On Thursday, Jim Cramer, the host of Mad Money, walked viewers through what he described as an important week ahead for Wall Street, with earnings season hitting full stride and a flood of quarterly reports expected from companies spanning multiple sectors.
“The fact is the president wants lower interest rates to help offset the pain from higher prices that gonna be caused by the tariffs, but higher prices represent inflation.”
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“The Federal Reserve never cuts rates when inflation’s out of control,” Cramer emphasized and added that it may very well become the case if tariffs continue to drive up costs. He made it clear that he respects Fed Chair Jerome Powell as he described him as a capable public servant who, in Cramer’s words, has “generally done a good job.” Still, he acknowledged Powell’s difficult position as he said the Fed chair is “stuck between a rock and a hard place.” He added:
“Now history says he should be doing exactly what he’s doing, but history is now in the eye of the beholder and there’s only one beholder in this whole country and it ain’t Jay Powell.”
While Cramer stopped short of diving deeper into political commentary, he admitted he is growing increasingly weary of the political noise surrounding monetary policy. As earnings reports begin to dominate the conversation, he highlighted how swiftly sentiment on Wall Street can shift based on results and noted that the market is entering a phase where “snap judgments” start flooding in after hours.
“Here’s the bottom line: I know it’s supposed to be a terrible time, right? I mean like woo, scary, but I don’t know. The companies themselves they keep delivering and delivering, and you know what? I don’t think next week’s going to be any different.”
Our Methodology
For this article, we compiled a list of 25 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during the episode of Mad Money aired on April 17. We listed the stocks in the order that Cramer mentioned them. We also provided hedge fund sentiment for each stock 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’s Game Plan for Next Week: 25 Stocks in Focus
25. AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 85
Cramer recommended buying AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) before the company reports its earnings, as he said:
“On Friday, we have two recession-resistant stocks and historically they’ve done really well, Colgate and AbbVie… AbbVie stock is vulnerable, but when it reports, you typically see some really good numbers that send it back towards its 52-week high. I would buy the stock of AbbVie ahead of the quarter. I wish I owned it for the trust. I’m trying to figure out whether I should buy still one more drug stock for the trust. But God, we got a lot of drug stocks.”
AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) is a pharmaceutical company that focuses on researching, developing, manufacturing, and marketing a broad range of medications.
24. Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 62
Calling Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) “recession-resistant”, Cramer said:
“On Friday, we have two recession-resistant stocks, and historically, they’ve done really well, Colgate and AbbVie.”
Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) is a leading producer and distributor of consumer goods. It offers a variety of recognized brands such as Colgate, Protex, Sanex, Meridol, Softlan, and Ajax. Diamond Hill Capital stated the following regarding Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) in its Q4 2024 investor letter:
“As valuations have continued rising and the economic cycle has gotten relatively long in the tooth, we’ve thought carefully about where and how we are exposed to more cyclical stocks. As such, we initiated just two new positions in Q4: Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) and the aforementioned lululemon.
Colgate-Palmolive is a high-quality business with leading positions in oral care, home products and pet nutrition. Historically, the company has allocated capital well, and it produces significant free cash flows. Shares were pressured in Q4 primarily, we believe, in sympathy with near-term macroeconomic concerns rather than any fundamental issues at the business. We consequently capitalized on the underperformance and compelling valuation to start a position.”
23. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 53
Cramer recommended Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM) as the only gold stock investors “need,” as he commented:
“Now people want a gold stock, right? I got one, I got the only one you need. It’s Agnico Eagle. It’s the best. It has the highest quality ores and mines in North America, which, last I looked, is a lot safer than a lot of other places.”
Agnico Eagle Mines (NYSE:AEM) is a gold mining company that explores, develops, and extracts precious metals such as gold, silver, copper, and zinc. Last week, when Cramer was asked about the company, he said:
“No, no. Hold the rest. You’ve done the trimming, you’ve taken off enough for no profits. This is a remarkable company. We had them on, and I don’t think it’s done. I know it seems like a blow-off rally, but you’ve already taken some off. If you hadn’t, I would tell you to take some off. But you’ve already done that. You’ve been disciplined, you have the luxury of letting the rest run.”
