The opposite strategy to Jim Cramer overwhelmingly beats Pelosi: How did investors earn more in 2025?

When Betting Against Recommendations Turns Out to Be Profitable

In the world of investing, following high-profile personalities like Jim Cramer and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has become a common practice. However, data from 2025 reveal a surprising twist: taking positions contrary to Cramer's suggestions not only worked but significantly outperformed Pelosi's reported portfolio.

Platforms like Autopilot, which allow users to replicate trades of these public figures, show that while Pelosi's portfolio generated a 25% return in 2025, the Inverse Cramer strategy—doing exactly the opposite of what the TV analyst recommends—yielded a 60% profit. UnusualWhales, a group monitoring political stock market activity, backed these numbers, estimating Pelosi's returns at 20.1%, placing her at rank 28 among Congress members.

Pelosi versus the Inverse Cramer phenomenon

Nancy Pelosi has historically been known for reporting trades that often outperform the general market. However, in 2025, her performance was eclipsed not by Cramer's direct picks, but by the irony of doing the opposite of his recommendations. A social media account tracking her moves pointed out: “The Queen has been dethroned. Inverse Cramer officially surpasses Pelosi as the best portfolio on Autopilot.”

This situation raises fascinating questions about the reliability of TV recommendations and the value of a contrarian strategy in volatile markets.

Why does Cramer remain relevant?

Jim Cramer hosts “Mad Money” on CNBC during the trading week, constantly sharing opinions on stocks via TV and social media. The massive volume of his recommendations makes it practically impossible for most investors to monitor them individually, hence the appeal of platforms that automate this tracking.

Tuttle Capital launched ETFs in October 2022 designed to track both Cramer's picks and their inverse. The direct ETF was discontinued in September 2023, while Inverse Cramer closed in February 2024. Matthew Tuttle, CEO of Tuttle Capital, explained the closure: “We created these funds to highlight the risks of following TV selectors, especially Cramer. Although retail investors seem more attracted to volatile products, the timing with the Magnificent 7 stocks simply didn't align.”

Pelosi's positions in 2025

During 2025, Pelosi reported fewer transactions compared to previous years. Her moves include:

• Donating Apple shares to an educational institution
• Exercising options in Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ: AVGO) in June
• Buying options in Vistra Corp (NYSE: VST), Tempus AI (NASDAQ: TEM), Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOGL), and Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN) in January

With Pelosi deciding not to seek re-election in 2026 and planning to leave Congress in January 2027, her future stock disclosures will soon cease.

Final reflection

The contrast between the 2025 returns—Inverse Cramer at 60% versus Pelosi at 25%—highlights an uncomfortable truth about televised financial advice: sometimes, the most effective strategy is to do exactly the opposite. While results may vary, the Inverse Cramer phenomenon continues to spark conversations about the reliability of real-time analysis and market volatility.

Key stocks mentioned

• Broadcom Inc (AVGO): $332.68
• Amazon.com Inc (AMZN): $246.21
• Alphabet Inc (GOOGL): $325.90
• Vistra Corp (VST): $151.20
• Tempus AI Inc (TEM): $68.73