On Wednesday, Jim Cramer, the host of Mad Money, shared his thoughts on the market turmoil of the week and provided some valuable lessons. He emphasized that no one ever made a profit by panicking. Cramer pointed out how many investors had thrown in the towel during the downturn.
“Yeah, what happens is they get out and then it rallies big like today, and that’s the end. Bye bye. Learn to take the pain. Staying the course is how you make the biggest money.”
READ ALSO: 10 Stocks on Jim Cramer’s Radar Recently and Jim Cramer Talked About These 8 Stocks.
Cramer noted how, on Tuesday night, anyone holding stocks felt disheartened and as if they had lost substantial sums. He then pointed out that in contrast, those who were shorting the market, including many hedge funds, went to bed feeling victorious. However, Cramer had a different perspective and highlighted that some of the short-sellers, who had bet against the market just before the high opening on Wednesday, might have felt smart in the moment.
But he quickly reminded viewers that while bulls and bears can make money, he commented that “hogs, those who staged short were pigs, plain and simple. He then went on to say:
“The president likes, no, no, he loves drama. He’s gonna love drama for his whole darn presidency. That’s one constant from his first term.”
Cramer said that investors should not expect any certainty from the White House. Hoping for “certainty” from President Trump, he said, would be “kind of nuts” at this point. His advice to investors was simple: when the noise gets overwhelming, “just turn it off”.
“So let me give you the bottom line on this one of the most exciting days of our lives: I don’t think that things are all that difficult. They’re not COVID difficult. Now I think that you’re dealing with manmade crises. It turns out that one of these manmade crises was easily reversible, as we’ve said over and over again, and told you that when you see stocks in the blast zone rally, it pays to realize that good things, not just bad things can happen too.”
Our Methodology
For this article, we compiled a list of 9 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during the episode of Mad Money aired on April 9. We listed the stocks in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment as of the fourth quarter of 2024, which was taken from Insider Monkey’s database of over 1,000 hedge funds.
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).
Jim Cramer Recently Talked About These 9 Stocks
9. FLEX LNG Ltd. (NYSE:FLNG)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 12
When a caller highlighted FLEX LNG Ltd.’s (NYSE:FLNG) few positives like its high dividend, efforts to lower debt, and a new CEO, Cramer commented:
“But don’t you think that it should have already made it by now? I mean the stock just does nothing, nothing but go down during the greatest revolution of all time. I’m going to have to take a hard pass on that one. I’m sorry.”
FLEX LNG (NYSE:FLNG) focuses on transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) by sea to markets around the world. In 2022, when Cramer was asked about the company, he said, “Jimmy Chill likes FLEX. Why? Because it’s got a product that we all need.” Since the comment was aired, FLNG stock has declined more than 30%.
8. MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 33
A caller inquired about MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP) and Cramer said:
“Okay… used to come on our program all the time, James Litinsky, and it’s had a good run. It’s moved up all the way from the bottom, but it used to be much, much higher. My take is this: I think that the rare earth specialty materials are going to do well under Trump and I like Litinsky. I think he’s the real deal, but boy, they keep losing money. This is the year that they either make money or I go against them. Period. End of story.”
MP Materials (NYSE:MP) supplies rare earth materials and magnetic precursor products. Its operations include the Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine and Processing facility in California. More than two weeks ago, Cramer remarked:
“You know I’ve been recommending the stock forever and it’s finally happening. So I’m going to just say, you know what, let’s stick with it. I am not gonna say, hey, after all this time, it’s time to go. Litinsky has done a good job. He’s been sticking with it and I gotta hand it to him. What can I say? He never gave up and good for him.”
7. OPENLANE, Inc. (NYSE:KAR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 33
OPENLANE, Inc. (NYSE:KAR) was mentioned during the episode, and here’s what Cramer had to say:
“Alright, KAR is a really, really good company. And because you are so kind and new to investing, can I just say that Carvana is real good too? We like Carvana in the single digits. Because I bought one and didn’t like it, tossed it back. It’s a great company.”
OPENLANE (NYSE:KAR) operates a digital platform that connects buyers and sellers of used vehicles. It offers services like logistics, inspections, and financing to support dealers and other vehicle sellers. White Brook Capital Partners stated the following regarding OPENLANE, Inc. (NYSE:KAR) in its Q4 2024 investor letter:
“OPENLANE, Inc. (NYSE:KAR) had a solid 2024. Similar to Greenbriar the company has executed well, increasing gross margins at low volumes, while operating in an industry trough. 2025 should see vehicle volumes continue the late 2024 uptrend and there’s no reason to believe that the market share gains experienced in 2024 shouldn’t continue. Also during late 2024, the Company held an investor day that highlighted the Company’s financing business. It appears the Company believes, as I do, that either its digital wholesale used car auction business is severely undervalued or its leading secured lending financing business is. At the investor day, the Company changed and added to its disclosure in order to help the market recognize the value of the asset. Despite protestations. I believe that should the Company not achieve better recognition of this business, management would be willing to separate and sell it in part or whole. If it gets the “right” valuation for the division, the stock is severely undervalued at the current price.”
6. Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIVN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 40
A caller inquired if Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIVN) is a buy, hold, or sell in light of the tariffs and Cramer replied:
“Okay, listen. Go test drive one. Don’t own the stock. I really don’t have that much more to say about it because I do think that they went through so much money that it is daunting. How about that? Daunting is a nice word. I’m looking at my research director and he knows when I say daunting, what I really mean is horrible.”
Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ:RIVN) designs, engineers, and produces electric vehicles, including pickup trucks and SUVs. The company also provides services like financing, insurance, maintenance, and charging solutions. It is worth noting that on March 14, Cramer said:
“Okay, I know this is not what you want to hear, but I don’t care for the balance sheet. If they had a better balance sheet, then I would say fine. I know they’ve gotten some money from others, but it takes a long time to go public. People misunderstand how long it took for Tesla to be able to get there… I do worry about the financing.”
5. FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 66
When a caller asked about FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX), here’s what Mad Money’s host had to say:
“I don’t like UPS. I think that Raj Subramaniam is doing a fantastic job in a very difficult setting. Obviously, we’ve got all these tariffs. It makes this job 10 times tougher than I know, that we ever thought that it would get to… Stock was up 10% today. I can’t ever tell someone to buy a stock that is up 10%. I do think that FedEx is a very, very good company.”
FedEx (NYSE:FDX) provides a range of services, including transportation, e-commerce solutions, and business services. The services cover express shipping, small-package deliveries, freight, and various business support offerings. Two weeks ago, while Cramer acknowledged the company’s revenues going down recently, he was still bullish on it.
“Yeah… I’m going to be careful in this because I was one of the few people that thought that quarter had something that I really like to see. The revenues went down, okay? Yet the earnings went up. The revenues didn’t, were missed, but the earnings went up. That means if they start getting more sales, that thing could explode higher. I actually am not against holding position in FDX.”
4. Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ:HON)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 67
A caller asked Cramer’s thoughts on Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ:HON) with the upcoming split. He replied:
“Jeff and I talked about this endlessly, up 16 today by the way. We think the stock is dramatically undervalued. We think that Vimal Kapur is doing everything right. We could not believe how low the stock got. I am a firm believer and a buyer of Honeywell even at these levels. Yes. I like it that much. It was down 8% last week. That’s nutty.”
Honeywell (NASDAQ:HON) is a company that offers technology and manufacturing solutions in areas like aerospace, building automation, energy, and industrial automation. Cramer’s bullishness on the company was evident as he stated on March 10:
“Okay, my Charitable Trust owns it. We have a lot of it, Honeywell. The growth part is aerospace. Nobody wants Boeing. They’ll be buying Honeywell just like they bought GE Aerospace. I will say this, I like the chemicals business. It’s not a growth business, but it’s better than the typical chemical company, so that’s gonna make people like it. The automation business, work in progress.”
3. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 81
A caller asked if they should keep Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) and Cramer remarked:
“Yeah, definitely keep Chevron. It’s got a 4.6% yield. It keeps buying back stock. You saw the way it bounced off the bottom today…. I think Mike Wirth’s doing a terrific job. The only problem I would tell you is I’m not a bull on oil, but you came to me and you wanted an oil and I come back and I say, if you want an oil, then I like Mike Wirth. I like Chevron.”
Chevron (NYSE:CVX) is engaged in the exploration, production, transportation, and refining of oil and gas. It also focuses on manufacturing petrochemicals and renewable fuels. Cramer was similarly bullish on the company last week as he said, “That’s why I say you look at a Chevron. With a really great yield and it’s been a big winner.”
2. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 91
A caller mentioned that they feel in limbo with Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) and do not know whether to sell or hold onto it. In response, Cramer said:
“You know, first of all, you’re not alone. St. Merck, as we used to call it, has turned into just a complete nightmare. I think that if you buy Merck at a 4% yield though, you’re gonna do well. It did touch $76 today. It’s back to $81. I feel for what you’re doing… It is remarkable how poorly this stock acts. I do want you to stay the course with it right at this point. And I’m sorry because it is been a real tough one.”
Merck (NYSE:MRK) produces a variety of medicines across several health areas. Its work includes cancer treatments, vaccines, and products for animal health. On March 10, Cramer was bullish on the stock as he said:
“Okay, Merck is too cheap. I mean, it’s got a 3.4% yield. Rob Davis is doing very well. It’s really, he’s made a couple acquisitions. I think they’re gonna work out and everyone’s just so scared of the Keytruda patent (the drug has patent protection into 2028) … and that’s not anywhere near. I think you buy the stock of Merck.”
1. Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 120
A caller asked for Cramer’s opinion of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) and he said:
“Now, see, I never really, really care right now, honestly for the energy trade, because then Microsoft will say that it’s closing a data center. No one will like the group. So let’s stay away from the energy trade. It’s too much second derivative, so to speak.”
Vistra (NYSE:VST) provides electricity and produces power for various types of customers, including homes, businesses, and large industrial clients. River Road Asset Management stated the following regarding Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) in its Q4 2024 investor letter:
“Another positive contributor was Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST), an independent producer and retailer of electricity, and the second-largest owner of nuclear power assets in the United States. Like Talen (see writeup above), Vistra benefited from the record auction clearing price this past July at PJM. In August, VST released 2026 EBITDA guidance of at least $6B, which is 50% higher than 2023 results. Near the end of the quarter, nuclear peer Constellation Energy announced a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Microsoft® at its decommissioned Three Mile Island nuclear plant. The news sparked a rally in nuclear power plant owners as the indicated market price for the PPA was above $100/MWh and further confirms the strength of demand for reliable and clean baseload generation. VST’s entire nuclear fleet is fully operational and encompasses six GW across Texas and Ohio. The market anticipates a similar deal could be around the corner as the stock’s multiple continued to expand. We trimmed the position as the stock approached our assessed value.”
While we acknowledge the potential of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than VST but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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