
While most retail investors grind out gains and hope for market clarity, U.S. politicians are making some of the most profitable stock trades in the entire market — often right before major announcements or legislation hits the floor.
In this article, we’re highlighting 6 recent trades made by members of Congress that raised eyebrows — not just for the timing, but for how well they’ve performed since. And yes, you can track all of them — in real time — on Barchart's Politician Insider Trading Activity Tracker.
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Trade #1: Nancy Pelosi’s Call Options on Tempus AI (TEM)
- Trade: Bought 50 call options at $20
- Result: Stock soared over +180%
- Why It Matters: Pelosi’s timing was impeccable — just before a surge on AI momentum and a new biotech partnership announcement. Her 2025 portfolio is already outperforming the S&P 500 ($SPX).
Trade #2: L3Harris (LHX) Purchases Before Middle East Conflict
- Politicians: Sen. Markwayne Mullin & Rep. Gil Cisneros
- Role: Armed Services Committee
- Why It Matters: Both lawmakers bought defense contractor L3Harris just before U.S.-Iran tensions escalated. The trades were disclosed weeks after the buying activity.
Trade #3: CompoSecure (CMPO) and Family Ties
- Politician: Rep. John Bradford Knott
- Trade: Bought shares in CMPO — where his brother serves on the board
- Why It Matters: Insider connection. CompoSecure provides fintech and crypto security tech. Knott’s brother also helps decide executive compensation at the company.
Trade #4: IDEXX Labs (IDXX) and the Biotech Bill Bump
- Politicians: Reps. April Delaney, Rob Bresnahan, and Jefferson Shreve
- Trade: Bought IDXX weeks before a biotech funding bill dropped
- Why It Matters: All 3 sit on committees involved with biotech policy. The stock has rallied over 40% since the purchases.
Trade #5: Palantir (PLTR) — The First Insider Buy, and Politicians Join In
- Former Exec: Heather Planishek bought $1.1M in shares — the first-ever insider buy in PLTR history
- Politicians: Reps. Ro Khanna, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and others followed suit
- Why It Matters: PLTR has heavy political exposure, growing AI defense relevance, and now an insider confidence signal.
Want to Track These Trades Yourself?
Watch this quick reel for the full breakdown:
Then, use these tools on Barchart:
- Politician Insider Trading Activity Tracker – See every disclosed trade by lawmakers
- Watch our Insider Trading Video – Learn how to track and analyze smart money activity