Congress' Widely Held Stocks
Each year, the Center for Responsive Politics analyzes the finances of the members of the U.S. Congress, revealing those with the highest and lowest net worth as well as their investments, liabilities and other sources of income.
Senators and House members are required to file annual disclosures of their holdings and investments, which reveal where they are placing their money. The disclosures do not list specific figures but provide a range of values for individual holdings—for example, one asset could be listed as “between $1 million and $5 million.” Assets listed here are ranked first by the number of members currently invested in each stock and then by the maximum collective value of their holdings in the case of a tie.
Recently, several high ranking members of Congress have been criticized for their stock purchases and have been accused of insider trading, allegations they deny. However, it is likely interesting for investors to know which stocks their lawmakers have personal interest in.
So, which stocks are the most widely held by members of the Congress? Click ahead to find out.
By Paul Toscano and Eamon Javers
Posted 15 Nov 2011
10. Exxon Mobil (XOM)
Members invested: 42
Total value of holdings (max.): $11.09 million
Total value of holdings (min.): $2.74 million
Top Congressional Investors
John Carter (R.-Texas) - $1 million to $5 million
F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R.-Wis.) - $551,185 to $1.05 million
Michael McCaul (R.-Texas) - $500,002 to $1 million
9. AT&T (ATT)
Members invested: 44
Total value of holdings (max.): $4.08 million
Total value of holdings (min.): $2.23 million
Top Congressional Investors
John Kerry (D.-Mass.) - $1.52 million to $2.07 million
F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R.-Wis.) - $105,877 to $255,876
Richard L Hanna (R.-N.Y.) - $100,001 to $250,000
8. Wells Fargo (WFC)
Members invested: 45
Total value of holdings (max.): $4.28 million
Total value of holdings (min.): $1.71 million
Top Congressional Investors
John Kerry (D.-Mass.) - $351,003 to $765,000
Sander Levin (D.-Mich.) - $250,001 to $500,000
David Vitter (R.-La.) - $126,007 to $365,000
7. Intel (INTC)
Members invested: 47
Total value of holdings (max.): $3.21 million
Total value of holdings (min.): $1.28 million
Top Congressional Investors
John Kerry (D.-Mass.) - $602,005 to $1.28 million
Michael McCaul (R.-Texas) - $200,002 to $500,000
Jane Harman (D.-Calif.) - $130,003 to $350,000
6. Pfizer (PFE)
Members invested: 51
Total value of holdings (max.): $4.61 million
Total value of holdings (min.): $2.04 million
Top Congressional Investors
John Kerry (D.-Mass.) - $752,004 to $1.53 million
F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R.-Wis.) - $507,005 to $1 million
Kurt Schrader (D.-Ore.) - $265,002 to $550,000
5. Cisco Systems (CSCO)
Members invested: 56
Total value of holdings (max.): $3.24 million
Total value of holdings (min.): $1.27 million
Top Congressional Investors
John Kerry (D.-Mass.) - $602,005 to $1.28 million
Richard L Hanna (R.-N.Y.) - $100,000 to $250,000
Jane Harman (D.–Calif.) - $100,000 to $200,000
4. Microsoft (MSFT)
Members invested: 56
Total value of holdings (max.): $6.43 million
Total value of holdings (min.): $3.22 million
Top Congressional Investors
John Kerry (D.-Mass.) - $1.77 million to $2.55 million
Michael McCaul (R.-Texas) - $515,003 to $1.05 million
Jane Harman (D.-Calif.) - $130,003 to $350,000
3. Bank of America (BAC)
Members invested: 57
Total value of holdings (max.): $5.41 million
Total value of holdings (min.): $2.83 million
Top Congressional Investors
Rodney Frelinghuysen (R.-N.J.) - $1.02 million to $1.08 million
John M. Spratt Jr. (D.-S.C.) - $500,001 to $1 million
Dianne Feinstein (D.-Calif.) - $500,001 to $1 million
2. Procter & Gamble (PG)
Members invested: 62
Total value of holdings (max.): $39.42 million
Total value of holdings (min.): $8.72 million
Top Congressional Investors
Rodney Frelinghuysen (R.-N.J.) - $7.07 million to $35.15 million
Michael McCaul (R.-Texas) - $200,002 to $500,000
James B. Renacci (R.-Ohio) - $180,485 to $222,482
1. General Electric (GE)
Members invested: 75
Total value of holdings (max.): $11.41 million
Total value of holdings (min.): $3.58 million
Top Congressional Investors
Darrell Issa (R.-Calif.) - $1 million to $5 million
John Kerry (D.-Mass.) - $616,004 to $1.315 million
Michael McCaul (R.-Texas) - $400,003 to $850,000