Krispy Kreme Inc. saw its stock rise considerably during after-hours trading on Wednesday. This upward movement occurred after Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel revealed his recent acquisition of the company's shares during a congressional testimony.
During a congressional hearing, Representative Joe Neguse inquired about Kash Patel's stock purchases. Patel confirmed an investment in Krispy Kreme, valued between $15,001 and $50,000, on May 9. Additionally, he disclosed a separate investment in ON Semiconductor Corp., ranging from $50,001 to $100,000, made on May 12.
Kash Patel emphasized that his investment activities are conducted in strict accordance with Department of Justice protocols. He clarified that he obtains necessary approvals from the Office of Government Ethics prior to executing any stock trades. His disclosures indicate that these recent purchases do not create any conflicts of interest with his duties at the FBI. Patel had previously divested over 40 different stock holdings, including shares in NVIDIA, Palantir Technologies, and Eli Lilly & Co, to proactively avoid potential conflicts upon assuming his role.
In 2025, Krispy Kreme's stock experienced a significant decline, falling by 68.28% from its peak of $9.93 recorded on December 31. However, the stock has recently demonstrated signs of recovery, climbing approximately 22.6% from its yearly low of $2.57 on June 25, to close at $3.15 yesterday. This rebound was accompanied by a substantial increase in trading volume, soaring from 2.4 million to 11 million shares. Despite its current position being 74.2% below its December high, the heightened trading activity suggests renewed investor interest. The North Carolina-based company's shares have fluctuated between $2.50 and $12.67 over the past year, maintaining a market capitalization of $539.28 million and an average trading volume of 3.85 million shares.