SEC reports $1.095 billion in enforcement relief for FY 2026

The Securities and Exchange Commission released its fiscal-year-2026 enforcement results, showing the Division of Enforcement filed 348 actions, including 235 standalone actions and 113 follow-on administrative proceedings. Two-thirds of the standalone actions charged at least one individual, and the Commission instituted 13 trading suspensions tied to suspected manipulation of Asia-based issuers.

Monetary relief totaled $1.095 billion, comprising $752 million in disgorgement and prejudgment interest and $343 million in civil penalties. Of the disgorgement, $235 million was satisfied by a court in a separate non-SEC action, and approximately $731 million was returned to more than 250,000 harmed investors.

The Division highlighted several structural upgrades. It formed the Retail Fraud Working Group to target schemes that threaten everyday investors and launched the Financial Reporting and Accounting Unit to concentrate expertise on accounting and reporting violations. The new Office of Super Intelligence and Analytics brings advanced data-driven techniques into investigations, while a restructured Trial Unit expands litigation capacity. A formal leadership-training program and a bi-monthly performance-management process were also instituted.

Interagency coordination was reinforced through memoranda of understanding with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Food and Drug Administration. The Division updated its Enforcement Manual for the first time since 2017, standardizing the Wells process and clarifying cooperation assessments. It also rescinded Rule 202.5(e), aligning the SEC with other federal agencies and providing greater settlement flexibility.

"The success of the SEC's enforcement program is ultimately measured by how effectively it advances the SEC's mission, protects investors, holds wrongdoers accountable, and strengthens confidence in our markets," said SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins. "Our focus is on conducting rigorous investigations, pursuing consequential misconduct, and achieving meaningful outcomes for investors," added Division Director David Woodcock.