Is Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) a Stock That Members of Congress Own?

Ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you something: Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) is not just a household name; it's a powerhouse in the stock market. But here's the million-dollar question: Is it a stock that members of Congress own? Let's dive in and find out!

First things first, members of Congress have historically been allowed to own and trade stocks. This has been a hot-button issue for years, with critics arguing that it creates potential conflicts of interest and ethical concerns related to insider trading. The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 was supposed to address these issues, but enforcement has been spotty at best. Lawmakers have been criticized for late or incomplete reporting of transactions, and it's often difficult to prove whether they used non-public information for personal profit.



Now, let's talk about Amazon. As of 2025, Amazon is owned by 63.67% institutional investors, 8.95% insiders, and 27.38% retail investors. Vanguard Group is the largest institutional shareholder, holding 7.84% of AMZN shares. But what about our lawmakers? Are they in on the action?

The answer is yes, but it's not as straightforward as you might think. Members of Congress own a variety of stocks, and Amazon is one of them. But here's the kicker: the ownership of Amazon by members of Congress can be seen as part of a broader investment strategy that may be influenced by their knowledge of upcoming policies and legislation. This is where things get interesting.

Monitoring the trades of lawmakers can be especially useful during times of rapid change, such as a drastic regime change. The Trump 2.0 administration has given investors vertigo so far, as it becomes more and more difficult to predict the next moves related to tariffs, immigration, public spending, healthcare budgets, and defense. This is where the Mosaic approach comes in. Lawmakers may argue that their trades were based on many pieces of publicly available information and personal analysis and reasoning. But let's be real: they have an informational advantage, and they know it.



Now, let's talk about the potential ethical and legal implications of members of Congress owning and trading stocks like Amazon. The practice raises significant concerns about conflicts of interest and the erosion of public trust in government institutions. President Biden publicly endorsed a full ban on stock trading by members of Congress in December 2024, and President Trump has had a similar stance for many years. If such a ban were to be implemented, it would likely lead to a reduction in the number of lawmakers owning stocks like Amazon. This could promote a more transparent and ethical trading environment, but it could also impact the performance of thematic ETFs and anecdotal portfolios that rely on congressional trading data.

So, what's the bottom line? Is Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) a stock that members of Congress own? Yes, it is. But the bigger question is: should they be allowed to own and trade stocks like Amazon? That's a debate for another day. For now, keep your eyes on the market and your ears to the ground. The next big move could be just around the corner!