Jim Cramer Calls This Mining Stock an Inflation Hedge “Just as Good as Crypto”
Jim Cramer just put a Brazilian mining giant in the same sentence as cryptocurrency, and his reasoning has everything to do with where he thinks inflation is headed next.
On a recent edition of CNBC’s Mad Money Lightning Round, Jim Cramer fielded questions from viewers. Two of Cramer’s clearest calls were to buy Vale (NYSE:VALE | VALE Price Prediction) as an inflation hedge comparable to cryptocurrency and to stay long Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) through an upcoming leadership change.
“Just as Good as Crypto”: Cramer’s Inflation Case for Vale
Asked about the Brazilian miner, Cramer said, “This is if you believe, as I do, that we could have rampant inflation down the road. This is one of the best places to do it. And I would actually use it as a great hedge. Just as good as crypto.“
Cramer is placing an iron ore, copper, and nickel producer alongside crypto as an asset for purchasing-power protection. The setup matches Vale’s actual Q2 FY26 mix. Iron Ore Fines generated $6.64 billion, Copper $1.56 billion (up 62%), and Nickel $1.24 billion (up 23%) in the quarter, with iron ore reference prices up 11% year over year, copper up 40% on the LME, and gold up 53%.
Vale reported revenue of $10.50 billion, up 19.2% YoY, and pro forma EBITDA of $4.07 billion, and the board approved $1.7 billion in dividends and interest on capital payable on September 1, 2026, alongside a buyback for up to 100 million shares over 18 months. Vale trades at $15.31, with a one-year gain of 56.52% and a year-to-date gain of 20.9%. Shares carry a forward P/E of 8 and an analyst target price of $16.74.
Cramer Backs Apple’s Next Chapter
On Apple, Cramer said, “I do think it’s still a good buy. I would own this, not trade it. I know we’ve got a new CEO coming in, and I have made no secret of how great I think Tim Cook is. I do want to get to know the new CEO, and I don’t know John Ternus. However, I do think the company is going to be in good hands if Tim Cook says it’s in good hands, because he has never been anything other than true north for me.”
Cramer admits he does not know the incoming executive and treats Cook’s endorsement as sufficient. On Apple’s Q3 FY26 call, Cook said of new CEO John Ternus, “I couldn’t be more confident in his leadership, in our executive team, and in the extraordinary people at Apple.”
Apple posted a June-quarter record of $109.4 billion in revenue, up 16%, with iPhone revenue of $54.3 billion (up 22%), Services of $30.7 billion (up 12%), and diluted EPS of $2.02, up 29%. The company returned $33 billion to shareholders in the quarter. Shares trade at $316.18, up 36.99% over one year, against an average analyst price target of $324.45.
Cisco’s Guidance Disappoints, but Cramer Defends the Quarter
On Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO), Cramer said, “Cisco actually had a really good quarter. And I know that they gave very conservative guidance. But that’s all it was. It knocked the stock down 8 dollars.” Cisco reported Q4 FY26 revenue of $17.25 billion, up 17.6% YoY, with $4 billion in AI orders in the quarter and non-GAAP EPS of $1.22. The stock is still up 47.7% year to date.
On Becton Dickinson (NYSE:BDX), Cramer flagged that a recommendation from two months prior was up 33% at the time of the call. BDX raised FY26 adjusted EPS guidance to $12.62 to $12.72 after its first full quarter as “New BD.”
Key Takeaways
Cramer’s strongest endorsements rested on different arguments: Vale’s commodity exposure as an inflation hedge and Apple’s leadership continuity under Tim Cook’s chosen successor. He also defended Cisco’s quarter despite disappointing guidance.
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Thomas Richmond is a financial writer and content strategist with 5+ years of experience covering stocks and financial markets. He has published over 250 articles focused on individual stock analysis, helping investors better understand business fundamentals, stock valuations, and long-term opportunities.
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