In this piece, we will look at the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed.
In his recent appearance on CNBC’s Squawk on the Street, Jim Cramer shared his thoughts about Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk’s role in the government, and its impact on his companies. Commenting on industry concerns about his government efficiency initiatives impacting his companies, Cramer shared that his car, AI, and rocket companies have “seen valuations soar in recent months. So, again, the complainers, they really have to re-think their view.” Musk “is creating wealth,” Cramer believes as he added that “he’s [Musk] changing the government. Cramer then wondered “is he President Musk?” and asked, “Who is The Apprentice?”
When asked if he didn’t have a problem with Musk splitting his between two companies “No, I don’t think that Dorsey, I did give him grief because it wasn’t clear that he was for everyone. This guy favors every. . . .look I, he is remarkable. I just don’t want him to show up here.” He added: “Look what do you do, when it says, Elon Musk on line two? What do you do?”
Another hot topic that caught Cramer’s attention was the SEC purportedly dropping its lawsuit against one of the most popular cryptocurrency exchanges in the US. He shared:
“Well look we always know why that it was a parochial view that Gensler took. Uh, Tim Massad over at the CFTC didn’t take that view. He said it’s going to be huge overseas because they got even less faith in their currencies than we have. And it’s got a lot more portability than gold. Look I’m a huge believer in it. I don’t know if I’m a believer in the big buck, but I am a believer in Bitcoin because I believe the thirty-six trillion, I don’t know what to do with the thirty-six trillion in debt. I haven’t figured that out yet, David. I thought when you spoke to Mnuchin, you would push the fifty-year bond that you know I’m a huge believer in.”
However, Cramer added that what former SEC chair Gary Gensler also “really didn’t like were the bogus coins! He didn’t wanna see that. . .”
The CNBC TV host also commented on AI and Elon Musk’s xAI announcing its Grok 3 model Cramer thought “it [Grok 3] was okay. I think it was okay. I don’t know, I caught ChatGPT hallucinating like mad yesterday. No, look, Grok 3’s okay.” When asked whether AI could displace a substantive portion of jobs, he shared:
“I do think that there are few employees in areas that are drone-like, but there are more employees in areas that really matter. I know Salesforce, really interesting that they’re talking about, you know lack of code. But they are putting people in a much more substantive position. I think banks will do that too.”
Returning to Musk’s DOGE, he shared:
“Uh, okay so there’s this piece in The Atlantic. ‘This Is What Happens When The DOGE Guys Take Over,’ I want everyone to read this piece. Because what it is, is they come in and they take over your computer and they find out what’s wrong. And it is devastating. Because they’re going into companies and really, and they’re going into agencies, and just taking over. It’s a great article. It’s heavily sourced. And one of the things that’s really clear about it is they’re winning. They’re winning. They’re finding things. And they tend to be in agencies so far which are, you know, I think of like the Consumer Financial Safety Board. They’re in there heavily. They tend be on to agencies that frankly many people would say, Democrat agencies. Democrat agencies.”
As for DOGE rapidly firing and re-hiring people, he commented: “This thing is done so ad-hoc, uh, there is, there’s almost no due process whatsoever. If you overwhelm the courts, and just make it so that they have to constantly take up these matters then, then DOGE wins. That seems to be the pattern. They can overwhelm the court system with all these different, if they just keep going after agency, after agency.”
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 February 21st.
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).
12. Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 68
Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN) is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the US. Its shares performed well in 2024 due to the growing acceptability of cryptocurrency, particularly Bitcoin, as an investment medium. Over the past year, Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN)’s shares have gained 21.4% after a sizable 61.7% gain in November following President Trump’s election win. While the firm announced in February that the SEC would withdraw its lawsuit against it, the stock dipped by 8% amidst a broader drop for fintech stocks. Here is what Cramer said:
“Well that was a bridge too far for the SEC. And, I love the victory dance that they had on this morning.”
“And then Brian Armstrong just basically just saying that ha ha ha. But he just spent fifty million dollars fighting the SEC. And it’s obviously that Gensler was on the wrong side of history. It just happened.”
“[on whether the rebound in the stock can continue] No I think that once Gensler was out, I think he just presumed that they would withdraw it, that’s just the way of, I mean we have a crypto President. Crypto President. So you don’t, these agencies do serve at the behest of the President. I think people forget that. By the way, the Biden agencies served at [the] behest of Biden. And you saw a lot of adversarial, very adversarial rulings against businesses.”
