Rep. Salazar's Marvell bet up 85% as STOCK Act scrutiny intensifies

A Florida lawmaker's Marvell Technology bet has surged more than 85%, drawing fresh scrutiny to congressional stock trading rules.

Representative Maria Elvira Salazar's Marvell Technology Inc. bet has gained more than 85% since disclosure, reigniting debate over whether lawmakers exploit non-public information for personal gain. The Florida Republican purchased between $15,001 and $50,000 of MRVL shares on April 6 through her UBS brokerage account, though the trade was not made public until May 8 when her Periodic Transaction Report appeared on the House Clerk's disclosure portal.

The trades were flagged by a congressional stock tracking service that monitors lawmaker transactions for potential STOCK Act violations. Salazar, a member of the House Financial Services Committee, bought the shares just before Marvell reported record fiscal 2026 revenue of $8.195 billion, up 42% year-over-year, and issued guidance that beat analyst estimates.

MRVL shares have climbed from about $170 on May 8 to over $306 on June 3, giving the company a market capitalization of roughly $254.4 billion. The stock gained additional momentum after Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang called Marvell "the next trillion-dollar company." A second Florida lawmaker is also up roughly 150% on Marvell bets, according to the tracking service.

The episode threatens to renew pressure for a congressional stock trading ban, a proposal that has gained bipartisan support but stalled in committee. Salazar's position on the Financial Services Committee — which oversees securities regulation — adds another layer of scrutiny. The STOCK Act, enacted in 2012, requires lawmakers to disclose trades within 45 days, though critics say enforcement remains weak.

Marvell's business fundamentals provide the backdrop for the stock's rally. The company, which builds data infrastructure chips powering artificial intelligence applications, reported fourth-quarter revenue of $2.22 billion, beating the $2.21 billion consensus estimate and marking 22.1% growth from the same period last year. First-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue guidance came in at approximately $2.21 billion, with non-GAAP earnings per share between $0.74 and $0.84.

The STOCK Act's 45-day disclosure window means Salazar's April 6 purchase was not publicly visible until May 8 — by which time Marvell had already reported its record results and issued bullish guidance. The delay between trade execution and public disclosure is a central point of contention for reform advocates, who argue the window is too wide and allows lawmakers to trade on information that has not yet reached the public.

A renewed push for a congressional stock trading ban has gained traction in recent years, with proposals from both parties seeking to prohibit lawmakers from trading individual stocks or require them to place holdings in blind trusts. The last major legislative effort, introduced in 2024, failed to reach a floor vote despite broad public support.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.