In December, US Representative Nancy Pelosi made a smart move by buying Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) call options, which have since soared to over $2 million. Now, she’s back in the market, purchasing Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW) call options worth over $1.2 million.
Specifically, Pelosi purchased call options with a $200 strike price expiring in January 2025, notably on February 2 and February 21.
The impact of this acquisition was promptly evident: upon its announcement on February 26, Palo Alto stock surged by over 7%.
Why is this purchase of PANW so interesting?
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. is an American multinational cybersecurity company headquartered in California. Its primary product is a platform featuring advanced firewalls and cloud-based services that expand firewall coverage to other security areas.
Approximately two weeks ago, Congress received a briefing on what was described as a “Serious National Threat.” This briefing took place during the week of February 12th. Coincidentally, during that very week, Nancy Pelosi, a prominent figure in Congress, made a significant investment of $1.2 million in the cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks.
Besides having previously secured numerous government contracts, Palo Alto’s CEO recently expressed hope for a substantial government contract in the future. This potential development might serve as another motive for the purchase, as reported by Quiver Quantitative.
Effect of Pelosi’s purchase on Palo Alto stock
Following Nancy Pelosi’s purchase of call options on Palo Alto Networks stock, the shares surged by as much as 10% on February 26. Reports suggest that the call options Pelosi acquired are valued at up to $1.25 million.
This significant increase comes only days after PANW experienced a steep decline of over 30% following their earnings results.
Market reactions suggest that Pelosi’s trades are being perceived as akin to an activist hedge fund taking a stake in the company.
Her notable history of strategically investing in many large-cap tech stocks at their low points, such as NVDA, largely contributes to this sentiment.
Only time will tell if history will repeat itself and propel PANW stock to the skies. However, judging by Pelosi’s track record, it appears highly likely.
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