On a recent episode of Mad Money, Jim Cramer took a moment to celebrate the two-year anniversary of the current bull market. He mentioned that this particular bull market has been quiet and gentle, which he attributes to the unusual circumstances surrounding its rise. “The whole first year of this bull’s life was an anomaly. That’s because the Fed was furiously tightening and the market went up anyway,” Cramer explained.
He emphasized that for the past two years, opportunities have been evident, stating, “Every night I say there’s always a bull market somewhere, and for the last two years, well, it’s been right in front of you.”
Cramer then went on to discuss the lead performing stocks and ended the segment, saying:
“The bottom line, if you're going to buy these stocks, I’d go first with Nvidia, then with Broadcom, and finally Fair Isaac, if only because we need something that's not connected to the data center, even as we know, it will remain a strong story for the ages.”
Cramer also advised investors to shift their focus away from the consumer price index (CPI) report, suggesting that its significance has diminished since the Federal Reserve began cutting rates.
“We had to be concerned about this stuff when the Fed was on the warpath, either raising rates or leaving them higher for longer. Now, though, the Fed is your friend, so I wouldn't obsess about the details.”
He did emphasize, however, that the monthly labor report remains important in the current climate. He remarked on the tendency for many to become “Fed watchers,” suggesting that this reliance on government data can detract from the deeper analysis of individual companies. Cramer referenced Austan D. Goolsbee, president of the Chicago Fed, who advised against an overemphasis on CPI data, as the Fed is unlikely to base decisions on it. Cramer explained:
“When the Fed's raising rates in order to stamp out inflation, it can be very important. When we're in a rate hike cycle, you're trying to figure out when that's going to end. But we're not in that kind of cycle anymore. We're in a rate cutting cycle.”
Cramer explained that last month the Fed implemented a double rate cut, setting a downward trend that is expected to continue. He added:
“Sure, if we had a huge spike in the CPI this morning, then maybe the Fed would change its stance. But that would have to be an extreme reading. And there's nothing extreme about today's 2.4% inflation number, just a tick above the expected 2.3, still down from the 2.5% reading from the prior month.”
Cramer concluded with a strong reminder about the nature of investing. “Forget the macro, people. It’s not that meaningful when the Fed’s cutting rates. And keep your eyes on the prize: Earnings,” he urged. Ultimately, he reinforced that earnings dictate stock prices in the long run, and that’s where the focus should be for those looking to make money in the market.
Our Methodology
For this article, we compiled a list of 12 stocks with the biggest gains over the past 2 years that were mentioned by Jim Cramer during his episode of Mad Money on October 10. We listed the stocks in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment as of the second quarter, which was taken from Insider Monkey’s database of more than 900 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 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
A technician in a power station monitoring the flow of energy generated by a gas turbine.
Cramer mentioned GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) while talking about the bull market and how General Electric split into three separate businesses. He said:
“When this bull market was born, General Electric was still one company. Now it's three companies: GE Aerospace, GE HealthCare, GE Vernova. I like them all. With Boeing and Airbus having huge production problems, airplanes need to last longer. So GE's aerospace engine service business is on fire.”
GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) is involved in the design and production of engines for commercial and defense aircraft, along with integrated engine components, electric power systems, and mechanical aircraft systems. The company serves two primary markets, consumer air carriers and the military sector, establishing itself as a leading manufacturer of turbine engines.
With tens of thousands of GE engines operational globally, the ongoing need for maintenance and servicing plays an important role in the company’s business model. This recurring revenue stream constitutes approximately 70% of the company's overall income, contributing to the stock’s stability across various economic conditions. Management forecasts low double-digit revenue growth through 2028.
In the second quarter, GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) reported strong performance, with total orders increasing by 18% year-over-year to reach $11.2 billion. Adjusted revenue rose by 4%, totaling $8.2 billion, while profit margins improved significantly, with a 560 basis point increase resulting in a 37% rise in operating profit.
To address expected growth in maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) activities, the company has announced plans for a $1 billion investment over the next five years. Through the investment, it seeks to expand and upgrade MRO facilities worldwide, including a recent agreement to acquire a dedicated LEAP test cell.
Overall GE ranks 6th on Jim Cramer's list of best performing stocks. While we acknowledge the potential of GE 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 timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than GE but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