22. T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ:TMUS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 70
T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ:TMUS) was mentioned during the episode, and here’s what Cramer had to say:
“Next, T-Mobile. Listen to this, it’s been roaring again. It’s the most aggressive of the phone companies. T used to have excellent deals to get an iPhone…. Now, as long as Mike Sievert is running the show at T-Mobile, T-Mobile’s got it.”
T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ:TMUS) is a major telecom provider that delivers voice services, messaging options, and data plans to a large customer base. Appearing on Squawk on the Street in March, Cramer stated:
“It’s funny because T-Mobile had been the winner. But I think this one’s the winner now. T-Mobile’s still great… Don’t you think the Germans are going to put a CEO in eventually?. . of T-Mobile. Just putting it out there. . .no, everybody loves Mike. He’s not hurt by tariffs. . .well, then they should get a higher price to earnings multiple.”
21. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 234
Cramer expressed uncertainty about Alphabet Inc.’s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google business as he said:
“After the close, we have a very compelling night. We get results from Alphabet, and I’m not sure how the core Google business can be doing if people are starting to use ChatGPT, Grok, Claude, and even Alphabet’s own Gemini, although I use that last. There’s too much cannibalism here. At the same time, the company was just dealt a severe legal defeat in its ability to handle both sides of the advertising business. Tonight, we have on the former Justice Department lawyer who originally brought the case to help figure out what this all means.
I am sure Alphabet will tell us not to worry. They always tell us not to worry. You know, when people tell you not to worry, what do you do? Exactly. Alright, now here’s what you need to know, you can’t model the advertising gross margins in 2027 because of that lawsuit loss. So if you can’t model 2027, then you can’t model it, and now we discover why it sells at 16 times earnings, because it may be expensive.”
Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is a parent company made up of multiple businesses, with Google being the most famous. It offers a wide variety of popular products and platforms, including Search, Ads, Chrome, Cloud, YouTube, and Android.
20. American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:AAL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 59
Discussing that airlines have reported mixed earnings reports, Cramer mentioned American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:AAL) and said:
“The airlines, they’ve been a mixed blessing between Delta bad, United good, the weak, and the strong. Which is Southwest, and which is American? I think they’re in the Delta camp, but their stocks are cheap. They may not stay that way.”
American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL) is an airline that offers scheduled flight services. On March 12, Cramer commented:
“And several other airlines mainly followed suit. American slashed revenue outlook for the first quarter and guided for much larger than expected loss… But honestly, these names have already come down dramatically over the past few weeks. This makes them very interesting to me. After this week’s blood bath, you got a lot of them are down 35 to 40%.
So given all the newfound negativity, why on earth would I stick my neck out and recommend some cheap travel plays? Look, as tough as these airlines, the updates were, the collective news, frankly, it wasn’t that horrible, at least not if you listen closely.”
19. Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 34
Cramer said that there is a possibility that Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) might be “bad” like Delta as he remarked:
“The airlines, they’ve been a mixed blessing between Delta bad, United good, the weak, and the strong. Which is Southwest, and which is American? I think they’re in the Delta camp, but their stocks are cheap. They may not stay that way.”
Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) is an airline offering scheduled flights across the United States and to select international destinations.
18. PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 69
PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP) was mentioned during the game plan as Cramer discussed:
“Now we had a rotation in the soft goods going on today… By the way, they really benefit from the weaker dollar. I know all the buzzing heads say, listen, weaker dollar bad. But again, as I emphasize almost every night, because they keep emphasizing, it’s good for our companies. We’re going to hear from PepsiCo, that’s going to be a tougher lift. They used to be recession-resistant, but Procter does a lot of business in China. PepsiCo’s got potato chips that have become too expensive.”
PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) is a well-known name and is engaged in producing, marketing, and distributing a variety of beverages and snacks, with well-known brands such as Lay’s, Gatorade, Pepsi, Doritos, Tropicana, and Aquafina. In March, whilst discussing the company, Cramer said:
“No, Doritos obviously PepsiCo got a real hit, went down below 150… Pepsi’s GLP-1 on the Fritos side. And now at least, one of the things that’s great about Ramon Laguarta, he’s actually even willing to mention GLP-1. GLP-1 is such a curse word among the food and beverages.”
