Gunmakers' shares take off as orders jump
Sturm, Ruger shares rise more than 12% after it says it's received orders for more than 1 million units and won't take new orders until after May. Smith & Wesson shares rise, too.
Updated: 3:08 p.m. ET
It's a great time to be a maker of handguns.
Just ask Sturm, Ruger & Co. (RGR), whose shares are up $5.50 to $47.80 this afternoon after hitting an all-time high of $47.88.
Reason: The gunmaker announced late Wednesday that it has received wholesale orders for more than 1 million units so far this quarter. That's more than the company can manufacture. So it has stopped accepting new orders until the end of May.
The shares are up 960% since bottoming in November 2008.
The company makes rifles, shotguns, pistols and revolvers. Sales in 2011 were $328 million, up 28% from a year earlier. The company earned $40 million or $2.09 a share, up from $28.3 million, or $1.46 a share, in 2010.
Sales were up 81% since 2008, reflecting worries about the economy and fears that President Obama and Democrats might try to rein in gun ownership. (There have been no efforts, in fact.)
Business is great for rival Smith & Wesson Holdings (SWHC), whose shares are up 86 cents $7.76 this afternoon. They hit $8, a 52-week high, and are up 383% since bottoming at $1.60 in October 2008.
Smith & Wesson's backlog at the end of January was $198.5 million, up 169% from a year earlier.
Folks, it is simple, typical PR minipulation that both sides use. This time the NRA and extreme right tells America that Obama will take away your guns which in truth can not happen because of the House Republican majority. It's raw meat for the base, that convinces people to buy as many guns as they can, causing supply demand shortages that raises prices, increases profits that allows more money to go to the gun lobbies who pay off the politicians. Taking money from the people to line the pockets of the gun makers, lobbyists and politicians Brilliant! Republicans and democrats cut from the same cloth, no you don't see it because you don't want to ever think a corporation would ever do such a terrible thing to the American people. Hundreds of millions of guns out there and do you really think any force can take them away. Get real, how many do you really need? Oh by the way, how many gallons of gasoline could you buy if you didn't just spend $ 500-$1000 on another shotgun or glock? How many gallons if you wern't spending $ 100 a week on cigaretts and booze?
I've noticed something rather curious. Next time you are in Wal-Mart or Gander Mountain, or Cabela's or a similar place, check the prices on the handgun amMunition and keep track of it. It seems like the prices raise and fall and are defendant upon any civil "unrest" taking place - mostly in the USA, but sometimes overseas, as well. When "Occupy" was front page news, ammo prices were higher. Another "protest" march in NY or elsewhere, the prices are up again. It's almost like the stock marker for civilian activity. I guess that is to be expected.
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