Daily Times

After cooling demand for firearms in 2017, large manufacturers are hoping new models of pistols and long guns rolling out at the industry’s big trade and convention next week in Las Vegas will generate strong consumer interest and boost sales in the coming year.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s four-day SHOT Show officially kicks off Jan. 23 and is expected to attract around 65,000 attendees and hundreds of exhibitors.

Historically, the SHOT (or Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade) Show can help drive demand by exciting collectors, sport shooters and other gun enthusiasts about new firearms and related products, say industry experts. One area that is getting more attention this year is the growing concealed-carry gun segment.

“Relative to last year, you’re definitely seeing a flurry of new product introductions being brought to the market now just to sort of take advantage of what many perceive will be a better climate in 2018,” said Rommel Dionisio, an industry analyst at Aegis Capital in New York.

Ahead of the show, shares of firearms maker Sturm Ruger surged nearly 2.4 percent on Friday and its rival American Outdoor Brands , parent of Smith & Wesson, picked up 1.6 percent. Also, gun and ammo maker Vista Outdoor rose 2.3 percent.

In contrast, AOBC’s stock fell almost 40 percent last year and it slashed annual guidance in December due to what CEO James Debney called “challenging market conditions.” Even so, he told investors on the earnings conference call last month that this is a “perfect environment to be launching new products.”

“Last year, it was kind of a depressed year for firearms overall,” said Dionisio. “There was less of an urgency to go buy firearms because there was less fear of them being banned with a Republican president.”

Prior to the presidential election, the gun industry enjoyed a spike in sales and retailers had stocked up on firearms product thinking that Democrat Hillary Clinton, a backer of tougher gun control regulation, would prevail over her Republican challenger Donald Trump. However, after the Trump win retailers faced bloated inventories and manufacturers experienced weaker orders and tougher comparisons.

“The eight-year assault on your Second Amendment freedoms has come to a crashing end,” Trump said in a speech to the National Rifle Association gathering in April. “You have a true friend and champion in the White House.”

Smith & Wesson had about 100 new products at last year’s SHOT Show, and this year is expected to showcase both pistol and rifle models, including a new M&P2.0 pistol and a sport rifle.

Even in the current tough environment, Smith & Wesson has been gaining market share against competitors in some categories, including hunting rifles.

For its part, rival Ruger is showcasing its new EC9s, a value-priced model of its LC9s pistol, as well as a next-generation precision rifle — the so-called Gen 3 with enhanced scope clearance.

Published in Daily Times, January 21^st 2018.