17. The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 79
Cramer commented on The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) and said:
“Now we had a rotation in the soft goods going on today, and I don’t know if it’s going to last, but if it does, then there is a chance that Procter & Gamble will, when it reports, blow the numbers away. By the way, they really benefit from the weaker dollar. I know all the buzzing heads say, listen, weaker dollar bad. But again, as I emphasize almost every night, because they keep emphasizing, it’s good for our companies…. They used to be recession-resistant, but Procter does a lot of business in China. PepsiCo’s got potato chips that have become too expensive.”
Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) provides a broad selection of consumer goods, including products for beauty, grooming, health care, home care, and personal care, all under well-known brands.
16. Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 84
Noting that there is a possibility that Lam Research Corporation’s (NASDAQ:LRCX) China business can be targeted by the government, Cramer said:
“Now, there’s been an awful lot of talk about how much tech we sell into China, right? And when it comes to American-made technology, intellectual property, it doesn’t get any better than Lam Research, the semiconductor capital equipment maker.
Lam’s so good, but it’s already had to take a hit in the Chinese business. The government didn’t like how much they were selling. Kind of like what NVIDIA’s doing…. Will Lam be hit again? Look, our government’s eviscerated Lam’s China business once already. Can it do it again? It does whatever it wants, doesn’t it?”
Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX) specializes in designing, building, selling, refurbishing, and maintaining equipment used in making integrated circuits.
15. International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 60
Discussing International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) during the episode, Cramer commented:
“Alright, anyway, one of the most reliable companies reports on Wednesday, and it’s usually greeted with a burst higher. That’s IBM. Ever since it’s spun off Kyndryl, the legacy business, this thing’s been hunting as a consultant. They’ve been winning a lot of contracts, lucrative ones. I like that. I like the stock.”
International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM) offers a mix of services and solutions that include AI and hybrid cloud platforms. The company also supplies servers and storage designed for hybrid cloud use.
14. ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 110
Calling ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) “intriguing”, Cramer said:
“Okay, now here’s an intriguing one. People are concerned about ServiceNow. Alright, this is an enterprise software powerhouse, has too much government business at a time when DOGE doesn’t like paying consultants, from what we can tell. That’s one reason why the stock’s down 27% for the year. Now I’m betting that CEO Bill McDermott, many people say best in the business, is going to prove these people wrong when ServiceNow reports after the bell. Matter of fact, I’m counting on the company to be able to do better than expected, alright? That’s what I see.”
ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW) delivers digital tools for companies to automate tasks and improve how different areas of the business run.
13. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 83
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) was mentioned during the episode, and here’s what Mad Money’s host had to say:
“People have cooled on the stock of Chipotle with the excuse that it’s too expensive to give you the same huge same-store sales numbers that we used to have. I disagree. Have the critics even tried the new Chipotle Honey Chicken, limited time only option? I think Chipotle could ignite here when it reports after the close.”
Chipotle (NYSE:CMG) owns and runs restaurants that serve a variety of customizable meals and drinks. The company also offers online ordering and delivery through its app and website.
12. GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 111
Cramer noted that GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) stock could be in trouble if there is no solid evidence that data centers are being built.
“Now, not that long ago, everyone was jazzed about the prospects of GE Vernova. That’s the old General Electric power division. These days, it’s essential to build out the electric power for the grid, which no longer has enough juice to fuel and cool all these data centers. Of course, the moment the data center stocks went out of style, GE Vernova got hit. It’s still up nicely versus last year. But without a recognition that the data centers continue to be built, this stock could languish.”
GE Vernova (NYSE:GEV) provides technologies and services that support the generation, movement, conversion, and storage of electricity.