11. Block, Inc. (NYSE:XYZ)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 81
Block, Inc. (NYSE:XYZ) is a financial technology company that offers payment processing products and services. It is a new-age financial technology company that provides users with alternatives to banks to digitally conduct their transactions. Its customer base means that the firm depends on broader economic health and user spending. Block, Inc. (NYSE:XYZ)’s stock dipped by a whopping 18% in February after the firm’s 71 cents in EPS and $71 billion in revenue for the fourth quarter missed analyst estimates. Cramer, on the other hand, didn’t think Block, Inc. (NYSE:XYZ)’s quarter was that bad:
“Uh, look I don’t think, I didn’t think Block was that bad going back and forth with Amrita Ahuja who’s a terrific CFO. I thought the quarter was fine. I think that it’s still growing like mad. I just, it is been a good stock, not a great stock. Somewhat like PayPal.”
10. Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 89
Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) is a software-as-a-service company that enables businesses to conduct their daily operations. Its stock price performance depends on economic activity which allows businesses to spend more on their operations. As a SaaS stock, Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) also depends on profitability and growth to drive its valuation. The firm’s shares have lost 16.5% over the past year on the back of multiple catalysts such as a disappointing fiscal year 2026 guidance issued in November and analyst downgrades. Cramer isn’t a fan of Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY):
“But David, the enterprise software stocks have just been horrendous. Workday, bad.”
9. Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 99
Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) is an online travel advisory services firm that is one of the largest of its kind. It is an early mover in the industry, whose performance depends on global economic activity and demand for travel. Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)’s shares are up by 42.6% year-to-date as a resurgence in global travel drove revenue 10% higher during the first three quarters of 2024. Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG)’s Q4 results sent the stock 2.4% lower on the back of a disappointing forecast. Here’s what Cramer said about the firm:
“. . .conference call with Booking Holdings basically saying listen a lot of people feel we’re gonna be wiped out by generative AI. But we actually have this incredible generative AI unit. I felt very secure in a stock I’ve liked for a very long time, Booking Holdings, that they’re using it. And they referenced the open table contract with Salesforce. And how that’s working for them.”
8. Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 107
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) is one of the largest technology companies in China. Like its American counterpart Amazon, the firm enjoys the benefit of a dual business model. Its business model gives Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) the ability to benefit from a high-volume eCommerce business and a high-margin cloud platform. The firm’s shares have gained 88% over the past year, primarily on the back of a stunning 69% year-to-date run in 2025. Multiple catalysts have driven the stock, including a regulatory crackdown on a rival, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)’s AI model, and Chinese stimulus. Here is what Cramer said:
“Well BABA, we’ve got two streams of revenue that are explosive so to speak. One is cloud, and the other is eCommerce. Now, it’s very clear that the PRC, the party has said look, we want more spending. And that’s the eCommerce. And when it comes to the cloud, well that, you could say that’s DeepSeek, they really know what they’re doing over there. And by the way, Jensen Huang, has been quiet but there is a piece, this morning, that don’t worry, it’s really post-training. That’s a more sophisticated way to put it, but he’s broken his silence. But Alibaba can, when I speak to David Tepper, I mean it’s very clear, Alibaba is still inexpensive. I don’t like the idea that you’re coming in at this level. But the fact that they have two revenue streams that are on fire not one really speaks to how China wants to promote spend and how brilliant they turned out to be in terms of technology.”
7. ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 107
ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) is a SaaS human resource management products provider. Its shares have gained a modest 20.4% over the past year as the stock’s wings were clipped by a massive 13% drop in January. The shares dipped after ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW)’s 2025 subscription revenue growth of 19.75% missed analyst estimates of 20.8%. Cramer wasn’t impressed by the firm’s performance either as he shared:
“But David, the enterprise software stocks have just been horrendous. . . . .Servicenow, David, have you seen that? I was gonna recommend that, for this . . . it’s obviously not working for ServiceNow!”
6. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 115
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is a global pharmaceutical giant that has benefited the most from the investor frenzy surrounding weight loss drug stocks. Cramer is also a fan of the firm, and in his previous appearances, the CNBC TV host has stressed that Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) has a robust drug development portfolio that can serve it well in the future. Another moat that Cramer likes is the factories that the firm is building, which Cramer has likened to semiconductor fabrication plants. Here are his latest remarks for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY):
“By the way, Wegovy’s no longer in short supply and people are taking up Lilly. I [inaudible] Wegovy down and I think that’s probably, I’m not sure that’s necessarily the, the right thing with Lilly.”
5. Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 115
Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) is the world’s largest brick-and-mortar retailer. The age of the Internet which has led to the rise of eCommerce firms means that the firm is battling in an industry driven by last-mile deliveries and online purchases. However, Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) has managed to play the current inflationary wave well, as the firm’s low price model has allowed it to compete with retailers like Dollar General. Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT)’s shares fell by 6.40% in February after the firm’s midpoint $2.55 EPS forecast for the current fiscal year fell short of analyst estimates of $2.78. Here’s what Cramer said:
“Right. I have them on tonight. And I think that the problem is January, the weather, all over the country just absolutely crazy. Uh, February too. And you don’t go out a lot during these months. The weather is, it’s the biggest asterisk. And I think therefore it’s the greatest opportunity for a lot of these stocks. I think Walmart’s terrific.”
4. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 126
Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) is Elon Musk’s electric car company. While the firm ended 2024 on a strong note as its shares gained 74% during the year, year-to-date, the stock is down by 10.9%. Multiple catalysts have driven the poor stock price performance. For starters, Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s deliveries have disappointed investors. Additionally, investors have also reacted to worries that its CEO’s involvement in the government could be creating negativity for the firm in international markets. Cramer’s remarks cite faith in Musk:
“[On a report about institutional investors worried about whether Musk’s role in government meant that he didn’t care about selling cars anymore] Oh then sell the. . .stock.”
3. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 150
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is the largest healthcare benefits management firm in the US. The tail end of 2024 was filled with turmoil for the firm as its shares ceded ground over the negative sentiment building against healthcare insurers in America. The negativity reached a feverish pitch in February when UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)’s shares dropped by 7% after a media report claimed that the DOJ would investigate the firm. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) claims that the report is ‘misinformation.’ Here’s Cramer’s take:
“Well look, I’ll go over the math of what it does to UnitedHealth. This is gonna be one of those long battles, government may win, may not, stock’s down as if, all the stocks are down as if this is the government really cracking down on them. I hate to say it because I think that there are a lot of people that feel that they, uh, that Medicare billing practices, if you read the article, are wrong. Carl, these companies, they’re survivors. And, uh, you buy this uh, yeah you buy it because UnitedHealth is very powerful. I’ve often felt that UnitedHealth is every bit as powerful as the government. Because they are, strong, sprawling, and ready to fight. And the government has historically not been able to take on this group. They haven’t really taken on the middle-man either. Look I mean we have strong corporations in our country and you know UnitedHealth is not going to have to, in the end, I am telling you that I do not think this is going to be significant to their earnings. That’s what I’m saying.”
“Yeah look, I mean again, I come back, why do we have higher payments for Medicare Advantage. I mean this stuff is so opaque. Uh, they, these companies have had a lot of scrutiny against them. You’re gonna need legislation. I don’t think you’re going to be able to do anything with the Justice Department. Civil fraud division by the way. You have the legislation. Then there’s an issue. But when you have these lawsuits it tends not to bring about any sort of practice. Look, I’m not being cynical. I know that there are people that just say how can you not, how can you not think that this is gonna break up everything? Well, I mean, think about the history of the government. Winning against these big companies, they don’t. And I am saying that, down twelve percent, you buy UnitedHealth. We’ll have portfolio managers come on within the next six days, and there’ll be a huge number of people who bought em. Cause well, it’s been these, it’s been these long lawsuits. So I’m just saying, get ahead of it right now.”
2. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 162
Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) is a customer relationship management software provider that has ridden the AI wave well. While data center AI stocks crashed during January’s DeepSeek selloff, Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) bucked the trend. In fact, the shares have gained 17% over the past six months due to its success with the Agentforce AI business. In his previous remarks about the firm, Cramer has remained upbeat about the company and Agentforce. Here are his latest comments for Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM):
“And they referenced the open table contract with Salesforce. And how that’s working for them. It was good to see that this is the Agentforce, David, that everyone is very excited about. And they’re using it.”
1. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 223
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is the AI GPU firm that has taken the market by storm over the past couple of years. Its shares have gained triple-digit percentages on the back of its GPUs being able to power the AI revolution. However, the narrative surrounding NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) has shifted slightly after the DeepSeek selloff. Investors, who were already cautious during H2 2024, are now waiting on the sidelines to see whether it can sustain massive AI GPU demand. As for Cramer, it appears that the jitters surrounding NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) are also getting to him:
“[On NVDA’s upcoming earnings] No it’s going to be very, very important. . . .yeah and there’s four different notes today saying don’t worry about the quarter so I don’t like that. We need, we, those who own it like my Charitable Trust, we don’t want any expectations. Especially cause Blackwell, it’s just now shipping for some companies. That’s the latest and greatest. And we do like, David, there seemed a secret Atlanta warehouse for Musk where he bought a lot of GPUs. I don’t know if you’re aware of the secret Atlanta.””The Atlanta data center, I’m reading Business Insider, has sizable computing power. . .for X and xAI. You know what this is David? Twelve thousand GPUs they bought, seven hundred million dollars worth of equipment. Again, another check, presuming for Jensen Huang. Remember when they had split? That split’s over.”
NVDA is a stock Jim Cramer recently discussed. While we acknowledge the potential of NVDA 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 timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVDA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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