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 commented on President Trump’s latest batch of tariffs. While the President did give automakers a 30-day reprieve later on and walked back some tariffs, the fluidity of the situation meant that Cramer made his comments before either development. Cramer started by comparing the current situation to Lewis Carroll’s well-known children’s story:
“Yeah, look I, maybe I’m in Alice in Wonderland. . . but I heard a President last night. That I think is intransigent and is in no mood to do anything other than raise tariffs. To help the American people and to pay for things. And then I hear people walk it back. I read Commerce Secretary Lutnick’s comments this morning on Bloomberg, I listened to the idea that there might be a deal. I’m like ‘huh’? . . .Did anyone listen to it? I mean it was ferocious. The American people obviously love, they voted, the American people voted for ferocity. They got ferociousness. Why are we saying that lesser people who are involved in this cabinet are saying there could be a deal, when the guy we heard last night, I think he’s just saying you know what, not only are there no deals but everyone’s going to have to take pain.”
One immediate impact of the tariffs, according to the CNBC TV show host, will be on car affordability in America. According to Cramer:
“[I]t’ll be much more affordable to buy something from Korea, from Japan. It’s gonna shrink the new car volumes, customers are used to affordability. I don’t, I guess what I’m saying is that it’s not about Mexico and about Canada. It’s about our car companies and whether they’ll be crushed by this.”
In response, Cramer’s co-host asked him about his thoughts on the government’s belief that the tariffs are supposed to enhance the car companies’ future. “[T]hat’s laughable,” he replied. “They take years trying to get it so they can compete. That was what it was. People seem to forget that there was a big reason why we did this. The Republicans wanted our companies to be able to compete. On an even keel globally. . .the old Republicans. And that’s over, okay,” Cramer added.
After analyzing the immediate impact of the tariffs, Cramer somberly concluded that “Somebody has to be sacrificed” for the President to achieve his goals.
He also commented on Secretary Lutnick suggesting that autos might be compliant under USMCA. Cramer believes that “Lutnick is the, he’s a private. And the President is a five-star general.” He likes Lutnick and believes the Secretary is trying to be constructive. “But, I, the President is not about being constructive right now. He’s about making a point. And hate him or like him, he’s making a point. He’s, this is not David, an everybody wins scenario,” he added.
As to how the administration’s belief about the benefits from tariffs to US companies contrasts with his view, here’s what Cramer said:
“Well they got a longer term view. But, now. I mean the reason why we went to Canada is cause we can’t make it as cheap here. That’s why we went. To make these companies competitive against [Japanese car companies]. That’s why we did it! We seem to forget why we did it! It was because our companies were being crushed by foreign companies. . . So we came up with this great plan to make it so we were competitive. And that was then and this is now. Look the President is very abject about saying there’s gonna be pain. So I think that we as people who are trying to figure out things should really get in the pain business.”
Our Methodology
To make our list of the stocks that Jim Cramer talked about, we listed down all the stocks he mentioned during CNBC’s Squawk on the Street aired on March 5th.
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).
11. Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 13
Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM), a Japanese company, is one of the largest car manufacturers in the world. Cramer’s previous comments about the firm have recommended viewers to buy the shares as he believes they continue to just post gains. Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM)’s stock has lost 24% over the past year and 2% year-to-date. His latest remarks about the firm shared that the company could benefit from higher demand if the tariffs made American cars more expensive. Here’s what Cramer said about Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM):
“Well, we don’t have to have a high pass-through because we can just go buy Toyota! They got the de minimis tax!”
10. Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:DB)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 15
Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:DB) is a German bank that is one of the largest in the world. Its stock has also performed well lately as the shares have gained 72% over the past year and 39% year-to-date. Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:DB)’s shares jumped by a strong 14% in March after the firm benefited from the German government’s latest decision to announce a massive stimulus to boost its ailing economy. Cramer mentioned the spending announcement and linked Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:DB) with its US peer JPMorgan Chase:
“How about the fact that Deutsche Bank stock was up huge last night. Even as JPMorgan’s was down. Now what does that say?”
