Jim Cramer Discussed These 10 NASDAQ 100 Stocks Recently

2. Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 68

Including Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) in the worst performers’ list, Cramer discussed:

“Let’s start with something critical: Intel and its financial situation. Intel is a national treasure people, it can’t be allowed to fail. Too dire a possibility? I don’t think so. Its balance sheet is a mess, its product line isn’t good enough, I don’t know if it can deliver on many of its promises to [the] government. Sure, nice guy messianic former CEO Pat Gelsinger is gone but so what? Intel needs a plan in 30 days, so the stock will keep coming down even after last year’s staggering 60% decline. Intel’s too big to be bought, too indebted to be finessed… The risk is existential.”

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) designs and manufactures computing products, including processors, memory, and AI solutions, serving sectors like cloud services, OEMs, and digital transformation with hardware and software platforms. For many years, the company was the world’s largest chipmaker. However, recent challenges have made it increasingly difficult for the company to maintain its leading position.

The company has been grappling with its shrinking market share in semiconductors, particularly as disruptive companies like Nvidia and AMD have made significant strides. According to a Wall Street Journal article, Intel’s competitive position has become increasingly precarious, with AMD in particular gaining traction in the crucial data center market.

Despite these challenges, Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) has continued to innovate in certain areas. In a prior earnings call, former CEO Gelsinger referred to the Lunar Lake processors for laptops as a financial failure. However, Intel’s fortunes shifted with the release of the Intel Arc B580. Recently, the co-CEO, Michelle Johnston Holtshaus, reassured the public of the company’s commitment to the discrete graphics market, emphasizing that it would continue to make investments in this area, as she explained during her presentation at CES 2025.