In this piece, we will look at the stocks that Jim Cramer recently discussed.
In a recent appearance on CNBC’s Squawk on the Street, Jim Cramer commented on the markets ending another volatile week that ended after a massive $4 trillion selloff on the flagship S&P since the post-election week at the start. He outlined that one of the reasons that the week was tumultuous was that the President was “creating pain” and then saying that he was sorry that there was pain. Cramer described Trump as gratuitous and added that the President’s comments had killed the stock market’s rally.
Cramer added that Trump “took stocks that had been going up and reversed them.” Cramer’s “still trying to figure out where the playbook gets us,” with the playbook being the President’s comments about the economy and the stock market. Following this, co-host Carl Quintanilla asked Cramer his thoughts on rumors that the President was trying to drive the bond market down but the strategy didn’t seem to be working. In response, Cramer shared:
“Well I mean we had that auction yesterday, that didn’t go well. People are kind of so on edge, but it’s not a flight to quality on edge. It’s more of a flight to cash. I mean you know this idea of a flight to quality does include that there’s part of the curve you wanna be on. Now when I was a hedge fund manager, there were these moments where you’d hear flight to quality and that meant that you really wanted to be in 30-day paper. We’re kind of back to that. Because that’s safe. 30-day’s very safe. It’s safe from the President. And, look, I, the President’s interesting. He’s intriguing. But I never really felt that we were in a moment where stocks should go down. When I was close to President Biden, when he would ride the train and I’d see him in Washington. . .I would have the page [inaudible] stock price, he would come over [inaudible] I don’t care about any of those. Well the President does. He wants them lower! He’s creating a sale. I mean I’ve never seen a sale mandated before. No one was thinking that he was going to bend when he did that gratuitous tweet.”
Cramer wondered who was in the President’s ear and was advising him on his social media posts. Shifting gears, he shared that “we need steel to be a viable industry” especially as steel prices had struggled through 2024. Cramer has shared multiple times in his previous appearances that a big reason behind the lower steel prices is cheap Chinese steel flooding the US market through Mexico and he wants the President to act on it to stabilize the market.
He also shared his thoughts on the President’s latest round of tariffs on expensive alcoholic beverages:
“I mean the average person in this country, Republican or Democrat, is struggling to try to figure out what it means to put a big tariff on champagne other than the fact that well hey, there goes champagne. There’s no context. There’s no understanding. There’s no webpage you can go to that allows you to learn. You know you’re on your own, everyone’s on their own trying to figure out what a tariff means. And you know what does a tariff means? Well it means Pernod, Pernod Ricard, more expensive. You know, Campari. I mean people don’t know what these things mean. I’m in the liquor business and I don’t know what it means.”
Our Methodology
To make our list of the stocks that Jim Cramer talked about, we listed down the stocks he mentioned during CNBC’s Squawk on the Street aired on March 14th.
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. Kohl’s Corporation (NYSE:KSS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 26
Kohl’s Corporation (NYSE:KSS) is a retailer that is a regular feature of Cramer’s morning show but for all the wrong reasons. Its shares are down by a massive 41% year-to-date due to significant drops in its same-store sales and revenue. For instance, Kohl’s Corporation (NYSE:KSS)’s stock dipped by 24% in March after the firm’s fourth-quarter revenue and same-store sales dropped by 9.4% and 6.7%, respectively. In his previous remarks about the firm, Cramer speculated that Kohl’s Corporation (NYSE:KSS) might be a lost cause due to the high same-store sales drop. Here are his latest comments:
“And plus I mean, it’s just been a relentless, you know, . . .Remember, Kohl’s and Sephora, the only thing that’s keeping Kohl’s around is Sephora. That was a great deal that they made. But I want to stay away from cosmetics nine ways to Sunday. Anything cosmetics is just no place to be.”
