think it’s not, I know it is. . .And that’s it. You know if you kill people with the trial, that drug is stopped. And last I looked, I would prosecute anyone, any company uses that, I would prosecute the CEO for homicide. Why don’t you just say, listen, I’m going against a charge of homicide because you’re killing people with that. The FDA wants to prove, this is a horrible disease, and the FDA would like, wanted, when this was approved to say, alright, we’ll do anything, these people have nothing. There’s no hope. So we’ll do this. But you can’t kill people on a trial. That’s the FDA’s rule. It’s not like Jim Cramer says, that’s the history of the FDA!”
12. Webull Corporation (NASDAQ:BULL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: N/A
is one of the stocks Jim Cramer talked about. When a caller inquired about the stock during the lightning round, Cramer stated:
“It’s not working. We’re going to stick with, if we want to be in that game, we’re going to be in Coinbase, or yes, we’ll be in Bullish if you want to be there. I’m not going to fight it.”
Webull Corporation (NASDAQ:BULL) operates a digital investment platform that allows retail investors to trade securities through its licensed brokerage services. The company provides access to global markets through its mobile and online trading applications. In a June episode, Cramer said that he is putting the stock on the “do-not-touch list,” as he remarked:
“On April 10th, as everyone was focused on the Liberation Day fallout, Webull came public via SPAC merger… They ditched crypto trading in 2023 as part of the preparation for the SPAC merger that allowed them to come public. But the company seems to be creeping back into crypto now that the deal’s closed, including with a new partnership with an outfit called Kalshi…
So, how do these three brokerages, the platforms, stack up against each other? First, let’s take scale because scale is often what dictates what’s going to win in a brokerage area. At the end of the first quarter… Webull had 24.1 million registered accounts, but it only had 4.7 million funded accounts, keep that in mind, with 12.6 billion in customer assets… Webull and eToro are roughly the same size… Now, what about the financials? We just want to look at revenue growth and some measures of profitability. But comparing the three companies… is surprisingly challenging because they all use different key metrics… For Webull, we use total revenue result… Webull’s been improving rapidly…
For Webull, we see the impact of the company ditching crypto in late 2023 ahead of the deal to come public. Revenue growth disappeared in 2024, and the company’s already modest profits all but disappeared. In the first quarter of this year, however, the numbers improved as it got past the tough comparison period. Revenue grew 32%, not bad. Adjusted operating margin jumped significantly. Very good…
Webull, frankly, I’m putting that one on the do-not-touch list, okay?… I still can’t get past the fact that Webull has 24.1 million registered users, but just 4.7 million funded accounts. What is that about? That tells me that people are treating their Webull account like their DraftKings account, depositing some money, occasionally placing a bet, then moving on.”
11. Bitmine Immersion Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:BMNR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: N/A
Bitmine Immersion Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:BMNR) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer talked about. Noting that the stock is up, a caller asked if it is a buy, and Cramer replied:
“Oh, Bitmine, okay, my colleague David Faber did a very long piece about what’s the real value of this thing in terms of the amount of shares outstanding. And all I can tell you is you don’t want to touch it.”
Bitmine Immersion Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:BMNR) operates as a blockchain company focused on Bitcoin mining through self-mining and hosting services. The company also sells mining equipment and provides data center solutions with power, cooling, connectivity, security, and infrastructure management software. In the episode aired on July 31, when a caller inquired about the stock, Cramer responded:
“Alright, listen to me, sunshine, we don’t play that game. If you want to own that kind of stuff, just go buy some Bitcoin. Go, buy some Ethereum. I own them both. They’re fine.”
10. TE Connectivity plc (NYSE:TEL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 45
TE Connectivity plc (NYSE:TEL) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer talked about. During the lightning round, a caller asked for Cramer’s opinion on the company, and he said:
“I think TE Connectivity is an excellent company. I do like the Internet of Things. I think it’s even doing better than Analog Devices, to tell you the truth.”
