What Congressional Insiders Are Loading Up On in Early 2025

When the first month of 2025 wrapped up, markets flashed green across the board—Nasdaq Composite up 1.8%, S&P 500 up 2.93%, and Dow Jones up 5.08%. But there’s another group of traders making headlines: members of Congress. While public discourse centers on ethics concerns, their recent moves offer a fascinating window into where sophisticated money is flowing.

The Most Active Players

According to Quiver Quantitative’s tracking data, a handful of congressional traders have been particularly active. Rep. Josh Gottheimer from New Jersey led the pack in 2024 with 526 trades totaling $91.05 million in volume. The pattern is consistent: just 5% of Congress holds zero stocks or funds, meaning market participation is the norm, not the exception.

Other prolific traders include representatives and senators with seven-figure portfolios. Their combined activity across thousands of transactions gives retail observers a rare peek into institutional-grade positioning.

Where the Money Went in January

Tech and Financials Dominate

Gottheimer’s January filings reveal a strategic tilt toward financials—Goldman Sachs and Block Inc. purchases align with analyst predictions that the sector could surge under pro-deregulation policies. His portfolio also shows a hefty tech allocation, with positions in Apple and Microsoft call options. Consumer staples round out the mix, suggesting a hedge against inflation persistence.

Nancy Pelosi’s Track Record

The California representative, whose investment approach has drawn considerable media scrutiny, disclosed five transactions in early 2025. Her disclosed purchases centered on Amazon, Alphabet (Google’s parent), Nvidia, Tempus AI, and Vistra. One position in Tempus AI has already appreciated 92.05% since purchase—a stark reminder that access to information flows matters.

The Diversification Play

Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin, the most active trader in January, has already logged $1.16 million in volume. His holdings span Applied Industrial Technologies, Coherent, Credo Technology, Dell, and Stride (up 27.99% post-purchase). The breadth suggests a portfolio manager’s approach rather than conviction-based bets.

What It Means for Investors

The STOCK Act mandates 45-day disclosure windows for transactions exceeding $1,000, inadvertently creating a public record of where deep-pocketed insiders believe opportunity lies. Whether one views this as insider advantage or legitimate market signaling, the pattern is clear: financials, semiconductors, and AI-adjacent plays dominated early-2025 positioning.

The debate over congressional trading continues—over 80% of Americans across party lines support restricting it. Yet until policy changes, these filings remain public intelligence worth monitoring for retail traders tracking institutional thesis alignment.