Wells Fargo Slides to 94th in U.S. Trading Volume as Political Tensions and Regulatory Scrutiny Weigh on Shares

On September 3, 2025, Wells Fargo (WFC) traded with a volume of $0.90 billion, ranking 94th in trading activity on U.S. exchanges. The stock closed down 1.55%, pressured by regulatory scrutiny and political tensions over financial policies.

Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Richard Blumenthal have written to 25 banks, including Wells Fargo, to investigate the impact of the Trump administration’s reversal of a 2024 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule. The original regulation, finalized in late 2024, aimed to limit excessive overdraft fees by closing loopholes that allowed banks to charge steep fees when consumers overdrawn their accounts. The senators argue that repealing this rule could disproportionately harm low-income consumers and undermine consumer protections.

The letter highlights that CFPB oversight since 2022 has already returned $250 million to consumers through overdraft fee reforms. The senators estimate the 2024 rule could have saved $3.5 billion annually for consumers. This action follows broader clashes between Democrats and the Trump administration over financial regulations, including efforts to dismantle CFPB initiatives and shift costs to consumers via higher fees. Warren previously criticized Trump’s tax proposals for targeting the CFPB, calling them an "outrageous attempt to shut down the bureau."

Wells Fargo’s shares have faced heightened regulatory risks amid ongoing political battles. The bank is among major financial institutions under scrutiny for practices that may benefit from the rollback of consumer protections. Analysts note that regulatory uncertainty could weigh on investor sentiment, particularly as political tensions over financial oversight persist.

Over the past five years, Wells Fargo’s stock has delivered a 241% total share price return and a 283% total shareholder return, including dividends. However, the stock’s earnings per share grew at a 56% annualized rate, outpacing the 28% share price growth, indicating a shift in market sentiment toward caution. The recent 1.55% decline reflects broader concerns about regulatory pressures and their potential impact on profitability.