11. The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 103
Cramer emphasized that The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) needs to show that it has cash flow, as he stated:
“Then we have pretty much the opposite with Boeing. Now I want to own this stock because nothing cures the trade deficit faster than buying dozens of airplanes from Boeing. That’s assuming most countries decided to play nice rather than antagonizing the White House. Just one problem, Boeing has a hard time making planes, so its cash flow is weaker than I’d like. But if they can cure it, you’ll have a buy. I want to see the cash flow. I have told Jeff Marks that if the cash flow here is turning up, then you must own the stock of Boeing.”
Boeing (NYSE:BA) designs, manufactures, and markets products like commercial aircraft, defense planes, satellites, missile defense systems, and equipment used in space missions.
10. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 80
Coming to Wednesday, Cramer mentioned AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and commented:
“Wednesday is a nightmare. It starts off with AT&T, which I still think will have one more good quarter. After stumbling initially, it’s now one of the strongest stocks in the entire market.”
AT&T (NYSE:T) provides a range of telecom and tech services, including wireless voice, data plans, broadband internet, cloud solutions, and managed services. On April 3, on Squawk on the Street, Cramer said:
“AT&T’s such a great stock here. It’s going to go right through 30… The money funnels to a dozen stocks. It goes to McKesson, it goes to AT&T.”
9. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 126
Highlighting Tesla, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) upcoming earnings result, Cramer stated:
“Now, no earnings season is complete without Tesla. Okay? It’s kind of like Netflix. Yeah, great number, Netflix, no kidding. People keep talking about how Tesla needs to redefine itself as a technology company replete with life-size robots and a game plan for the national rollout of self-driving cars. Without that, this is just some struggling EV play. Elon Musk, bring on the humanoids. It’s their time. Give them a break.”
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) builds and produces electric vehicles and energy products. The company sells cars, offers financing options, installs solar power systems, and provides energy storage devices.
8. Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE:KMB)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 50
Taking a look at soft good companies, Cramer recommended Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE:KMB) as he said:
“People love the soft goods today. They like Procter & Gamble and Colgate, right? I say take a look at Kimberly-Clark. It’s really gotten its act together under CEO Mike Hsu. I don’t think people realize that. They ought to.”
Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB) is a leading manufacturer in the personal care and tissue industry. The company makes a variety of products such as disposable hygiene items, facial tissues, paper towels, and commercial hygiene goods.
7. Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 65
As Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) is set to report its earnings on April 22, Cramer stated:
“I’ve been liking the defense stocks lately because if our trading partners want better treatment from the Trump administration, the traditional go-to move is to go buy some planes and go buy some military hardware. Northrop Grumman, RTX, and Lockheed Martin all report on Tuesday morning. I think each one can be bought.”
Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) is a global company focused on security and aerospace. It works on designing, developing, and producing advanced technology systems, products, and services for the defense and space industries. It is worth noting that in January, Cramer said:
“Lockheed Martin is a stock that frankly has come down so much that it’s getting hard for me to dislike it with James Taiclet at the top. However, I think the administration is far more focused on the idea of a Palantir-like solution to procurement and that would be very bad for all the companies you just mentioned. So I do not want to get in the way of the Palantir buzz saw because that’s very close to Elon Musk and that’s where I am.”
6. RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 80
Cramer called RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) the “best of the lot” as he commented:
“I’ve been liking the defense stocks lately because if our trading partners want better treatment from the Trump administration, the traditional go-to move is to go buy some planes and go buy some military hardware. Northrop Grumman, RTX, and Lockheed Martin all report on Tuesday morning. I think each one can be bought. But let me tell you something right now, RTX is the one. That’s the best of the lot.”
RTX (NYSE:RTX) provides systems and services designed for commercial, military, and government use. The company focuses on aircraft engines, aerospace technology, and tools for detecting threats. Longleaf Partners Fund stated the following regarding RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) in its Q4 2024 investor letter:
“RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) – Aerospace and defense company RTX was a top contributor for the year. Our appraisal value has grown nicely since we first purchased the company just over a year ago. While the issues for Pratt & Whitney’s (P&W) Geared Turbofan engine are still not yet fully fixed, they have gotten better and given us another reminder that the point of maximum pessimism is only obvious in retrospect. We continue to have a conservative valuation on P&W so view this as a source of future value upside. The Raytheon segment has also performed better as the year has gone on, with recent signs of margin improvement. Strong industry tailwinds, prudent capital allocation and a solid balance sheet provide a foundation for sustained growth and eventual full value recognition.”
5. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 54
Cramer expressed that he likes defense stocks and mentioned Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) as he said:
“I’ve been liking the defense stocks lately because if our trading partners want better treatment from the Trump administration, the traditional go-to move is to go buy some planes and go buy some military hardware. Northrop Grumman, RTX, and Lockheed Martin all report on Tuesday morning. I think each one can be bought.”
Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) develops advanced aerospace and defense technologies, offering products and services that include aircraft systems, missile defense, tactical weapons, surveillance technologies, command and control systems, satellites, and launch vehicles.
4. GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 101
Calling GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) a “relative bright spot”, Cramer remarked:
“One relative bright spot in this market has been aerospace, and airplane engine maker GE Aerospace reports, hey, great gross margins last time, they report Tuesday. This has been a huge winner since the old General Electric started its breakup over two years ago. That’s, Larry Culp’s been engineering that, and he runs GE Aerospace. It’s one of the largest backlogs in the business. Tremendous visibility into its outlook. We don’t see any reason why that changes. Now they have a terrific business that is, is just in repair…”
GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) focuses on building engines for commercial and military aircraft. The company also supplies integrated components, electric power systems, and mechanical systems used in aviation.
3. Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 89
Discussing Capital One Financial Corporation’s (NYSE:COF) acquisition of Discover Financial, Cramer commented:
“Now to me, though, the bank to own is on Tuesday. That’s Capital One, which you probably know from the credit cards. Capital One is the last resort credit card for people who have a hard time getting credit. They’ve mastered the business of lending to the less creditworthy, and now they’re trying to acquire Discover Financial, a competitor that also owns a payment group.
Now we own this one for the trust, and I can’t wait for this deal to close. Talk about deregulation, please, because Capital One plus Discover could put up a real fight against many of the credit card companies, traditional banks, but also Visa, MasterCard.”
Capital One (NYSE:COF) is a financial services firm that provides credit cards, loans, banking products, and services related to advisory and capital markets.
2. Zions Bancorporation, National Association (NASDAQ:ZION)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 24
Zions Bancorporation, National Association (NASDAQ:ZION) was mentioned during the episode, and here’s what Cramer had to say:
“Now it all starts with the banks, specifically two really incredibly boring banks, Comerica and Zions Bancorp. Now both are considered suspect. They have high yields, you can tell that. But the banks have been outstanding in this environment, no tariff exposure, low charge off, decent loan growth, and hopefully some boost from deregulation down the road, which is what a lot of people voted President Trump for.”
Zions Bancorporation (NASDAQ:ZION) offers a range of banking and financial services, including commercial and small business lending, capital markets solutions, real estate financing, personal banking, and wealth management. On April 7, Morgan Stanley analyst Manan Gosalia cut the price target on ZION from $64 to $52 and maintained an Equal Weight rating.
The firm shifted its outlook on the midcap bank sector from Attractive to In-line. The analyst said steeper and faster-than-anticipated tariffs increase the risk of a recession. The pressure is expected to slow loan growth, which could affect future earnings and valuations. He noted that while the group trades at low valuations, sluggish loan growth and an inverted yield curve reduce the potential for gains.
1. Comerica Incorporated (NYSE:CMA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 50
Starting next week’s game plan with Comerica Incorporated (NYSE:CMA), Cramer said:
“Now it all starts with the banks, specifically two really incredibly boring banks, Comerica and Zions Bancorp. Now both are considered suspect. They have high yields, you can tell that. But the banks have been outstanding in this environment, no tariff exposure, low charge off, decent loan growth, and hopefully some boost from deregulation down the road, which is what a lot of people voted President Trump for.”
Comerica Incorporated (NYSE:CMA) offers a wide range of financial services, including commercial lending, consumer banking, and wealth management, with products like loans, credit solutions, investment advisory, and private banking.
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