10. e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (NYSE:ELF)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 35
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (NYSE:ELF) is an American cosmetics company with a presence in the UK and Canada along with its home country. As has been the case with several other cosmetics firms, its shares have disappointed lately. e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (NYSE:ELF)’s stock is down by a massive 67% over the past year and has shed 48% year-to-date. Despite the fact that it operates in the more affordable section of the market, the firm has struggled with weak demand. Its shares dipped by 20% in February after e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (NYSE:ELF)’s annual sales guidance was cut to $1.305 billion midpoint from an earlier $1.325 billion. Here’s what Cramer said about the firm:
“And plus I mean, it’s just been a relentless, you know, Elf has been terrible. . . .This is a very challenged group and you got to be careful about cosmetics. . . But I want to stay away from cosmetics nine ways to Sunday. Anything cosmetics is just no place to be.”
9. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 38
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) is one of the biggest food companies in America. Its shares have lost 21% over the past year amidst trouble in the grain and oilseed business. The firm hasn’t been helped by accounting errors that led it to correct six years of incorrect financials last year. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) announced in February that it plans to cut as much as $750 million in costs over the next couple of years in a bid to streamline its operations. Here is what Cramer said about the firm:
“I mean the farmers are going to get hurt. The farmers, historically, you have Iowa, it’s a primary state but it looks like they’re not really gonna play a role this time. ADM is historically under-managed. Now it’s why it always has a low multiple. And it’s always people who want to, I remember when they used to sponsor Meet the Press. You’d come in and you’d recommend it. . .”
8. Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE:PLNT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 41
Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE:PLNT) is a fitness franchise firm with operations in the US, Canada, Spain, and Mexico. Despite a tight environment for discretionary spending, the firm’s shares have avoided significant losses as they are flat year-to-date. However, this doesn’t mean that Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE:PLNT) has avoided turbulence. The stock dipped by 9% in February after the firm’s annual midpoint same-store sales growth guidance of 5.5% missed analyst estimates of 6.5%. Cramer, however, believes there was merit to the firm’s numbers:
“By the way, Planet Fitness had good numbers.”
7. MicroStrategy Incorporated (NASDAQ:MSTR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 44
MicroStrategy Incorporated (NASDAQ:MSTR) is an enterprise data analytics firm whose stock has been a favorite of the cryptocurrency community. The firm has added copious amounts of Bitcoin to its balance sheet. The exposure has led Cramer to remark that MicroStrategy Incorporated (NASDAQ:MSTR)’s shares have also acted as a proxy for Bitcoin price. However, while both are down year-to-date, Bitcoin leads the shares in losses which is understandable since MicroStrategy Incorporated (NASDAQ:MSTR) has business fundamentals to support its valuation. Here are Cramer’s latest comments about the firm:
“[I]t’s very hard to try to figure out which Bitcoin and how Bitcoin is going up. I think a lot of people feel that Michael Saylor’s become, what is doing and there is a new ETF and then people are talking about tether. They jumped the shark with the [inaudible]. It’s like a really bad. . .”
6. Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 45
Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) has been a frequent feature of Cramer’s morning show recently. The host has discussed the shares in relation to President Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico. He believes that Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) and peer GM are quite exposed to the tariffs due to their impact on the supply chain. Cramer has gone as far as to share that viewers should be cautious about buying the shares. His latest comments about Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) revolved around these themes:
“People don’t realize that when the President was talking about putting bigger tariffs on Canada. That is right, that just kills GM. Explains why their multiple’s really bad. It hurts Ford. These autos are really ping pong. So if you’re gonna hurt GM and Ford, you gotta then put a tariff on Korea. I just wish the President would get over it.”
5. The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 45
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) is another struggling cosmetics firm. The firm has been hit particularly hard due to China’s economic slowdown which has hampered its Asian sales as they account for roughly 30% of the revenue. The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL)’s shares are down by 54% over the past year and they have dropped by 8% year-to-date. February was a tough month for the stock as it shed 22.4% of its value. The shares dipped as The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) announced up to $1.6 billion in restructuring charges and plans to lay off as many as 7,000 employees. Here is what Cramer said about the firm:
“And plus I mean, it’s just been a relentless, you know. .. Estee Lauder is probably one of the worst plunges I have ever seen in my career. This is a very challenged group and you got to be careful about cosmetics. . . .. But I want to stay away from cosmetics nine ways to Sunday. Anything cosmetics is just no place to be.”