TE Connectivity plc (NYSE:TEL) designs and manufactures connectivity and sensor solutions used across industries such as automotive, aerospace, industrial, medical, and communications. The company’s products include connectors, sensors, cables, fiber optics, and related services like prototyping, training, and design support. ClearBridge Investments stated the following regarding TE Connectivity plc (NYSE:TEL) in its Q1 2025 investor letter:
“Meanwhile, we initiated positions in CVS, Inditex and TE Connectivity plc (NYSE:TEL). Poor execution at Aetna, CVS’s health insurance business, and declining retail profits precipitated a decline in the shares which created an attractive entry point. We anticipate that underwriting improvements for its Medicare Advantage program will yield considerable profit growth over the next few years, which should lead to a re-rating in the stock. TE Connectivity makes connectors for a wide range of uses such as automobiles, data centers and medical devices. Its main end markets, auto and industrial, have come under some cyclical pressure, which weighed on the stock and provided an attractive entry point to this strong business.”
9. GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 111
GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer talked about. An Investing Club member asked if they should add, trim, or hold the stock, and Cramer remarked:
“No need to add, no need to trim, just own it. I can’t counsel add because it’s up a great deal. And then what happens if it goes down a hundred points? You won’t be able to add anymore. I can’t cancel or trim because it’s just one of the best in show companies. I even said on the call today, I said this stock was created for this moment, or at least it feels like that. This is a company that does, think about what it does. It’s got the biggest natural gas turbine business. It’s got one of the biggest wind onshore. They got… out of offshore, and it’s got nuclear. Those are the trifecta, and it’s got it and it’s run well by Scott Strazik.”
GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) provides products and services for power generation, wind energy, and electrification technologies. The company’s portfolio includes gas, nuclear, hydro, and steam systems, wind turbines, grid solutions, storage, and software for managing electricity.
8. Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:ADBE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 111
Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:ADBE) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer talked about. When an Investing Club member asked Cramer what had been going on with the stock, he commented:
“Alright, so, I’m going to have to just, sometimes you have to just say someone knows this better than I do. There’s a fellow by the name of Ben Reitzes… He has been coaching me, just saying, listen, understand that AI is eating software. This is a software-as-a-service company. In other words, when you buy them, when you buy Adobe, you get certain seats, you bring them in. It’s a very costly program. It is unbelievably good for graphics, okay? But there’s a new company called Figma that’s come in, and they do a lot of stuff that Adobe does for a little bit cheaper. There’s Canva, which does it for incredibly cheap. So I think that what’s really happened is, is that others have come into their market with a cheaper product that a lot of people feel is just as good, that has artificial intelligence in it, and they can’t maintain their price. So far, their price has been able to be maintained, but that’s the big worry about Adobe. And I have no answer for Adobe. None. I just don’t.”
Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:ADBE) provides software and cloud solutions for creativity, digital documents, and customer experience management.
7. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 97
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer talked about. An Investing Club member asked if the Charitable Trust would consider getting back into the stock, and Cramer replied:
“We said we should discuss this. We felt like, you know what, we missed this AMD going back move, but we put our money into Broadcom, and Broadcom was terrific. Now I will say this, this AMD move is extraordinary, and that’s because Lisa Su has caught up with some of the lower-end chips of what Jensen Huang’s doing in NVIDIA. And this was a remarkable move. Do I wish that I had gotten it? Absolutely. I’ve kicked myself. I said that several times, that I kicked myself about it. But you know what? There’s just you, you gotta put that outta your head and move on.”
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) designs and supplies semiconductors, including CPUs, GPUs, AI accelerators, and adaptive SoCs for consumer, gaming, data center, and embedded applications.
6. The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 102
The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer talked about. An Investing Club member asked Cramer if it is wise to buy more shares of a winning stock at a higher price after initially buying too few. Here’s what he had to say in response:
“We have to ask ourselves, has something changed? If something has changed and it’s really dramatic, then we will pay up. Jeff and I talked a bunch of times about whether we should pay it for Home Depot or not because we didn’t catch the bottom. We bought some, and then it flew up, and I’m a big believer that we’re gonna get rate cuts, and we said buy some Home Depot. So, I think that the thing that changed was that we knew we were going to get the rate cut from the CPI. So yes, if something changes, you can violate, but it has to change. It can’t just be because you say, ooh, I really like that.”
The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) is a home improvement retailer that provides building materials, décor, lawn and garden supplies, and maintenance products. In addition, the company offers installation services, tool rentals, and online platforms serving homeowners, professionals, and contractors.
5. ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 80
ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer talked about. When a caller inquired about the company, Cramer remarked:
“I’m concerned about the stock. Let me tell you why: Because Applied Materials reported tonight, and they had some down beat things to say. I think that’s going to hit ASML. I think ASML is doing incredibly well, but I do think that this group is all joined at the hip, and ASML will go down tomorrow off of Applied Materials. Let it bottom if you want to buy more. I prefer to not be in the semiconductor capital equipment companies right now because they’re too linked to China and therefore, they are too erratic.”
ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) develops and services advanced semiconductor equipment, specializing in lithography, metrology, and inspection systems. Its portfolio includes extreme and deep ultraviolet lithography machines, computational lithography software, and upgrade and support solutions for chipmakers.
4. Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 82
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer talked about. Cramer said that he has been “paying close attention” to the company stock. He commented:
“Now, I’ve been paying close attention to this one because Cisco’s the newest holding for my Charitable Trust. We bought it late last month, and it had a quick 3% gain going into yesterday’s close. Today, though, we have a smaller gain, but even though the quarter wasn’t perfect, I think it was net positive…
In the end, I think most of the hand-wringing over the lackluster parts of the quarter missed the big picture here. Instead, investors should be focused on the really strong momentum that Cisco’s seeing for its AI-related products and services. Those are the ones we saw him put together with Jensen Huang and NVIDIA…
I want you to put it all together. This is what I heard from Cisco: don’t sweat the stock’s small pullback. There was a lot to like from the quarter, especially the strong orders, which gives me confidence that Cisco’s inline guidance will ultimately prove to be conservative… I think they were practicing… under promise and overdeliver.
The bottom line: When you see Cisco pulling back after what I thought was a positive quarter, my recommendation is that you do some buying, not selling, because this is a great company with great management that’s finally riding the AI wave that I wanted so much for them to do. And hey, when the hyperscalers are building data centers all over the place, how can you not have some networking equipment exposure?”
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) designs and sells networking hardware, software, and security solutions that enable connectivity across data centers, enterprises, and wireless networks.
3. 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 talked about. Cramer discussed the stock’s massive decline in price during the episode. He stated:
“All right, what in the world just happened to the stock of Universal Technical Institute? That’s a company that offers training programs for jobs and transportation, skilled trades, in the healthcare, among other fields. Last week, the company, memorably ticker UTI, reported what might have seemed like a better-than-expected quarter. It was a nice top and bottom line beat, management raising their forecast for full-year revenue and new student starts. But somehow, the stock plunged nearly 19% and it kept sliding lower since then, largely because Universal Technical also reported weaker-than-expected new student starts. Now, some of that comes down to the fact that the stock was up more than 90% over the previous year going into the quarter. So I think it was priced for perfection.”
Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE:UTI) provides education and training programs in transportation, skilled trades, and healthcare fields. The company’s brands and campuses provide certificates, diplomas, and degrees along with manufacturer-specific advanced training programs.
2. SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOFI)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 44
SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOFI) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer talked about. A caller asked if Cramer thinks the stock can go to $35-40, and he replied:
“Okay, so, I recommended this stock at $4, $5, $6… Anybody who listens to me, I want you tomorrow to take your cost basis out, and you let the rest run, and we will be thrilled. That’s my take on this one. Can’t buy it now. Cost basis out, rest run.”
SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOFI) provides a range of financial services and products, including lending, banking, investing, insurance, and credit solutions. When a caller asked about the company in a July episode, Cramer replied:
“Alright, now normally, people would think that since you recommended… at 3, at 5, and at 7, at 9, that you would call and just run for the hills at $20, but no. There’s still so many bankers who have a Sell on the thing. I’m staying with Noto.”
1. Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 60
Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer talked about. A caller asked if investors should take advantage of the recent dip and buy the stock. In response, Cramer said:
“They’re very poorly run. I don’t know this new CEO, but they are incredibly poorly run, and I’m not going to bet that they suddenly are going to change stripes… They take my breath away about how bad, how poorly they are.”
Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) develops and markets pharmaceutical products focused on diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and rare disorders. While discussing the stock in a July episode, Cramer said that it is not for him. He commented:
“I want you to know I don’t want Novo Nordisk… and the reason that is because if there’s going to be talk about tariffs on foreign drugs versus Eli Lilly, Novo is going to have an even less of an edge on this thing. So I say Novo, we don’t need the bottom finish. It’s not for me.”
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