9. Banco Santander S.A. (NYSE:SAN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 17
Banco Santander S.A. (NYSE:SAN) is a Spanish bank that has been one of Cramer’s favorite stocks. The host has commented on it several times this year, going as far as to list Banco Santander S.A. (NYSE:SAN) as his favorite European stock amidst a rise in European stock markets that has put American markets to shame. The shares haven’t disappointed either as they are up by 48% year-to-date. Here are Cramer’s latest comments about Banco Santander S.A. (NYSE:SAN):
“[On how he liked the CEO] Well no I like money. Okay. I like money. And the money being made in Santander is incredible. Look at that stock. It’s parabolic. That’s a Mag 7. Is it a Mag 8?”
8. Haleon plc (NYSE:HLN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 21
Haleon plc (NYSE:HLN) is a British consumer health products company. While the British economy has been struggling, the firm’s shares haven’t as they have gained 21.5% over the past year. Haleon plc (NYSE:HLN)’s stock has been driven by robust financial performance which saw the firm grow its H1 2024 by 11% on the back of lower inflation and cost management. Cramer’s comments for the firm surrounded a potential acquisition of US consumer goods firm Kenvue:
“[On taking over Kenvue] No, they’d have to use stock. Stock has been up.”
7. AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 24
AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV) is an American defense contractor that sells munition systems and other equipment. Its shares have lost 24% over the past year as the firm has struggled from negative analyst coverage and weak financials. AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV)’s shares dropped by 16% in December when its fiscal Q3 midpoint guidance of $805 million missed analyst estimates of $828 million and Q2 profit dropped to $7.5 million from the year-ago quarter’s $17 million. AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV)’s shares lost another 18% in March after it reported a $3.1 million fiscal Q3 loss. Here’s what Cramer said:
“[On high German government spending] I know but they better give something to AeroVironment. Holy cow.”
6. The Campbell’s Company (NYSE:CPB)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 30
The Campbell’s Company (NYSE:CPB) is an American food products firm. Its shares have lost 5.4% over the past year and are down by 5.3% year-to-date. The firm has struggled due to a variety of factors such as high inflation, a profit hit from selling its popcorn business, and sluggish consumer demand due to high inflation and other trends. The Campbell’s Company (NYSE:CPB)’s shares dipped by 3% in March after the firm’s fiscal Q2 earnings and sales dropped by 2% and 8%, respectively. Here’s what Cramer said about the firm:
“I’m sorry I was looking at the new Goldfish I just got. The Harry Potter butterbeer Goldfish. Now they’ve been trying to extend the line of Goldfish. There’s all sorts of different kinds of Goldfish. It’s almost like. I’m waiting for the one that we had that died and floated to the top.”
“The problem is snacks. Snacks are doing quite badly. Okay. Much worse than people thought. The conference call was a little grim. David this [writes GLP-1 on the stock price graph] is what they won’t talk about. Why won’t they talk about it? Because it’s existential. That’s not like wait a second, we got Harry Potter and next we’re gonna have Superman and after that we’re gonna have, I don’t know, Ryan Reynolds. Just Ryan Reynolds. Whatever. Women love him. Okay. So there you go.”
“Maybe they should have GLP-1 in the food.”
“But I will tell you, David, that this is a shock. Because snacks have been pretty good. And Goldfish has been one of the greatest brands of all time.”
“Really bad. The organic sales guidance. The volume mix declines, lower net price, pretzels aren’t selling well. . . David, one thing is really good about it. This stuff is not made in Mexico. Okay.”
5. Kenvue Inc. (NYSE:KVUE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 38
Kenvue Inc. (NYSE:KVUE) is an American consumer goods company focusing on personal care and well-being. Its shares have gained 17% over the past year, primarily on the back of a 17% jump since February’s start. Kenvue Inc. (NYSE:KVUE)’s shares rose in February after the firm’s fiscal fourth quarter and full-year results led to a 2% drop. The results saw the firm forecast a 1% midpoint 2025 profit-per-share growth, which sharply contrasted with analyst estimates of 5.6%. Here’s what Cramer said about Kenvue Inc. (NYSE:KVUE):
“I am more in favor of Kenvue than I was yesterday, David. Appreciate you coming in early to do that one. But no, this is a good example.”
“Don’t you think that there is a belief with adjustment that there’s not a lot of urgency here. That they’ve kind of been taking their time at the same time this could be a tremendous consolidator of all these companies that have been spun off that really all have their own boards and the administrative stuff. You really don’t want that. When you’re selling into Amazon, direct-to-consumer, you’re selling into clubs, that’s where you sell this stuff. Now Larry Merlo, chairman of the board, he comes from CVS, but he is there. I thought that both Hofstetter and Mann, sounded like total hitters. . . And I have more respect for Jeff Smith than, I mean Jeff Smith will come on the board with a real plan. And I think if they don’t go with the plan, I think that there could be a change . . .”
4. Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 39
Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS) is a toy company known for its brands such as Monopoly and Nerf. Its shares are up by 23% over the past year on the back of a massive 13% jump in February. Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS)’s shares soared in February after the firm’s Q4 revenue and profit of $1.1 billion and $0.46 beat analyst estimates of $1 billion and $0.34. It also outlined a $1 billion cost-savings plan for a market worried about the inflationary effects of tariffs. Cramer commented on the stock’s recent performance:
“Okay, I’ve got Hasbro which has been on a winning streak.”
3. Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 45
Cramer spent quite some time directly and indirectly discussing Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) during his show. After all, the show’s theme was around President Trump’s tariffs and how they could affect auto manufacturers. The CNBC host’s previous comments about Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) have attributed some of the firm’s woes to its own making. This time around, he cautioned viewers against owning the shares:
“[On whether reciprocal tariffs will change anything] It doesn’t matter whatever they are that it’s gonna raise the price of Ford and GM versus Toyota and versus Kia.”
“And I just think you have to recognize, you can’t own Ford and GM in this environment. Because they have to lose. It’s okay. They have to either cut their margins, cut their price and get hammered. And that’s why the stocks are, four times, five times earnings. Or they lose shares to Kia, and to Toyota.”
“Right, well now I know why Ford’s, why GM sells at five, I’ve been trying to figure out why does GM sell at five times earnings. Despite that big buyback and all the great things. Why does Ford, which is really done a lot of things under Farley, selling at five times earnings. And the answer is, and it’s what finally told us, is cause they’re screwed. That someone has to be sacrificed. It’s okay.”
“I can tell you that someone has to be sacrificed. And it’s the margins of Ford and GM and the shareholders. Until . . .we realize that Canada wasn’t cheap and we’re cheaper. It was also a way to get away from the unions. I mean, I think we, look, I was a shop steward. I worked and led a wild cat strike. Fired immediately. Not so great.”
2. Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE:CARR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 48
Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE:CARR) is an American building products company that provides ventilation and temperature control systems. Its shares are up by a modest 9.8% over the past year and have shed 4.3% year-to-date. Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE:CARR)’s shares have struggled in 2025 due to ‘cooling’ investor interest in AI and data center stocks after the DeepSeek selloff. Cramer commented on the firm’s AI exposure:
“And David Gitlin, Carrier, HVAC, they moved very aggressively into the data center. And ever since they moved into the data center, every one of those stocks has been crushed. But that maybe coincidental, maybe not.”
1. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE:ANF)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 51
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE:ANF) is a well-known American apparel retailer. The stock has lost a sizable 34% over the past year as the firm struggles to recover from a 16% drop in January. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE:ANF)’s shares dropped after the firm’s fourth quarter. The reaction left observers puzzled as the firm’s 7.5% midpoint Q4 growth guidance was higher than the previous figure of 6% in an environment where the broader retail sector has struggled with inflation and low consumer spending. Here’s what Cramer said about Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE:ANF):
“I thought Abercrombie, it had some good things to say, but overall they didn’t.”
“We are Carl, without a doubt, getting to this moment where you have for retail, I don’t wanna call it existential, but you do have a situation where they had a good quarter but they can’t assess the tariffs. They can’t assess the weakness. They’re all worried about, jobs. And Abercombie and Fitch, by the way, is a very, very good company. Very good company. Reports a quarter that looks okay if you read everything you’d say okay but little, little worried about what’s going to happen with tariffs. And people just take it out and they shoot it. Now one of these like, you know, Best Buy yesterday’s guide, they have 60% China 20% Mexico so we get that. But this is a good company that was on a huge winning streak but now it’s so despised. When you mention to me what could happen down the road after the President’s done with this part of the agenda. You know you look at this and you’ll say how did that get there. But right now you just can’t look at it. You just say, I can’t buy Abercrombie. And it’s rather amazing because boy they were on a hot streak . . .
“And a lot of people felt that last dip was buyable and that was clearly not the case.”
ANF is a stock Jim Cramer recently discussed. While we acknowledge the potential of ANF 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. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ANF but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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