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 devastation ushered in by the California wildfire calamity, social media CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, and interest rates. Cramer started the show by talking about healthcare stocks and said “Healthcare really hasn’t had much of a move so I think those stocks, honestly a safe haven with interest rates going higher.”
He added that the US government’s export control rules to protect American national security interests were hitting markets hard. According to Cramer “I still expect 5% to hit on the ten-year [bond] but I’ve got to tell you the tone is hideous, I think the tone is being set by the Biden administration, doing a last minute 200-page ruling about who can get AI and who can’t.” He added “And then David, I’ve got to tell you, I think the Zuckerberg interview on Joe Rogan was seminal.” The reason behind it was that Zuckerberg’s thoughts about the firm behind the iPhone indicated “you’re done, nothing since Steve Jobs, one one of the most offensive interviews I’ve heard in a very long time.
Returning to the rate cuts, Cramer asserted again that the Fed had misjudged the economy by lower rates in December. According to him “The whole concept of the rate cuts, as opposed to one or two rate cuts, gotta be off the table because it looks like we’ve had some very serious misjudgment by the Fed.”
As for the fires, Cramer started by stating that there’s “Not enough talk about the fires.” The day this show was aired, he was covering the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference. Cramer outlined “I certainly wanna ask everyone at the healthcare conference, what can happen, in terms of public health, what can happen in terms of asthma.” Along with healthcare problems arising from the disaster, he added “But more important as you know, Carl, the loss of life, the destruction, so immense, it’s going to impact the economy. We don’t even know yet, what could be the results.”
One industry that’s been at the center of media coverage whether it’s for disasters or healthcare is the insurance industry. Talking about insurance, Cramer revealed, “Well I have to tell you, the insurance regime out here in California is so strict that you have to wonder why bother to write anything. There’s a loss-sharing agreement that’s terrible, there is a sense to me that it’s going to take longer to come back than people realize. David, the rebuild will be immense, it’s obviously not done.”
He added “And I think that if we’re going to talk about what the economy, what’s going to happen, one-fifth of the country is California. Obviously, this is just the South end, could be contained to Los Angeles. But you know David this is one of those things we can’t really factor in but we must factor in, in terms of trying to figure out what it’s gonna mean for the whole US economy.”
The CNBC host also shared his thoughts on some of the reasons behind the wildfires. “Yeah look I think that we’re gonna look at this, we’re gonna say, there are reasons why this happened. Reservoirs not working. Some issues, whether the firefighters were ready.” Linking the calamity with interest rates, he commented, “But you know Carl the most important this is at least, if we’re going to talk about the economy, if we’re going to talk about the rate cuts versus rate increases, it may be a reason that we have to put things on a pause. Maybe when the smoke clears. Proverbial smoke and literal. It may mean that things are going to be slower.”
Cramer then returned to Zuckerberg’s podcast appearance. According to him “Zuckerberg. I mean I gotta hand it to him, I mean he basically made the Justice Department’s case against” the iPhone designer. He added “It’s almost as if he sat down with, with the outgoing administration, Jonathan Kanter, and said, look let me tell you what I think” the firm is doing. Cramer concluded “Because everything that he’s complaining about, the Justice Department is complaining about. Carl, it was one of the most damming interviews. I couldn’t tell whether Mark was having fun, or whether he was just basically saying Apple is the axis of evil and others that play along because they all are scared. . . And he’s not scared. He’s tough. Taekwondo. . .it’s a libertarian love fest.”
As for whether Zuckerberg’s remarks were made to buttress his relationship with the incoming Trump administration, Cramer commented “Well he’s, let’s call him savvy. He talked about libertarian, but there were these moments, you know he lives on a ranch, and he has to shoot pigs. Okay, so he’s pro-gun.” However, Cramer added, “At one point, . . .it did have a kind of element of extremism that I’m not used to anyone having.” He also speculated whether Zuckerberg was aware of how he sounded during the interview. According to Cramer:
“And I think that Joe Rogan is sophisticated enough to be able to put a line out for Mark to really go for it. I don’t know whether Mark realizes exactly how damming it sounds, and I think that it’s a little of a shame if only just because he made me feel like that he himself really despises a company that we all love. I wish that there’d been some push back.”
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 recently
For these stocks, we also mentioned the number of hedge fund investors. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds invest in? 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 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here).
15. Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2024: 32
Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) is one of the biggest steel companies in the US. Its shares closed 2024 33% lower as lower steel prices and reduced industrial and construction output due to high interest rates. December was a particularly tough month for Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) as the stock bled more than 18% after the Fed’s interest rate cut guidance suggested fewer cuts this year and the firm’s Q4 midpoint profit guidance of $0.60 per share fell quite short of analyst expectations of $0.90. Cramer believes that Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) can benefit from US Steel being acquired by partnering up with Cleveland-Cliffs as it can buy some assets:
“So I do believe, when you speak to Lorenzo Goncalves, I’m telling you David, he is so close to Trump that I really think that Lorenzo has got it done. I think that this is a very interesting deal. I think it’s fabulous for Nucor. Nucor’s the one that I would buy.”
14. Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2024: 34
Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) is a biotechnology company that gained global fame due to its coronavirus vaccine. However, since then, the firm has failed to deliver new products. As a result, Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA)’s shares have dropped sharply since the pandemic. They have lost 92% since their COVID peak, and the firm is under pressure to deliver new products. Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) spends roughly $5 billion on R&D on a trailing twelve-month basis. Cramer is disappointed in the firm and cautioned viewers against rushing to buy it despite the low valuation:
“Uh this Moderna’s so luckless. I mean this time they have to cut numbers, they cut numbers incredibly big. Uh, it, it, it’s from, mostly from COVID again, the shots. But I’ve got to tell you they do have saving grace. They have six billion dollars in cash, almost getting that level. Now these guys just fail to deploy the cash that they had. And it’s, I don’t know what to say, but man, that has just been a falling knight. . . . I think you still have to stay away, numbers are too high by, uh, most of Wall Street.
“[When asked whether MRNA is worth buying due to the low valuation] We have to wait for everybody to cut numbers. And then if you want to look at it. But David, they never made the personalized cancer vaccines that they told me they would just a few years ago when I met them out here at the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference. Not a good day for many, many stocks, not a good day for Moderna.”
13. Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE:CLF)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2024: 40
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE:CLF) is another steel company that is entering 2025 with a tough 2024 on its back. Its shares lost 55% last year as steel prices dropped and the firm missed multiple earnings estimates. In 2025, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE:CLF)’s shares have gained 9% year-to-date. This is despite the fact that the US industrial outlook hasn’t improved. The stock has performed well due to Nippon Steel’s faltering bid to acquire US Steel. Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE:CLF) is in play to acquire US Steel as well, and here’s what Cramer said about the events:
“Look I think that we have to think twice about whether this one would be uh, Trump would kill it. I know when Trump was running he was against the idea of Cleveland Cliffs, or he was against the idea of Japan, it’s Nippon. Not Cleveland Cliffs. But I will say, Cleveland Cliffs very close to President-elect Trump, and I think that there is a possibility that something could happen here. So I do believe, when you speak to Lorenzo Goncalves, I’m telling you David, he is so close to Trump that I really think that Lorenzo has got it done. I think that this is a very interesting deal. I think it’s fabulous for Nucor. Nucor’s the one that I would buy.
“I’ve been saying Cliffs gets this from the beginning. I’ve been saying Cliffs gets this from the beginning. I’m doubling down. They’re gonna get it. Cliffs is gonna get it. Lorenzo’s a winner.”
12. Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ITCI)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2024: 44
Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ITCI) is a small biotechnology company that develops and sells drugs for neuropsychiatric illnesses. It is a loss-making entity but does generate revenue through medications such as CAPLYTA that help patients with schizophrenia and bipolar depression. Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ITCI)’s shares are up by a strong 49% year-to-date despite the fact that its product portfolio has remained unchanged. The optimism is due to JNJ’s interest in acquiring the firm for a cool $14.6 billion price tag. Cramer, however, is wary of Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ITCI)’s product portfolio:
“Because Bristol-Myers currently has Cobenfy, that’s just been approved, FDA, exactly for some of these indications that Intra-Cellular is supposed to be good for. Their drug has been [inaudible], this is Caplyta, since 2019, and has not curried the favor of psychiatrists so far. So I wanna find out how good this drug really is versus Cobenfy.
“But I want to hear what Bristol says, because Bristol’s got the one that everybody is buzzing about. Which is Cobenfy. Not what Intra-Cellular has.
“And I really want to know, I mean I know that when the FDA approved Cobenfy for Bristol-Myers, it was a really big deal. Because they were regarded as the first in thirty years. Now we’re discovering that hold it, just a second, Intra-Cellular had something. Well if they had something, why was Bristol saying that this is the first in thirty years for these indications? I think we have to dig deeper in this.”
11. Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:LULU)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2024: 45
Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) is a sizable athletic retailer based in Canada. Since the retail industry has been hit by inflation cutting down consumer purchasing power, the firm’s shares have lost 19.9% over the past year. However, the winds appear to be shifting for Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:LULU). The firm’s third-quarter earnings report released in December saw it raise its full-year 2024 revenue forecast to a midpoint of $10.470 billion from an earlier $10.425 billion on the back of a revamped strategy for China. Here’s what Cramer said about Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:LULU):
“Yeah look, there’s a lot of negativity today so I figured like, put something in that’s positive. LULU pre-announces positive to the upside. Now they had already delivered a really terrific last quarter, Calvin McDonald just excelling here. But five eighty one to five eighty five, from five fifty six to five sixty four, uh, they had just a fabulous holiday season. But they David have the most momentum of anyone right now in retail. Quite extraordinary. RH being second to them.”
