Pelosi’s 71% Gains in 2024 Fall Behind Nine Lawmakers

TradingKeyJan 14, 2025 3:13 AM

TradingKey - Nancy Pelosi, often referred to as the "Stock Market Guru of Capitol Hill," continues to attract investor interest due to her notable stock trades, according to the latest data.Her gains in 2024 were largely driven by a focus on the tech sector, including a June purchase of Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) options. However, her most profitable trade in 2024 was her investment in Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA).

On 2024 February 21, Pelosi purchased call options worth up to $1.25 million in Palo Alto Networks, set to expire in January 2025. Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW) delivered a strong performance in 2024, with its stock price rising partly due to its involvement in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. The company also benefited from high-profile partnerships and acquisitions, which boosted investor interest. According to Finbold, the rally in PANW generated approximately $23 million in stock market gains for Pelosi in 2024.

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Of course, not all of Pelosi’s holdings have performed well. For example, her husband, Paul Pelosi, began investing in AllianceBernstein, a lesser-known investment firm, in December 2020 by purchasing 20,000 shares. He added 40,000 shares in February 2021 and another 10,000 shares in January 2022. While the stock doubled between March 2020 and November 2021, it has struggled since then.

Pelosi’s portfolio grew 70.9% between December 29, 2023, and December 30, 2024, nearly three times the S&P 500’s 24.9% return over the same period. However, her performance lagged behind that of other lawmakers, including Republican Representative David Rouzer of North Carolina and Democratic Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, who led the rankings with returns of 149% and 142.3%, respectively.

According to the latest report from trading tracker Unusual Whales, over 20 lawmakers outperformed the market with their stock portfolios. Pelosi’s return ranked only 10th, reigniting concerns about potential insider trading.

Source: unusual whales

“The idea of lawmakers trading stocks while legislating is inherently problematic. Congress members shape policies that can directly impact markets. Whether or not they act on insider knowledge, the appearance of potential abuse undermines public trust,” Unusual Whales wrote in its report.

Democratic Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz purchased shares of satellite operator Viasat in October while serving on the House Appropriations Committee’s Military Construction Subcommittee. Federal contract data shows Viasat has secured over $2.7 billion in government contracts since fiscal year 2020, primarily from the Department of Defense.

Similarly, Representative Dan Newhouse, a member of the House Appropriations Committee’s Homeland Security Subcommittee, purchased shares of RTX (formerly Raytheon) in April. RTX is one of the government’s largest contractors, receiving billions of dollars annually in federal funding.

Last month, President Joe Biden called on Congress to ban stock trading by lawmakers, marking the first time in his political career he has taken a stance on the issue.

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