Jim Cramer’s Latest Lightning Round: 8 Stocks in Focus

On Monday, Mad Money host Jim Cramer addressed President Trump’s proposal to eliminate quarterly earnings reports in favor of biannual disclosures.

“Trump did post an incredibly provocative suggestion for the business world. Rather than making public companies report every quarter, he wants to let them report every six months, like they do basically in the European Union.”

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While Cramer recognized that the idea raises a legitimate debate, he made it clear that he does not support the shift. As someone who closely examines every earnings call and tracks quarterly results with deep interest, Cramer emphasized his belief that frequent financial updates are essential. He said, “You can’t really make good decisions, certainly about money, without that quarterly data.” However, he also spoke from experience as a former public company founder and acknowledged that the current system is burdensome for businesses.

Cramer described quarterly reporting as a “nightmare” from a company’s point of view, suggesting that the process can be especially taxing on smaller firms that lack the resources to manage the constant cycle of projections and disclosures. He noted that reporting every six months could relieve some of that pressure and reduce the intensity around meeting short-term forecasts. Still, he added that “a quarterly report is not too much to ask.”

Even so, Cramer acknowledged that the issue is not one-sided. He pointed out that the current system is especially tough on smaller companies, which often struggle to keep up with the demands of quarterly reporting. He noted that shifting to a six-month schedule could help ease that strain. He also criticized the rigid expectations that come with quarterly forecasting, saying that “if we could get away from the endless forecasting straitjacket that occurs each quarter, it could make the process less onerous.”

“But in the end, if you’re an investor, you want as much information as possible. Anything that allows companies to give you less data is bad for your portfolio. So even though it’s a headache for companies to report every three months, I think it is much better than the alternatives.”

Jim Cramer’s Latest Lightning Round: 8 Stocks in Focus

Our Methodology

For this article, we compiled a list of 8 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during the episode of Mad Money aired on September 15. We listed the stocks in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment as of the second quarter of 2025, which was taken from Insider Monkey’s database of over 900 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’s Latest Lightning Round: 8 Stocks in Focus

8. AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (NYSE:AB)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 6

AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (NYSE:AB) is one of the stocks in focus in Jim Cramer’s latest lightning round. Answering a caller’s query about the stock, Cramer said:

“Okay, now that is a company that historically has had a very big yield and is actually not a dangerous stock. I’m going to say, I think you’re okay, AllianceBernstein.”

AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (NYSE:AB) is an investment management firm that serves institutional and individual clients, providing portfolio management across equities, fixed income, commodities, currencies, and real estate-related assets.

On September 10, the company reported a rise in assets under management to $844 billion in August 2025, up from $830 billion in July, driven by market gains and overall net inflows, with contributions from Institutions and Private Wealth partly offset by Retail outflows. Furthermore, AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (NYSE:AB) has been covered by 8 analysts with 2 Buy-equivalent and 6 Hold-equivalent ratings. The average analyst price target of $41 represents around an 8.1% upside, as of September 15.

7. loanDepot, Inc. (NYSE:LDI)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 8

loanDepot, Inc. (NYSE:LDI) is one of the stocks in focus in Jim Cramer’s latest lightning round. A caller asked whether the stock, which they have been actively trading and has shown consistent gains, could be a strong long-term investment. Cramer remarked:

“I don’t understand why that stock, how that stock could be up this much. I mean, I know about the Fed, obviously everyone does, but it’s losing money. I’m not there for that one. I’m just not there for that. I can’t understand it.”

loanDepot, Inc. (NYSE:LDI) is a mortgage lender that uses digital technology to streamline the borrowing process, providing a range of lending and real estate services to support homeownership. On September 8, Citron Research posted a report named “The Hidden Gem of Housing Finance” arguing that the company’s real value lies in its $117 billion servicing portfolio, which generates steady fees, drives new originations through high recapture rates, and is worth about $5.50–$5.75 per share based on peer multiples. With mortgage rates easing and refinance demand building, Citron sees it positioned for significant upside and set a conservative valuation path above $6 per share and called it the next major housing finance re-rating.

6. IES Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:IESC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 24

IES Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:IESC) is one of the stocks in focus in Jim Cramer’s latest lightning round. A caller asked for Cramer’s thoughts on the stock during the lightning round, and he commented:

“I know that electrical contractor, that again, is going higher because it is data center. Do you see the pattern, everybody?”

IES Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:IESC) provides electrical, mechanical, and technology solutions, including communications infrastructure, residential and commercial installations, renewable energy systems, and power equipment manufacturing and services. Additionally, the company also delivers design, construction, and maintenance for industrial, institutional, and utility projects. Cramer mentioned the company in a February episode and said:

“That’s, that’s, that’s Jeffrey Gendell’s company. He is a, just an amazing man. He’s had a long history in understanding about this kind of business and I salute him. Gendell is a buy, okay. That’s the way I look at IESC, it’s Gendell and he’s a winner.”

Since the above comment was aired, IES Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:IESC) stock has gained nearly 53%.

5. Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE:LEU)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 27

Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE:LEU) is one of the stocks in focus in Jim Cramer’s latest lightning round. During the lightning round, a caller inquired about LEU, and Cramer said:

“Okay, now this is a good example like Oklo. Okay, I am a big believer in nuclear power. This is a company that, it supplies low-enriched uranium, and that means it’s going higher. And now do I want it? All I can tell you is I’m not fighting it, okay? I’ve fought all these speculative stocks. This is really not even that speculative. It’s got a lot of money. I think it’s a good stock.”

Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE:LEU) provides nuclear fuel products, including enriched uranium and related materials. The company also delivers technical, engineering, and manufacturing services to public and private sector clients. Cramer discussed the company in a July episode. He commented:

“Okay, and I know the company. Centrus Energy fits in this particular niche that I’ve been saying, along with Oklo. I am not going to go against anybody who wants to buy uranium or nuclear because it’s coming back. Do I think it’s going to come back within the time frame… That’s no longer necessary. We have a new kind of market. I believe… when you get the book that comes out at the end of September, How to Make Money in Any Market, you will see that I endorse having one speculative position in your portfolio. Make Centrus your speculative position, and I say you are on my team. You will make money in any market.”

4. Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 43

Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE) is one of the stocks in focus in Jim Cramer’s latest lightning round. Noting that Cramer was “less sanguine” about the stock, a caller asked about it. Here’s what Mad Money’s host had to say in response:

“Well, but here’s the issue. As I went public with Oklo in the 30s, once you have an energy stock, small SMR, here’s the deal. We’re so short [on] energy that any, we need every single one. I’m including Bloom. So I understand why it’s going up. It’s not my cup of tea, but I understand why it’s going up.”

Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE) develops and installs solid-oxide fuel cell systems that generate electricity from various fuels without combustion, and also provides electrolyzers for hydrogen production. The company’s solutions serve industries ranging from utilities and data centers to healthcare, education, and manufacturing. Columbia Seligman Global Technology Fund stated the following regarding Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE) in its Q1 2025 investor letter:

“The fund held an off-benchmark position in Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE), which manufactures solid oxide fuel cells that produce electricity and provide an alternative, non-traditional source of energy. Our investment thesis on Bloom is that its technology offers a solution to the electricity shortage that overhangs new AI data-center construction in the U.S. and around the world. Bloom’s fuel cells plug into a natural gas line that fits on a data center’s campus without taking up much real estate, and the company can ramp up power delivery quicker than other energy providers. Bloom’s stock price bounced back after moving lower following the DeepSeek announcement. A concern was that if companies could develop AI models that use fewer chips and therefore less energy, the need for more energy to power data centers could wind down. Despite Bloom’s stock price bouncing back in February, the stock ultimately moved lower during the quarter due to volatility at the end of March, in line with the majority of the equity market.”

3. QXO, Inc. (NYSE:QXO)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 65

QXO, Inc. (NYSE:QXO) is one of the stocks in focus in Jim Cramer’s latest lightning round. During the lightning round, a caller inquired about the stock, and Cramer said:

“Alright, this is a Brad Jacobs company. Brad Jacobs’s money. I’m not going to go against him. I’m going to go with him. You should buy the stock.”

QXO, Inc. (NYSE:QXO) supplies a wide range of roofing, siding, waterproofing, and construction materials, along with related tools and equipment, serving contractors, distributors, and suppliers. In a July episode, Cramer discussed the stock in light of the Big Beautiful Bill. He stated:

“So if the Senate’s version of the Big Beautiful budget Bill, which makes the mortgage reduction permanent, ends up passing, then it’s obvious you should be buying the housing stocks because this market is run by Captain Obvious and you can get ahead of Captain Obvious. Throw in that there’s a buyer of anything housing related, a vehicle called QXO run by Brad Billionaire Jacobs, hostile or not, and you got a pretty darn good story.”

2. Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 66

Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) is one of the stocks in focus in Jim Cramer’s latest lightning round. A caller asked about the near- and long-term outlook for the company, noting its recent performance and the impact of declining interest rates on gold’s attractiveness compared to other investments. Cramer replied:

“Look, I think Newmont is excellent. I do prefer Agnico Eagle, but Newmont is absolutely fine. Those are the two, my two favorite golds.”

Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) is a mining company focused on gold production and exploration, while also developing resources in copper, silver, zinc, lead, and other metals. ClearBridge Investments stated the following regarding Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter:

“Our largest new position during the quarter was Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM), a gold and precious metals miner. In addition to adding a level of insulation against further deterioration of the U.S. federal debt situation, as gold prices would likely rally, Newmont’s ability to generate free cash flows has tracked gold prices higher — a fundamental tailwind that has not yet been captured at its current valuation. Newmont has also initiated a strategic plan to return capital to shareholders and pay down its debt.”

1. Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 85

Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) is one of the stocks in focus in Jim Cramer’s latest lightning round. A caller asked what Cramer thinks of the stock during the lightning round, and he said:

“Yeah, someone downgraded Lam Research the other day, and I said, are you out of your mind? That’s the chief intellectual property of semiconductor capital equipment. I think it is still a buy even though it just had this parabolic move, up 65%. Do not sell it. Be a buyer.”

Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) develops and services semiconductor processing equipment as it provides a broad range of deposition, etch, and cleaning systems designed to support integrated circuit manufacturing. In a July episode, Cramer mentioned the stock and said:

“It would be best to accept that the food and drugs can have a couple of days in the sun, can’t they? The old leaders pulled back a little, can’t they? Don’t be in a hurry to buy Lam Research or Applied Materials or KLA… not after we had Texas Instruments on tonight, and I wouldn’t step in front of the falling knives that represent any of the meme stocks…”

While we acknowledge the potential of Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) 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 LRCX and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

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