10. United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2024: 57
United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X) is a mid-sized American steel manufacturing company that has been at the center of industry attention this year. This is because the firm is (or was) being acquired by Japanese company Nippon Steel. However, the Biden administration blocked the deal which created outrage and controversy in the industry. Yet, even though Nippon’s bid for United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X) is now in the incoming Trump administration’s hands, a new bid from Cleveland-Cliffs and Nucor is taking shape. Here’s what Cramer had to say about the affair:
“Look I think that we have to think twice about whether this one would be uh, Trump would kill it. I know when Trump was running he was against the idea of Cleveland Cliffs, or he was against the idea of Japan, it’s Nippon. Not Cleveland Cliffs. But I will say, Cleveland Cliffs, very close to President-elect Trump, and I think that there is a possibility that something could happen here. So I do believe, when you speak to Lorenzo Goncalves, I’m telling you David, he is so close to Trump that I really think that Lorenzo has got it done. I think that this is a very interesting deal. I think it’s fabulous for Nucor. Nucor’s the one that I would buy.”
“I’ve been saying Cliffs gets this from the beginning. I’ve been saying Cliffs gets this from the beginning. I’m doubling down. They’re gonna get it. Cliffs is gonna get it. Lorenzo’s a winner.”
9. Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2024: 60
Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) is an American medical devices manufacturer based in Ireland. It is one of the largest players in the industry by having more than 70 products in its portfolio. Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT)’s shares closed 2% lower in 2024 as the firm continued to struggle from slowing ventilator sales following the pandemic, struggled with inflation affecting its product demand, and forecast weak quarterly earnings as more people returned to hospitals for their treatments. However, Cramer has faith in Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) as he shared:
“Medtronic is doing so many things, they’re going to have mid single digit growth, I really like them.”
8. Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2024: 60
Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) is one of the biggest healthcare insurance companies in America. Given the negative attention that its industry has faced after recent events and President-elect Trump’s vow to tackle the healthcare middleman, Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM)’s shares have lost 30% over the past six months. The drop is also due to a plan rating downgrade which the firm revealed affected a sizable portion of its customers. However, Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM)’s shares have gained 11% year-to-date. Cramer shared the reason behind the jump:
“And then the other stocks David that are up, shockingly, are the managed care stocks. Because the Medicare provisions were much better than expected on Friday. Should really help Humana all day.”
7. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2024: 70
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) is a well-diversified drug manufacturer whose products cover ailments such as cancer, heart diseases, and immune system disorders. Its shares have gained 12% over the past year despite headwinds for the broader healthcare sector. Part of the optimism is due to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY)’s older drug portfolio, which has treatments such as Eliquis and Revlimid helping the firm beat earnings estimates. Another strong Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) drug is its schizophrenia medicine COBENFY. COBENFY was at the center of Cramer’s attention as he shared:
“Because Bristol Myers currently has Cobenfy, that’s just been approved, FDA, exactly for some of these indications that Intra-Cellular is supposed to be good for.
“But I want to hear what Bristol says, because Bristol’s got the one that everybody is buzzing about. Which is Cobenfy. Not what Intra-Cellular has.”
6. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2024: 81
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is one of the biggest drug manufacturers and providers of general well-being products in the world. This means that despite facing claims from a multi-billion dollar talcum powder lawsuit, the firm can continue to focus on revenue growth and acquisitions. One such acquisition that’s made the news in 2025 is Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)’s $14.6 billion bid for neuropsychiatric medicine provider Intra-Cellular. Cramer had quite a lot to say about the mega bid as he commented:
“This was an incredibly interesting $14.6 billion deal. Because Bristol Myers currently has Cobenfy, that’s just been approved, FDA, exactly for some of these indications that Intra-Cellular is supposed to be good for. Their drug has been [inaudible], this is Caplyta, since 2019, and has not curried the favor of psychiatrists so far. So I wanna find out how good this drug really is versus Cobenfy. You know and David the other thing I would say is, uh, finally, we are getting deals, and this is the kind of deal that I think actually might pass [inaudible] under the current FTC. But David, it is a sense, I think JNJ has had such a hard time. So many things have been going wrong, I will have Bristol Myers on later today. But JNJ just, is just, where, everywhere they turn, things are not working their way. Including a Boston Scientific competitor that was pulled from the market because of some neurological issues involving four different people last week. So, you know, I’m gonna stay in touch with this area David, but JNJ’s been luckless. Maybe this can change their streak. But I want to hear what Bristol says, because Bristol’s got the one that everybody is buzzing about. Which is Cobenfy. Not what Intra-Cellular has.”
5. GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2024: 89
GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) is an energy company that operates in the power generation and electrification industries. It is also among the handful of firms capable of manufacturing nuclear power reactors. The exposure has served GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) well since the stock is up by a whopping 205% over the past year. The strong share price performance is due to the AI data center industry’s thirst for clean power generation which has grown the demand for nuclear power. Cramer, however, isn’t a believer in the near-term potential of nuclear power; but, at the same time, he’s a fan of GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV):
“The company that would probably build them [small nuclear reactors] here is GE Vernova. They don’t really have a game plan to do anything before twenty, uh, thirty two.”
4. Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2024: 115
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) is a Chinese conglomerate with a presence in lucrative industries such as eCommerce and cloud computing. It is one of the largest players in China with estimates suggesting that Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) controls 40% of merchandise shipments in China. Recently, though, it has had to face competition from upstarts such as Pinduoduo. Despite the fact that it is comparable to Amazon when it comes to its Chinese market presence, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) trades at a forward P/E ratio of just 8.57. This is because Chinese stocks are heavily discounted due to friction between the US and China. The low valuation was also on Cramer’s mind:
“[On Chinese stocks having lower multiples because of potential US action] Right, and that’s true about Alibaba, that’s a very inexpensive stock. I mean people have just decided, we can’t trust China. These stocks are very cheap but we don’t know what’s going to happen with them.”
3. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2024: 158
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is a consumer electronics giant that earns billions of dollars through its iconic iPhone. The smartphone is also a central part of its hypothesis as half of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s revenue comes from it. The firm’s reliance on the iPhone and its closed ecosystem came under fire from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s recent appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast. Zuckerberg said that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) hadn’t innovated since the death of its iconic founder Steve Jobs. Cramer took aim at these and other comments made by Zuckerberg:
“[On Zuckerberg saying Apple hasn’t done anything since the iPhone] I. . [laughs hysterically] don’t know what to say. I mean, David, look, I don’t want to make it too central an issue because it was a love fest, a libertarian love fest, uh but David the one thing [that] is absolutely certain was that if you really want to say the most horrible things about Apple, you say first of all that nothing’s been done since Jobs, two that they lock out everything, three that they make every single innovation, hold it.
“But the one thing I would point out, what’s really positive, is when you listen to chief justice Roberts last week on this TikTok ban, he was just so critical of the TikTok side that I want to go with the idea that Google’s YouTube and Meta for Reels, they are the winners. I think that TikTok is going to be stopped. You won’t be able to get the updated version. It’s really something rather amazing. I don’t think that many people saw it, it’s going to happen sooner than expected.
“It was such an unfair interview. . . .I still, I’m sticking by Apple as are . . . one billion users. . . But it was hurtful, and I think when you say stuff like nothing’s been done since Steve Jobs died, I think that’s an ill-advised strategy to take I think.”
2. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2024: 202
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL), despite being one of the major players in the global AI industry, has struggled on the stock market recently. The firm’s dominant position in the search engine and online advertising market has brought it in the crosshairs of the Justice Department whose lawsuit has generated reports that Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) might have to split off businesses such as Android and Chrome. While Cramer has commented on these developments, as well as the firm’s well-known Willow quantum computing chip, this time around, he talked about Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) in the context of TikTok being banned in the US:
“But the one thing I would point out, what’s really positive, is when you listen to chief justice Roberts last week on this TikTok ban, he was just so critical of the TikTok side that I want to go with the idea that Google’s YouTube and Meta for Reels, they are the winners. I think that TikTok is going to be stopped. You won’t be able to get the updated version. It’s really something rather amazing. I don’t think that many people saw it, it’s going to happen sooner than expected.”
1. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q3 2024: 235
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) has been in the news for a lot of reasons this year. Cramer’s previous comments have appreciated the firm’s AI efforts, which have also led to its stock gaining 67% over the past year. However, in 2025, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)’s decision to scrap fact-checking for Facebook and CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast has elicited a lot of reactions. These include Cramer’s and here’s what he said:
“The only thing that I took away that I really liked was my charitable trust owns Meta, as he says that they could earn twice as much, if Apple just didn’t do what it’s doing. David, I’ve got to tell you, he’s a combination Luddite, uh, anti Tim Cook, anti, just kind of a smile, you know, smiling hatred against a company that a lot of [people] love.
“[mentioning Zuckerberg’s podcast appearance again] Now the Ray-Ban’s difficult to connect to the Apple system, that’s another issue that Zuckerberg has. I gotta tell you, I love em. I love the Ray-Bans, and they’re great for if you want to do Insta, if you wear the new ones, are going to be able to let you speak, learn Italian when you’re speaking to someone whose Italian.”
META is a stock Jim Cramer recently talked about. While we acknowledge the potential of META 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 META but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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