Skip to navigationSkip to main contentSkip to right columnADVERTISEMENTPeace LongeSat, July 4, 2026 at 10:07 PM GMT+2 4 min readJim Cramer has named plenty of favorite stocks over the years. His recent pick was trading in the low $20s less than a year ago.On June 30, the "Mad Money" host told viewers that Intel is now his top pick in the market. He credited CEO Lip-Bu Tan with pulling off one of the sharpest turnarounds in recent times.The timing stands out. Intel shares have more than tripled in 2026. Then, in the days right around Cramer's call, it fell sharply. That combination is forcing a blunt question for investors. Is there still room to buy, or did the easy money already get made?Cramer says Lip-Bu Tan has "turned this company around"Cramer did not mince words. "Intel is currently my favorite stock. CEO Lip-Bu Tan has turned this company around," he said on a Mad Money episode on June 30, CNBC reported.That comment reflected a bigger point. Cramer told viewers that Wall Street is now rewarding companies that supply the AI boom and punishing the hyperscalers that fund it. He named Intel (INTC), Micron (MU), Marvell (MRVL), SanDisk (SNDK), and AMD as the quarter's biggest winners.It is also worth noting that Cramer's call has money behind it. According to CNBC, Cramer's Charitable Trust, the portfolio behind the CNBC Investing Club, initiated a position in Intel on June 3. The Trust has also added to it twice since then.Intel shares have surged more than 205% in 2026 as CEO Lip-Bu Tan's turnaround gains Wall Street attentionJHVEPhoto / Getty ImagesIntel's run from left-for-dead to market leaderIntel's turnaround has a clear starting point. In August 2025, the U.S. government disclosed a roughly 10% equity stake in Intel. NVIDIA followed weeks later with its own $5 billion investment.The first quarter of 2026 backed up that bet. Intel posted revenue of $13.6 billion, up 7% from the same quarter last year. Non-GAAP earnings per share also came in at $0.29, far ahead of the estimate Wall Street had penciled in, according to the company's SEC filing.More AI Chip Stocks:Top analysts set jaw-dropping Micron stock target after surgeBank of America resets Marvell stock price targetBroadcom CEO unnerves biggest AI backers in rattling pivotIntel's dual identity as a chip designer and manufacturer is also becoming a selling point. AMD relies almost entirely on Taiwan Semiconductor for production. Intel, by contrast, is building a more localized supply chain. The supply chain is backed by federal subsidies and outside investment from Nvidia and SoftBank, according to TradingView.Related: Jim Cramer turns bullish on health care stock after years of doubtThat structural bet has already drawn outside money. In June, Paul Pelosi, husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, disclosed a multi-million-dollar position in Intel.Terms and Privacy PolicyEU DSA contactPrivacy & Cookie SettingsMore Info