4. Ulta Beauty, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULTA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 47
Ulta Beauty, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULTA) is one of the biggest beauty retailers in the US. Its shares have lost 19.8% year-to-date and are down by 35% over the past year. As has been the case with its peers, the stock has struggled due to weak consumer demand which has hurt sales and caused analysts to reduce their estimates. The troubles have also led Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway to sell its stake in the firm. Cramer discussed Ulta Beauty, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULTA) in detail:
“You’ll see the stock of Ulta going up today and it shouldn’t. But that’s because people feel some relief. They must not have read the conference call. Because the conference call is incredible in terms of how the new CEO, actually literally says, we’re doing so many things wrong. I was, Dave Kimbell was the previous CEO, I used to interview him all the time. You know, Kecia Steelman, come at the company itself. She says look, the company’s never been this intense. For the first time, we lost market share in the beauty category. She talks about they just operated, they have to change, they’re missing opportunities and I came back and just said, holy cow, she’s on the war path against the management of the previous team. Now I don’t think she necessarily wanted that to come out that way. But it made me think that she felt that Dave Kimbell and his team, because they’ve replaced a lot of them, have missed the mark. Quite shocking cause Ulta Beauty is one of the few beacons in what has been a horrendous, horrendous cohort.
“No they weren’t [the comps being disappointing] and that’s why the stock is up. And plus I mean, it’s just been a relentless, you know, Elf has been terrible. Estee Lauder is probably one of the worst plunges I have ever seen in my career. This is a very challenged group and you got to be careful about cosmetics. Remember, Kohl’s and Sephora, the only thing that’s keeping Kohl’s around is Sephora. That was a great deal that they made. But I want to stay away from cosmetics nine ways to Sunday. Anything cosmetics is just no place to be.”
3. Coterra Energy Inc (NYSE:CTRA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 48
Coterra Energy Inc (NYSE:CTRA) is an oil and gas company that has previously seen attention from Cramer due to its exposure to natural gas. The stock performance has been lackluster as of late, as the shares have gained 8.3% over the past year and 10% year-to-date. Coterra Energy Inc (NYSE:CTRA)’s shares have gained 12.8% in March’s second week. The stock has benefited from a robust fourth-quarter report which saw the firm increase its dividend by 5% and beat fourth-quarter estimates. Cramer likes the stock:
“We own Coterra for the charitable trust. Why? Because 50% of it is natural gas. Natural gas is very good. And that’s because of demand from data centers. Cause remember, we have 5% demand each year for electricity after having static electricity for decades.”
2. Peloton Interactive, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTON)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 49
Peloton Interactive, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTON) is a fitness firm that sells hardware such as bikes and a subscription platform. The shares have struggled this year as they have lost 26% year-to-date. However, over the year, Peloton Interactive, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTON)’s stock is still up by an impressive 48%. The shares have been on a downward trajectory since mid-February, losing their value amidst broader stock market struggles related to a potential economic slowdown. Here is what Cramer said about Peloton Interactive, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTON):
“[On Cannacord going to buy] The fitness trend is good. Remember the fatness trend is battling with the fitness trend. But I would say that Peloton . . .Subscription businesses are king. And Peloton’s a subscription business. Well done.
“Peloton seems like it’s got churn down. And I like that. That was a very good call. I thought the call was very good. Remember, I’m totally in this camp which just says, younger people want to workout.”
1. Burlington Stores, Inc. (NYSE:BURL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 52
Burlington Stores, Inc. (NYSE:BURL) is an American retailer headquartered in New Jersey. Like other retailers, the shares have struggled as they are down by 18% year-to-date. The shares are up by a modest 6% over the past year. They jumped by 8.7% in March after its fourth-quarter sales grew by 4% and met analyst estimates while EPS of $4.13 beat analyst estimates of $4.07. Burlington Stores, Inc. (NYSE:BURL)’s shares rose as the results marked a breath of fresh air for the otherwise embattled retail industry. Here is what Cramer said about the firm:
“Burlington’s had a really, really good quarter.”
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